A better understanding

Maybe I should clarify the programming update of the Ford Explorer that we have...  They send you an email and offer that the programs can be expanded...  You don't have to do it.....  Its just if you want the latest and greatest...

You don't have to copy the programs off of the internet either.... you can have them send you a USB memory stick... They are more than happy to mail it to you....  But if you are computer savy, you can download the files to your own memory device right on the spot...

And programming the car is totally automatic....  You just stick the memory device into the USB port where you plug in your ipod...  While the engine is running...  Just sit there and watch the thing do its work....  There is nothing for you to do....  Just watch...

And sending the info back to Ford when you are done, keeps them knowledgeable about what programs you currently are using..    Again, that helps them send you the proper letters about newer releases...  Again that is your call as well...

Ford has taken its share of criticism for their Sync product, so as a marketing ploy they have taken to making sure all the older cars are reprogrammed with the latest stuff.....   Chevy and Toyota and the others have not done this....

You do not get updates for these other brands to my knowledge..  Ford has also taken heat for their computers doing too much...  Being too complicated and difficult to learn to run while driving....  They have declared that newer models will be simplified...   Its by Microsoft, and most folks think PCs are too difficult too....  Or they wouldn't pay twice as much for a Mac....

JD Power and Associates have given their awards to GM rather than Ford because people feel this way...  Of course for me, I want even more....  But then I run linux too...  And have an Extra Class ham radio license....   So bring on the technical........!

So go buy a Ford and use what ever program they installed on the day they made the car....  Updating is optional....  Or buy a Chevy and use their program for that year and never get an update unless you get a new car...

So today I went and retrieved the hobby car from its dealer....  It had a new headlight controller installed and as part of the repair, they updated the software...  This had to be done, so the headlight module would be recognized by the main computer that runs the car...  They plugged the car into the repair computer and left it to do its thing overnight....

I haven't driven after dark to see if the headlights are fixed yet...  But the error message is gone...   But then so are all my radio presets, and the pairing to my cell phone...  But the car is older and doesn't have a built in GPS screen and all those other toys, so perhaps its brains are smaller...

And the repair consultant said that the programs had never been updated since the car was new...  He said the shifting might be a little different, and it might run a tad different too...  All for the better, of course..........?

Otherwise I spent the morning on the riding lawn mower, buzzing all around our property.... Which is only a small city lot...  I had the JD when we were in Des Moines...  Up there we used it as a snow thrower... but here in KC we hardly get enough snow to warrant that process...

There was a motorcycle breakfast this morning at a popular cafe in Louisburg just south of us here...  But with the understanding that I would be called to the car dealership mid morning, I opted to not go....  They were picking Blackberries at a local farm outside of town as the activity....  Some rough and tough motorcycle activity, wouldn't you know...... LOL

Retired Rod