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Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by marincounty on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @03:25PM (#11347445)
I'm still with you father on modern vechicles. Yes--the engine light comes on, and I can read a PID trouble code on many vechicles.

The fault code is not always the problem. It's just not that simple to fix a modern vechicle. I pull a generic pid of XXXX, but maybe, around 30% of the time it's just that error code.

Manufacturers have scan tools that read there products very well. Much better than my Snap-on 2500mt. I can't buy their tools, nor will they sell their priority information to most mechanics.

So, working on vechicles made after, I say, 2000 is really getting hard.

So hard, I believe most vechicles made in the 90's will become collectable? Why--they have less do-dads, and Emmission sensors.

It gets monumentally difficult if your trying to get a vechicle to pass CA Emmission tests.

I thought OBD2 would make working on vechicles a breeze. I have not found it to be the case.

I have found buying a new vechicle is a lifelong relationship with the dealership; at dealership repair prices. I think manufactures did this on purpose. "Get them to buy your vechicle, and keep them coming back?" A sales tatic that software companies have been relying on for years now? I still remember buying Lightroom 1 at $199.00, and thinking that's all I will spend. What a deal?

I actually foresee a bunch of bricked, by failing emmission tests, vechicles in the near future.

Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by pteredactyl on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @04:32PM (#11347978)
Good post. And that's why if I ever by a car it'll be older and not require a proprietary computer sensor to maintain.

That and I have a hard time with the new "smart" driving technology. I was in my friend's Subaru last week and it beeped anytime he did anything remotely out of line...

Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by marshray on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @05:13PM (#11348296)
The bleeping smart driving features are off by default. If you want them, you have to specifically turn them on every time you start the car.
Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by stcredzero on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @05:31PM (#11348421)
I have a hard time with cars that panic if I reach in through an open window to undo the lock.
Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by jonknee on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @06:24PM (#11348753)
> Good post. And that's why if I ever by a car it'll be older and not require a proprietary computer sensor to maintain.

If that day comes you should find a way to secure it because almost all older cars are very easy to steal. Those computer bits make new cars much more difficult to snatch.

Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by soperj on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @06:53PM (#11348953)
Except when they steal your dongle signal and use that to open the door and start the car.
Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by ams6110 on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @11:39PM (#11350418)
Nobody really bothers to steal older cars though. Not enough money in them for the risk.
Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by jonknee on Thursday March 24, 2016 @09:56AM (#11352767)
They are in fact the most popular cars to steal. Especially Honda's.

http://www.dmv.org/insurance/most-stolen-cars-and-other-vehi...

Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by _pmf_ on Wednesday March 23, 2016 @03:38PM (#11347549)
> It gets monumentally difficult if your trying to get a vechicle to pass CA Emmission tests.

In Germany, we have exemptions for what we call Oldtimers and Youngtimers (tax breaks, permission to enter environmentally restricted areas etc.).

Re:I switched to Android after 7 years of iOS by lttlrck on Thursday March 24, 2016 @08:42AM (#11352273)
In Germany the vast majority of cars on the road are well looked after and relatively new - at least that was the persistent impression I got during my time there. In the US the average car age seems much older and they are less well maintained on average - the inspection is a breeze in comparison. So in Germany the overall amount of pollution is lower to start with so exemptions for older cars is a less objectionable and more clear cut. Comparatively. That's my thoughts on it anyway :-)

I had a 1974 TR6 with an H kennzeichen! It was an adventure owning that car in Germany.