Thread: Are the days of home vehicle repair coming to an end

There was an argument along this lines back in the TD5 days..

Is modifying the code in the ECU breaching IP laws? Is selling modified code wrong?

Apple did similar with Jailbreaking, going as far as to lock some of its products to prevent hacking.

Funny, I found when I downloaded the TD5 maps on my Nanocom and read the text files that Volvo were the developers of the code.
Maybe there is a stipulation from the developers that the code cannot be onsold.

I wonder how many car makers outsource their code development?

I bet that Bosch do a lot of code development for many car companies.
Regards Philip A

Volvo? Where in the code did you see something like that?

I’ve got the full binary dumps and I can not see it in there anywhere..

All TD5 ECU development was Lucas.

The John Deere case is worse than just modifying your ECU. Because all the components such as the gearbox(for example) are coded to the main ECU an "unauthorised" gearbox swap would make the tractor inoperable without the dealer resetting the ECU. As stated there are lots of ways around the problem (Firstly by not buying a JD) and the EU prevents such behavior by companies, hence the unencrypted firmware available on the net. I reckon JD have as much of a long term chance of making their "anti piracy" measures stick as Village Roadshow have of stopping movie piracy. Even worse for JD one $250,000 tractor that was held to ransom over a repair would be the last one bought by most cockies. To my knowledge AGCO and CNH aren't playing the game to the same extent.

Regards,
Tote

My info is that JD is not doing as well here in WA as they'd like to imagine...
Recently drove a Massey Ferguson tractor / Field bin for harvesting. - Actually, it's owned by Fendt / AGCO and I couldn't fault the technology. Worked perfectly smoooothly and didn't leak any oil.

After what JD did to West. Aust when it bought out CHAMBERLAIN Tractors - then reneged on the deal to keep them going... the sooner they're just a memory - the better, IMHO.

Part of the reason I bought the Deutz-Fahr Agrolux I have..............no electronics.

Another side of this is that in the US AFAIK it is legally mandated that any 'thing' sold must have a comprehensive 'manual' that can be accessed by anyone, i.e. online.

cheers, DL

some manufacturers now days are making servicing at home harder. no sump oil plug. have to extract the oil from above.

The consumer needs to vote with their feet.