Is modern tractor repair like modern car repair and super complicated requiring a dealer?

[ericm979]

I've been programming for 45 years, professionally for 40. While source code for my car's ECU would be interesting, I know it would take a ton of work to make use of it and only a few people would be able to do so. I'd rather have good documentation.

I have manufacturer-specific OBD2 readers for all of our cars. For some it just took some scouring the internet to find an older but useful version of the software and $50 for the right cable. For others I had to spend a few hundred to buy the official consumer level tool that has the same functionality as the dealer one. These allow me to write configurations and read manufacturer specific codes.

But many times a generic reader will find the problem. Often you still need diagnostic skills. For example I had a VW where the dash temp gauge was telling me everything was normal but the OBD2 temp gauge would act normal until it got to 160 degrees, then drop to 120. It was running rich as noted by exhaust smell and fuel mileage. It took some reading of diagrams to realize that this vehicle had two temp sensors and the one that signaled the ECU and OBD was bad while the one that signaled the dash was good.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I've been programming for 45 years, professionally for 40. While source code for my car's ECU would be interesting, I know it would take a ton of work to make use of it and only a few people would be able to do so. I'd rather have good documentation.

I have manufacturer-specific OBD2 readers for all of our cars. For some it just took some scouring the internet to find an older but useful version of the software and $50 for the right cable. For others I had to spend a few hundred to buy the official consumer level tool that has the same functionality as the dealer one. These allow me to write configurations and read manufacturer specific codes.

But many times a generic reader will find the problem. Often you still need diagnostic skills. For example I had a VW where the dash temp gauge was telling me everything was normal but the OBD2 temp gauge would act normal until it got to 160 degrees, then drop to 120. It was running rich as noted by exhaust smell and fuel mileage. It took some reading of diagrams to realize that this vehicle had two temp sensors and the one that signaled the ECU and OBD was bad while the one that signaled the dash was good.

I think the source code would be valuable and not hard to go thru.

A buddy of mine has the code for his evo since someone was able to reverse engineer it. Makes tuning and tweaking a lot easier

Other option is stand alone ecm like a mega squirt

 

[zzvyb6]

In the region I roll in, most of the problems I have seen & heard about are from owners who have no clue about their abilities and that of their machinery. Mowers, cars, pressure washers, tractors, and even power tools. They can't fathom 'strength of materials' issues, screw up wiring from after-market lights, horns, and even phone chargers. Can't look at a hill and judge whether their machine will rollover when driven on it sideways. They do wash & wax them once a week, though, but can't read a belt routing diagram. Jumper cables ? What are those for, towing their mower back to my garage ?

It irks me when they don't realize that a screwdriver makes for a perfectly good chisel, phillips head driver is the perfect punch, and a hammer has so many extra uses, I can't begin to list them all. ( ! ).

 

[LouNY]

In my mind they are intimidating to repair at times, that includes new cars, trucks, and tractors.
That said many of the systems are the same or very similar to the ones of 20 or 50 years ago.
I have to problem (other then age and agility) working on newer tractors and trucks. Many vehicles will show
certain codes on the dash displays which can guide a person to the issue. Old fashioned electrical/electronic testing and traceing works on the newer stuff as far a peripherals when they start doing can bus communications it does get more difficult.

 

[jaxs]

I read that used to farmers had to know how to repair their equipment or at least they had a good shot at being able to do it. Otoh, I heard that about cars too. But, cars are pretty hard to work on lots of times now because of computers. Is tractor repair like modern cars? Pretty hard to do, not like the older tractors?

Thanks. I'm scared of getting a lemon on older ones is all. New ones have warranties, expensive, but they have them. I wouldn't know if someone was ripping me off or not.

You shouldn't concern yourself with which lend themselves to repair nor ease of repair. Whether old or new,fixing anything requires asking the right questions and you don't seem to grasp how important that is. If your quandary is fear of owning a lemon,the post you opened this thread with takes the long route to your second statement above. Your approach is similar to one suffering aerophobia asking if airplanes are more complicated than Greyhound buses instead of simply asking which is the safer way to travel.

 

[jaxs]

In the region I roll in, most of the problems I have seen & heard about are from owners who have no clue about their abilities and that of their machinery. Mowers, cars, pressure washers, tractors, and even power tools. They can't fathom 'strength of materials' issues, screw up wiring from after-market lights, horns, and even phone chargers. Can't look at a hill and judge whether their machine will rollover when driven on it sideways. They do wash & wax them once a week, though, but can't read a belt routing diagram. Jumper cables ? What are those for, towing their mower back to my garage ?

It irks me when they don't realize that a screwdriver makes for a perfectly good chisel, phillips head driver is the perfect punch, and a hammer has so many extra uses, I can't begin to list them all. ( ! ).

Isn't it perplexing how many believe all things are possible with u-tube even if it's their first rodeo? Then there's the "experts" that advise on all things big or small by posting links. MY FAVORITE

 

[DaBear3428]

Wrong to some degree

I am an electrical engineer and work on software for a living

Not having acess to the code and schematics make it a nightmare a lot of times. Some companies go as far as removing an trace of part numbers on chips or smothering them in different compounds to where you cant see it. So if you wanted to trace it out you cant


If there are tools available, many times the cost of them is prohibitive.

have you heard of HP tuners or EFI live? they pertain to the automotive world but illustrate my point. with either you can completely rework the operations of a automotive computer with ease and at that point it becomes as much programming as mech work.
BTW i'm an EE also.

 

[jaxs]

have you heard of HP tuners or EFI live? they pertain to the automotive world but illustrate my point. with either you can completely rework the operations of a automotive computer with ease and at that point it becomes as much programming as mech work.
BTW i'm an EE also.

What you point out could mean us old timers might be able to do things on our laptop that creaky bones prevent us doing where crawling under,over and around while twisting wrenches is required. Now if only there's a u-tube telling us what you spent 2 years in class learning.

 

[DaBear3428]

What you point out could mean us old timers might be able to do things on our laptop that creaky bones prevent us doing where crawling under,over and around while twisting wrenches is required. Now if only there's a u-tube telling us what you spent 2 years in class learning.

you are assuming that i'm a youngster (nice thought but wrong lol) I spent a lot of nights reading on forums before there were youtubes of it. and now there are youtubes explaining it. and if you are referring to my engineering degree 2 years did not cut it, try 5 while working 2 part time jobs to try keeping a roof over my head, but that was a looooong time ago and it has paid off well so no complaints.

my point being that now is the golden age of internal combustion engines.

 

[dodge man]

Yes sometimes advice is worth what you pay for it, including YouTube.