Back to computing topic ... Re: OT: timing belts

[Computer Collector Newsletter]

>>>>> And finally, no idea, but it sounds like a story worth the telling ;-)

Well I hope this brings back happy memories of the show itself, not bad
memories of the local police dispatcher:

http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2004-July/045630.html

Besides running this list, I believe JW deserves the "most dedication to
transporting a computer" award for 2004.

--- Gordon JC Pearce <gordon at gjcp.net> wrote:

> Computer Collector Newsletter wrote:
> > Ummm, I started the off-topicness here, so I'll try to end it by putting
> > forward these questions:
> > - What is the most odd computer you've encountered in a car's drivetrain?
> > - What is the largest computer you've fit into a car?
> > - What is the computer that gave Jay a flat tire en route to VCF East this
> > year?
> 
> Most odd computer must be the little microprocessor controller thingy 
> that lives under the seat in an old-shape Nissan Micra.  All it does is 
> detect if you've turned on the lights, heater fan, heated rear window, 
> or if the engine cooling fan has turned on.  If one of these things is 
> on, it turns on a little solenoid valve on the side of the carb to 
> increase the idle speed a little.  For this they use (IIRC) an 8042 
> microcontroller.
> 
> The most microprocessor-y car I've ever had was probably the two Citroen 
> XMs.  An ECU for the fuel injection (although technically mine were both 
> analogue - LE2-Jetronic, the turbo used Motronic which *does* have a 
> microprocessor), an ECU for the suspension (as well as miles of 
> plumbing), an ABS ECU, no less than *two* ECUs for the heater (one for 
> the air con, one for the actual heater controls), a little diagnostics 
> display (which tended to complain in French or Spanish if it had been 
> raining heavily) and the trip computer.  And I don't think I got them 
> all, either - there seems to be some intelligence associated with the 
> automatic gearbox.
> 
> Largest computer I've ever fitted into a car?  Well, I fitted a rack 
> with a PDP11/34, a rack with two PDP11/84s, a couple of "washing 
> machine" disk drives, and a chain printer the size of the packing crate 
> a large motorcycle would come in, as well as cables, disk packs, dumb 
> terminals and documentation, into the back of a short wheelbase Transit 
> van.  Does that count?
> 
> And finally, no idea, but it sounds like a story worth the telling ;-)
> 
> Gordon.
> 


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