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<center><big><big><b><i><font color="#3333ff">Giammalvo Files</font></i></b></big></big></center>
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<img src="mark3.jpg" alt="Mark Giammalvo" height="180"
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<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark Giammalvo specializes in driveability
diagnostics </font><font color="#000000">at his family
business, Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales & Service,
Inc. in New</font> <font color="#000000">Bedford,
MA. </font> </i> </p>
<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark, who has been with the business for
over 20 years, is an ASE
Master Technician and Parts Specialist. He also holds the ASE
L1 certification, and has an associates degree
in business</font> <font color="#000000">management.
<br>
Mark is also a writer for Motor Age Magazine
and is the past secretary of the Alliance of Automotive Service
Professionals, (AASP).<br>
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<big><big><b> Discussions of Automotive Complexities</b></big></big>
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<p align="center"><small><i><font color="#000000">(Printed in the Journal
of The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, AASP) <br>
<br>
</font></i></small></p>
<br>
<div align="left">Recently, I've had the opportunity to answer a lot
of technicial automotive industry questions. Julia Scheeres, from wired.com,
has been asking me for automotive technical information she can use for
her internet articles about modern day automotive complexities. <br>
<br>
Below is a copy of our recent email discussion:<br>
<br>
Julia Scheeres wrote:<br>
<br>
<i> Hey Mark - thanks a lot for your help on the code story. I'm
doing a follow-up article on computer malfunctions in cars. I've heard
from people who attributed electronic misfirings to steering wheel lock
up, sudden acceleration and stalling at freeway speeds. Do you have any
choice anecdotes from your customers along these lines? </i><br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Subject: Re: follow-up</b><br>
<b>Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 14:10:09 -0400</b><br>
<b>From: Mark Giammalvo <[email protected]></b><br>
<b>To: Julia Scheeres <[email protected]></b><br>
<br>
<br>
<i>Hi Julia. Good to hear from you again.</i><br>
<br>
<i>The average automobile owner has no idea how many electronic items
are in the</i><br>
<i>average car. Worse yet, the motoring public does not realize how
many of these</i><br>
<i>items can render a car inoperative without warning.</i><br>
<br>
<i>I have spent 15 of the last 21 years performing automotive diagnostics
and repairs and what I have seen is both frustrating and scary. Just about
all vehicles manufactured since 1980 have an engine management computer.
From 1985-1992 most have an engine computer, transmission computer and body
computer. Cars newer than 1992 now have those 3 computers plus extra computers
for air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, steering control, throttle
control and more. Most cars don't even have a speedometer cable anymore.
That is interesting when you think about it. The auto manufacturers could
build all the cars with a digital dash but they don't. Most cars still have
a speedometer needle. How is this so? The manufacturers have gone through
the trouble to take the speed reading off a speed sensor in the transmission,
run that signal to a computer that runs an electronic motor that spins the
speedometer needle. In a sense, the owner thinks the car is still sort of
simple and reliable because they still see the old speedo needle. They still
think its and old fashioned cable connected to the transmission and spinning
with the wheels. Little do they know the amount of electronics in the dash
present to they can still "feel" that their car is simple, and reliable.
It is amazing. Its as if the corporate auto people don't want the consumers
to know how technical the cars have become. Perhaps its intentional.</i><br>
<br>
<i>Julia, some times I catch myself thinking of these auto
complexities when I am driving on my vacation trips. As I am driving, I
find myself drifting off thinking of what is going on under the hood: Fuel
and air are entering the engine cylinders and the ignition system is firing
the spark plugs at the precise time to cause an explosion to push down a
piston that turns a bunch of gears in a transmission that in turn spins
an axle that turns the wheel and makes the car go foreword. During all this
action the mass air flow sensor is telling the engine computer how much air
is entering the engine. The oxygen sensors are telling the computer how
rich or lean the exhaust system is. The crankshaft and camshaft position
sensors are telling the computer exact cylinder position about 2,000 times
per minute. The coolant temperature sensor is telling the computer how hot
or cold the engine is in order to run cooling fans and control fuel delivery
and air conditioning load. The intake air temp sensor is telling the computer
exact air temperature for fuel delivery calculations and your dashboard outside
temperature display reading. The computer is acting on a program to command
outputs like the fuel injectors and fuel pump which are doing their thing
thousands of times per second. I think to myself: "My God, if any one of
these sensors quits (and they can at any time) this car is dead in the water!"
You might say I know too much. Sad, but true.</i><br>
<br>
<i>Not to mention that many cars do not have a cable connection from
the gas pedal to the engine. A lot of cars are "drive by wire" now in that
the gas pedal has a position sensor. The position sensor tells a computer
to quickly move a lever on the throttle of the engine. These electronic
components are so fast that you "presume" you are controlling the throttle
with a cable. There is no delay from stepping on the pedal to the engine
responding.</i><br>
<br>
<i>Whew! Hope that info helps.</i><br>
<br>
<i>p.s. You might be also be interested in an article I did recently
here... </i><br>
<a href="http://www.samscars.com/phantom_stall.pdf"><i>http://www.samscars.com/phantom_stall.pdf</i></a><br>
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