[DeTomaso] Why I drive only 35+ year old cars....

[Sean Korb]

I'm a computer engineer and a computer scientist.  Since I expect my
retirement plan to be "bet it all on black" I plan to spend a couple
of decades fixing, or more likely, working around these proprietary
systems to the enjoyment of the madmen that want to keep using them. I
think I may get some perverse enjoyment out of them as well.

sean


On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 4:48 PM, Jeff Detrich <jjdetrich at gmail.com> wrote:
> This is why Bob Smith, a Pebble Beach quality restorer of old Ferraris,
> refers to newer Ferraris as "throwaway" cars.
>
> Jeff
> 6559
>
> On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 3:10 PM, <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi guys,
>>
>> Modern cars have never had any appeal to me, and here's a good reason why.
>>  This is from a fellow in the Nor-Cal Shelby Club, who has some slight
>> difficulties with his 2000 Ford F-350:
>>
>> ====
>>
>>  Hey gang,
>>
>> I am hoping some one can offer me some advice / solution to a problem I
>> am having with my 2000 turbo diesel 2 wd A/T dually crew cab.  It
>> appears that the GEM (Generic Electronics Module) has gone bad so that
>> the truck does weird things like flash the dome light on and off, turn
>> the windshield wipers on and off - but most importantly - won't even
>> activate the starter to try to start.  Unfortunately, the company that
>> made the part for Ford went out of business and there are none at any
>> dealerships in the US according to a search performed by a dealer.  They
>> may be available in November.  I can not find the right one ('E' version
>> for power windows / locks and the Passive Anti Theft System - PATS) on
>> Ebay or in a wrecking yard (and there are none listed in the wrecking
>> yard's computer search of other wrecking yards).  Any other suggestions
>> for sources?  The next problem is that the truck will not even try to
>> start and apparently data need to be down loaded from the current GEM
>> (even though it is bad) through the diagnostic port and then uploaded
>> back into the new GEM through the diagnostic port with a special Ford
>> Dealer specific scanner.  I can not get a flat bed big enough to tow the
>> truck to the dealership up my drive way, even if I could get the part.
>> Some on line forums contest the assertion that the down load needs to
>> happen, but the service manual, dealerships and an independent mechanic
>> confirm that it does.  There is a possibility that I could send the GEM
>> to Cardone and have it rebuilt, but that will take a couple of weeks at
>> least and still does not get around the need to do the down load (and
>> have the data sit on the scan tool until the GEM is replaced) and then
>> re- up load it.  Dealerships don't seem too keen on the idea of having
>> one of their scan tools tied up for a couple of weeks...  Ideas /
>> suggestions / help are all appreciated.  Thanks!
>>
>> John
>>
>> ====
>>
>> Amazing.   His truck is 12 years old and now it's a garage ornament.
>> Killed by planned obsolescence and manufacturer support neglect.   Will it
>> ever
>> run again, or will he just have to tow it to a junkyard????
>>
>> If anybody has any ideas to help him, since he's not on this forum please
>> contact him directly at mastadon at planet10.com and tell him I sent you.
>>
>> Mike
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-- 
Sean Korb spkorb at spkorb.org http://www.spkorb.org
'65,'68 Mustangs,'68 Cougar,'78 R100/7,'60 Metro,'59 A35,'71 Pantera #1382
"The more you drive, the less intelligent you get" --Miller
"Computers are useless.  They can only give you answers." -P. Picasso