I spent a weekend in a V8 Supercar pit and got to talk to Dick Johnson. He introduced me to his computer specialist. It was costing him $30,000 to have that guy sitting at a terminal for 4 days. Even Dick Johnson is an old school guy like me and doesn't understand computers.
When I was up north on a huge property they got around this technology by just sticking to their pre-computer diesel 4WD's. No vehicle was less than 21 years old.
I thought about this and realized that in reality computer control - though complicated - is a great thing. It allows perfect performance from even worn engines. So I decided to grow up and get with the plan... I decided to buy a stuffed diesel turbo 4WD with a computer and rebuild it as an exercise in understanding these curious machines. So I saw my Jackaroo at an auction and she looks great, very sound - just not running.. - and got her quite cheaply. So here I had a little 3.0 litre engine with a whopping 165hp in a solid 2.5 tonne body.. capable of fuel economy I could only have dreamt of after owning a lot of 4WD's. Also she's made by 2 of the largest and most well resourced car manufacturers in the world and so parts and information is going to be far better with this machine than any other I could buy.
First discovery - modern young mechanics know even less about computers than I do. All they're trained to do is plug in a diagnostic computer, then follow the instructions in a manual. I have yet to meet anyone who understands how this diagnostic system works - instead they just follow the instructions and stuff up your vehicle then charge you thousands. So dealers are no use at all.
This is because a car is now a computer system more than a mechanical system. Very few people understand both things - and the ones that do get paid $30,000 a weekend by racing teams...
The point of this rant is all the stupid hype surrounding the 4JX1 engine. It has only one design flaw- the sealing of the injector sleeves to the head. To fix this you need only 2 hours every 5 years but a tool must be made to remove the sleeves because the greedy dumbo's at GMH decided to keep the tool to themselves to control the servicing of these vehicles and make themselves rich(er). All engines have flaws, this is the 4JX1's. Other than that, any owner struggling to do his own maintenace is suffering the same problems as every owner of every computer controlled car - which means everyone on the planet now.
So, this is my method of learning the ECM control system in my Jack as I strip her - I cause faults while she's plugged into a Tech2. ie... i'll pull the glow plug wire while she's running to see if anything happens.. or pull a fuse to simulate it being blown. i'll pull an injector wiriing connector off.. all sorts of things. I write down what happens. This way I'm beginning to understand the software programmming without having to learn it's machine code. I don't have to learn electronics at all, all I have to do is see what jumps.
In fact, like guys like Sergey, i'm starting to understand the elcheapoTech2 thingy I got from China. So I intend to mount the Tech2 on the dash below the radio and leave it permenantly plugged in so I get my moneys worth out of it. I will be able to pull over and check anything anywhere. I'll be like the flight engineer on a 747. I can be 500km the other side of nowhere and totally in control. .It's better than sliced bread.
And i've decide now.... the old way was crap. Computers are bloody great mate