Fallacies of Distributed Computing: Automotive Edition
So our 2016 Subaru Outback has been having horrible battery drain issues for a couple years now. We got the attached service bulletin recently that explained the issue.
It turns out that the Data Communications Module that powers Subaru's Starlink service (emergency assistance/safety/etc. service) now causes a battery drain because it is trying to talk to a 3G network that is no longer there, and it just tries its little heart out.
You can bring the car in to get the DCM reprogrammed to not do this anymore which will fix the problem, and they will also cover batteries killed by the issue.
But my favorite part about this is that this happened because they didn't account for the first Fallacy of Distributed Computing:
"The network is reliable".
A bunch of vehicle computers each connecting to a home network sure sounds like distributed computing to me. 🤷🏻♀️
Wedged in a full size +1" spare in my #subaru wrx that only came with a pump and foam. Took the tools and jack and tossed them in a bag, the foam went directly in the trash. Too bad that the load floor isn't flat now, but better than what happened last time
We’re back with direct imaging with Masayuki Kuzuhara.
They used the #Subaru#telescope to observe nearby accelerating stars and search for substellar companions.
They discovered 4 substellar companions, one of which is the brown dwarf HIP 21152 B. The spectrum reveals water and methane. They further modelled the orbit, giving them a dynamical mass of around 28 Mjup.#ExSSV
I was hoping to make my third Legacy an electric one, but #subaru has been dragging its heels in the #EV space (and, no, I wasn't not interested in their rebadged Toyota EV because, comparably, its blown out of the water by the competition).
Now it sounds like even their 2025 models will be ICE or hybrid at best. We've owned 4 subarus, but they lost me to #hyundai during the EV transition. Cmon guys bust out with the amazing #outback and #legacy EVs
no , actually they aren't
or at least, that is what i took from my last look at the data
one of the major reasons they are bad is that they delay/distract us from real solutions such as mass transit; they encourage suburban development; they are heavier = more tire pollution, etc etc etc
Cedar for a potting bench and cheap 2x4s for a flimsy work bench to put a couple of tools on. Took this photo because I was surprised how much wood I can fit in a #Subaru#Crosstrek without taking out the car seat.
Not pictured, my kid who came to help me pick out wood.
@kc2ihx LOL I seem to recall at least one call home from the big box store with orange buckets before: "Uh, I can't get all the stuff and the kids in the car at the same time, can you come here and get the kids?" 😉
Dear #subaru, please fit better horns to your lower model cars. When I need to get angry at a really stupid, dangerous driver, it’s embarrassing when my #car emits a squeaky “parp”.
@webology it took a bit longer than expected but we finally pulled the trigger and joined the Subaru club. 2023 CrossTrek. I was shocked that insurance went down a smidge vs same coverage for 11yo Camry. Subaru safety ftw.
Got our car (2012 Subaru Outback) back from the shop just as it hit 200k kms. A lot of work but it's running great now and we'll get a lot more kms out of it. (Aside: It's not a commuting vehicle. It's mostly a big trip vehicle.)
Pull Timing Cover, Reseal
Replace rear pads and rotors
Replace both left and right rear wheel hubs
Replace front axle
Replace front lower ball joint
Replace Cabin Air Filter
Replace Engine Air Filter
@britt Ours has been the best car we've ever had. Lots of mountain trips, once out to Prince Rupert, and been driven to Sudbury a couple times. Latest addition has been kayak racks and a couple years ago we got a tent trailer to haul.
