Automakers to gearheads: Stop repairing cars

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E_SolSi

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http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/20/automakers-gearheads-car-repairs/

here are a few excerpts

Automakers are supporting provisions in copyright law that could prohibit home mechanics and car enthusiasts from repairing and modifying their own vehicles.

In comments filed with a federal agency that will determine whether tinkering with a car constitutes a copyright violation, OEMs and their main lobbying organization say cars have become too complex and dangerous for consumers and third parties to handle.

Allowing them to continue to fix their cars has become "legally problematic," according to a written statement from the Auto Alliance, the main lobbying arm of automakers.

Complex Software, Increased Risk

Industry concerns are mounting that modifying these ECUs and the software coding that runs them could lead to vulnerabilities in vehicle safety and cyber security. Imagine an amateur makes a coding mistake that causes brakes to fail and a car crash ensues. Furthermore, automakers say these modifications could render cars non-compliant with environmental laws that regulate emissions.

GM: Telematics Industry Threatened

For their part, manufacturers say they're more concerned about potential losses than new revenue streams. Tinkering with the ECUs can void a car owner's warranty, but automakers remain concerned with their liability if third parties make changes that could result in physical or financial harm. They noted unsavory mechanics could easily manipulate odometers, and make cars appear to have fewer miles on them than they actually do, a problem for unsuspecting used-car buyers.

Automakers: We Know Our Cars Better

Manufacturers and their lobbyists have submitted comments on six of the 27 proposals. The specific topics cover: unlocking mobile connectivity devices, unlocking consumer machines, jailbreaking all-purpose mobile computing devices, vehicle software diagnosis repair and modification, and software security and safety research.

If there's a recurring theme in the comments beyond their assertions of ownership, it's that they say they know the intricacies of these ever-more-complicated software systems better than consumers and third parties. The Association of Global Automakers says the manufacturers and their suppliers "best understand the interdependence of automotive systems and are in the best position to know whether a modification, regardless of how slight, would disrupt another system."
 
I read this a little earlier. I don't think this will stick though. The only thing I think it could get traction with is specially designed self driving cars and cars with strict EPA regulations. Think hybrid cars adding turbos or some shit. And if you've ever seen "Hot Tub Time Machine 2", it puts the thought out there that one day cars can be totally programmable to do whatever the developer wants.

I could understand if they just made computer mods void the warranty, but other than that, this doesn't have legs.
 
SEMA should jump into action any minute
 
So I will have to pay the dealer the $50 labor they wanted to replace the cabin air filter on the civic. A job that takes 30 seconds to do. Can't change my own brakes or replace a burnt out taillight.
 
Yeah, i'm sure every single tire manufacturer has something to say about it to.
 
But what happens when those dirty home mechanics start downloading tires! Oh wait, maybe that isn't right.
 
They need to protect their intellectual property. I get it. But they're throwing a bucket of water on lit match here. If I can't work on a new car, I won't buy it.
 
The MOST USED software in the world are ones that have API's for 3rd parties to interact with them and prototype.extend them. And the simple reason is that it allows the users to do what they want with it once a core is established.

the LEAST USED software are those that are locked down.
 
am i the only one that thinks that brakes should in now way be operated by the computer?
seriously. of all things, thats one thing that should be mainly manually operated. abs is fine, bc even if that goes out, you still have brakes. but knowing that a simple electrical complication could cause no brakes is just not ok. especially in states that still allow resale of flood vehicles, just seems like a bad idea.
 
I personally don't think anything that could potentially cause you to get in an accident should be electronic like brakes or steering. I'm not even comfortable with an electronically controlled automatic transmission. Although unlikely, one short or malfunction in a switch or the TCU causing you to go from drive to park going 70mph down the interstate doesn't sound fun.
 
yet, lines full of hydrolic fluid that go bad don't scare you?

cuz, i lost the brakes in my truck due to a line bust, and let me tell you, that was fucking scary.


Things of all kinds can and will break. mechanical or digital.
 
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Electric PS brakes trans and throttle is car companies just getting ready to build cars that drive themselves. I believe that the "trial period" if you will, is taking place now to test reliability and such of said systems. :foilhat:
 
Not much tinfoil needed for that theory. It is going to happen. And honestly I don't think self driving is going to necessarily take over driveways in the near future. But you won't need to own a car in the city once Google/Elon come out with their systems. You will just dial up a car and it will drive you wherever you would like to go then drive itself back to a garage.
 
I heard all manufactures are working on a self driving car. Our car hobby is coming to an end soon. Watch human driven cars be outlawed.
 
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