Longhornjohn,

hey man when God said "let there be light" where you there to flip the switch or what? :P

"in the last 50 years" <- that's why I ask

 

YeuEmMaiMai: I am not ashamed of my age or experience on reciprocating engines. For your information, I was being conservative when I said 50 years. The first engine that I ever worked on was a 1926 Chevrolet and that was over 60 YEARS AGO!!!! I believe the year was 1940 so I actually started working on engines around 66 years ago. Your Grandpa or Dad probably hadn't even been born then.

I have been a aircraft & engine mechanic, aircraft engine specialist, jet engine mechanic, and I have overhauled many gasoline engines and a few diesel engines. I am a Ham Radio operator so I know electronics pretty good. I must admit the engines prior to the modern controlled engines were a lot easier to trouble shoot, but most of the trouble shooting principles are still valid, but more components do have to be checked out. Maybe someday when you grow up you will understand.

I have helped a lot of people with vehicle trouble along the highways and byways. So far I haven't run across a wiseacre stranded, but if I do then I just might leave him there because I don't have time to waste on those people.

 

Hey man I like all of you old dude mechanics since I leech all of the informtion I can from them.

I think the new cars are OK because now we got a computer to tell us what is messed up in most cases.

 

The day computers tell you whats wrong is the day that mechanics will be out of a job. But they sure do help when your trying to diagnose.

 

It only narrows down the search. The ECU can't tell the difference between a bad sensor vs. a broken or disconnected wire. Not only that, check out all the tests you have to do for P1457 (as an example). I get a laugh when someone posts with an OBD-2 code & someone comes right in saying "replace the xxxx sensor".

 

i totally agre with Jim.......
The ECU is like a tree with many branches,, the code will direct you to that branch but it is still up to the tech to find the problem,

like i always say NEVER replace anything till you got the problem DIAGNOSED

DIAGNOSE,, DIAGNOSE,, DIAGNOSE,, that's the key to a good tech , then you know the problem will be fixed correct and the first time ..

 

well of couse not. I am just saying that if you get a code like "o2 sensor heater circuit open" that pretty much narrows down your area of what you need to diag to fix the problem.

I see a lot of old timers always complain about how complicated car engines are now and in reality it is much simpler because less vaccum lines, better components, etc.

 

As much as love carbuerators and their simplicity, I'm glad I will never have to rebuild one for my honda accord.