[chrisser]

It would cost $.02 more to have an LCD readout of the actual problem, but then the customer would not have to take the car back to the dealership for service.

Most people don't know this, but Cadillac of all companies had built in diagnostics in the late 80s and early 90s. Using the HVAC panel, you could scroll through any fault codes and, on some cars, you could modify selected parameters in the programming, and even actuate various sensors and relays for testing purposes.

Was really slick and sophisticated. When the govt. mandated OBDII, Cadillac apparently decided it wasn't worth rewriting all that code to comply with the new standards and dropped it altogether.

[Western Phil]

Was really slick and sophisticated. When the govt. mandated OBDII, Cadillac apparently decided it wasn't worth rewriting all that code to comply with the new standards and dropped it altogether.

OBDII is a typical government solution to a non-existent problem. With the computer power available in the cars, it is likely that the automobile makers would have instituted real diagnostic systems that are useful.