Good short video showing why cars are too complicated now –

you need software and firmware to replace the transmission along with IT skills.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kLD6SSyfWr8

Whiner. How hard was that? He is not being an IT tech, just a program user, does he not use a phone? The customer pays, other pieces like the pass-through are tax deductible. I started off as a youngun as a motor mech, a bit later in life became an network/system admin and consultant. Understanding IT was very much like understanding how vehicles work.

Setanta wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 6:54pm:

Whiner. How hard was that? He is not being an IT tech, just a program user, does he not use a phone? The customer pays, other pieces like the pass-through are tax deductible. I started off as a youngun as a motor mech, a bit later in life became an network/system admin and consultant. Understanding IT was very much like understanding how vehicles work.

I am aware of it -
I had to do similar upgrades and repairs countless times with modern products.

Still - it does seem to me that everything has become overly complicated now.



https://semiconductorx.com/spotlight-tesla.html

Modern EVs contain 1,000-4,000+ semiconductor devices depending on autonomy tier and hardware generation. Tesla's current production vehicles, equipped with AI4/AI5 compute platforms, are estimated at 2,500-4,000 devices — among the highest semiconductor content of any consumer product.

The range reflects hardware generation and model variant — base Model 3/Y configurations with HW4 occupy the lower bound, while Cybertruck with AI5 and full sensor suites approach the upper bound.

At ElectronsX's estimated 2,500-4,000 semiconductor devices per vehicle, Tesla's 2025 production of approximately 1.65 million vehicles represents demand for 4.1-6.6 billion semiconductor devices in a single year from one manufacturer. Across the global EV market of approximately 21 million vehicles in 2025, EV semiconductor demand is estimated at 21-84 billion devices annually — before accounting for humanoid & quadruped robots, autonomous equipment, drones, and other electrified asset classes that draw from the same supply chains.

Leaving the business 'now' yet he's talking about an 18 year old car.

Why does he care, he's still going to charge for his time.

Gordon wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 7:16pm:

Leaving the business 'now' yet he's talking about an 18 year old car. Why does he care, he's still going to charge for his time.

The guy just wanted to use spanners not computers.   ::)

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 8:18pm:

Gordon wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 7:16pm: Leaving the business 'now' yet he's talking about an 18 year old car. Why does he care, he's still going to charge for his time. The guy just wanted to use spanners not computers.   ::)

Bad luck for him... He was born 50 years too late, I'm sure he knew what he was getting into and what needed to be done. Whiner.

Setanta wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 8:44pm:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 8:18pm: Gordon wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 7:16pm: Leaving the business 'now' yet he's talking about an 18 year old car. Why does he care, he's still going to charge for his time. The guy just wanted to use spanners not computers.   ::) Bad luck for him... He was born 50 years too late, I'm sure he knew what he was getting into and what needed to be done. Whiner.

He's probably worried that he won't be able to keep up with new technology.

Some people can't do it.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 8:18pm:

Gordon wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 7:16pm: Leaving the business 'now' yet he's talking about an 18 year old car. Why does he care, he's still going to charge for his time. The guy just wanted to use spanners not computers.   ::)

When i fitted fuel injection to my Torana 32 years ago i had to buy a laptop computer to program it.
I stared with a 386 processor windows 3.1  250 Mb hard drive  just to program it.
Neighbor came over he said last time he saw someone plug a laptop into a car was Dick Johnson Sierra Turbo at Bathurst.

It was heaps of fun programming it while driving results were instant and unlike tuning quad webers didn't have to pop the bonnet pull 4 carbies apart then put them back together to make tuning changes. It was all done by numerical inputs from keyboard.

These days we have OBD 2 scanners that tell you what is wrong with vehicle just by plugging into it which makes diganostics easy when it tells you a relay is faulty.

It's just a simple program install for that gearbox which same box goes into anything from SUV to Commodore.

Turbo 400 was the last of the simple GM autos.

Some of the newer tech is disagree with like lane keeping assist which cuts in when you try to avoid potholes and Kangaroos.

Windscreen replacements have become a job for the pros you need to recalibrate cameras for AEB.

I left working on cars because i didn't like getting covered in oil and grease these days i only work on my own and sometimes help friends and family.

yes Baron,
ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital
you needed computers to tune or modify any settings.

That was in when - late 80s  ?

Now it has got a bit ridiculous -
cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers -
even the transmission needs one.   ::)

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 9:51pm:

yes Baron, ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital you needed computers to tune or modify any settings. That was in when - late 80s  ? Now it has got a bit ridiculous - cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers - even the transmission needs one.   ::)

Cars tune themselves Bobby, other than malfunction you should never need to access the computer.
Even if there is a malfunction the computer tells you what the problem is via an error code.

Leroy wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 9:58pm:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 9:51pm: yes Baron, ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital you needed computers to tune or modify any settings. That was in when - late 80s  ? Now it has got a bit ridiculous - cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers - even the transmission needs one.   ::) Cars tune themselves Bobby, other than malfunction you should never need to access the computer. Even if there is a malfunction the computer tells you what the problem is via an error code.

Then why did the guy in the opening post need to do anything?   :-/

I own and drive a 2004 4x4 diesel, tray ute.

It has been a good, and reliable vehicle/transport for me.

When i 'inspected' it, prior to purchase,
i noticed that it came with......a cassette player !!  [i was expecting, maybe, a DVD player]

But its OK for me....i'm content to listen to the inboard radio, or listen to music on a little USB FM [mp3] drive.....



But my question is, to all here.....

If i wanted to replace my vehicle in 2026,
what is the least tech dependent vehicle out there today,
in your opinion ?

[....i'm a guy who does not own a smart phone.      'Luddite' Yadda]

Somehow.......the world still turns for me.
.....even though i do not own a smart phone.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 9:51pm:

yes Baron, ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital you needed computers to tune or modify any settings. That was in when - late 80s  ? Now it has got a bit ridiculous - cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers - even the transmission needs one.   ::)

With computers for fuel injection it's a lot easier than removing carbies pulling them apart changing something putiing it all back together you just press a couple of buttons you don't get your hands dirty.

Same with ignition pulling dizzy out changing springs for mechanical advance or stuffing around with vacum advance is a lot harder than typing in 38 degrees advance at 2% throttle 2000 rpm.

Modern cars don't ping before i fitted cold air box it would ping when i stopped at lights air temp went up over 60 degrees so look at air temp correction map pull 2 degrees out if air temp is above 55 deg stopped it pinging.

The gains from ignition timing control are far greater than gains from fuel injection.

With GM autos anything more modern than 3 speed Turbo 400 is electronic.

When Holden injected the VN commodore it had 35% more power 19% more Torque with 17% better fuel economy over carby mech/vac advance V8 used in previous model.
If you had a classic Holden and wanted more power you would fit a new cam exhaust and bolt the heads manifold from a VN onwards commodore on it.

---

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 10:01pm:

Leroy wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 9:58pm: Bobby. wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 9:51pm: yes Baron, ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital you needed computers to tune or modify any settings. That was in when - late 80s  ? Now it has got a bit ridiculous - cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers - even the transmission needs one.   ::) Cars tune themselves Bobby, other than malfunction you should never need to access the computer. Even if there is a malfunction the computer tells you what the problem is via an error code. Then why did the guy in the opening post need to do anything?   :-/

The same gearbox goes in anything from a SUV to sedan possibly even Corvette.

The programming for gearbox will vary depending on vehicle as each vehicle has different requirements with driving style. The same box will go behind several engines each with varying power/torque characteristics so shift points etc will vary.

Baronvonrort wrote on Apr 19^th, 2026 at 10:15pm:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 19th, 2026 at 9:51pm: yes Baron, ever since ignition timing and fuel injection went digital you needed computers to tune or modify any settings. That was in when - late 80s  ? Now it has got a bit ridiculous - cars are full of: microprocessors, microcontrollers and computers - even the transmission needs one.   ::) With computers for fuel injection it's a lot easier than removing carbies pulling them apart changing something putiing it all back together you just press a couple of buttons you don't get your hands dirty. Same with ignition pulling dizzy out changing springs for mechanical advance or stuffing around with vacum advance is a lot harder than typing in 38 degrees advance at 2% throttle 2000 rpm. Modern cars don't ping before i fitted cold air box it would ping when i stopped at lights air temp went up over 60 degrees so look at air temp correction map pull 2 degrees out if air temp is above 55 deg stopped it pinging. The gains from ignition timing control are far greater than gains from fuel injection. With GM autos anything more modern than 3 speed Turbo 400 is electronic. When Holden injected the VN commodore it had 35% more power 19% more Torque with 17% better fuel economy over carby mech/vac advance V8 used in previous model. If you had a classic Holden and wanted more power you would fit a new cam exhaust and bolt the heads manifold from a VN onwards commodore on it.

Yes - there have been huge advances by using digital technology.

Cars from the 1970s were sending half the fuel out the exhaust pipe unburnt.   ::)

There isn't much you can do without software these days. Not if you want to get anything useful done.