Check Engine - Needs to go away

[bobz]

Check engine lights have an opportunity to get way smarter and totally disappear IMHO. AI is going to drive this evolution with the Check Engine light, including the scanner tools to determine what caused the check engine light to light up. It should all be in the infotainment system, all the information, the details, a clear explanation, a recommended fix if a DIY can perform the fix, parts impacted, likely severity level, etc.
So much opportunity to get way better on this topic.

Instead of a generic check engine light, imagine your vehicle saying:

“Your engine is detecting a misfire on cylinder 2. It happened three times in the last 40 miles, mostly during cold starts. Based on your mileage and service history, the most likely causes are an ignition coil or spark plug. The vehicle is safe to drive short distances, but you should schedule service soon.”

That is a very different experience.

It gives the driver context.

It reduces panic.

It helps avoid unnecessary repairs, etc.

 

[cyure]

Check engine lights have an opportunity to get way smarter and totally disappear IMHO. AI is going to drive this evolution with the Check Engine light, including the scanner tools to determine what caused the check engine light to light up. It should all be in the infotainment system, all the information, the details, a clear explanation, a recommended fix if a DIY can perform the fix, parts impacted, likely severity level, etc.
So much opportunity to get way better on this topic.

Okay now I have a question, since an EV doesn’t have an engine, what do the warning lights/messages look like?

 

[RodorW]

Okay now I have a question, since an EV doesn’t have an engine, what do the warning lights/messages look like?

 

[cyure]

View attachment 16592

Okay so the little car with the ! Through it, what does that mean?

 

[RodorW]

Okay so the little car with the ! Through it, what does that mean?

But simply it just means there is an issue. It can mean a lot of things I’ve only had it appear alongside the notification conditions, not met for shift usually a simple power off and back on fixes it.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Okay now I have a question, since an EV doesn’t have an engine, what do the warning lights/messages look like?

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

(with waving arms and flashing lights)

 

[Scoutsie]

Well, if you want it to be an AI thing, it’ll just invent 15% of your problems.

 

[J Alynn]

View attachment 16593

That’s great. Was just telling a buddy I’m getting 2 cylindrical storage tubes for the rear carrier and wrapping them like batteries

 

[R1TVT]

Good news people - in a modern EV truck you should demand more, and you will get more. Remember, you will be rolling around in a SW defined vehicle (in any modern EV or hybrid), so you will have much more specific messaging when there is any issue. There is SW managing your battery, SW interfacing with all of your in-vehicle systems, SW managing your safety and SW actively connected to all of your sensors --> all connected to your info screens

 

[cyure]

Good news people - in a modern EV truck you should demand more, and you will get more. Remember, you will be rolling around in a SW defined vehicle (in any modern EV or hybrid), so you will have much more specific messaging when there is any issue. There is SW managing your battery, SW interfacing with all of your in-vehicle systems, SW managing your safety and SW actively connected to all of your sensors --> all connected to your info screens

Can I ask, what does SW stand for? That’s a new one for me.

 

[strider]

Can I ask, what does SW stand for? That’s a new one for me.

Software.

In the Tesla, there are the usual idiot lights (these may be govt mandated) but then it will also display a useful message on the screen to tell you what is wrong. There is also an "Alerts" section in the UI that will show a history of alerts so you (and your shop) can see what the car has been saying.

 

[cyure]

Software.

In the Tesla, there are the usual idiot lights (these may be govt mandated) but then it will also display a useful message on the screen to tell you what is wrong. There is also an "Alerts" section in the UI that will show a history of alerts so you (and your shop) can see what the car has been saying.

Thanks.

 

[mrgold35]

My shade tree mechanic days were over decades ago. We would swap out engines, transmission, starters, water pumps, brakes, etc... at home in the 1 car garage back in the 70s/80s when cars were extremely basic (and usually built to crap out every 40,000-80,000 miles). I would be fine with normal warning messages and dialing back the power if issues could cause mechanical powertrain or electric problems.

Having a good roadside assistance 50,000 miles warranty to include towing to nearest service center, 100,000 mile EV component warranty, a 70,000 miles I.C.E. EREV warranty, a minimum 50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and Recalls/Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) with a warranty to 100,000 miles or unlimited miles for repairs/updates for future issues would put my mind at ease.

These are the standard warranties that come with my two Acura hybrids. I used a few times of +7 years (replaced a key fob because of poor range, EV software updates. moisture in tail light, bad 12v battery, bad fuel pump TSB recall).

 

[BeerParty]

Check engine lights have an opportunity to get way smarter and totally disappear IMHO. AI is going to drive this evolution with the Check Engine light, including the scanner tools to determine what caused the check engine light to light up. It should all be in the infotainment system, all the information, the details, a clear explanation, a recommended fix if a DIY can perform the fix, parts impacted, likely severity level, etc.
So much opportunity to get way better on this topic.

Check Engine lights exist due to government regulations (here is an article if you are curious). All modern vehicles that I am familiar with have extensive on-board diagnostics that can be viewed on the infotainment screen or via a OBD-II reader. I would be very surprised if the Scout Motors vehicles did not have extensive diagnostics available to the owner. Scout Motors has said that these will be vehicles that owners can maintain themselves, detailed diagnostics is essential for that.

 

[speedrye]

Check engine lights have an opportunity to get way smarter and totally disappear IMHO. AI is going to drive this evolution with the Check Engine light, including the scanner tools to determine what caused the check engine light to light up. It should all be in the infotainment system, all the information, the details, a clear explanation, a recommended fix if a DIY can perform the fix, parts impacted, likely severity level, etc.
So much opportunity to get way better on this topic.

Instead of a generic check engine light, imagine your vehicle saying:

“Your engine is detecting a misfire on cylinder 2. It happened three times in the last 40 miles, mostly during cold starts. Based on your mileage and service history, the most likely causes are an ignition coil or spark plug. The vehicle is safe to drive short distances, but you should schedule service soon.”

That is a very different experience.

It gives the driver context.

It reduces panic.

It helps avoid unnecessary repairs, etc.

I'll disagree wholeheartedly with this as I've worked on cars a lot over the years, both professionally and as a hobby. Using AI to diagnose a vehicle issue is as useless as taking your car to Advance Auto Parts or Pep Boys to have the codes read. Sure, it'll give you a code and what the sensors are telling you, but nothing else useful. Common sense and proper diagnostic tests are what's needed, and neither the vehicle, nor AI have the ability to do most of those.

At this point, you've spent time and money replacing a perfectly good ignition coil and spark plug to no avail. What next? AI says it might be a clogged fuel injector next, so let's replace or have that injector cleaned. Oh no, still didn't fix it... After spending two services visits and a $1,000, it turns out you blew the head gasket when you overheated it last Tuesday, and while still driveable for now, it'll only get worse.

This is the same crap dealerships pull nowadays by just plugging in vehicles, reading data and replacing parts. Basic troubleshooting is a dying art. Oh no, I have a P0420 code, I need to replace the catalytic converter... B.S., no, you need to diagnose the issue because OEM catalytic converters rarely ever go bad, unless your whole exhaust system just rusts out. Too bad dealerships hire the cheapest help they can, and if they show up to change oil and wipers for more than a few weeks reliably, they get promoted to "mechanic" and follow computer prompts.

I'm tired, I'll stop ranting (for now).