Quote:
Originally Posted by BWinmill
Perhaps a more accurate title would be "Automakers want to make working on your car's electronic control systems illegal."...
|
That is correct and I have to say that I see their point. Seems to me this is just another beat up by the media trying to make it look like one won't even be able to change ones oil filter.
In my own country it is already illegal to drive a car that has been modified (including changing the engines ECS) without it having been subsequently certified by an approved certifying agency. So, for example, if one changes the handling by modifying the suspension or if one changes the mechanical braking systems then one has to get the vehicle certified as still being safe.
I do not see that changing the onboard software associated with, in similar with the above examples, electronic stability control or ABS braking as being any different. Then there are in modern vehicles all the other software controlled systems such as electronic throttle control, cruise control both conventional and adaptive (adaptive being automatically maintaining safe spacing from vehicles or obstructions ahead), lane keeping, transmission control, adaptive front lighting, etc, etc.
I sure as hell would not like to buy any used car or face one on the street that some hacker has gotten into these systems. Given the difficulty in recertifying small volume changes in such software based systems I would go along with the car makers claims, unless it is something relatively straightforward such as simple rechipping of an turbo charged engine's ECS for more power and that is independently certified (as it already has to be in my own country).