Complicated Gadgets
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Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 9:47 AM
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He dropped himself and his SWMBO off at the airport yesterday and I brought his car back to mine.
I sat in the car this morning outside my house for 5 minutes trying to work out how to start the thing.
I had pushed the lump of a key into a hole in the dash and everything lit up but the engine.
I tried tentatively pressing various buttons and finally spotted a message on the dash information screen "Depress clutch to start engine"

Now, come on, who in their right mind would have thought of that. I had pressed the clutch once but not for long enough apparently.
What's wrong with a simple insert key and twist.
He found it very funny when I sent him a text this morning.

Customer and Forum Moderator. Windows 10 Firefox 84.0.2 (64-bit)
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 9:54 AM
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Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 9:59 AM
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I did like the cruise control on the way back up the M1 through the 50mph endless road works.
Take it up to 50, hit the button and relax.
Customer and Forum Moderator. Windows 10 Firefox 84.0.2 (64-bit)
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 10:06 AM
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Quote from: Strat
Take it up to 50, hit the button and ...
Up to?

Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 10:11 AM
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As soon as you hit the road works and speed limit markers everyone (almost everyone) brakes and traffic slows to a crawl until everyone sorts themselves out at which time you could be doing 30.
Even with no road works most of the M1 is speed restricted simply by the amount of traffic.
Customer and Forum Moderator. Windows 10 Firefox 84.0.2 (64-bit)
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 10:45 AM
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Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 12:36 PM
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We went for a Mazda 6 this time (normally have a VAG car) and it took a bit of getting used to. There is a useful function on it which limits the speed rather than cruise control so you can drive normally in roadworks but not worry about exceeding the limit.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 12:49 PM
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Had to sit reading the Manual for several hours before doing anything more than A to B in daylight

M
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 4:59 PM
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Quote from: MauriceC My Ford CMax has one of the new fangled Radio keys that has no hole to plug it into - just have it in a pocket
These are a serious headache for Fiesta ST, Focus ST & RS owner's.
There is a serious security flaw in Ford's system allowing someone with the right equipment to drive the car of in under a minute.
The factory alarm, deadlocks & immobiliser are totally useless as the unprotected EOBD port is the weak leak yet again just like it was with BMW.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 5:10 PM
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its not going to change because the vehicle manufacturers buy the same cheap OTS parts as the other manufacturers do when building there products, but then again you expect that with a bit of old tin n board not so much with the priceier motors like bmw

Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 5:18 PM
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The alarm, deadlocks & immobiliser are basically useless, it's the unprotected EOBD port that's the weak link.
Even the fast Ford's with old fashioned keys have the same flaw but the mechanical steering lock slows the thief down.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 5:22 PM
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Being able to order or program keys, transponders and fobs from the VIN number of the car (which is displayed in the windscreen of most cars) has made it easier in other ways ......
Having control of almost every vehicle system via the OBD port makes it pretty simple for modern day hackers / thieves who know what they are doing with access to the right equipment.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 5:29 PM
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My own car, a Honda locks itself if you are out of the car for more than 2 minutes.
I Guess there are advantages and disadvantages, certainly a disadvantage if you dont know these things.
Once had a Ford focus and it was some time before I realised that to open the bonnet the key went in the lock on the front of the bonnet.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 7:00 PM
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Can't say it had any super duper gadgets though it did have a separate button to start the car, whoopee.
Well not strictly a button as you had to pull it.
Re: Complicated Gadgets
26-08-2014 7:47 PM
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Whatever happened to light switches on the stalk? - you can't beat those!
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