Re: [DML] Serious Megasquirt Question

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was 400 miles from my destination when I left DC last night. Wonder how much it would have cost to have my DeLorean hauled home, especially for something as simple as a flat tire? (Given the condition of pavement around Richmond VA, both I-95 and I-295 -- I drove both, a sliced sidewall is a very real possibility).

If spare tires are such a bad idea, why did DMC put one, pitiful though it may be, under the hood in the first place? 

Anyone who travels long distance without a usable spare tire is taking a completely *AVOIDABLE* risk.

Bill Robertson
#5939



--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "DarkStar Media" <darkstarmedia@...> wrote:
>
> In that rare case u can usually call another tow company and AAA will
> reimburse you.  In one case where I was about 80 miles away from my
> destination, AAA's company for that area wouldn't send a driver because they
> did not want to drive that far.
> 
> I called another tow company (as instructed) and AAA took care of me after
> the fact.
> 
> Also keep in mind that AAA is different  from state to state.
> 
> Richard
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Stephen Rice
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:15 AM
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [DML] Serious Megasquirt Question
> 
>   
> 
> The driver can deny to tow your car. I've been there and I canceled AAA
> shortly after that incident.
> 
> -Steve Rice
> #16510
> 
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:04 AM, DarkStar Media <darkstarmedia@...
> <mailto:darkstarmedia%40comcast.net> > wrote:
> > Actually AAA will tow you wherever you want to go.  If you elect to 
> > have yourself towed to a closed tire shop, who's fault is it?
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>  
> > [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com> ] 
> > On Behalf Of
> > content22207
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 12:21 AM
> > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [DML] Serious Megasquirt Question
> >
> >
> >
> > As I explained in Message #84549 I have two ignition modules in my 
> > car: the Duraspark module that is my primary ignition controller, and 
> > the original Bosch unit which is currently sitting idle. Because no 
> > wiring mods were made, I can switch between them at will: if the 
> > Duraspark unit ever fails, all I have to do is plug the Bosch module in
> and get right back on the road.
> >
> > Duraspark modules are of course stock items at all parts houses, but 
> > that wouldn't do me any good after hours (like now: I've just gotten 
> > in from a nocturnal drive back to North Carolina).
> >
> > I also carry a full size 50,000 mile steel belted radial spare tire. 
> > If I ever get a flat tire in the middle of the night (or during 
> > daylight hours on a weekend), I can get right back on the road. I 
> > could drive through state after state after state on my spare, at 
> > highway speeds, if necessary. I did drive all over the DC area on it 
> > once looking for an in stock 235/60-15 tire (sliced sidewall -- no way 
> > to repair that). Note that AAA will only tow you to one tire shop and 
> > leave you there -- if the shop is closed, or if they don't have your 
> > tire size in stock, you're screwed. Any owner who doesn't carry a 
> > usable spare tire is just asking for trouble, especially with pavement 
> > coming apart these days (the jagged edge of a pothole claimed my 
> > sidewall). There also is a lot of crap on the roads that can puncture a
> tire (does AAA plug tires on the side of the road?).
> >
> > Bill Robertson
> > #5939
> >
> > --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>
> <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com> , "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 <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>  
> >> <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com> ,
> > "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 <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>  
> >> > <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com> ,
> > "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%40yahoogroups.com>  
> >> > > <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>
> >> > > [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> >> > > <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>  
> >> > > <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>
> >> > > ] On Behalf Of
> >> > > content22207
> >> > > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 3:31 PM
> >> > > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>  
> >> > > <mailto:dmcnews%40yahoogroups.com>
> >> > > 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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> >
> >
> >
> 
> --
> Steve Rice
> #16510
>




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