Does anyone else but me think there are way too many electronics in today's vehicles?

[Docwagon1776]

When my dad had aftermarket A/C installed in his Ford pickup back in 1967, he took it into the shop a couple times complaining that it wasn't working on those long, hot drives across the desert between San Diego and Yuma. The tech finally took a ride with him and asked him to show him why it wasn't working. My dad turned it on, set the thermostat, and cranked up the fan. The tech said, "Well everything seems to be working now." Then my dad rolled the window partway down. The tech asked, "Why did you roll the window down?" My old man said, "To let out the damp air from the A/C." The tech replaied, "Sir, this isn't a swamp cooler. It's an air conditioner that actually removes moisture from the air." My dad said, "Doh!," and never had a problem with it afterward.

I had an aftermarket AC in a mid-70s Chevy 3/4 ton. I think it was the '75, but it could have been the '78. Anyway it was an under the dash unit. It worked but it was LOUD and in an already loud truck. No way to have a normal volume conversation on the highway with the AC on between engine noise, tire noise, wind noise, and the AC fans.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I had an aftermarket AC in a mid-70s Chevy 3/4 ton. I think it was the '75, but it could have been the '78. Anyway it was an under the dash unit. It worked but it was LOUD and in an already loud truck. No way to have a normal volume conversation on the highway with the AC on between engine noise, tire noise, wind noise, and the AC fans.

This was an under-dash unit, too.

 

[Ratman6161]

The first thing I attempted to disable was the back-up camera as it irritates me coming on all the time, even when I have the Uconnect turned off. ...

Manufacturers have no choice in this. It's a federal regulation named after a kid that got backed over in her driveway by her dad

 

[Tulecreeper]

Manufacturers have no choice in this. It's a federal regulation named after a kid that got backed over in her driveway by her dad

Yeah, I think I read that is why the B/U cameras were mandated. I worked LE for many years. I was with the SO, but I knew cops who had to respond to those kinds of incidents regularly. It wasn't pretty.

 

[Ratman6161]

Yeah, I think I read that is why the B/U cameras were mandated. I worked LE for many years. I was with the SO, but I knew cops who had to respond to those kinds of incidents regularly. It wasn't pretty.

Found it: "Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007"

 

[nascar72]

I am not a technophobe, but I think there are just way too many electronics in today's vehicles and they are the source of a lot of the issues discussed here. My wife bought a 2021 Outback after her previous 2014 Outback was rear ended in a freeway accident. She loved her previous vehicle, but hates the new one as there are just too many "nanny state" electronics that drive her crazy, that she cannot turn off.

On my 2022 4x4 Diesel Ram, I have all the annoying stuff turned off, but the truck regularly hiccoughs with some type of electronic issue. Last week, the touch screen system was blank for a day. Now it's back. Yesterday, Car Play stopped working for some unknown reason.

Short of buying an older used vehicle, there's just no way around this garbage that I can discern. It's extremely annoying.

That is exactly why I am keeping my '08 2500 for as long as it will run. I have none of this electronic mumbo jumbo. Only the basic necessities like A/C, cruise control, AM-FM CD radio with auxilary port and that's all I need. The truck's body is still in great shape, still low mileage and mechanically in good shape also. So why change?

 

[anchorsaweigh]

Horn controlled by a computer module...enough said.

 

[Dusty]

We (consumers) kind of asked for it I think. Lots of requests for fancy options, even if not everyone is on that bandwagon.

Seems to me you can cut out a lot of the extras that you may not want by buying a Tradesman. Much more simple, many controls are manual.

I would not want to be without blue tooth, for convivence and safety. In many states, you can't hold your phone while driving, so it kind of becomes a must. You don't have to pair your phone, or you can turn off blue tooth if you want to.

I would miss my backup camera. I still use mirrors, and turn around depending on the situation, but the camera is a big plus for me. Especially when connecting a trailer.

My truck is a Big Horn, so it does not have all the options by any means, but I use most of what is there.

Convenience electronic features increase complexity and cost, yet many people I know seem to crave them and are usually quick to inform me of the latest gadget their new vehicle can perform.

It's about competition and market share. No manufacturer wants to be perceived as archaic in a digital automotive world.

Yes, we have done it to ourselves.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 92308 miles.

 

[Big D's Ram]

Found it: "Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007"

I used to work with the father, very sad story and I have no problem with having a backup camera.

What I'm not happy with the removal of a keyed ignition and all the switch-gear. The lack of toggles, switches and dials makes everything more difficult to manage while driving. Fortunately my truck still has them and the touchscreen in my truck only controls the radio.

I don't have the adaptive cruise control or any of the other electro-nannies and they are really not necessary IMO. Certainly they should remain an option and not force people to have them as standard equipment.

My truck still is in good shape, has low miles and no rust other than some surface spots on the frame so I will continue to drive it for years to come. Oh, and it's paid off too!

 

[blue_two_tone_2015]

Well I have been fighting a 2002 Acura MDX heat and air conditioning problem cause all the controls used to run them go through
the head unit just like my 2015 RAM.... Wait until the head unit goes out on a cool day and you want to use the defroster and you can't cause you can't get to the controls. Yep happened to me and I was a little miffed. Buy a new radio, used one from the junk yard, get it fixed. You ride down the road with a fogged up windshield. TOO MUCH ELECTRONICS put into one unit.

 

[Atcer2018]

With all that had been said here it is without a doubt that cars and trucks have become more reliable than those of my youth and I’m no spring chicken. I’m old enough to remember my first cars having points and changing points, condensers and caps. Learning how to use a timing light and searching electrical gremlins with a multimeter. As the decades have past I’ve had less problems with vehicles, less maintenance to preform and greater reliability even with all the gizmos being put into vehicles. I remember my parents always had one of those big soft wallowing Oldsmobiles with the chrome power window switches. Remember dad taking them
apart regularly to clean corrosion or repair a contact, and don’t get them wet. A/C that needed recharge every two years. Paint without clear coat that required a lot more upkeep than todays paint. Two and three speed autos were the transmission of the day and manuals had clutches that needed replacement every few years. Synchros that didn’t sync too. Interiors fell apart, dashes cracked and how about the electrical whine on the radio? By comparison modern vehicles can be a nightmare to work on especially without the fancy computers to diagnose. Modern vehicles also last a lot longer than previous generations. They don’t beat you up on long trips and offer the convenience of home in a rolling cockpit. Did I mention gas mileage? Yeah those old Oldsmobiles got the single digit gas mileage. My mom had a 60’s Plymouth valiant that rusted out in the few years my parents owned it. Weighed as much as my crew cab 1500 and was considered a medium sized sedan. No seat belts either! So this old timer will take a modern vehicle over a vehicle of my youth any day. Now if we want to discuss the price of new vehicles that’s a whole different topic.

 

[Snowshoe]

Along the same lines, I hate that I pay for all the hardware and software in the truck and then the manufacturer wants us to pay a subscription to use it. I don't subscribe to any but I still had to pay for the hardware.

 

[HighDesertRam]

There is no in between.

I think I am going to have a seizure.

 

[Tulecreeper]

With all that had been said here it is without a doubt that cars and trucks have become more reliable than those of my youth and I’m no spring chicken. I’m old enough to remember my first cars having points and changing points, condensers and caps. Learning how to use a timing light and searching electrical gremlins with a multimeter. As the decades have past I’ve had less problems with vehicles, less maintenance to preform and greater reliability even with all the gizmos being put into vehicles. I remember my parents always had one of those big soft wallowing Oldsmobiles with the chrome power window switches. Remember dad taking them
apart regularly to clean corrosion or repair a contact, and don’t get them wet. A/C that needed recharge every two years. Paint without clear coat that required a lot more upkeep than todays paint. Two and three speed autos were the transmission of the day and manuals had clutches that needed replacement every few years. Synchros that didn’t sync too. Interiors fell apart, dashes cracked and how about the electrical whine on the radio? By comparison modern vehicles can be a nightmare to work on especially without the fancy computers to diagnose. Modern vehicles also last a lot longer than previous generations. They don’t beat you up on long trips and offer the convenience of home in a rolling cockpit. Did I mention gas mileage? Yeah those old Oldsmobiles got the single digit gas mileage. My mom had a 60’s Plymouth valiant that rusted out in the few years my parents owned it. Weighed as much as my crew cab 1500 and was considered a medium sized sedan. No seat belts either! So this old timer will take a modern vehicle over a vehicle of my youth any day. Now if we want to discuss the price of new vehicles that’s a whole different topic.

True, but at least we had that option. Now, if the tiniest thing goes out of whack you have to take it in to the mechanic and sign over you wife - and maybe your dog - to get it fixed.

 

[crazykid1994]

I love my backup camera for hooking to a trailer or backing up in tight spaces. Yes I still use my mirrors primarily. Only use the camera for distance. My truck is a 17 1500 express 4wd so not many bells and whistles anyways. My perfect truck would be an early 2nd gen ram 2500 Cummins with a p pump. All mechanically driven. Only electronics on the truck are the starter and gauges. I was looking at an old jeep pre emissions to do a small diesel swap in it

 

[Slipster]

I miss my floor starter button and vacuum windshield wipers

 

[Tulecreeper]

I love my backup camera for hooking to a trailer or backing up in tight spaces. Yes I still use my mirrors primarily. Only use the camera for distance. My truck is a 17 1500 express 4wd so not many bells and whistles anyways. My perfect truck would be an early 2nd gen ram 2500 Cummins with a p pump. All mechanically driven. Only electronics on the truck are the starter and gauges. I was looking at an old jeep pre emissions to do a small diesel swap in it

And here I was, spending a lot of time the first week I got the truck trying to figure out how to disable my backup camera because the thing blinking on - even when the Uconnect is turned off - is really irritating. I finally just put a piece of electrical tape over it.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I miss my floor starter button and vacuum windshield wipers

What be these windshield wipers?

 

[Gom]

I miss my floor starter button and vacuum windshield wipers

Reminds me of the jeeps in the army, my gawd I had fun driving those on field exercises.

 

[97RedRam]

Exactly why I keep my”old” 97 1500 4x4. For just around town I do not need an expensive new “electronic” truck.