Old Car Electrical issues

[stubear334]

I'm beginning to figure out why people get rid of modern cars. The electrical gremlins drive you crazy. I have an 08 Toyota Tundra that recently gave me fits. I lost the brake lights, traction control, ABS, transmission went limp all because of a bad ABS relay.

I've learned the following:
*Verify ALL GROUNDS
*Relays have an finite life span, i.e. they go bad sometimes for no reason
*remove and re-seat all fuses and relays
*clean sensor connectors with approved electrical spray cleaner
*NEVER remove the ECU connectors unless absolutely necessary.

What do ya'll think?

-Stuart

[c-bass]

I think you're completely right.

These computer modules are not really going to be around in 20+ years much like the first Ipads.

I've had really bad electrical gremlin experiences with my 2004 Dodge RAM cummins. One day the turn signal stopped working (for all the exclusive BMW drivers, the turn signal is used to indicate lane changes ) and the fix was basically to replace the entire fuse box under the hood because the relay is built in.

I was an IT tech in a past life and I have experienced all kinds of things that I've managed to fix but couldn't begin to explain how or why they happened.

The faster technology moves the less chance there will be for fixing "old" things or finding support for them and there's more of that headed our way as they cram more sensors into everything.

How many of us have had the parking assist fail because of the bumper sensors? Those things are primitive in comparison to the latest tech.