On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 8:34 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> I wasn't thinking so much of normal engine operation/control but rather the
> response to failure situations. If a support system such as the cooling
> system fails, fan not turning on, thermostat not opening, loos of coolant
> what is the response? For the loss of coolant there is going to be an
> engine
> trauma not matter what but in the Vanagon you can run until a meltdown.
> Modern engines

> (cut operative word)

> shut down go into reduced power or some will do
> Dennis
>

"may" Operative word.....if everything works perfectly....    Often some
glitch or sensor fault or short in the wiring or the harness or the ECU
might cause these same 'anti-meltdown' reactions from the so called "smart"
new engines...and then you are faced with a big towing bill to some
diagnostic center that has the proper "reader" or to the nearest dealer.(or
completing your journey in a half-powered car with Flashing dashboard if
you can figure a way to defeat the warning enough to make it let you get
home.......Then the fee to fix whatever it might (may) be.....unless, of
course, you bought the "Extended Warranty" with your new vehicle.
   I've heard that recently with some of the few  out-sourced tools I've
recently tried and broke......."Oh, you shoulda bought the extended
Warrantee....now you are out of luck....a replacement ___________ for that
unit is $____________.....usually about three bucks cheaper than buying
another POS....without the extended warranty.

   But that is what the public has been convinced is best for them, so that
is what gets sold as 'state of the art".....or as Modern.