Hi there,

I know this is totally off topic, but I figure you all are the most likely to know the answers, if there are any. Rick, I hope you allow this post.

I've been attempting to research the issue of embedded chips in automobiles. I've been told by my mechanic that my truck does indeed use a computer, but that it shouldn't be a problem. I asked the Mazda parts guy if there are any computer upgrades, and he said he hadn't heard about any. I searched the Web, and found very little information. No statement on the Mazda website with regard to Y2K.

I have heard rumors and seen an ad that Toyota claims that its vehicles have no Y2K problems. (They don't use Intel chips.)

Have any of you been able to evaluate this situation? I'm thinking that if I don't run my truck over the rollover, it should be okay. As I understand it, there may be some time calculations which may also involve the date, but if the truck isn't running, would any problems with be prevented?

Thanks, Victoria

-- Anonymous, September 28, 1999

Answers

Yi, Victoria - way OT. But, just to show I'm a good sport, I'll let the post hang in for the time being.

I've followed the issue of Y2k impact on vehicles for some time. I am not aware of any problems that could impact the ability to start any vehicle, or more importantly, to get your vehicle where you want to go in the wee hours of 1/1/2000.

Then again, this is an electric industry Y2k forum, not an automotive Y2k forum. So what do I know. Everything I learned about automobiles was pre-digitization, when men were men and cars were an extension of our manhood. ;-) Fuel-to-air ratio was adjusted by tweaking a little screw on the 2bbl carb, not by some computer chip feeding current ambient conditions to a fuel injector control subroutine.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 1999

Victoria, A month or two ago, a long time auto mechanic wrote a piece about this issue on the Westergaard website ( www.y2ktimebomb.com ). His basic point was that there are no chips critical to the functioning of an automobile that are powered when an automobile is off and that, therefore, they would not be capable of maintaining a real date/time calculation. Because of this he confident that automobiles would not have a year 2000 problem. If you check out the archives of the above website you will probably be able to find that article. The auto mechanic who has worked on my cars for the past ten years, and who is very good technically, tells me that, based on his analysis, he doesn't believe there will be a problem, and the manufacturer has told their service staff that things will be OK. I personally believe that the problem with auto transportation will be caused by the difficulty of obtaining gasoline. If the electricity is not working in your local area the gas stations won't be able to pump the gas into your car. Even if the electricity is working, eventually there are likely to be supply chain disruptions in the petroleum industry which will lead to gasoline shortages (possibly severe) in this country, at least that's my opinion. For more information on this issue take a look at the U.S. Senate Year 2000 Committee's 100 day report.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1999

All, Just remember people in Japan were lost for weeks trying to find their way home once their navigation computers in their cars freaked out during the GPS rollover. I would think that there would only be petrol and parts supply side issues. Same things with aircraft although they are a little more technical. But it would depend on how computer reliant your car is. Super luxury cars might have malfunctions due to unreliable data being passed back and forth but would be an operation problem more than safety.

On the other hand.... I am in Australia now and my wife and I were looking at getting a new car and looked at the insurance EXCLUSIONS and my wife just found this beauty today... "Failures... Also, we will NOT cover you for: -mechanical, electrical or electronic failure including loss or damage caused by or related to any component part or equipment(including micrchips or software) not properly processing, recognising, or not properly executing functions or programs involving, a date, year or any period of time." If you are getting or changing insurance read the exclusions... Y@K is NOT covered!!! Rick thanks for allowing it... Mark

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1999

Victoria, the only potential auto related problems I've heard about,besides fuel availability, which has already been mentioned, has to do with the car dealership computers and customers' repair and warranty issues. I was at my car dealership a couple of months ago getting a minor repair taken care of and I asked the manager if anything had been done about the Y2K issue re the old computers they were using to input/access all their customer data. He heaved a big sigh and said that supposedly the company headquarters was going to replace their system, but nothing had been done yet. He was concerned that time was becoming short and acknowledged that all their business functions (ordering parts, scheduling, warranties, payroll, etc.)was done by computer programs which tied them into a central headquarters' database.

For me, the good news was that this manager had at least heard about the potential for Y2K problems and didn't give me a puzzled look and a "Huh?" when I asked him about it. (I got that from our insurance agent and our local ambulance/emergency service people.) The bad news was that this Y2K aware dealership manager was completely dependent on any Y2K upgrades or replacements coming from the corporate level, and all he could do was wait and see if they happened before the end of the year.

The manager's recommendation? Get any necessary work done now and keep your warranty papers handy. You might have to prove they haven't expired and you might have to wait longer for any needed parts to arrive after 2000.

Rick, I guess the modern extension of manhood has now become TV and VCR remote controls, huh? *grin*

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1999

Quite a while back, somebody had posted to c.s.y2k a "form" reply to a query to Cadillac about their vehicles. The form letter said that the only problem was that the oil-change light might come on at rollover; but, it was really a decade problem, not a century problem, since it also happened at the rollover from 1979 to 1980.

I wrote to the Cadillac, quoted the original form letter, and tried to get somebody there to explain to me how the car "knew" what date it was so as to be affected by any kind of date-digit change. After several interim replies along the lines of "somebody is looking into this and will get back to you", I eventually received exactly the same form letter that had prompted my original inquiry. Whereupon, I gave up....

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1999

Victoria,

I overheard a conversation on Y2K where someone said that Chrysler had told him his "smart key" wouldn't work and he needed to get it replaced.

Judy

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999