After a little burning incident with my clutch, I took my car to Santa Ana Honda here in Southern Cali. I explained to him the truth about what happened.( I was admitately hot rodding it) He then responded with, "O, don't worry we will just hook it up and see how you were driving at the time"
I poked around a little more and he told me there is a computer of some sort that records driving data???? Does anyone know about this? Is this system record the last 10 miles, 50 miles or like from 0 miles. Is there a way to disable it. This is a little freaky. I know Ferrari did this with the F50 but it would send like weekly reports to the corporate office via satellite or some sort of communication and this was for diagnostics and statistics of the current design.

 

He's full of crap......


In my knowledge of Hondas, which is owning them for 9 years, the engine computer records engine codes about certain faults like cynlinder misfires, etc. The codes are displayed by a blinking light.

So unless your Honda dealer borrowed some black boxes from the General and put them in, I think your ok.

Don't you remember all the stink the news was making when GM said they put these "black boxes" in vettes?


PS If I'm wrong someone please enlighten me in a nice way!

 

Keith, Check this out. He also told me about a month ago, a yellow S came in with a check engine light on. When they hooked it up, they knew exactly the speed he was going when the light went on. They knew exactly what gear he was in and what he did to create the check engine light to go on.

 

CAn we get some technically oriented people to enlighten us on this. What is your take on this??

 

I believe you guys are wrong. The computer could not possibly store *much* data, at least it could not store a continuous stream of data for more than a few minutes. It could take several "snapshots," though, and I know it does when codes are flagged.

I doubt he would find much regarding your drive- they could probably pull peak RPMs or average RPMs, but they would have no idea when the clutch was engaged or disengaged. From a standpoint of data, a slipping clutch on a launch is unimpressive.

I don't think he'll find anything, but don't for a second think that they couldn't pull, say, speed and RPM when & leading up to the airbags being deployed

ECUs, even Honda's, have come quite a ways over the last 10 years.

 

They know redlines, etc. Doubt it will give a full driving profile. They would use this data to diagnose a problem not void your warranty, if that is what you are worried about.

ECU Codes

 

The new celica's ECU dynamically changes fuel maps, valve timings, and records key information for the last 20 miles or so. (Stuff like coolant temperature, rpms, O2 sensor readings, oil pressure, etc). Toyota dealers can use this information to "prove" that you bent valves due to a misshift or whatnot.

I'm not sure if this information is stored in flash memory or not, but at least some of it (fuel maps, timing) is not, because resetting the ECU causes it to run like crap for about 5 miles or so until it readjusts. (Due to the I/E I have on)

In any case, I would assume that you guys would have something similar in your ECUs...

 

Haven't had any luck researching this question but I did find the link for the product that Acme Rental was using to screw renters:
http://www.invehicleproducts.com/

 

Well damn. I just called Honda Santa Ana and got a different answer. So, what I'm going to do is go and have a mechanic and the service manager hook my car up and TEACH me. Wish me luck.

 

I have an ODBII connector and software to get the data from my ECU, the software I have might have some limitations but it doesn't even come close to retrieving that kind of information. Some are merely rumors to the fact that kind of information can be retrieved, but I believe its entirely false.