YACT: stupid car design question.

[gotsmack]

My service light came on today and I was wondering why they don't just have a display on the dash that actually says what the problem is instead of some generic think like "Oil" or "Service Engine"

I doubt it would cost Auto manufacturers any extra money, might even save a lot since you can just have 1 advanced display instead of 6 diferent lights on the dash.

For multiple failures or serious failures they could just give some sort of see dealer message.

the only reason I can see for not doing this is to give more business to the dealers. I mean the car already does has the self test, you just need something to decode the messages.


having a display like that could also give a lot of cool readings too like the engine temp, speed, and such, also replacing the gagues. Would have to be a fair sized display though.

 

[mwmorph]

It dosent tell you whats wrong, just the general area thats is not working right. A F63-EFI code is not going to help anyone but the dealer.

 

[Eli]

I think it would be cool. Have the dashboard scroll "O2 sensor out of range", or something... that'd be badass.

 

[chairbornrangerx]

yeah it would be cool, but like he said it... dealers and mechanics would get less business. They might figure that so what if it tells you, the average joe can't fix his own car, so whats it matter if you knew the O2 sensor was going out, you still have to go get it fixed.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
My service light came on today and I was wondering why they don't just have a display on the dash that actually says what the problem is instead of some generic think like "Oil" or "Service Engine"

I doube it would cost Auto manufacturers any extra money, might even save a lot since you can just have 1 advanced display instead of 6 diferent lights on the dash.

For multiple failures or serious failures they could just give some sort of see dealer message.

the only reason I can see for not doing this is to give more business to the dealers. I mean the car already does has the self test, you just need something to decode the messages.

are you kidding? you think an advanced LCD matrix readout is somehow cheaper than 6 bulbs or LEDs?

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: chairbornrangerx
yeah it would be cool, but like he said it... dealers and mechanics would get less business. They might figure that so what if it tells you, the average joe can't fix his own car, so whats it matter if you knew the O2 sensor was going out, you still have to go get it fixed.

I'm one of those people who can;t fix his own car, but I'd pay maybe $500 extra to have the built in display that told me whats wrong, so When the service light comes on I'll know it it's a warning light for my 60k mile service or its something big, if its something small like the o2 sensor went I might say "I'll ride it out for a few weeks before I take it in" but if it was serious I'd take the car to get fixed immediately.

the local mechanic also charges like $35 to do a scan. I think its free at autozone though.

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: gotsmack
My service light came on today and I was wondering why they don't just have a display on the dash that actually says what the problem is instead of some generic think like "Oil" or "Service Engine"

I doube it would cost Auto manufacturers any extra money, might even save a lot since you can just have 1 advanced display instead of 6 diferent lights on the dash.

For multiple failures or serious failures they could just give some sort of see dealer message.

the only reason I can see for not doing this is to give more business to the dealers. I mean the car already does has the self test, you just need something to decode the messages.

are you kidding? you think an advanced LCD matrix readout is somehow cheaper than 6 bulbs or LEDs?

I think once they get production up in large enough numbers the cost will be about even. Its not just those few lights, its also the lights and the car diagram that says the trunk is open or one of the doors isn't closed all the way.

I believe most of the cost will be in the development of the software to give the display the correct readout.

the can charge a few hundred dollars as an upgrade.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: gotsmack

Originally posted by: chairbornrangerx
yeah it would be cool, but like he said it... dealers and mechanics would get less business. They might figure that so what if it tells you, the average joe can't fix his own car, so whats it matter if you knew the O2 sensor was going out, you still have to go get it fixed.

I'm one of those people who can;t fix his own car, but I'd pay maybe $500 extra to have the built in display that told me whats wrong, so When the service light comes on I'll know it it's a warning light for my 60k mile service or its something big, if its something small like the o2 sensor went I might say "I'll ride it out for a few weeks before I take it in" but if it was serious I'd take the car to get fixed immediately.

the local mechanic also charges like $35 to do a scan. I think its free at autozone though.

a check engine light will not come on to remind of you of maintenance.

 

[drnickriviera]

On my ram 2500, you turn the key on and off an number of times and it displays the trouble code on the odometer. I imagine other vehicles are like this.

Even if it did display something, would you know what to do if it said. Bank 1 Cataylst below threshold? or Bank 1 A/F ratio too lean?

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: gotsmack

Originally posted by: chairbornrangerx
yeah it would be cool, but like he said it... dealers and mechanics would get less business. They might figure that so what if it tells you, the average joe can't fix his own car, so whats it matter if you knew the O2 sensor was going out, you still have to go get it fixed.

I'm one of those people who can;t fix his own car, but I'd pay maybe $500 extra to have the built in display that told me whats wrong, so When the service light comes on I'll know it it's a warning light for my 60k mile service or its something big, if its something small like the o2 sensor went I might say "I'll ride it out for a few weeks before I take it in" but if it was serious I'd take the car to get fixed immediately.

the local mechanic also charges like $35 to do a scan. I think its free at autozone though.

a check engine light will not come on to remind of you of maintenance.

Sorry about the bad example, I'm not a car guy. But you get the general idea.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

On my old Dodge Neon you could cycle the ingition on/off five times and it would flash the check engine light to give you a two diget error code. I often got things like cylinder misfire, oil pressure sensor error, etc.

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
On my ram 2500, you turn the key on and off an number of times and it displays the trouble code on the odometer. I imagine other vehicles are like this.

Even if it did display something, would you know what to do if it said. Bank 1 Cataylst below threshold? or Bank 1 A/F ratio too lean?

Nope, and even if I did I most likely wouldn't do it myself. But I'd have an idea if it was a serious problem or not, or atleast I could ask someone who knows. If it was a problem that was small I might let it go for a few weks so I can plan my work schedule around the problem. If it was a big one I'd know to take it in right away.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: chairbornrangerx
yeah it would be cool, but like he said it... dealers and mechanics would get less business. They might figure that so what if it tells you, the average joe can't fix his own car, so whats it matter if you knew the O2 sensor was going out, you still have to go get it fixed.

Eh... someone who is going to take their car to the dealer isn't going to suddenly become a mechanic because the car tells them what is wrong. And people who work on their own car already know you can take it to an auto parts store and have them read the codes for you.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser
On my old Dodge Neon you could cycle the ingition on/off five times and it would flash the check engine light to give you a two diget error code. I often got things like cylinder misfire, oil pressure sensor error, etc.

I've heard of that before, anyone know if such a trick exists for a Honda Civic or Acura TSX?

 

[Shame]

That would have been handy for wife #1. When we were splitting up cars, she indicated that the "Change the Oil Light" had been illuminated for several months on her car. Intrigued, I asked her what a "Change the Oil Light" looks like. She stated, "like an oil can, dummy!"

I took the other car.

 

[avash]

Because the fault code will tell you what fails, but not why it failed or what else is failing. A sensor may read out of parameter because of one or several reasons. The light triggers to alert you of a fault but it still requires the mechanic to go through the entire system and check why something isn't working.

If you lack the mechanical and electrical expertise to diagnose your fault, I doubt asking your tech savvy friend who knows a thing or two about cars will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis sight unseen. If anything, you may fix what you think is wrong and drive around with a hidden problem that could only becomes worse.

If you really want to feel better by knowing what codes there are, learn how to trigger the vehicle in to a diagnostics mode and count the flashes or spend $50 or so on a cheap diagnostics unit from your local autozone/equivalent.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser
On my old Dodge Neon you could cycle the ingition on/off five times and it would flash the check engine light to give you a two diget error code. I often got things like cylinder misfire, oil pressure sensor error, etc.

I've heard of that before, anyone know if such a trick exists for a Honda Civic or Acura TSX?

Civics have a light in the footwell on the passengr side. Let me know the year/engine of your civic and i can alldata the procedure on monday

Not sure about the TSX but i did it ot a civic once because i couldnt find the right freaking plug.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

It would be nice to know what the problem was before taking it to the dealer. They could tell you anything "Oh you need a new Johnson rod. Yeah, Johnson rod replacement, that 'll run you $700".

Thanks to the internet I knew the TSBs for the Dodge Neon better than my dealer. Fvcker tried to overcharge me until I stuck the printout from Chrysler in his face showing the parts charge and alloted hours for the work.

 

[Christobevii3]

You can get an odbII code reader pretty cheap

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser
It would be nice to know what the problem was before taking it to the dealer. They could tell you anything "Oh you need a new Johnson rod. Yeah, Johnson rod replacement, that 'll run you $700".

Thanks to the internet I knew the TSBs for the Dodge Neon better than my dealer. Fvcker tried to overcharge me until I stuck the printout from Chrysler in his face showing the parts charge and alloted hours for the work.

You should be careful with dealers there are some you can truly trust and are professional and then there are the other ones.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Shame
That would have been handy for wife #1. When we were splitting up cars, she indicated that the "Change the Oil Light" had been illuminated for several months on her car. Intrigued, I asked her what a "Change the Oil Light" looks like. She stated, "like an oil can, dummy!"

I took the other car.

LOL!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Chrysler wins again! My Jeep gives the code on the odometer if I turn the key to on-off-on-off-on, and according to this thread so do a lot of other DC vehicles. Why? Because being the most unreliable brand, we are expected to try to fix stuff ourselves. Which reminds me that I need to order a new O2 sensor.

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
You can get an odbII code reader pretty cheap

never knew that, just googled it and will buy one when I get my next car.

thanks.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: gotsmack

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: gotsmack
My service light came on today and I was wondering why they don't just have a display on the dash that actually says what the problem is instead of some generic think like "Oil" or "Service Engine"

I doube it would cost Auto manufacturers any extra money, might even save a lot since you can just have 1 advanced display instead of 6 diferent lights on the dash.

For multiple failures or serious failures they could just give some sort of see dealer message.

the only reason I can see for not doing this is to give more business to the dealers. I mean the car already does has the self test, you just need something to decode the messages.

are you kidding? you think an advanced LCD matrix readout is somehow cheaper than 6 bulbs or LEDs?

I think once they get production up in large enough numbers the cost will be about even. Its not just those few lights, its also the lights and the car diagram that says the trunk is open or one of the doors isn't closed all the way.

I believe most of the cost will be in the development of the software to give the display the correct readout.

the can charge a few hundred dollars as an upgrade.

not a chance. and fyi, the cost of the software is bread crumbs once the production numbers get high.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
if its something small like the o2 sensor went I might say "I'll ride it out for a few weeks before I take it in" but if it was serious I'd take the car to get fixed immediately.

And that right there is EXACTLY why they don't do it. Because people who know nothing about cars would make decisions about what's serious and what's not, and they'd make the wrong decision.

A failed O2 sensor will throw the engine into cold-start mode and will potentially damage the catalytic converter(s), which is (are) highly sensitive to the mixture being correct. Also, since the mixture is richer, it will cause excess blow-by that will dilute the oil, the rich mixture will also foul spark plugs.

ZV