the "carchip"

[rh71]

I didn't realize this thing has been around since January 2002 (according to the article post date)...

Carchip ... no more of those $40 diagnostic fees eh ? I wonder if it'll work on my '95.

 

[Scarpozzi]

This is an interesting piece of equipment because it interfaces with a computer. They've been selling similar products at Autozone and Advance now for quite a few years. Also, if you have some spare wire and know what you're doing, you can get the same kind of data with a couple of pieces of wire on some cars. It just takes a code book to tell how many check engine light blinks mean what on some GM models. 😛

 

[Turkish]

interesting.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i don't really see what the benefit to this product is.. they already have OBD-II devices that interface with palm pilots and give you information in real time, and scan tools that are much more powerful, so what's the benefit? this thing probably can't even erase codes.

 

[rh71]

Yup, it can reset the code for you.

The benefit is ease of use for everyday Joes who know only how to use a computer. I guess it's just more commercialized as opposed to what you mention as an OBD-II device interfacing with Palms - which is news to me - not to mention it can't do the above from a Palm.

I'd love to have this thing (if it works on a '95) since I'm always reluctant to spend the money on diagnostic fees, in addition to whatever the mechanic could be lying about.

 

[rh71]

Official Site

 

[RU482]

From the site:

My best friend was killed in a high speed car accident less than a quarter of a mile from my front door. If he would have had the CarChip?, the temptation to drive late at night at illegal speeds would have been avoided, and might have saved his life.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research shows that when an Onboard Event Data Recorder is installed like the CarChip?, crashes decrease 20% because the driver knows their driving performance is being continually recorded.

That's just what we need, to have these be mandatory or pushed by the insurance companies. I guess it's only a matter of time

 

[StageLeft]

I don't see how this will tell you anymore about what's wrong with your car than a standard OBDII reader. In some cases you don't even need a reader for OBDII. 4th gen maximas, for instance, you can play with a screwdriver down on some piece of hardware by the driver's seat and have the check engine light blink to spit out the codes. As anybody with an OBDII car can tell you, there is far more to diagnostics of a cars problem than reading codes. Two of the three issues I've had with the maxima were not giving codes, and thus required much more expertise to diagnose the problem.

 

[StageLeft]

That's just what we need, to have these be mandatory or pushed by the insurance companies. I guess it's only a matter of time

Don't worry - it will happen sooner than you think. Already pontiac grand ams track the driver's speed, throttle, etc. prior to an accident. Recently in court a guy who claimed he was mildly speeding was found to have gone at ridiculous speeds before plowing into the side of a car killing some people. The courts issued an order to have his car's computer checked and they found that he'd been doing some ungodly speeds.

It's only a matter of time indeed before all cars have these computers. Memory is cheap and it won't be long before an entire car's driving history is recorded on chip, which can then be brought out by a court order if you're ever being charged for reckless driving or something like that. And, of course, insurance companies will surely offer discounts to driver's willing to part with this information. And those who don't? Well, they must be hiding something. So, be prepared for higher rates.

This all ties in with my thread last week about sports cars being stupid. Legally it will become more and more difficult to drive fast on public roads without getting nailed or paying a lot to do it in insurance premiums/tickets, etc.

I wouldn't doubt that in the future cars have a radio transmitter in them that syncs up with police databases every once in a while and if your transmitter doesn't, then your car won't start. It would send information like if you've exceeded 100 mph, for instance. Afterall, what do you have to hide, since you shouldn't be going at 100 mph anyway? Perhaps those interested in drag racing or autoxing with their cars would have the available of a bypass so that they can still legally drive fast in those controlled conditions. Computers and technology kill privacy and make it easy to track people. It's quite inevitable!

 

[rh71]

ANYWAY, for the AVERAGE JOE, this would be a good tool. Keeps you from getting ripped off at the mechanic when he says your problem is one thing while the chip spits out a different, more simpler, code.

Do you think I want to be playing around with a screwdriver and having to look up codes by watching blinks ? I want to know, but not that badly.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: rh71
ANYWAY, for the AVERAGE JOE, this would be a good tool. Keeps you from getting ripped off at the mechanic when he says your problem is one thing while the chip spits out a different, more simpler, code.

Do you think I want to be playing around with a screwdriver and having to look up codes by watching blinks ? I want to know, but not that badly.

That's not true! The codes are only a starting point, a lean O2 code doesn't always mean you have a bad O2 sensor. I have seen plenty on codes set by components that weren't directly related to the defective part.

 

[Rahminator]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

That's just what we need, to have these be mandatory or pushed by the insurance companies. I guess it's only a matter of time

Don't worry - it will happen sooner than you think. Already pontiac grand ams track the driver's speed, throttle, etc. prior to an accident. Recently in court a guy who claimed he was mildly speeding was found to have gone at ridiculous speeds before plowing into the side of a car killing some people. The courts issued an order to have his car's computer checked and they found that he'd been doing some ungodly speeds.

It's only a matter of time indeed before all cars have these computers. Memory is cheap and it won't be long before an entire car's driving history is recorded on chip, which can then be brought out by a court order if you're ever being charged for reckless driving or something like that. And, of course, insurance companies will surely offer discounts to driver's willing to part with this information. And those who don't? Well, they must be hiding something. So, be prepared for higher rates.

This all ties in with my thread last week about sports cars being stupid. Legally it will become more and more difficult to drive fast on public roads without getting nailed or paying a lot to do it in insurance premiums/tickets, etc.

I wouldn't doubt that in the future cars have a radio transmitter in them that syncs up with police databases every once in a while and if your transmitter doesn't, then your car won't start. It would send information like if you've exceeded 100 mph, for instance. Afterall, what do you have to hide, since you shouldn't be going at 100 mph anyway? Perhaps those interested in drag racing or autoxing with their cars would have the available of a bypass so that they can still legally drive fast in those controlled conditions. Computers and technology kill privacy and make it easy to track people. It's quite inevitable!

It's not whether you have something to hide or not. It's about the principle of privacy. The second these things are in every car is the second I go online and look for ways to hack it to kingdom come. That's right, I want to do my 100 mph on rt. 80 at 3 am in the morning and unless I get pulled over, I'm innocent.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: Rahminator
That's right, I want to do my 100 mph on rt. 80 at 3 am in the morning and unless I get pulled over, I'm innocent.

No, you are guilty. You just aren't in trouble.

 

[StageLeft]

Do you think I want to be playing around with a screwdriver and having to look up codes by watching blinks ? I want to know, but not that badly.

I guess you're the sort of person who has no problem paying a mechanic $60 to check a code. I'd personally rather use a screwdriver, spend 10 minutes (about the time it takes you to get to the mechanic) and do it myself. Unfortunately it can't be done on a 5th gen. However, there are numerous code-readers (for most cars available to borrow FREE at autozone), that read the codes just as well as this car chip.

It's not whether you have something to hide or not. It's about the principle of privacy. The second these things are in every car is the second I go online and look for ways to hack it to kingdom come. That's right, I want to do my 100 mph on rt. 80 at 3 am in the morning and unless I get pulled over, I'm innocent.

Well, as long as others are willing to take insurance rate cuts as long as they have no problem showing their driving history, those who are unwilling will naturally pay a premium for their privacy.

 

[Analog]

Here's one for $39.99, less if you have their coupon.