New Technology Brings New Challenges
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Legend
Joined: May 2005
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From: Central Oklahoma
New Technology Brings New Challenges
The following is from the monthly newsletter distributed by Rock Auto 12/2018:
Yet another quirk in troubleshooting when technology changes.
Electric pumps are a trend for new vehicles. Electric power steering and water pumps help boost fuel economy. New hybrid systems require electric water pumps to cool new parts such as inverters. Car manufacturers have more than a century of experience designing systems using belt driven pumps, and it is not surprising that some of them discovered at least one unforeseen problem when they moved to electric pumps. Audi describes such a problem succinctly in a technical service bulletin (TSB), "Coolant may have migrated into the wiring harness through the connector and into various control units."
Electric Water Pump for BMW 3.0L
The Audi TSB is referring to the connector on a coolant control valve. On another brand vehicle it could be an overheated/melted connector on the side of an electric water pump. There is a leak at or close to an electrical connector and pressurized coolant is inadvertently pumped through a wiring harness. Wiring harnesses are wrapped in conduit to protect the wiring inside. Unfortunately, that conduit can also act as a path for coolant.
Coolant loss is a problem that should be diagnosed and fixed on any age vehicle. Extra care must be taken with newer vehicles not to dismiss that damp spot on the interior carpet as Junior's spilled soft drink or assume the liquid in the taillight must be rainwater. It could be coolant leaking from a new part in a new location that did not exist on your previous vehicle, or it could be coolant using a wiring harness as long distance plumbing.
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com
Electric Water Pump for BMW 3.0L
The Audi TSB is referring to the connector on a coolant control valve. On another brand vehicle it could be an overheated/melted connector on the side of an electric water pump. There is a leak at or close to an electrical connector and pressurized coolant is inadvertently pumped through a wiring harness. Wiring harnesses are wrapped in conduit to protect the wiring inside. Unfortunately, that conduit can also act as a path for coolant.
Coolant loss is a problem that should be diagnosed and fixed on any age vehicle. Extra care must be taken with newer vehicles not to dismiss that damp spot on the interior carpet as Junior's spilled soft drink or assume the liquid in the taillight must be rainwater. It could be coolant leaking from a new part in a new location that did not exist on your previous vehicle, or it could be coolant using a wiring harness as long distance plumbing.
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com
Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,103
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From:
It's just getting ridiculous. And not because I'm getting old - the technology that powered the entire industry was rock solid from 1980-2005. Just change oil, grease, and simple maintenance and repairs. Now they're reverting back to the 1950s with removing heads to grind valves due to direct injection. Head gaskets blowing due to forced induction or internal waterpumps! Who in their right mind would put a waterpump inside an engine! Oh yeah, ferd! Everything is direct injection now and /or AL parts and/or turboed. It just kills reliability.
The only truck engine left on the market is the Hemi and that's even pushing it with twice as many spark plugs, MDS, and crappy manifolds. And the Cummins has plastic waterpump, killer grid heater bolt, head gaskets, and all the crappy emission junk.
The longer I keep my truck, the more I appreciate it. Sure, I've replaced just about everything attached to or around the engine, but dang if that engine just keeps on purring. Eight plugs for $16 bucks. Metal water pumps easy to replace, belt drive accessories, three simple sensors, simple throttle body, one cat, mechanical transmission, and grease zerks!
The only truck engine left on the market is the Hemi and that's even pushing it with twice as many spark plugs, MDS, and crappy manifolds. And the Cummins has plastic waterpump, killer grid heater bolt, head gaskets, and all the crappy emission junk.
The longer I keep my truck, the more I appreciate it. Sure, I've replaced just about everything attached to or around the engine, but dang if that engine just keeps on purring. Eight plugs for $16 bucks. Metal water pumps easy to replace, belt drive accessories, three simple sensors, simple throttle body, one cat, mechanical transmission, and grease zerks!
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,457
Likes: 4,218
From: Clayton MI
It's just getting ridiculous. And not because I'm getting old - the technology that powered the entire industry was rock solid from 1980-2005. Just change oil, grease, and simple maintenance and repairs. Now they're reverting back to the 1950s with removing heads to grind valves due to direct injection. Head gaskets blowing due to forced induction or internal waterpumps! Who in their right mind would put a waterpump inside an engine! Oh yeah, ferd! Everything is direct injection now and /or AL parts and/or turboed. It just kills reliability.
The only truck engine left on the market is the Hemi and that's even pushing it with twice as many spark plugs, MDS, and crappy manifolds. And the Cummins has plastic waterpump, killer grid heater bolt, head gaskets, and all the crappy emission junk.
The longer I keep my truck, the more I appreciate it. Sure, I've replaced just about everything attached to or around the engine, but dang if that engine just keeps on purring. Eight plugs for $16 bucks. Metal water pumps easy to replace, belt drive accessories, three simple sensors, simple throttle body, one cat, mechanical transmission, and grease zerks!
The only truck engine left on the market is the Hemi and that's even pushing it with twice as many spark plugs, MDS, and crappy manifolds. And the Cummins has plastic waterpump, killer grid heater bolt, head gaskets, and all the crappy emission junk.
The longer I keep my truck, the more I appreciate it. Sure, I've replaced just about everything attached to or around the engine, but dang if that engine just keeps on purring. Eight plugs for $16 bucks. Metal water pumps easy to replace, belt drive accessories, three simple sensors, simple throttle body, one cat, mechanical transmission, and grease zerks!
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Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
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From: Central Oklahoma
I don't have a problem with things being computerized. After all, many of the advancements have increased engine performance compared to equivalent displacements 10, 20, and 30+ years ago.
What people don't take into account that a lot of these changes are necessary because of emissions and/or fuel efficiency requirements. Engine power is reduced with every additional pulley added to the load, which is why the power steering system, cooling system, and even A/C compressors are now electrically powered.
Advancements in solid state ignition systems, hydraulic lifters, and fuel injection have eliminated tune-ups. No one has to adjust the valves, carburetor, points, and timing at regular service intervals. Maintenance costs are greatly reduced while reliability and service life have been increased.
I do find it ridiculous to route EVERYTHING through one centralized system.
What people don't take into account that a lot of these changes are necessary because of emissions and/or fuel efficiency requirements. Engine power is reduced with every additional pulley added to the load, which is why the power steering system, cooling system, and even A/C compressors are now electrically powered.
Advancements in solid state ignition systems, hydraulic lifters, and fuel injection have eliminated tune-ups. No one has to adjust the valves, carburetor, points, and timing at regular service intervals. Maintenance costs are greatly reduced while reliability and service life have been increased.
I do find it ridiculous to route EVERYTHING through one centralized system.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,457
Likes: 4,218
From: Clayton MI
For the engine management, yeah, I don't have a problem with that. Fuel injection (electronic) is FAR superior to any other system I have used. (though, I did like the mechanical fuel injection on my scirocco....) But, computerizing things like windshield wipers? Turns signals? Nope. Thats just another layer of unnecessary complication. There is no reason for it, nor is there any regulation requiring it.
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
For the engine management, yeah, I don't have a problem with that. Fuel injection (electronic) is FAR superior to any other system I have used. (though, I did like the mechanical fuel injection on my scirocco....) But, computerizing things like windshield wipers? Turns signals? Nope. Thats just another layer of unnecessary complication. There is no reason for it, nor is there any regulation requiring it.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,457
Likes: 4,218
From: Clayton MI
My new Ram has over 23 computers that control various things. Each door has a commuter to control it. The window switch isn't an a "switch" anymore, it's a signal they goes to the DCM (Door control module) and then it decides whether to roll the window down or not.
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Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
To stop the regular mechanics from working on it. I had to buy a DRBll told along with the new wifi tool and pay monthly and but an o-scope. Now I'm going to review (on my restoration thread) the new Harbor Frieght tool (about 1K) that is suppose to beat Snap-Ons. I just keep going deeper in debt to fix MY OWN vehicles. But it's still cheaper then the dealers
Last edited by MoparFanatic21; Dec 22, 2018 at 03:07 AM.
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
Likes: 72
From: orangeville ontario
i am not against advancement if they make thing better and more reliable but some things start taking things too far. all the wiring and computers may make things more efficient but also usually makes things less reliable and more prone to failing in shorter amount of time. i doubt most of the vehicles made today would even still be on the road 20 years from now with how over complicated they will be to fix when serious things start failing.
Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,437
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From: S. Florida
And the horn... the horn was a very simple circuit that worked instantaneously when you pushed the button... now that it’s wired into the bus, and compared to other essential tasks the computer has to deal with in a timely manner, is a low priority task... so it is not unusual to have a delay between pushing the button and getting a sound... not very helpful in an emergency situation... but hey, we need #4 cyl to fire now, and ..., the horn can wait.