Chrysler sued for firmware flaws

[Laconian]

https://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/computing/software/court-allows-lawsuit-to-proceed-against-fiat-chrysler-over-software-flaw

The failure mode sounds scary. You're driving on the freeway, then all of a sudden the engine cuts out and the car says "Shift to Park Before Starting".

[AutobahnSHO]

Yeah that happens in their older minivans at 110mph. Frakkin speed limiter cuts power ON PURPOSE until you get down to 85mph.

Dangerous in Germany!

I can't imagine it happening at regular speed in the highway.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah that happens in their older minivans at 110mph. Frakkin speed limiter cuts power ON PURPOSE until you get down to 85mph.

Dangerous in Germany!

I can't imagine it happening at regular speed in the highway.

...this is totally different than a speed governor...?

It literally shuts the engine off.

[AutobahnSHO]

...this is totally different than a speed governor...?

It literally shuts the engine off.

I didn't read the article, do you lose power steering and brakes too?   

[giant_mtb]

I didn't read the article, do you lose power steering and brakes too?   

If the engine shuts down, I would assume so.

[AutobahnSHO]

That's super nuts! I'm super surprised this isn't a huge thing in the news.

[MX793]

I didn't read the article, do you lose power steering and brakes too?   

If the engine completely shuts off, yes.  You get one last use of power brakes before the stored vacuum assist is gone and your power steering goes away.  With newer cars with EPAS, you may actually still have power steering.  Not sure of the conditions the the CPU turns that on or off.

[MX793]

Also, really weird that the governor would let you get that much above it's set limit.  If the car is limited to 85, the governor typically kicks in as soon as that speed is reach and doesn't let you go any faster.  Maybe a mph or two if you account for governor "bounce", but 20+ mph?

[Xer0]

Chrysler continues its storied history of being the garbage American brand.  The Nissan of Detroit.

[Soup DeVille]

If the engine completely shuts off, yes.  You get one last use of power brakes before the stored vacuum assist is gone and your power steering goes away.  With newer cars with EPAS, you may actually still have power steering.  Not sure of the conditions the the CPU turns that on or off.

Not to diminish the danger, but at speed, power steering isnt all that necessary. Sometimes, on some cars you can get three pushes on the brakes.

[Soup DeVille]

Chrysler continues its storied history of being the garbage American brand.  The Nissan of Detroit.

You misspelled Mitsubishi

[MX793]

Not to diminish the danger, but at speed, power steering isnt all that necessary. Sometimes, on some cars you can get three pushes on the brakes.

True, but most people have probably never experienced power steering failure and the combined shock/panic of their engine shutting off along with the steering effort suddenly increasing drastically (I'm assuming steering effort in Chrysler products is still light and over boosted) could throw many drivers for a loop.

[MX793]

You misspelled Mitsubishi

Funny that Mitsu and Chrysler were closely connected and now Mitsu is affiliated with Nissan...

[AutobahnSHO]

Also, really weird that the governor would let you get that much above it's set limit.  If the car is limited to 85, the governor typically kicks in as soon as that speed is reach and doesn't let you go any faster.  Maybe a mph or two if you account for governor "bounce", but 20+ mph?

On the mid-90s minivans that's what they did.
Limiter was at 110mph but engine stayed on just wouldn't activate fuel injectors again till you were back down to a "safe" speed. Obviously not designed for Autobahn!!

[AutobahnSHO]

True, but most people have probably never experienced power steering failure and the combined shock/panic of their engine shutting off along with the steering effort suddenly increasing drastically (I'm assuming steering effort in Chrysler products is still light and over boosted) could throw many drivers for a loop.

Definitely. But loss of power braking is outright dangerous.

[Soup DeVille]

True, but most people have probably never experienced power steering failure and the combined shock/panic of their engine shutting off along with the steering effort suddenly increasing drastically (I'm assuming steering effort in Chrysler products is still light and over boosted) could throw many drivers for a loop.

Its a lot better than it was (steering feel).

[MX793]

On the mid-90s minivans that's what they did.
Limiter was at 110mph but engine stayed on just wouldn't activate fuel injectors again till you were back down to a "safe" speed. Obviously not designed for Autobahn!!

Did it start decelerating the instant you hit 110 mph or after you'd been running at that speed for a bit?  Once it brought speeds down to 85, would it start accelerating back to 110 again immediately or did it limit you to 85 for some period of time (possibly until you restarted the engine)?  If the limiter was actually 110, I'm wondering if the phenomenon described wasn't some kind of self-protection mode (prevent overheat).

[AutobahnSHO]

Did it start decelerating the instant you hit 110 mph or after you'd been running at that speed for a bit?  Once it brought speeds down to 85, would it start accelerating back to 110 again immediately or did it limit you to 85 for some period of time (possibly until you restarted the engine)?  If the limiter was actually 110, I'm wondering if the phenomenon described wasn't some kind of self-protection mode (prevent overheat).

Decelerated immediately, immediately allowed acceleration again.

[Xer0]

You misspelled Mitsubishi

Oh yeah, Mitsu is on a whole other tier or crap.  I just used Nissan as the other "big three" from across the world that is a very obvious 3rd place.