Re: [DML] Serious Megasquirt Question

["jtrealtywebspannet" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are so many single point failure modes for an automobile that it is simply impractical to be prepared for ALL contingencies. You could blow a C/V joint, ball joint, TAB, tie rod end, fuel line, alternator, and on and on. You take care of the car as much as you can and do your PM. When all else fails you have a 3A card or keep a bicycle on a luggage rack. Properly installed you probably have a higher MTBF with electronic ignition and fuel management than with most of the other systems on the car. If you are going to drive a 30 year old car you had better have a back-up plan! From my experience with automotive electronics, they seem to have gotten VERY reliable, much better than they were 30 years ago!!!!!!!!!! In the majority of cases if you do experience a problem the motor will still run, not well but still run. Many failure modes will fail into a "Limp Home" mode. You are correct, if you do lose the controller you are screwed, extremely rare. I have seen it in flood cars. It can also happen if you jump the car and do it backwards. Is EFI more complicated than K-Jet or a carburetor? You Betcha! It is also a LOT more reliable. For anyone unhappy with the stock K-Jet and contemplating some kind of conversion going with a carburetor wouldn't even be on the list of possibilities. BTW, if you are thinking of doing an engine conversion you WILL be using EFI. Unless you are considering going to steam! Heck, EVERY electric car is run on computers and you don't see them dying on the side of the road. And airplanes, trains, elevators, etc.
David Teitelbaum

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Owen" <omalbec@...> wrote:
>
> What is your contingency plan today should your stock Ignition Control Unit craps out (it is 30+ years old after all)?  Or your stock RPM relay? Or your fuel pump? Or.... we can play this game all night. It doesn't matter one iota if your fuel delivery is mechanical if your spark control is electronic.
> 
> I for one believe that whether one is K-Jetted, carburetted or EFI'd, AAA or classic insurance with towing package is probably a prudent investment.  I don't care what your fueling mechanism, if you lose your spark control, you're screwed.
> 
>  
> 
> 
> --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "content22207" <brobertson@> wrote:
> >
> > I mean controller replacement. My little brother had to replace the onboard computer in his Oldsmobile not too long ago. For some reason the thing died while he was at work. 
> > 
> > Onboard electronics do die. I helped a DeLorean owner last year whose Bosch ignition module had died (his dead ECU donated the harness connector for the adapter my Duraspark module is using).
> > 
> > All electronic devices are subject to failure. It is unrealistically optimistic to claim that one's own devices will never fail. If I was totally dependent upon an onboard controller for my fuel delivery, I would definitely have a contingency plan.
> > 
> > Bill Robertson
> > #5939
> > 
> > 
> > --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "DarkStar Media" <darkstarmedia@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Define "dies"...
> > > 
> > > If the computer shorts out it's dead anyway and no laptop or phone will do
> > > anything about it, just like any ECU.
> > > 
> > > Baring that they are extremely reliable and once setup just run and run.
> > > 
> > > If there is a re-boot while running (usually only if you are screwing with
> > > it) you see a hiccup but the MS ECU tends to recover before the engine drops
> > > more than 100rpm (think slight stumble).
> > > 
> > > Richard
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> > > content22207
> > > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 3:31 PM
> > > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [DML] Serious Megasquirt Question
> > > 
> > >   
> > > 
> > > If the onboard controller dies, do you have to reload all the fuel maps from
> > > scratch? If so, is there a smartphone interface so you don't have to upload
> > > them from a laptop? 
> > > 
> > > I'm thinking about what happens if the controller dies while you're on a
> > > trip. 
> > > 
> > > On my own car I am only dependent upon the ignition ECU, and I carry a spare
> > > for that (Duraspark is my primary ECU and the original Bosch unit is my
> > > backup).
> > > 
> > > Bill Robertson
> > > #5939
> > >
> >
>




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