IAM Bad Habits

Anything that doesn't fit elsewhere - doesn't have to be AD related.
Gareth
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Re: IAM Bad Habits

Postby Gareth » Thu Jul 22, 2021 6:46 pm

jont- wrote:Wasn't it an early MX5 where they changed the behaviour of the oil pressure gauge (or temp, can't remember) because owners were getting confused by the needle moving when the car was hot and the RPM changed?

The Alfas we've had, with oil pressure gauges, made it clear that
  • idle oil pressure is high when the engine is cold
  • idle pressure reduces as the engine warms up
  • when the engine has warmed up, the pressure rises and falls with engine speed
If there is a choice between an oil pressure and oil temperature gauges, the former is much more useful.
there is only the road, nothing but the road ...

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Strangely Brown
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Re: IAM Bad Habits

Postby Strangely Brown » Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:53 am

jont- wrote:Wasn't it an early MX5 where they changed the behaviour of the oil pressure gauge (or temp, can't remember) because owners were getting confused by the needle moving when the car was hot and the RPM changed?


That would be the oil pressure gauge in the NC. Unless it is stuck hard against the left side the you "have some pressure" and how much seems to vary quite a lot with RPM and temp. There is a nice little teapot light though.

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dvenman
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Re: IAM Bad Habits

Postby dvenman » Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:33 am

jont wrote:Precise != Accurate. The Elise fuel gauge read in litres, which was fine if you knew 11l really meant empty :lol:


As a technical aside the only requirement for aircraft fuel gauges is to show zero when empty...

Triquet
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Re: IAM Bad Habits

Postby Triquet » Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:40 am

A couple of thoughts:

a) Wasn't it always recommended ergonomics for dial gauges to show the optimum working value with the needle at 12 o'clock?

b) With modern computer power it should not be beyond the wit of car software designers to get away from the stupid CEL and actually display the code or better still display a short description of the problem in plain language? Even doing it it different languages shouldn't be a problem (although it might give the odd cheap laugh).

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jont-
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Re: IAM Bad Habits

Postby jont- » Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:45 am

Triquet wrote:b) With modern computer power it should not be beyond the wit of car software designers to get away from the stupid CEL and actually display the code or better still display a short description of the problem in plain language? Even doing it it different languages shouldn't be a problem (although it might give the odd cheap laugh).

Yes, I'm sure messages like this won't confuse the average punter at all :lol:

Image

Then there's the 710 filler cap problem. Much safer for the manufacturer to say "take it to a dealer" (and let's face it, even they are increasingly useless in actually doing diagnosis beyond plugging a laptop in and swapping the box the machine tells them to swap :bash: )


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