The digital era of cars

Twist the key or push a button to start your car, and you are faced with an overwhelming number of lights on the dashboard. With the technology now, even entry-level cars like the Vios, for example, have warning lights indicating that the engine, traction control, anti-lock-braking system and airbag restraint system are ready for action. One by one, these lights turnoff as sensors communicate with computers, and each system is checked and determined to be in working order.

Once the vehicle has been started, the vital fluids like the engine oil, coolants and fuel are all checked by car engine sensors; their status reported to the driver through the gauges in the dash.Cars now alert the driver only when there is something wrong, illuminating a “Check Engine” light (CEL) to tell you that all is not well.

Older car engine sensors and instrumentation were very simple. In “oldschool” cars, an oil light would illuminate if the oil pressure is low or an alternator light would come on when the battery is not receiving the proper charge. These were basically what the old and simple system would relay.

In the past two decades, which I call the “digital era,” things obviouslyhave become more complicated. Some of this complication is a result of the clamor forgreener emissions and safety regulations. Some of it is due to the vast trickle down of technology from years of development, including the technology derived from racecars. The array of powerful engineadvancementshas made the modern engines more powerful and highly efficient. Digitalization was also due to the advancement of luxury conveniences in cars, with some luxuries now offered in “basic” cars.

Everything now is Digital. Digital computers to control engines. Computers to control safety and luxury features. All of these computers rely on fast-acting, reliable car engine sensors.  But more than all that, many systems are now required to store information for diagnosis. Data that the service technicians can plug their own diagnostic devices into a vehicle to see what is wrong, even if the problem is intermittent. Isn’t that great?

What is the downside to this technology? Well, all of these sensors and computers require a lot of sensors, and of course, connections and tons of wires. Have you seen a wiring harness of a modern car? There are literally hundreds of wires bundled under the dash and around the car.  My Dad once told me when I started tinkering with cars, “the lesser the parts, the less complicated it is”. This is where the downside is.When things go wrong, it can be more difficult to figure out where the problem lies.

Before the use of computerized controls and sensors, fixing an automobile was straightforward and logical. We just had to look out for signs like if it had sufficient fuel/air mixture and a good spark to ignite this mixture, then your engine would run. Problems in these purely mechanical systems were relatively easy to diagnose.

The difference today is that a computer controls a variety of digital parameters that ensuresthat the engine is highly efficient, greener, and that the car is safer to drive. It’s great when it is all working, but if a sensor or sensorsfail, the car mayperform poorly or not at all, needing only the qualified technician to fix it.

The reality is that with today’s cars, it has become quite daunting to diagnose a car problem without a scanning tool.  So why do auto manufacturers build it this way? I think, the pros outweigh the cons with this one.