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Congress May Force Revealing of Car Computer Secrets

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the renabling-diy-maintenance dept.

marksven writes "The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting that there is a bill with 86 co-sponsors in the House to force automakers to open up their proprietary interfaces to car computers. Small car repair shops are more and more becoming locked out of the repair business because most late model cars can only be fixed by accessing their computers with codes that are secret."

7 of 683 comments (clear)

  1. woo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


    Congress to Automakers: "G1bb0rz u5 j00r l337 c0d3x0r5555!"

  2. I'm sorry, Dave... by rasafras · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...I'm afraid I can't do that.

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    webpage
  3. Re:I don't get Congress. by dspfreak · · Score: 5, Funny
    Because in this case, politicians were actually able to make the mental leap necessary to understand the analogy "Would you buy a car with the hood welded shut?"

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    "Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." -- G. K. Chesterton
  4. Apple ./. IBM Microprocessor by Star_Gazer · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... Territo said. "It's like the difference between an Apple microprocessor and an IBM microprocessor."

    Hmmh, and I thought Apples G5 Microprocessors come from IBM...

  5. Re:This has been done before by cgenman · · Score: 5, Funny

    This really isn't much different than open-source vs closed-source though, is it...if the person selling it wants to lock you out of the internals, well, your choices include not buying from them.

    #:apt-get install camaro
    No package by that name.
    #:apt-get install thunderbird
    Try "apt-get install firefox"
    #:apt-get install mini
    Downloading "mini-dinstall" from repos
    Ctrl-C
    Process interrupted

    #:apt-get install pinto
    Warning: you are about to install package "pinto" from repository "www.ford.com/unstable" Do you wish to continue?

    Ctrl-C

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    The ______ Agenda
  6. Problem Solution existed in the 80's by FerretFrottage · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...it was called Knight Rider. Just have all the automakers create autos that can talk and tell you the diagnostic/problem information. Take it a step further....sell advertising in the information.

    "Michael, the left tire is running low and I've already told you 10 times. Why do you ignore me Michael? I let you into my hood on the first date. Oh look Michael, a Discount Tire shop; that would hit he spot, plus the tire tech has a nice big wrench...can we stop?"

    --
    "Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
  7. Re:About 10 years too late by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 4, Funny
    Long story short though, one day, the engine started having RPM fluctuations


    Well, that's what happens with a RedHat car.
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    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.