Computer Problems

We all have them, in our daily routine we will run into one or the other kind of technological malfunction that will make you want to scream. It seems today that almost everything is ran by some sort of computer operated device. Look at  your vehicle for example. Before, when it became cold outside, you would get in your car pump the gas pedal about 20 times, pull the choke, and fire the thing up.  Of course computers made that easier. OK, computers did help us some I guess. Although when the car finally warmed up after 20 min, you would hop in with your big fluffy coat on and reach over pull out the heat knob, make sure your vents were pointed in the right direction and turn the fan switch to high and wham, the heat came pumping out.

Today we push our button to lock the car twice and then push the start button in which the little fob in our hand sends a signal to the computer in the vehicle telling it to start the car. Once the vehicle starts it can then automatically turn on the heater after the vehicle warms up for about 5 min. Then when its all toasty warm in 5 min, you can walk outside in your light coat and be off to work in under 20 min.  Another big win for the computer right?

The only problem with the computer in a vehicle is that any do it yourself person cannot work on his or her own vehicle anymore. That’s right you need a computer to tell you what is wrong with your vehicle. It seems that there are many controls going to many circuits in your vehicle, so that heater knob that you used to pull out for heat is now a control circuit in the computer module, along with your vent controls, fan speed controls, heat settings, automatic temp controls, cabin air controls, rear heat controls, and so on and so on.

When everything is working fine, life is great, although, if a computer module go’s bonkers life becomes hectic. It is a flat fee of $80.00 just to hook the computer up to the vehicle just  find out if your module is bad. If not there will be a charge of $90.00 and hour to find out if a sensor is out, or maybe a wire connection is bad, or maybe a mouse has chewed through your wiring harness. or  maybe a vent control went bad.

Just for the heat that you used to have in three quick movements, you now have to pay a huge bill and be without a vehicle for days.  And the response from the service adviser, (computer problems).

There are a multitude of uses for computers although some uses are useless. For instance, Electronic toilets. Boy what do you think would happen if it had a computer problem. A little to much water on the rinse cycle.

We will talk about that later, I must go for now, So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu.