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Post by Fat_Panda on Jul 1, 2016 8:53:12 GMT -5
Automotive electronics suck so bad. It is a crap environment to work in. Same as putting a uP in washing machines, refrigerators, etc. Moisture, chemical vapors, salt, etc, are hell on components and connections. It seems like most cars and other things fail due to corrosion in the electrical/electronics. You have more knowledge about automotive systems than I have. My knowledge is not up to date at all. I know how and why the systems work but no specific model knowledge. I worked with computers, uP, industrial, automotive, military, and aerospace systems for years. Automotive and industrial environments are bad but military and aerospace are even worse. I was making computers in my garage back at the same time Bill Gates was. He just got lucky due to some insider trading etc. I don't do much electronic work anymore. My hands shake so bad and due to some silent strokes I had to give up years ago. On the other hand I did finish my office AC vent today and did a little AC system tuning, changing vent openings etc. It takes a long time when shaky hands drop and mangle everything. Right on! see when it comes to modern electronics i have no clue compared to others but i have the understanding on how it works and all ive been doing is reading the Wiring diagram left and right . these things now a days have so many sensors and electronics its out of control. I mean who really needs an electronically activated gas door opener mechanical worked just fine for me. |
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Post by Chris Cristini on Jul 1, 2016 11:20:24 GMT -5
In today's world it is all about cheap cheap cheap electronic is cheaper to produce than mechanical just like drive by wire in my 08 caliber simply a motor on the throttle body and the gas pedal is a potentiometer now that system makes it easier to modulate cruise control and electronically control idle as well as being more dangerous because it is hackable lol but also eliminates the need to replace bad cables.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that mechanical is actually worse in many cases I even agree with EFI and the whole ECU deal its better than Carbureted systems as far as performance and fuel efficiency
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Post by Fat_Panda on Jul 1, 2016 11:57:17 GMT -5
In today's world it is all about cheap cheap cheap electronic is cheaper to produce than mechanical just like drive by wire in my 08 caliber simply a motor on the throttle body and the gas pedal is a potentiometer now that system makes it easier to modulate cruise control and electronically control idle as well as being more dangerous because it is hackable lol but also eliminates the need to replace bad cables. I guess what I'm trying to say is that mechanical is actually worse in many cases I even agree with EFI and the whole ECU deal its better than Carbureted systems as far as performance and fuel efficiency i agree its cheaper, and can be fine tuned with the proper programming but less long term reliable. Because i changed the battery the Engine Control Module lost power and now everything needs to be re-coded with expensive programming tools. LOL at the end it cost more than just replacing analog |
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Post by Chris Cristini on Jul 1, 2016 14:41:39 GMT -5
Ah good point more money for dealers  |
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Post by 2stroked on Jul 1, 2016 14:47:11 GMT -5
As long as it needs to be recoded, find and flash or write and flash a custom performance ROM for TH Passat. There are people that do it everywhere, an even having the code written doesn't cost much anymore, for older vehicles. Of course, ifus customization you are after, its nearly just as easy to build an entire CCM/ ECM from T.I.P I.C.'s and even kits. A hand full of chips, a couple PCB's and some flux and solder and a few hours you got yourself a blank slate ready to do your automotive bidding. Its more tedious than difficult anymore,why with all the internet asshats TH just feel the need to YouTube stuff like that. I see a valuable service in you tubing certain things, like Brent has done, but when you are telling fifteen and sixteen year old video game addicted kids how to rebuild Mommy's car to do a hundred an fourth that's a but too much.
Anyway, I built from pieces and scrap, a five disc DVD surround sound system with FM stereo av and Bluetooth with a 1400 watt amplifier for he shop. Took a couple days to source an arrange the parts and Chios an such, but just a few hours hours o build. Its ugly as hell, couldn't give away something h looks like this,but it works.
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 1, 2016 17:38:23 GMT -5
Read "The Marching Morons". It is all about bells and whistles to sell to the morons. It is also about more stuff to fail and more money for the dealers.
Sometimes electrical is cheaper than mechanical but not always. A simple human operated gas door can't be beat for cost.
I have had a couple of chips made for cars. They have worked well.
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Post by 2stroked on Jul 2, 2016 13:20:51 GMT -5
FrankenMech, You can use existing ships either recycled or ordered. Almost any CMOS chip or PROM chip can be made to function as an ECM or PCM.
There are several companies that only make and sell PROM chips and CMOS capable chipsets. Also, many consumer electronics contain flash able PROM, ROM, and even RAM chips that can be re flashed simply with almost no expierience and very minimalistic equipment. Hell, an old P.C. a serial cable a flash able chip and a power source for the PCB and you can create a custom flash.
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 3, 2016 2:40:46 GMT -5
I have had all kinds of chip programming equipment over the years. I have scrapped out many systems. I have designed a lot of commercial PC boards for machine controllers and older PC's. I started digital design back when there were only TTL and a few cmos chips around, no uP chips at all. Memory was 256 bits by one if I remember right. No eproms at all. Things progressed rapidly. I don't mess with flashing chips for cars anymore. It is much easier to just have someone make one for me. That way I don't have to research out memory locations and codes.
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Post by 2stroked on Jul 3, 2016 10:43:10 GMT -5
Good point. Once you figure the registers and stop bits and where a blank goes then the rest is mainly writing a few hundred thousand lines if long winded code.
Once you flash an EPROM for something, it's all easier and almost second nature. I flashed a custom EPROM for the DVD surround system I built this week. Needed one to tell the damn thing which channel to amplify and which one to pass through.......
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 7, 2016 17:57:00 GMT -5
Talking about sound systems. I needed a second amp to control the volume on my office sound system. The wimpy 'rear' speaker or A/B switch systems just could not control or handle the power for full size 14"+ speakers. I purchased a Sherwood RX-5502 4x100w RMS receiver so I could set the amplifier level for the 'Room2' (rear) speakers. It may not be the best amp out there now but it will do for my old ears. At least it has good banana plug binding posts rather than those stupid spring-type speaker terminals. My existing ancient (~top of the line 30 years ago) Yamaha RX-830 has similar specs so sound equipment has improved over the years and the price has dropped. It has those spring clip speaker terminals that are worn out. I have a massive 45 year old Heathkit AA-29 but it has worn out volume controls. I need to make a new brushed aluminum face plate with rotary control knobs for it along with new speaker terminals. That is a project for another day. It also needs a couple new capacitors in the phono preamp section, but I don't listen to vinyl anymore.
I just run a fixed amplification level on my amp(s) and control the overall volume etc with my computer or TV. The TV has been on less than 5 hours since 2010. I can't stand to watch broadcast TV or even most cable. So I don't have cable, only Google internet. With two amp sections the speaker volume should kind of hold to a ratio. I do have to adjust volume when I listen to the radio.
I need to fix a blown set of speakers in my sub also. I do like to shake the house.
I just use a desktop PC with 2 or 3 DVD drives for my 'media' centers. One in the office and another in my bedroom. I live in those two rooms. I mostly watch Netflix etc. When I am in the 'shop' I make too much noise to listen to music. I had a 5-disk changer years ago but it stopped working. DVD drives for a computer are cheap. My whole house is my shop.
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Post by scooterswapshop on Jul 7, 2016 20:51:28 GMT -5
electrician stuff. And researching restraining orders lol
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liftit
Scoot Enthusiast
Posts: 264
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Post by liftit on Jul 7, 2016 21:28:25 GMT -5
Flew to a neighbor island and then drove an hour for a mediation, just to find out my paralegal didn't request that my client's representative also be there. So it was a brief meeting and an hour drive back to the airport. Luckily, I was able to get on standby for an earlier flight. So, an entire workday wasted for a 15 minute meeting that didn't resolve a thing. I need a drink and a nap.
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 8, 2016 3:39:06 GMT -5
Flew to a neighbor island and then drove an hour for a mediation, just to find out my paralegal didn't request that my client's representative also be there. So it was a brief meeting and an hour drive back to the airport. Luckily, I was able to get on standby for an earlier flight. So, an entire workday wasted for a 15 minute meeting that didn't resolve a thing. I need a drink and a nap. Deduct your costs from the paralegal's pay check... -OOops, it would not cover them. |
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liftit
Scoot Enthusiast
Posts: 264
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Post by liftit on Jul 8, 2016 13:21:09 GMT -5
Flew to a neighbor island and then drove an hour for a mediation, just to find out my paralegal didn't request that my client's representative also be there. So it was a brief meeting and an hour drive back to the airport. Luckily, I was able to get on standby for an earlier flight. So, an entire workday wasted for a 15 minute meeting that didn't resolve a thing. I need a drink and a nap. Deduct your costs from the paralegal's pay check... -OOops, it would not cover them. Except they aren't my costs, they're my client's costs. And my paras get paid pretty well, so thanks for that. |
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Post by FrankenMech on Jul 8, 2016 14:32:39 GMT -5
Hmmm, so you just pass the costs of a mistake in your office on to the client... Nice.
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