Thread: Car Computers

Does anyone here use a computer in their car to run diagnostics, etc.? I had never seen it done up close until just recently in a friend's car. He had a small Toshiba laptop for the job and I was amazed that it didn't have to be a special "car computer" to track the car's gas usage, speed, etc.

I don't because I have an old car and it just wouldn't work. I don't know of anyone who does have a computer in their car either but I suspect time will take care of that.

Oh yeah, a number of new cars come with computers built into them, now. There's not necessarily an interface that the driver can use, but the dealer can access it and run diagnostics to help with repairs, tune ups, etc. Really cool, I think.

That sounds very interesting. It would be neat to just hook a computer up to your car to find out what is wrong with it. Just think how much money could be saved on mechanics if the computer could diagnose the problem right away.

I actually know a mechanic who has to take workshops twice a year to keep up with these developments; he can actually use the computer to pinpoint problems on newer cars and it saves him time, but his prices have to stay the same because the workshops cost money.

This just proves that computers are taking over us in many ways. The old way of checking all the variables to pinpoint the problem is gone with the use of computers. It is good in some way but if we depend on it then that would be bad I think.

A friends dad used to deal with the computers for race cars for his job but I have no idea about it honestly. I get computers and I somewhat get cars (I have one, I enjoy the races, etc.) but putting them both together I have no clue.

The computer device is great and saves time, but does it save enough time during a race? I mean, can they get the computer hitched up to the car and get a read out quick enough so they can fix the car and get it back out on the track?

I am sure they can, tech. changes each day and its not like this is something that was just rolled off the truck last night. There is a difference between knowing what is wrong and what could be wrong, I could see the potential time saved.