Congress mandates new car technology to stop drunken driving

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

New cars mandated to have breathalyzers?

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

"The legislation doesnt specify the technology, only that it must passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired.

Sam Abuelsamid, principal mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights, said the most likely system to prevent drunken driving is infrared cameras that monitor driver behavior. That technology is already being installed by automakers such as General Motors, BMW and Nissan to track driver attentiveness while using partially automated driver-assist systems.

The cameras make sure a driver is watching the road, and they look for signs of drowsiness, loss of consciousness or impairment.

If signs are spotted, the cars will warn the driver, and if the behavior persists, the car would turn on its hazard lights, slow down and pull to the side of the road."

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Fuck that!

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

I'm with SELLC on this one, but then again, all new cars since around 2000 onwards have been slowly developing a need to be connected to the internet &/or Big Brother in order to keep track-of-you...

With all the cameras tracking & watching everyone, "they" will know what you've been up too & when, & they can confirm how much you've drank via credit-card payment reciepts in real-time...

This is nonsense IMO. Only a repeat offender drink/driver should "pay" himself to have instruments ( breathalyzers ) as such placed in his vehicle, before being able to turn the ignition on.

The old SEC's are starting to look like "the one's" to get, or any car pre-2000...

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

I wonder if it will be a short hollow tube that says "blow me" in order to turn on the vehicle?

Maybe they will make it light up with blinking LED's to lure the really drunk. LOL

Stan_147 · Veteran User

More crap that will eventually fail. Lawsuits from false positive results. So, lawyers and mechanics can make money.

Nothing new.

Ive been working on all three of my vehicles, 99, 01 and 03, all have some seriously complex monitoring systems, sensors and their calibration. Nothing that can be remotely read or controlled. But, still way more complicated than my 67 Mustang or my 69 SS Camaro, I should have never sold those cars, kinda kicking myself now.

The timing belt broke on my little Subaru. Gonna tear that apart to see what might have been bent, cracked or punctured. It happened on a highway, I immediately got to the side and turned off the engine. Hopefully, its not too bad. Still cheaper to fix and rebuild, than to buy something else. Ive already done some suspension work on it this year. So in for a penny, in for a pound. And a few ounces of flesh! Lol

Luckily, a buddy has a nice shop with a lift and is eager to help me out with this unexpected project.

Guess what Im doing on my weekends for the next couple months?

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Been there, done that... save yourself some hassel and get the Subaru parts for the critical timing belt componets. Obviously you need them all... if you have the flat four shown in this photo of the last one I did I've got all the part numbers.

Check the cam seals... if you did smack some valves it might just be more cost effective and less work to just source a used engine. You can always fiddle with the core at your leasure if you pay the core charge.

You're the first Subie I heard of that snapped a belt! Then again, people change the belts and forget things like the pulleys and tensioners... at about 170k that stuff is worn pretty good. Not sure the miles on yours but you could make a thread about it in the general auto repair section...

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

SELLC said...

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If you did smack some valves it might just be more cost effective and less work to just source a used engine.
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Unless you want to take chances, & spend a lot of time & $$$ repairing the old-engine, I'd have to say that sourcing a good, running S/H motor is by-far the best-option :) !

They cost thousands to fix when the belt brakes sitting at a red light...

Stan_147 · Veteran User

Yup, got the new belt, pulleys and tensioner, and a new water pump, since its right there and should probably be replaced. Ive got 250k on it. Changed the belt at 120, again at 175, but didnt do the pulleys etc then. So i am pretty sure that was the cause. It is an 01 Outback with the 2.5l H engine. It was taking a while to start @175 and the belt fixed that, but I was too poor at the time to do the whole job then. I am still poor now, but will have to do it now. Lol

Got the whole kit of parts and the water pump from Amazon for $99 shipped. Much better than my local sources, who wanted that for just the water pump. Was thinking about a used motor, and there are a couple of options within a couple hours drive, but money is still tight. It is on a side burner, once we start wrenching on the current motor and see what damage was done.

I just might start a thread, politics aside, you guys are a valuable resource to bounce ideas and get advice from, which I whole heartedly appreciate. Experience is oftentimes overlooked and you have a great resource of that here Rex.

So, if I havent said it before

Thanks!

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

Hey Stan,

Should you find that your motor's "kerput", those new parts are just as important to place into the S/H engine, & start your mileage count again.

I don't know what the recommended mileage is for a belt change-over for a Subaru, but 100,000 km &/or 5-years is the average out there...( 60,000 miles ).

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

No need to thank us Stan, it's what we do! It's a passion!

Anyway, IIRC there was an inexepensive timing belt componet set we purchased originally... sure, we got it to fit - and even that was a PITA because the clearances on these cars are unlike others I have seen, but also the tensioner was trash right out of the box! It was literally bouncing! Not only that, the belt frayed and was starting to become unraveled within just the period of time to run the engine to test it! I have a video and photos of all this should you start a thread...

Upon purchase of the Subaru stuff it all fit and slid on like a glove! Pay close attention to that toothed lower left (your right hand if you are facing the front of the engine) idler pulley, it's a BEAR in the aftermarket. Very tight fit and be very careful you don't strip the bolt because with an aftermarket belt and toothed pulley it's going to be a streach job putting it in place once everything is aligned. Also be sure to test run the engine before you put the covers on to be sure the tensioner is not bouncing.

Honestly you could get away with the smooth idler pulleys in aftermarket, but the tensioner, belt and toothed pulley are highly advised if you plan on getting a used engine! You don't want to chance a new to the vehicle used engine with that $90 stuff! But since you are just testing the old engine, you'll know what I'm talking about when you install that stuff. I've done it, but I wasn't going to risk it because the stuff was failing before I even got the covers back on! Just a little bit of information for you there.

I'm sure the Gates kits and some other high end brands will be way better than the $90 all in one kits you see online, but they are usuually on the order of some $300... OE stuff us closer to the $600-$800 area depending if your buddy gets shop discounts at the dealership and passes them on.

Good luck, look forward to seeing a thread!