The costs associated with warranties are a big concern for automakers, especially if component failures result because of driver abuse. A way to curb some of the powertrain-related warranty costs is to programme in policing monitors in the software of a vehicle that will log a code to memory if abusive behaviour is detected. When such a code is found by the dealership, the warranty on the related component will not be honoured. Two such examples found mostly in commercial applications are starter protection and over-rev monitoring. After numerous starter motors had to be replaced under warranty on a certain model, it was found that drivers would run out of fuel and continue to “drive” the vehicles on the starter motor in first gear to move it around until fuel arrived. The software is now calibrated to allow only a certain number of cranking events (without the engine starting) of short duration before cranking is disabled for an extended period. Engine-damage costs related to over-revving will have to be covered by the owner, as an engine-abuse code will be set in memory when engine speed exceeds a predetermined threshold (above the red line) for a certain time.
Software police
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