Ed wrote: You list three car brands with reputation for not being so reliable. I could list other brands I wouldn’t own. Me: True, but The trouble I had with those was not mechanical trouble, just the electronics. And the ECU specialist I phoned stated that all car manufacturers are affected. The computer problems are a possibility in every make. These computers are made from a few companies anyway. The Mitsubishi brand is found in all Italian and French cars and in some German too. Maybe not Toyota. However, I was not out to prove that some cars are better than others. I just noticed that electronic systems are not reliable. Especially not in a harsh environment. Like aircraft engines. For example. Lycomings approach is a statement that a magneto is the best redundant system there is. Since the laws require redundancy, they either have to add another Generator /Battery circuit or another magneto. Now having a magnet fire your engine together with your electronic ignition, renders the good things an electronic ignition can do for you useless. Electronic engine management You'll end up with an expensive ignition system that sooner or later will be replaced by a magneto. And the throttle injector replace by a simple reliable carburetor, which is a throttle injector as well, but a mechanical one that does not rely on electrons to function. However. This is my opinion and everyone is entitled to his own. I prefer simple mechanics over complicated electronics. I like a GPS in my plane, a radio too, but I know from experience that even such simple items like a radio tend to fail from time to time. No matter they are TSO'd or not. When my GPS fails, I still have my compass. A burned out radio does not make me crash. A failing ECU is of much higher consequences. Hartmut
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 08:01:18 -0500Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] New Engine..... Hartmut, You list three car brands with reputation for not being so reliable. I could list other brands I wouldn’t own. But, some companies do optimize for reliability such as Toyota and Honda. I’ve got about 350,000 miles in other brands that include being stranded nine times (only one of those was the computer system). But, my 435,000 Toyota miles have not included being stranded even once. But, since people keep buying those other, let us say “not optimized for reliability” brands, your argument stands. I like Lycoming’s approach: Use modern technology but have a magneto as backup. I don’t like single points of failure (like the fuel system) which can land you in the weeds. As for Microsoft bashing, they deserve much of what they get. But, if you measure them by the appropriate scale, that they’re trying to be All Things To All People, they do very well. JMHO Ed _________________________________________________________________ Your PC, mobile phone, and online services work together like never before. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108587394/direct/01/
