Hack Your Car

gurps_npc writes "The New York Times has this story about hacking your car's chip. You can get significant horse power and torque boosts (+18 horsepower and +70 foot pounds of torque in the given example), as well as improve (or decrease) fuel efficency. The car companies do not like (surprise surprise) people personalizing their vehicle's programming and warn of burning out your engine with bad code, and voiding your warranty."

in soviet russia...

[Mohammed Al-Sahaf]

car hack you!

Yes But

[Anonymous Coward]

Does it run the new, improved, code-stolen-from-Win2K-and-SCO Lunix?

hackable eh?

[name773]

hackable implies a security hole, and the manufacturer doesn't want you to exploit it.... Microsoft does make cars!!

chips and cars

[maxbang]

My car would run better if it had a fucking dorito installed in it. Stupid mitsubishi.

My Car Chip

[nic barajas]

I don't know what he's talking about. My '86 Toyota Camry doesn't have a chip, except where that modded '04 sports coupe flew by me.

Life without Tivo? ARRRGH!

[DrInequality]

I cant die if I screw up my Tivo.

I'd die pretty quickly without my Tivo!

let's see them sup up...

[Valar]

... my 1990 volvo 240.

On second thought, I'd like to see them burn it out :)

Re:I dont think I would hack my car

[Anonymous Coward]

"I cant die if I screw up my Tivo."

hmmmm i wouldnt say that to any die hard soap fan who has a busy schedule

I would never

[djroute66]

I would never drive or be a passenger of a car that is running my own firmware.

Never.

Tivo hacking safety!

[Elwood P Dowd]

Tivos are probably the most dangerous of consumer appliances to service. Very high voltages (up to 5000 V) at potentially very high currents (AMPs) are present when operating - deadly combination. These dangers do not go away even when unplugged as there is an energy storage device - a high voltage capacitor - that can retain a dangerous charge for a long time. If you have the slightest doubts about your knowledge and abilities to deal with these hazards, replace the Tivo or have it professionally repaired.

Careless troubleshooting of a Tivo can not only can fry you from high voltages at relatively high currents but can irradiate you as well. When you remove the metal cover of the Tivo oven you expose yourself to dangerous - potentially lethal - electrical connections. You may also be exposed to potentially harmful levels of television emissions if you run the Tivo with the cover off and there is damage or misalignment to the waveguide to the Tivo chamber.

Just kidding. I got that text from a warning in a guide to microwave repair [drexel.edu].

hard drive

[DerProfi]

Great googly moogly! My new Toyota has a hard drive in it?? Who woulda thunk it?!

Partly to combat hackers, many carmakers are using encrypted chips in new models or, like Toyota, have done away with removable memory chips altogether. That has the e-mechanics shifting strategies, either by downloading new software directly into the computer's hard drive or attaching separate electronic devices that piggyback on the factory-installed control module and override it. Some of these devices alter the "rev limiter" that prevents engine speed from zooming beyond the red line or remove the speed governor that limits top-end performance.

Re:This is no new thing

[Anonymous Coward]

But if you think you're going to get another 70ft/lbs of torque in a Honda Civic by just doing that, think again.

Everyone knows that the only way to get 70 ft-lbs more torque from a civic is to cover it in Type-R stickers and put a big wing on the back.

For a good laugh at the riceboy industry, surf on over to www.ricecop.com [ricecop.com].

I call bullshit!

[foxtrot]

Computer chips don't improve vehicle performance. Stickers, spoilers, and exhaust tips improve performance.

I mean, duh...

Re:Actually, I got more than that from my GIAC chi

[rvw14]

My stolen Type-R badge on my 85 Toyota Corrola adds 100hp of "looks fast" speed.

Get one

[fm6]

I'd die pretty quickly without my Tivo!

Not logical. In order to die, you have to have a life!

Re:hard drive

[Skater]

No wonder Toyota has that reputation for reliability! I bet they have IBM Deskstars in them!

Uh...wait...that's not right...

--RJ

Inportant things to remember when oveclocking...

[Anonymous Coward]

1) Always add fans. Also, consider putting a blowhole in the roof of the car to exhaust the extra heat generated by the overclocked engine.
2) Heatsinks are a must. Heatsinks are available for manifolds, carborators, engine blocks, oil pans, etc. Use them.
3) Don't forget to show off what you've done-- install a clear window in your hood, and light your air cleaner with cool black neon lights so everyone around can marvel at your overclocked beast.
4) Unfortunately, most cars already take advantage of the latest in liquid cooling technology, so there's nothing to be gained there. Some lucky cars (for example, old VW Beetles) are not watercooled, so you may be able to enhance the performance of your classic bug by retrofitting a liquid cooling system.
5) Always wear one of those goofy looking wrist dealies. I don't know exactly what they do, but do let others know that you are working on getting the max power out of your machine.

Wow! I can overclock my car!

[FurryFeet]

And it is already water cooled! Woo hoo!

Neeeeeerds!

[darth_MALL]

+18 horsepower and +70 foot pounds of torque ....Play D&D much?

Re:I dont think I would hack my car

[ByteHog]

And that's why computer repair shops have the bad reputation that they do.... "those guys lost all my data!!", "they're charging me what? for just sitting there typing on a keyboard?", etc...

Car?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm still trying to get Linux to run on my Bosch toaster oven!

Way back attempts

[digitalhermit]

Years ago I owned a '77 Camaro with a small block 350. I didn't know a thing about cars then. One of my first projects was to try to replace the stock carburetor with a Holley 4 barrel from an SS Monte Carlo. It actually fitted and only required a couple bends in the control wires to get it to work. I cranked the engine and was greeted by this sweet purring sound. Oooh yeah.
About thirty seconds later I noticed flames shooting from the engine. Crap. Thinking it was something with the carburetor, I tried to fix and re-install the stock unit using a carburetor rebuild kit. It seemed simple enough -- replace a few springs, a float, clean some parts. I got everything back together and bolted the rebuilt carburetor into place. Cranked the engine. Sputter. Cough. Then my whole engine caught on fire as gasoline was leaking everywhere. The flames died pretty quickly but it scorched a bunch of parts. So I had to put the Holley back in place. I did, but noticed that the gasket was torn. Hell, I thought, if I tighten the bolts up enough there's no way any gas could leak from the seal...
Was I ever wrong.

What other stupid things have I done?

I once forget to re-attach the lawn mower blade before testing the engine I'd just rebuilt. The funniest thing happened. Apparently the mass of the lawnmower blade is enough to slow down the RPMs of the engine. If the blade is removed the lawnmover spins very, very, VERY quickly. And just as quickly wrecks the engine. Lots of little coat-hanger like wire just flies out. And there's no way to get them back inside. I was trying to tweak the damned thing to spin a little faster...

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[tarquin_fim_bim]

What possible use could you have for a 340-350hp car? Apart from:

1. Annoying other law abiding moorists
2. Breaking the law
3. Killing pedestrians
4. Impressing young boys

Have I missed something?

Re:Running windows code

[modder]

Watch out for the Broken windSheild Of Death.

Re:This is no new thing

[dbIII]

if you think you're going to get another 70ft/lbs of torque

Just think how many more furlongs per fortnight you can get in speed with those extra 70 foot pound force in torque. You'd have to use more than a dram of extra fuel - bushels more I expect, but it's this sort of confusion you get with good old US measures like the BRITISH thermal unit, instead of bringing measurement screaming into the eighteenth century.

Enough silliness, back to the scheduled program.

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[Alan Partridge]

Hang on - Americans don't drive cars, they drive agricultural machinery with leather seats, aircon and cupholders. One of the principal features of this type of vehicle is enormous mass of between 2 and 3 thousand kilos, thus it's perfectly understandable that one of these things should require over 300 hp so it might keep a reasonable pace with delivery vans, passenger cars and pizza mopeds.

Normal passenger vehicles in the rest of the world are plenty fast if their engines produce 200hp. Sadly, Americans don't know about the rest of the world and think motorsport equals monster trucks, drag racing and something called an 'oval'.

Computerized cars

[iminplaya]

for people who don't know which end of the screwdriver to hit.

- Drive away in your own Plywood Fury, with two barrel carbonmaker and brand new gladiator...

Re:I dont think I would hack my car

[MasterSLATE]

Maybe you're just too slow and not furious enough...

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[adamjaskie]

You're not one of those people that puts a coffee can on your exhaust pipe and bolts an aluminum bookshelf to your trunk, are you?

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[Rick the Red]

"I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you!"

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[adamjaskie]

Or you are stuck behind some idiot going 35...

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[SiliconJesus101]

It's kinda' like packing a 10 inch cock. You may not really use it any more than the average guy does...but damn..it sure does feel good to know it's right there under the hood.

DISCLAIMER!!! The above statement is unfortunately not based on the posters personal experience.

'Performance Ride'

[MarcQuadra]

I just feed speed to the nearest underage goth girl. the insurance is cheaper.

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[Talisman]

"I have a Nissan Sentra SE-R SpecV...It was a bit over $21,000 fully loaded...If I spend $7,000 on performance parts the car will be able to drag against dodge vipers that cost around $60,000"

Yep. But when you cross the finish line, win or lose, you'll still be driving a Nissan Sentra.

Tal

I modded my car very easily

[FearUncertaintyDoubt]

I put some speed holes in the hood. They make the car go faster.

Two tanks ?

[Molina the Bofh]

Does it mean that, in order to reach the maximal level of geekness, I will have to get an extra tank, full of liquid nitrogen for my overclocked car ?

Cool. So my next car will have these 2 tanks, be overclocked, play mp3's / have a GPS system [carplayer.com], and look cool [silicon.wack.us]. Now all I need is a Mr. Fusion unit [ketzer.com]. But it's still 2004 and I hadn't invented it yet.

Re:Tivo hacking safety!

[Anonymous Coward]

If your Tivo was consuming 5 kW of power, you'd need close to 2-3 tons of air conditioning, just to cool your living room.

Nah, just get a MILSPEC living room rated for 250 F and let conduction cool it.

I've heard of that...

[Cyno01]

all it takes is a few choice parts to earn you well over 50hp

A sheet metal spoiler taller than the car, right? I've heard those add at least 50hp...

Re:Magnusson Moss Warranty Act

[Anonymous Coward]

yes; 3 stickers placed in strategic positions will earn you well over 50hp on these cars

KIT

[FrostedWheat]

Oh oh I seen this episode ... this is where they made Kit evil by putting an Atari 2600 cartridge into his car stereo!