11 July 2010

Poor Implementation of Technology

2 weeks ago, we bought a Mazda5 mini-minivan, a 2009 with about 36K miles on it.

On Tuesday, with the temperatures well over 100°, the "Check Engine" light went on.

So, my wife calls the dealer, it's still under warranty, after all, and is told that they cannot see her until Monday.

Well, I tell her to take it to our mechanic, Marks Motors in Owings Mills, and he puts it on a scanner, and the scan code reads, "loose gas cap," which was probably created by a juxtaposition of an improperly installed gas cap, screwed up by yours truly, and the heat of the day.

So, this car, which has more electronics on it than all of NORAD did in 1967, has a sensor to detect a loose gas cap.

This is a good thing. A loose gas cap spews pollutants into the atmosphere.

But still I wonder whatever possessed the designers of the car to display this as engine fault, rather than flashing something saying "tighten your gas cap."

Why send someone on a premature trip to the mechanic for a damn loose gas cap?

It's a nice car, but this is a truly bone-headed human interface decision.
Posted by Matthew Saroff at 3:34 PM
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2 comments :

marku said...

Unfortunately, you must blame the gubmint for this.  As a requirement for OBD2 emissions control, you have to set the check engine light whenever the evaporative emissions system isn't working, (it puts the gas vapors from the tank into a charcoal canister, and then burns them later).  And the evap emissions sytem sure can't work with the gas cap off.

Any modern car with do this.  My BMW 328 had a note in the manual to check the gas cap first if the "check engine" light comes on.

12 July, 2010 19:24
Sortition said...

Sure - blame the government for taking care of the environment. Is it really that difficult for the car manufacturers to have an additional light that turns on if the gas cap is not properly closed?

14 July, 2010 15:51

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