Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:56:26 -0500 (EST)
From: dicconf <dicconf at radix.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Metro is 30
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006, Ted White wrote:

> Modern speedometers/odometers are no longer driven by a cable from the
> left front wheel.  Indeed, they are not driven by a cable or mechanical
> device of any kind.  Instead, a sensor is located in the transmission
> and it sends signals by wire to the dashboard unit.  As an electrical
> circuit, it is more prone to failure -- which can occur at any point
> between the dashboard and the transmission, but usually happens *in* the
> transmission, which is a very expensive job to fix (involving as it does
> removing the engine in order to remove the transmission, in order to
> open it up).
>
> Imagine the possibilities.

One springs to mind: the tax people tapping into this electronic data
transmission and getting information for the (hypothetical) mileage tax
directly.  And any owner's effort to tamper with the info being followed
by the Ominous Knock at the Door within a few hours.

On the other hand, a really good hacker might have fun with the system...

-- Dick Eney