I've had a rather intresting week this week, and have certainly had
many things to ponder about. Mostly about how Computers and Software
are encroaching on every possible aspect of our human existence, and as
a programmer/ Developer/ Geek/ (insert suitable title here ), am I
happy about it?
Well the answer is , in my humble opinion , I am not totally sure.
Indedd software seems to be everywhere these days, but not all of it
seems to be a decent quality, I am not only talking about the millions
of Business applications or Web sites out there, I'm talking about
software in Motor vehicles, Micro wave ovens, digital pets, and other
bizaar places one can find should one look hard enough for it.
It just seems to pop up everywhere, but sadly in a few of the
circumstances that have cropped up lately, in my circumstance it
has been more of a pain than beneficiary, rather holding me to ransom.
The first instance of this, is software in my motor vehicle, I drive a
renault clio, (nothing fancy), anyway I have had this car for about 4
years now, and I must say I am reasonably happy with it, until the last
few weeks. Ever since I have had the car it has suffered from an
irregular abnormality that occured rather infrequently, but when
it does it is at most in oppurtune moments, it seems to cut out and is
unable to start again for another 30 minutes. No matter how many times
I try start the car it just cranks over but just won't fire, but then
on the stroke of 30 minutes, vroom there it goes again. Well
anyway this problem only really manifested itself maybe once or
twice a year, so I haven't really paid it much mind until the other
day. I took my car for it's yearly MOT test, when it decided to do it's
little trick on the Mechanic, he couldn't get it to start, he tried and
tried, until he called me, I went down to garage to see if I could be
of any help, and maybe have a chat about it, to see if there is
anything we could do to fix this anomoly. I was dismayed to find out
that unfortunately there was nothing we could do, unless I took the car
to renault, the mechanic told me that this is quite a common problem on
the renault clio and it has something to do with the immobiliser,
which is governed by the onboard computer.
I asked him if there was the possibility of plugging in his
computer, as he had one there that he uses for just that task, he said
no unfortunately things aren't so simple anymore because of the way
renault have set the computer up, I needed to go to renault. He said
gone are the old days where you could actually do something to a car,
he said mostly these days the only thing he can do to a car, was
basically change the oil, and the plugs, and a few minor tweaks here
and there, he could also download "service packs" from the
manufacturers to service the onboard computers.
After hearing his tales of woe, I decided I would go to renault, to
see what could be done, after all it is thier equipment, it's gone
wrong they should be able to fix it. After a chat with the guys down
there, they said yes it's a common fault, they can fix it, but
unfortunatly they would need to charge me a flat charge of £45.00, just
to link up my car to the computer, to do some test, if they find any
problems, there will be additional costs, but they said they couldn't
tell me what those costs would be until they found out what the problem
was, (now if this doesn't sound like a line to set you up for a mugging
nothing does). I said well I'm a software developer by trade, and I
work for a consultancy, and those rates don't even come close as to
what I can charge for an hours work, let alone 20 minutes. Thier reply
was that it's a standard charge and thier is nothing they can do about
it.
Well you guessed it , I left there with my car still witht
the same problem, and the £45 still in my back pocket. I am also in the
market for a car that has no onboard computer!!
Update: 12/06/06
The car has decided to do it's little trick again, so I have taken the plunge and taken the car in to see what can be done!