Analogue vs Digital - A generational thing?

[Sasha94]

Maybe, but you can't argue with the simplicity of plugging a code reader in and having an error code read to you to give you a head start to begin fault finding. When my Mercedes suddenly lost all throttle command I grabbed my phone and established Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth OBD2 reader that I bought off Amazon for £5, at the roadside, read and cancelled the throttle position sensor code, googled how to reset the TPS on my smartphone, found the answer, performed the reset (its simple, no tools, just a certain manipulation of the controls resets the throttle position sensor) and continued my journey with no further issues. It cost £5 to buy the reader which has come in handy to give me readings accessed in the cars service mode which aren't displayed on gauges such as oil temperature and pressure and it enabled me to find and fix my fault without even taking my seatbelt off. The TPS hasn't put a foot wrong since. Without such electrickery, a smartphone and a £5 code reader, how would I have diagnosed that, by myself, so efficiently? I may be many things, but with that setup I need never play the role of damsel in distress with a broken car at the roadside. Modern cars can be a pain, but sometimes the improvements in technology can translate into actual improvements!

[I-S]

I muse on the irony of this being posted on a forum. On the internet.

Shouldn't you have hand-written a letter to the newspaper?

Seriously though, it's ok to have a preference for the ways you are used to. It's when people blindly insist that things were better before when in fact the opposite is usually true that there's a problem.

Interestingly, though, this turns to a very strong argument for electric cars - hugely simple, with very few moving parts, minimal servicing requirements (similar brake and coolant change schedule to ICE cars, that's it).

Of course, as an electronic engineer, I would say that.

And inevitably a software engineer will come along and ruin it.

[john.wigley]

That is impressive, Sasha, but it is like a foreign language to me - I would not know where to start. Simple for you perhaps, but complex to me! Maybe therein lies the lesson.

Regards. John.

[Sasha94]

The lesson indeed, it took me a great deal longer to learn how to set up carbs by ear than it did to navigate the Torque Pro app to reset that fault code. That was an example picked to make modern technology look good, the persistent erroneous fault codes that my Dad's Alfa Romeo used to present us with required ignoring the red herring fault codes and spending an awful lot of time (and coffee) working out the problem using proper mechanical methodology rather than throwing out old parts and bolting on new ones.

[canis]

There is a satisfaction in gapping cam-followers and strobing the timing, though. I kinda miss that in a way, but I also remember it being a chore that I would often neglect.

[KerPLoD]

I guess that's it, isn't it? Thanks to modern code-readers we can diagnose faults on modern cars so much easier (unless its a Peugeot 207...), but like someone else said, it's in some way more satisfying to work on older cars.

As for other technology, mobile phones are incredibly useful, but I do find the older ones simpler to operate. Comparing my iphone 5c to my old Sony ericsson w300i (ridiculous looking thing from about 2004 with a spoiler of all things) the Sony had less issues, ran faster and lasted years. Still worked fine when I replaced it for my first touchscreen phone (an idea I still hate).

I always used to use Windows XP - I still retain it's basically the best thing since sliced bread. Tried Windows 8 and nearly cried. I'm on Windows 10 right now which is better but still not as easy to use as XP.

I think the most tech-y thing I have is a Playstation 4, had it for 5 months and still getting to grips. I do like it though - it's relatively simple for the most part, it just has so many features that frankly I wouldn't bother with.

I'm probably just a slow learner.

[Prufrock]

One thing's for sure I'll not be on my death bed thinking: I wish I'd - spent more time on Facebook (etc), using my smartphone (oxymoron), or on Playstation, or watching TV (catch-up, whatever).

I have a life, and only one.

Jon.

N.B or on forums !

[Grimble]

I served my time as a mechanical maintenance fitter in an engineering works.
Dozens of automatic lathes, mills and other production machinery, very few CNC stuff. If you like old engines then a 'swiss auto' in full production mode is something you could stare at for hours!

My general rule is that if I can see how something works, then I can usually fix it.

Things without moving parts, I'm much less keen on.

When this subject comes up in the pub, my argument is usually based around 'while you are designing and efficiently manufacturing the perfect, hi-tech and reliable gun, I've gone off and found a club and beat you over the head with it.'

I still prefer my old AVOmeter over a digital one. I can see the needle moving and the dial is big enough to see from most angles and in sunlight. Probably not as accurate as a £10 Chinese device, but its lasted 40years so far, and will probably see me out.

Modern bodywork, 1980's engineering and 1960's petrol prices, would suit me fine.

[canis]

What I don't understand is why I need a recking code reader in the first place!

Look, the electrickery has the capability to generate and store codes for later transmission to a hand-held device, it'll need to negotiate transmission speeds, honour "ready to send", be on or off "hook", organise the data into a stream ... it might as well speak english. The sat nav does.

In reality, i don't own a sat nav, I prefer maps, journey preparation and personal knowledge and experience, but you see my point. The code reader phenomenon has not been designed to show you information. Quite the opposite, it's a blatant attempt to deliberately obfuscate, and the only reason the technology had standardised at all required an act of parliament. Don't pretend they're doing you a favour, they aren't.

Edit: put it another way...

Captain: Computer, scan for life-forms.
Computer: Unable to comply. Error nine, bee, three, capital jay, ten, or is that ell-ohh, gee, four, one, one.
Captain: Someone look that up.

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by canis

What I don't understand is why I need a recking code reader in the first place!

Look, the electrickery has the capability to generate and store codes for later transmission to a hand-held device, it'll need to negotiate transmission speeds, honour "ready to send", be on or off "hook", organise the data into a stream ... it might as well speak english. The sat nav does.
.

I believe that originally there was a requirement that the information had to be accessible to anyone, mechanic or driver, without the need for specialist tools, computers or software, rather like the way the 850 had the blinking led under the bonnet you just needed to know the right button sequence. the only cars I've ever been able to be read without a tool are the 850 and the Nissan Almera which could be read with a sequence of ignition on-off and pressing the accelerator. As you say the information is already in the cars computer, surely it can't be too great a leap to put actual words on the dashboard info screen.



there's a lot of truth in your earlier post

There is a satisfaction in gapping cam-followers and strobing the timing, though. I kinda miss that in a way, but I also remember it being a chore that I would often neglect.

at the time it felt cool to be able to do it, but even then we'd rather be down the pub with a pint in our hand.