-------------- Original message --------------

> Ian Dewhirst wrote:
>
> >On the other hand I have
> >never had an engine management system fail in one of my cars even though I
> >must have driven a million miles in cars that used them. I work in an
> >office these days, I asked my co-workers if their cars had ever stopped
> >while driving for a reason other then running out of gas, or a dead
> >battery, none had.
> >
> >
> >
>
> I have, Ian. I drive a Dodge Dakota QuadCab. GM used the engine
> management for the Jeep Grande Cherokee in the Dakota, because it had
> proven itself to be reliable over several years of service. In the
> Cherokee, I'm told, the computer was mounted low on the firewall. In
> the Dakota, it is high on the right hand wheel well.
>
> Hot day. My plan is a 4 hour drive to the beach. Stopped at a fast
> food drive-thru to get a bite for the ride. I get my food and start to
> pull out. The engine dies completely. Battery still strong. All the
> accessories run. Starter cranks the engine. I would have assumed I was
> out of gas if I hadn't just filled up earlier that day. Luckily, the
> restaurant was only 1/2 block behind my house, so I just walked home.
> Later that evening, I decided to give it another try. Walked back and
> she cranked right up the first try.
>
> The problem was that the computer got heat soaked in the drive-thru and
> went bonkers. Turns out that GM was having a hard time of it, having to
> replace a large number of computers with a beefed up resistor in there
> somewhere. Had to drive it like that for a few days, with it
> periodically giving out if it got to hot (like at a stoplight.
> Arrgh!!). Got it running several times with a bag of dry ice. Resorted
> to carrying a 2-liter bottle of water, until the dealer could schedule
> to fix it. (Bastards kept my truck for 3-days for what shouldn't have
> taken more than 10min. to fix).
>
> Moral of the story: Stuff happens. So carry a bottle of water or some
> dry ice when you fly. You don't know when you'll need it, and it'll
> keep the backup CAS company.
>
> --
> ,|"|"|, |
> ----===<{{(oQo)}}>===---- Dyke Delta |
> o| d |o www.ernest.isa-geek.org |
>
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