Alternators, A Good Example of What's Wrong, GM, Ford, and Chrysler

It doesn't apply to cars at all.

Take a look at the latest

It is still done that same way today.

Don't know were you get your information from but it appears to be
wrong. The only computers that have been combined are the trans and engine
control computers. This was supposedly done because they share alot of
information from the same sensors anyway. By combining both computers in one
box it eliminates alot of duplicate wiring. From what I have seen the
manufactures are going to more computers not less. Are you aware of the
CAN-buss systems ?

It doesn't matter if you have seperate modules or one big module, when it
gets down to trouble shooting at that level you are looking for a wire/wires
controlling a single component. You are still checking inputs and ouputs.

Thus making troubleshooting a

Wrong. See above comment.

If it doesen't, well then that customer is likely never

And just what manufacturers are using one giant computer instead of
seperate units. It has been my experience that every year cars are equipped
with yet another computer, not fewer computers.


And every

The computers are usually tied into each other to save on wiring. For
example, you have five computers that need info from the same sensor. You
have one computer that proccesses that information and sends it to the other
computers over the buss ( buss= 2 wires - twisted pair), You can see the
savings in running seperate wires to each computer.

It's not that hard for a trained tech to repair any of these systems. The
only problems I have seen is the location of some of the computers, you have
to take a good portion of the vehicle apart to gain access to the computer.

I don't believe that at all. If that was the case they would be building
cars with all the electronics that they now have. If you don't have a pretty
good understanding of electronics nowadays you may not be able to fix
anything by replacing parts either.

And, like some

I do agree with this. It seems they are getting very good at making
parts last till just past the warranty period.

And things were easier to repair back then. You could take any car to
the corner garage and get it repaired. Look at all the special tools
required today. You would be hard pressed to find an independent shop that
could afford all the special tools for just one car line. Add to that how
complicated everything has gotten, and every manufacturer does things a
diferent way.

Agree. It's getting so that you cannot even purchase a manual for su
assemblies anymore. The only way to get them is to attend the manufacturers
training school. If you don't work for a dealership you don't attend the
school.

It's getting to be a throw away world, and it's not just cars. As parts
prices come down due to mass production and labor rates got higher and
higher it's just not economically feasable to repair something. It is
usaully cheaper to replace it.

The new designs have better than ever diagnostic computers because the
systems keep getting more and more complex. The better computer self
diagnostics are required to repair the vehicle properly because the
systems are getting so complex. Every year it takes more and more brainwork
to repair vehicles, not less.


simply because

It's just the opposite. An oscilloscope is required more than ever to
repair todays computer controlled vehicles. If fact for some repairs, if you
don't have a scope or know how to use one, you will not be able to make a
proper diagnosis, never mind a repair.

Mike