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Hack Your Car
gurps_npc writes "The New York Times has this story about hacking your car's chip. You can get significant horse power and torque boosts (+18 horsepower and +70 foot pounds of torque in the given example), as well as improve (or decrease) fuel efficency. The car companies do not like (surprise surprise) people personalizing their vehicle's programming and warn of burning out your engine with bad code, and voiding your warranty."
hackable implies a security hole, and the manufacturer doesn't want you to exploit it.... Microsoft does make cars!!
My car would run better if it had a fucking dorito installed in it. Stupid mitsubishi.
I also reply below your current threshold.
I don't know what he's talking about. My '86 Toyota Camry doesn't have a chip, except where that modded '04 sports coupe flew by me.
I'd die pretty quickly without my Tivo!
DROS - Open-Source Robot Software
... my 1990 volvo 240.
:)
On second thought, I'd like to see them burn it out
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Crudely Drawn Games
"I cant die if I screw up my Tivo."
hmmmm i wouldnt say that to any die hard soap fan who has a busy schedule
I would never drive or be a passenger of a car that is running my own firmware.
Never.
Tivos are probably the most dangerous of consumer appliances to service. Very high voltages (up to 5000 V) at potentially very high currents (AMPs) are present when operating - deadly combination. These dangers do not go away even when unplugged as there is an energy storage device - a high voltage capacitor - that can retain a dangerous charge for a long time. If you have the slightest doubts about your knowledge and abilities to deal with these hazards, replace the Tivo or have it professionally repaired.
Careless troubleshooting of a Tivo can not only can fry you from high voltages at relatively high currents but can irradiate you as well. When you remove the metal cover of the Tivo oven you expose yourself to dangerous - potentially lethal - electrical connections. You may also be exposed to potentially harmful levels of television emissions if you run the Tivo with the cover off and there is damage or misalignment to the waveguide to the Tivo chamber.
Just kidding. I got that text from a warning in a guide to microwave repair.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
Partly to combat hackers, many carmakers are using encrypted chips in new models or, like Toyota, have done away with removable memory chips altogether. That has the e-mechanics shifting strategies, either by downloading new software directly into the computer's hard drive or attaching separate electronic devices that piggyback on the factory-installed control module and override it. Some of these devices alter the "rev limiter" that prevents engine speed from zooming beyond the red line or remove the speed governor that limits top-end performance.
3000+ comments meta-modded. 0 mod points awarded.
Lesson for other meta-suckers: Don't believe the hype!
But if you think you're going to get another 70ft/lbs of torque in a Honda Civic by just doing that, think again.
Everyone knows that the only way to get 70 ft-lbs more torque from a civic is to cover it in Type-R stickers and put a big wing on the back.
For a good laugh at the riceboy industry, surf on over to www.ricecop.com.
Computer chips don't improve vehicle performance. Stickers, spoilers, and exhaust tips improve performance.
I mean, duh...
My stolen Type-R badge on my 85 Toyota Corrola adds 100hp of "looks fast" speed.
1) Always add fans. Also, consider putting a blowhole in the roof of the car to exhaust the extra heat generated by the overclocked engine.
2) Heatsinks are a must. Heatsinks are available for manifolds, carborators, engine blocks, oil pans, etc. Use them.
3) Don't forget to show off what you've done-- install a clear window in your hood, and light your air cleaner with cool black neon lights so everyone around can marvel at your overclocked beast.
4) Unfortunately, most cars already take advantage of the latest in liquid cooling technology, so there's nothing to be gained there. Some lucky cars (for example, old VW Beetles) are not watercooled, so you may be able to enhance the performance of your classic bug by retrofitting a liquid cooling system.
5) Always wear one of those goofy looking wrist dealies. I don't know exactly what they do, but do let others know that you are working on getting the max power out of your machine.
And it is already water cooled! Woo hoo!
+18 horsepower and +70 foot pounds of torque ....Play D&D much?
And that's why computer repair shops have the bad reputation that they do.... "those guys lost all my data!!", "they're charging me what? for just sitting there typing on a keyboard?", etc...
- This isn't the sig you're looking for. Move along, move along..
I'm still trying to get Linux to run on my Bosch toaster oven!
Years ago I owned a '77 Camaro with a small block 350. I didn't know a thing about cars then. One of my first projects was to try to replace the stock carburetor with a Holley 4 barrel from an SS Monte Carlo. It actually fitted and only required a couple bends in the control wires to get it to work. I cranked the engine and was greeted by this sweet purring sound. Oooh yeah.
About thirty seconds later I noticed flames shooting from the engine. Crap. Thinking it was something with the carburetor, I tried to fix and re-install the stock unit using a carburetor rebuild kit. It seemed simple enough -- replace a few springs, a float, clean some parts. I got everything back together and bolted the rebuilt carburetor into place. Cranked the engine. Sputter. Cough. Then my whole engine caught on fire as gasoline was leaking everywhere. The flames died pretty quickly but it scorched a bunch of parts. So I had to put the Holley back in place. I did, but noticed that the gasket was torn. Hell, I thought, if I tighten the bolts up enough there's no way any gas could leak from the seal...
Was I ever wrong.
What other stupid things have I done?
I once forget to re-attach the lawn mower blade before testing the engine I'd just rebuilt. The funniest thing happened. Apparently the mass of the lawnmower blade is enough to slow down the RPMs of the engine. If the blade is removed the lawnmover spins very, very, VERY quickly. And just as quickly wrecks the engine. Lots of little coat-hanger like wire just flies out. And there's no way to get them back inside. I was trying to tweak the damned thing to spin a little faster...
- Annoying other law abiding moorists
- Breaking the law
- Killing pedestrians
- Impressing young boys
Have I missed something?Watch out for the Broken windSheild Of Death.
Enough silliness, back to the scheduled program.
Hang on - Americans don't drive cars, they drive agricultural machinery with leather seats, aircon and cupholders. One of the principal features of this type of vehicle is enormous mass of between 2 and 3 thousand kilos, thus it's perfectly understandable that one of these things should require over 300 hp so it might keep a reasonable pace with delivery vans, passenger cars and pizza mopeds.
Normal passenger vehicles in the rest of the world are plenty fast if their engines produce 200hp. Sadly, Americans don't know about the rest of the world and think motorsport equals monster trucks, drag racing and something called an 'oval'.
That was classic intercourse!
for people who don't know which end of the screwdriver to hit.
- Drive away in your own Plywood Fury, with two barrel carbonmaker and brand new gladiator...
What?
Maybe you're just too slow and not furious enough...
[sig]www.masterslate.org[/sig]
You're not one of those people that puts a coffee can on your exhaust pipe and bolts an aluminum bookshelf to your trunk, are you?
/usr/games/fortune
"I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you!"
If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
Or you are stuck behind some idiot going 35...
/usr/games/fortune
DISCLAIMER!!! The above statement is unfortunately not based on the posters personal experience.
"The strong will do what they want, the weak will do what they must."
-Thucydides
I just feed speed to the nearest underage goth girl. the insurance is cheaper.
"Sometimes, I think Trent just needs a cup of hot chocolate and a blankie." -Tori Amos on Nine Inch Nails
"I have a Nissan Sentra SE-R SpecV...It was a bit over $21,000 fully loaded...If I spend $7,000 on performance parts the car will be able to drag against dodge vipers that cost around $60,000"
Yep. But when you cross the finish line, win or lose, you'll still be driving a Nissan Sentra.
Tal
"Study your math, kids. Key to the universe." -The Archangel Gabriel
I put some speed holes in the hood. They make the car go faster.
Does it mean that, in order to reach the maximal level of geekness, I will have to get an extra tank, full of liquid nitrogen for my overclocked car ?
Cool. So my next car will have these 2 tanks, be overclocked, play mp3's / have a GPS system, and look cool. Now all I need is a Mr. Fusion unit. But it's still 2004 and I hadn't invented it yet.
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Roses are #FF0000, Violets are #0000FF, find / -name '*base*' |xargs chown -R us && mv zig greatjustice
A sheet metal spoiler taller than the car, right? I've heard those add at least 50hp...
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
yes; 3 stickers placed in strategic positions will earn you well over 50hp on these cars
Oh oh I seen this episode ... this is where they made Kit evil by putting an Atari 2600 cartridge into his car stereo!