Sire:
You'll laugh at this one. Hope it hasn't already been posted.
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 20:18:52 -0400
From: Josh Rivel jrivel@dti.net
To: geeks@umich.edu
Subject: GeeK: interesting implications of Y2K non-compliance
I'm on a mailing list related to Eagle Talons/Mitsubishi
Eclipses/Galant VR4's anyway, it seems the code in the ECU's for the 1st generation of those cars (1990-1994) has an interesting problem with Y2K compliance.
The following excerpt was written by Todd Day today@dsm.org who is the list moderator, and ECU (Engine Control Unit, aka car computer) wizard.
[All you guys with 1989-1994 DSMs might want to take another car to the parties on Y2K eve... or arrange for a tow truck. 1995-98 ECUs seem to be Y2K compliant, as far as I can tell (an OBDII requirement). If you don't want to be seen at the party without your DSM, for $100, I can fix your ECU so the overflow problem won't happen until 2089.
I've set my ECU to the bewitching hour, and the results aren't
pretty. The overflow causes a mask bit to be set which prevents the
spark plug in cylinder 3 from firing, but doesn't stop the fuel flow.
The fuel flow in that cylinder actually doubles due to a side-effect
of the spark bug. This creates some pretty spectacular backfires, I
must say... One hell of a way to welcome in the new century.
Oh yeah - this bug happens at December 31st, 1999 at midnight (or
January 1st, 2000, depending on how you look at it) in the CENTRAL
time zone. That's because the cars were all built in Illinois. So
for you East Coasters, it will occur at 1am, and West Coasters will
experience it at 10pm.
-talon mgr]
Josh Rivel Senior Network Engineer Digital Telemedia, Inc.
home.dti.net
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