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This is why I'll always buy cheap used cars - they already have a history of running. All they need is intensive oil changes and occasional part replacement for

This is why I'll always buy cheap used cars - they already have a history of running. All they need is intensive oil changes and occasional part replacement for a couple years before I move onto my next used car. I avoid all the whizbang rent seeking bullshit just by driving horrible old cars. I really hope someone makes a conversion kit for the computer in these cars. It would suck to be out on a new car, and just have a brick sitting in your driveway.

psd1 2y ago
I occasionally read blogs about reverse-engineering auto computers, and it is clearly not simple. I don't expect even a popular model to be fully REd on the next decade, let alone a Fisker.
- tb_technical 2y ago
  You're right! But rather than reverse engineer the cars computer, how about a complete aftermarket overhaul? You would lose some features, surely, but at least the car would work, no?
  - psd1 2y ago
    You've never stripped a car. I have. I don't want to underestimate what a driven person can accomplish, but I'd estimate a year of work for ten engineers with relevant experience. I think you'll have to poach someone from the target vehicle's maker, just to get the industry contacts to source the connectors. Minimum order 10k, obvs. You'll need to keep ~100 types in stock; I guess about €10m outlay. I think you'll have to print the cases, and you'll face issues with vibration and temperature range. How many flex cycles are you putting the parts through in testing? Are you testing for water ingress, salt spray? Or do it properly and get into injection moulding; add six months and another million or two. After you've spent 8 figures bringing the kit to market, I might be interested, if you can sell a kit for a '94 jag at a price point way below what I imagine your unit costs will be. But I'll be claiming from you when your parts fail. Then I'm going to warn people away, even if your customer service is excellent, because I've now lost acres of knuckle skin and snapped some of the interior trim getting to these parts.
    - tb_technical 2y ago
      Mostly what was in mind when I made the above posts were the after market ECU systems you can buy. I know it's not exactly the same - but I'm hoping that someday someone will make a aftermarket ECU for electric cars.
      - psd1 2y ago
        Hmm. Maybe for a model that attracts hobbyists. But they have to cross the manufacturer's moat, and those guys do not want you to repair your own shit. Superfastmatt on YT put a 50s jag on a tesla drivetrain. But, IIRC, he took care not to mix-n-match, in order to sidestep integration work. Obviously an electric vehicle doesn't have fuel injection, so s/ecu/motor controller/g. But I understand what you mean.

psd1 2y ago

I occasionally read blogs about reverse-engineering auto computers, and it is clearly not simple. I don't expect even a popular model to be fully REd on the next decade, let alone a Fisker.

tb_technical 2y ago
You're right! But rather than reverse engineer the cars computer, how about a complete aftermarket overhaul? You would lose some features, surely, but at least the car would work, no?
- psd1 2y ago
  You've never stripped a car. I have. I don't want to underestimate what a driven person can accomplish, but I'd estimate a year of work for ten engineers with relevant experience. I think you'll have to poach someone from the target vehicle's maker, just to get the industry contacts to source the connectors. Minimum order 10k, obvs. You'll need to keep ~100 types in stock; I guess about €10m outlay. I think you'll have to print the cases, and you'll face issues with vibration and temperature range. How many flex cycles are you putting the parts through in testing? Are you testing for water ingress, salt spray? Or do it properly and get into injection moulding; add six months and another million or two. After you've spent 8 figures bringing the kit to market, I might be interested, if you can sell a kit for a '94 jag at a price point way below what I imagine your unit costs will be. But I'll be claiming from you when your parts fail. Then I'm going to warn people away, even if your customer service is excellent, because I've now lost acres of knuckle skin and snapped some of the interior trim getting to these parts.
  - tb_technical 2y ago
    Mostly what was in mind when I made the above posts were the after market ECU systems you can buy. I know it's not exactly the same - but I'm hoping that someday someone will make a aftermarket ECU for electric cars.
    - psd1 2y ago
      Hmm. Maybe for a model that attracts hobbyists. But they have to cross the manufacturer's moat, and those guys do not want you to repair your own shit. Superfastmatt on YT put a 50s jag on a tesla drivetrain. But, IIRC, he took care not to mix-n-match, in order to sidestep integration work. Obviously an electric vehicle doesn't have fuel injection, so s/ecu/motor controller/g. But I understand what you mean.