Lilfe in the slow (repair) lane.

[Jeff Liebermann]

I need a rant...

Is hardware becoming more complicated, users becoming more clueless,
or both.

I get a panic call from a customer announcing that her HP Envy ink jet
printer refuses to print from her iPad 1 via Airprint. She's
desperate to print her Groupon discount coupons (obviously a major
emergency). She had followed my previous instructions to power cycle
and reboot everything involved if something appears to be hung, but
without any success. I rush over, expecting a hardware or
configuration problem. Instead, all that was wrong was that she
hadn't turned on the power on the printer, or as she put it, I had
forgotten to tell her to turn on the power, making this my fault.

However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the only different
between the HP Envy printer front panel in the power off condition,
and in the power on but standby condition, was one dim white LED lamp
which was very easy to miss. To insure that it's never seen, the
viewing angle is rather narrow. I didn't even notice this LED until
shoved my face into the printer trying to clear a printer jam. The
reason for the small dim LED is that many such printers end up in
bedrooms and it would do to have the printer light up the whole room
at night.

So, which is it? Is computah hardware becoming more complicated, or
does exposure to computers cause the brain to turn into mush?


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[William Sommerwerck]

"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
news:ub50j8hklumj6m3e3hgrmbhmft12v60bpe@4ax.com...

...all that was wrong was that she hadn't turned on the power
on the printer, or as she put it, I had forgotten to tell her to turn
on the power, making this my fault.

I hope you charged her your full fee, and collected it.

So, which is it? Is computah hardware becoming more complicated,
or does exposure to computers cause the brain to turn into mush?

Ignoring the fact that people are not taught (from an early age) how to
analyze and solve problems, I think it's the former. I find that as products
become more complicated, I have less patience with fixing or configuring them.
Most configuration problems are due to bad design, or the failure to
anticipate how products will actually be used.

Such problems do not include remembering to turn on the power.

 

[Paul Drahn]

On 2/28/2013 7:47 PM, stratus46@yahoo.com wrote:

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 7:39:11 PM UTC-8, William Sommerwerck wrote:
snip
Such problems do not include remembering to turn on the power.

It doesn't help that our old USB HP deskjet _will_ turn on if off and you send it something to print.

What's more annoying is the Bluray player that turns on the TV and selects the proper input. Seems OK until you want to pause the disc and check something else on the TV. It then ejects the disc. If my family is SO STUPID they don't know you have to turn on a TV before using it and have to select the input they should go read a book. Wait, then they use a Kindle . ARGHHH

G˛
Programmers are easily tempted to do things just because they can. I

remember doing the host programming on an early ATM machine. There were
all kind of things you could do to interact with a customer using the
machine, but the bank VP said no, either dispense the money or don't do
it and give a reason. Spoil sport!!!!

Paul

 

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 7:39:11 PM UTC-8, William Sommerwerck wrote:
<snip>

Such problems do not include remembering to turn on the power.

It doesn't help that our old USB HP deskjet _will_ turn on if off and you send it something to print.

What's more annoying is the Bluray player that turns on the TV and selects the proper input. Seems OK until you want to pause the disc and check something else on the TV. It then ejects the disc. If my family is SO STUPID they don't know you have to turn on a TV before using it and have to select the input they should go read a book. Wait, then they use a Kindle . ARGHHH

G˛

 

[William Sommerwerck]

What's more annoying is the Blu-ray player that turns on the TV
and selects the proper input.

I assume this is the TV's doing. Though who knows what future versions of HDMI
will introduce.

Seems OK until you want to pause the disc and check something
else on the TV. It then ejects the disc. If my family is SO STUPID
they don't know you have to turn on a TV before using it and have
to select the input they should go read a book. Wait, then they
use a Kindle. ARGHHH.

The problem here is not with your family's intelligence, but the intelligence
of whoever designed the player and/or TV's software.

This problem isn't new. It goes back over 50 years. There was a Popular
Electronics project that used a record changer's power switch to turn on an
amplifier, so your Aunt May didn't have to. I still have a commercial device
of that type -- purchased about 35 years ago -- that allows one device to turn
on another.

 

[gregz]

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

I need a rant...

Is hardware becoming more complicated, users becoming more clueless,
or both.

I get a panic call from a customer announcing that her HP Envy ink jet
printer refuses to print from her iPad 1 via Airprint. She's
desperate to print her Groupon discount coupons (obviously a major
emergency). She had followed my previous instructions to power cycle
and reboot everything involved if something appears to be hung, but
without any success. I rush over, expecting a hardware or
configuration problem. Instead, all that was wrong was that she
hadn't turned on the power on the printer, or as she put it, I had
forgotten to tell her to turn on the power, making this my fault.

However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the only different
between the HP Envy printer front panel in the power off condition,
and in the power on but standby condition, was one dim white LED lamp
which was very easy to miss. To insure that it's never seen, the
viewing angle is rather narrow. I didn't even notice this LED until
shoved my face into the printer trying to clear a printer jam. The
reason for the small dim LED is that many such printers end up in
bedrooms and it would do to have the printer light up the whole room
at night.

So, which is it? Is computah hardware becoming more complicated, or
does exposure to computers cause the brain to turn into mush?

I could not print from my pad. Same problem !!!!! Darn printer uses ink
turned on, so I shut off. My new canon darks out pretty well in bedroom.
Old lex mark had led that goes from dark to bright, cycling, Annoying.

Greg

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:39:11 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
news:ub50j8hklumj6m3e3hgrmbhmft12v60bpe@4ax.com...

...all that was wrong was that she hadn't turned on the power
on the printer, or as she put it, I had forgotten to tell her to turn
on the power, making this my fault.

I hope you charged her your full fee, and collected it.

Ladyfriend. I'll be lucky if I can get a free dinner for my efforts
and then only if I confess that it was somehow my fault.

So, which is it? Is computah hardware becoming more complicated,
or does exposure to computers cause the brain to turn into mush?

Ignoring the fact that people are not taught (from an early age) how to
analyze and solve problems,

Well, that's part of the problem. In a parallel effort, a different
friend and one of his accomplices are currently trying to troubleshoot
a non-functional Mercedes ML320. My guess is $200 in wasted money on
parts that were not defective so far. The problem is that despite my
advice on approaching the troubleshooting in a logical and systematic
manner, they've been floundering around for several days without any
useful results. I see similar logic errors everywhere I look. I
recall from skool, that there was a time when it was considered more
important teaching students how to think, rather than cram them full
of factoids. However, when they succeeded, and the student was able
to think independently, that was deemed some kind of aberration. That
was my problem in early skool.

I think it's the former. I find that as products
become more complicated, I have less patience with fixing or configuring them.
Most configuration problems are due to bad design, or the failure to
anticipate how products will actually be used.

I'm not sure which is the real culprit. Obviously, something went
wrong. I have no objections to the current state of electronic
complexity. What bothers me is the lack of consistency among user
interfaces and operating paradigms. There are a few standards, such
as up is on, and down is off, and maybe red is bad, while green is
good, but even those are violated. I installed a Logitech BlueGoof
iPad keyboard today and found a slide switch where red means power on,
and green means power off (which incidentally was not described in the
manual). Huh?

Such problems do not include remembering to turn on the power.

Apple: It just works (except when it doesn't).

Well, to be fair, it's an HP problem, not an Apple problem. HP
correctly guessed that many such printers will end up in the bedroom,
where bright lights from the printer is not acceptable. So, they made
the lights so dim. Unless one was specifically looking for the pilot
light, it would appear to be off. That's not a bad arrangement, but I
would not expect the typical customer to understand what is happening.
They probably thing, that if the iPad is "always on", why shouldn't
the printer be always on?

I can't claim to be all that perfect myself. In the distant past, I
designed marine radios, and wrote some of the manuals. I was rather
proud of the job I did on the first manual, until someone pointed out
that I forgot to explain how to turn it on and off. Oops.

In the future, I expect things to become more and more complicated. I
also see devices, like printers, engaging in a dialog with the user
and with other devices, to determine what the user wants to do. It
then negotiates the parameters and settings automatically between
devices. Put the iPad and printer next to each other, yell "connect
me", and they will. Send the printer some data, and it's a fair
assumption that one wants it to power on in preparation for printing.
Don't do anything for a few minutes, and it's a fair assumption that
the printer should power down. AI (artificial intelligence) was the
big thing in the late 1970's, but where is it today?

Ok, I've had my rant.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Gareth Magennis]

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:qok0j85e83f72bu829ep2ut0uf8vutnies@4ax.com...

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:39:11 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

Well, that's part of the problem. In a parallel effort, a different
friend and one of his accomplices are currently trying to troubleshoot
a non-functional Mercedes ML320. My guess is $200 in wasted money on
parts that were not defective so far. The problem is that despite my
advice on approaching the troubleshooting in a logical and systematic
manner, they've been floundering around for several days without any
useful results.

The problem with cars is that they flag up error codes that are erroneous.
If you have an intake air leak, for example, the Mass Airlow Sensor gives an
incorrect reading of how much air is entering the combustion chambers, so
the fuel is adjusted accordingly and erroneously, which changes the reading
from the Oxygen sensor.
The car will tell you the Oxygen Sensor or the MAF is faulty, which people
(including mechanics in garages who often don't have a scooby what they are
doing) will replace at great expense to no effect, but still give you the
bill.



Gareth.

 

[amdx]

On 3/1/2013 1:32 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:39:11 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
news:ub50j8hklumj6m3e3hgrmbhmft12v60bpe@4ax.com...

...all that was wrong was that she hadn't turned on the power
on the printer, or as she put it, I had forgotten to tell her to turn
on the power, making this my fault.


I can't claim to be all that perfect myself. In the distant past, I
designed marine radios, and wrote some of the manuals. I was rather
proud of the job I did on the first manual, until someone pointed out
that I forgot to explain how to turn it on and off. Oops.

So she's right, it is your fault, after all these years you're still
forgetting to tell people to turn on the power!
Sorry, I couldn't resist

Mikek

PS. Turning on the power is just so obvious that... well you know.

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 1 Mar 2013 11:21:47 -0000, "Gareth Magennis"
<sound.service@btconnect.com> wrote:

The problem with cars is that they flag up error codes that are erroneous.
If you have an intake air leak, for example, the Mass Airlow Sensor gives an
incorrect reading of how much air is entering the combustion chambers, so
the fuel is adjusted accordingly and erroneously, which changes the reading
from the Oxygen sensor.
The car will tell you the Oxygen Sensor or the MAF is faulty, which people
(including mechanics in garages who often don't have a scooby what they are
doing) will replace at great expense to no effect, but still give you the
bill.

I beg to differ. Cascading errors are certainly a risk in any
monitoring system. At this time, the typical automobile just doesn't
have the CPU horsepower to include the necessary computational
resources and software needed to determine the initial cause of a
problem and distinguish it from downstream faults. I ran into this
trying design BITE (built in test equipment) for a marine radio. When
a fault would occur in an early stage, all the subsequent stages would
also show fault conditions. Since the radio was full of loops, there
was no possibility of a straight line diagnosis back to the fault
source. The 1980's solution was to attach a separate diagnostic
computer to analyze all the flashing lights. We intentionally
produced single active component failures, and recorded the light
show. That worked fairly well and largely eliminated that problem.
Unfortunately, it would not have caught a failure to turn on the
device error. The days when printers and home computahs have
self-diagnostics and error analysis built in do not seem to be in the
plan. (HP laser printer error codes are as obtuse as OBD2 codes).

Incidentally, I had a similar problem with my Subaru. The oxygen
sensor after the catalytic converter was complaining. The diagnostics
proclaimed that it was a bad catalytic converter. I read up on how it
worked and determines that the oxygen sensor was failing, which was a
much cheaper fix than a catalytic converter. If I understand how
something works, I can fix it. If I just look at the error messages
and flashing lights, I'll be like my friend and his Mercedes.


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:18:37 -0600, amdx <amdx@knologynotthis.net>
wrote:

So she's right, it is your fault, after all these years you're still
forgetting to tell people to turn on the power!
Sorry, I couldn't resist

Go ahead, rub it in. However, I'm not the only one with the problem.
The Logitech iPad keyboard thing I installed last night simply said
"turn it on". There was no clue as to the location of the on off
switch or whether red or green meant on or off. One giant step
backwards.
<http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/ultrathin-keyboard-cover?crid=1240>

PS. Turning on the power is just so obvious that... well you know.

I suspect that you've never tried to start an automobile with an
"engine start" button. There are a list of pre-requisites that must
be observed before the car will start. Some of these are not so
obvious, such as having the RFID contrivance fairly close to the dash
and not buried in an aluminized mylar RFID-proof purse. Others are
somewhat less obscure, such as having the transmission in Park which
only makes sense if you can find the control. The button says "start"
but it's not starting and no error messages on the dash or out of the
speakers. It should be obvious, but it's not. Call tech support
(OnStar)?

Well, I just got an email thanking me for driving over and turning on
the printer. Attached was a collection of stupid people jokes, which
was a clue that I had made my point. Also attached was an invitation
to dinner, which is a clue that I shouldn't send her an invoice. There
was also some mention of fixing a few things around the house, which
decodes into me bringing my appliance and plumbing repair tools. I'm
doomed.


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Gareth Magennis]

"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
news:rri1j89u8r08ctsmhtr42l29eie5bmq6ko@4ax.com...

On Fri, 1 Mar 2013 11:21:47 -0000, "Gareth Magennis"
<sound.service@btconnect.com> wrote:

The problem with cars is that they flag up error codes that are erroneous.
If you have an intake air leak, for example, the Mass Airlow Sensor gives
an
incorrect reading of how much air is entering the combustion chambers, so
the fuel is adjusted accordingly and erroneously, which changes the reading
from the Oxygen sensor.
The car will tell you the Oxygen Sensor or the MAF is faulty, which people
(including mechanics in garages who often don't have a scooby what they are
doing) will replace at great expense to no effect, but still give you the
bill.

I beg to differ.


<snipped>



Incidentally, I had a similar problem with my Subaru. The oxygen
sensor after the catalytic converter was complaining. The diagnostics
proclaimed that it was a bad catalytic converter. I read up on how it
worked and determines that the oxygen sensor was failing, which was a
much cheaper fix than a catalytic converter. If I understand how
something works, I can fix it. If I just look at the error messages
and flashing lights, I'll be like my friend and his Mercedes.




Er, not sure where you are differing, it looks like we are in agreement!?



Gareth.

 

[Ramsman]

On 01/03/2013 16:18, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:18:37 -0600, amdx <amdx@knologynotthis.net
wrote:

So she's right, it is your fault, after all these years you're still
forgetting to tell people to turn on the power!
Sorry, I couldn't resist

Go ahead, rub it in. However, I'm not the only one with the problem.
The Logitech iPad keyboard thing I installed last night simply said
"turn it on". There was no clue as to the location of the on off
switch or whether red or green meant on or off. One giant step
backwards.
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/ultrathin-keyboard-cover?crid=1240

PS. Turning on the power is just so obvious that... well you know.

I suspect that you've never tried to start an automobile with an
"engine start" button. There are a list of pre-requisites that must
be observed before the car will start. Some of these are not so
obvious, such as having the RFID contrivance fairly close to the dash
and not buried in an aluminized mylar RFID-proof purse. Others are
somewhat less obscure, such as having the transmission in Park which
only makes sense if you can find the control. The button says "start"
but it's not starting and no error messages on the dash or out of the
speakers. It should be obvious, but it's not. Call tech support
(OnStar)?

Some cars require the clutch or brake pedal to be depressed in order to

start.

Well, I just got an email thanking me for driving over and turning on
the printer. Attached was a collection of stupid people jokes, which
was a clue that I had made my point. Also attached was an invitation
to dinner, which is a clue that I shouldn't send her an invoice. There
was also some mention of fixing a few things around the house, which
decodes into me bringing my appliance and plumbing repair tools. I'm
doomed.


Which just reinforces the principle that no good deed goes unpunished.

--
Peter

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 1 Mar 2013 17:47:01 -0000, "Gareth Magennis"
<gareth.magennis@ntlworld.com> wrote:

"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
news:rri1j89u8r08ctsmhtr42l29eie5bmq6ko@4ax.com...
I beg to differ.

Er, not sure where you are differing, it looks like we are in agreement!?
Gareth.

Sorry. I'm not accustomed to agreeing with anyone. Give me some time
to get used to the concept.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:08:59 +0000, Ramsman <nospam@nowhere.com>
wrote:

Some cars require the clutch or brake pedal to be depressed in order to
start.

Oh yeah, that too. Then, there's the seat belt interlock chime
bypass. Nothing is simple or easy.

Which just reinforces the principle that no good deed goes unpunished.

I have friends and I have customers. The difference is that the
customers pay me.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Leif Neland]

Jeff Liebermann skrev den 01/03/2013:

(OnStar)?

Well, I just got an email thanking me for driving over and turning on
the printer. Attached was a collection of stupid people jokes, which
was a clue that I had made my point. Also attached was an invitation
to dinner, which is a clue that I shouldn't send her an invoice. There
was also some mention of fixing a few things around the house, which
decodes into me bringing my appliance and plumbing repair tools. I'm
doomed.

Well, if turning on a printer gives dinner, imagine what fixing the
plumbing might lead to

Leif

--
Husk křrelys bagpĺ, hvis din bilfabrikant har taget den idiotiske
beslutning at undlade det.

 

[amdx]

On 3/1/2013 10:18 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:18:37 -0600, amdx <amdx@knologynotthis.net
wrote:

So she's right, it is your fault, after all these years you're still
forgetting to tell people to turn on the power!
Sorry, I couldn't resist

Go ahead, rub it in. However, I'm not the only one with the problem.
The Logitech iPad keyboard thing I installed last night simply said
"turn it on". There was no clue as to the location of the on off
switch or whether red or green meant on or off. One giant step
backwards.
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/ultrathin-keyboard-cover?crid=1240

PS. Turning on the power is just so obvious that... well you know.

I suspect that you've never tried to start an automobile with an
"engine start" button. There are a list of pre-requisites that must
be observed before the car will start. Some of these are not so
obvious, such as having the RFID contrivance fairly close to the dash
and not buried in an aluminized mylar RFID-proof purse. Others are
somewhat less obscure, such as having the transmission in Park which
only makes sense if you can find the control. The button says "start"
but it's not starting and no error messages on the dash or out of the
speakers. It should be obvious, but it's not. Call tech support
(OnStar)?

I have a friend that is a physicist, and besides that very bright.

He and his wife had bought a used car, on the second day they attempted
to go out, he couldn't get the shift lever to move from park. Try as he
might it would not work, so he traded places with his wife, she
naturally put her foot on the brake and shifted to reverse.
He told me it took two more attempts before he figured out why she
could do it and he couldn't.

 

[Jamie]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

I need a rant...

Is hardware becoming more complicated, users becoming more clueless,
or both.

I get a panic call from a customer announcing that her HP Envy ink jet
printer refuses to print from her iPad 1 via Airprint. She's
desperate to print her Groupon discount coupons (obviously a major
emergency). She had followed my previous instructions to power cycle
and reboot everything involved if something appears to be hung, but
without any success. I rush over, expecting a hardware or
configuration problem. Instead, all that was wrong was that she
hadn't turned on the power on the printer, or as she put it, I had
forgotten to tell her to turn on the power, making this my fault.

However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the only different
between the HP Envy printer front panel in the power off condition,
and in the power on but standby condition, was one dim white LED lamp
which was very easy to miss. To insure that it's never seen, the
viewing angle is rather narrow. I didn't even notice this LED until
shoved my face into the printer trying to clear a printer jam. The
reason for the small dim LED is that many such printers end up in
bedrooms and it would do to have the printer light up the whole room
at night.

So, which is it? Is computah hardware becoming more complicated, or
does exposure to computers cause the brain to turn into mush?

it's the secret subliminal messages the GOV has been pumping into the
common hang out areas of the internet. The intent is to make brainless
dummies so that every one becomes a puppet to the GOV (subservient) and
ask no questions when it comes time to thin the herd.

Jamie

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:32:56 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

In a parallel effort, a different
friend and one of his accomplices are currently trying to troubleshoot
a non-functional Mercedes ML320. My guess is $200 in wasted money on
parts that were not defective so far. The problem is that despite my
advice on approaching the troubleshooting in a logical and systematic
manner, they've been floundering around for several days without any
useful results.

Roll forward one day. I arrive at the scene of the crime fully
prepared to get greasy, filthy, and frustrated. Standing around the
vehicle were three well educated and intelligent engineering types,
desperate to get the vehicle running. As soon as my feet hit the
ground, I was immediately deluged with one complex theory after
another. So much for intelligence as a survival attribute. As the
barrage of brilliant theories subsided, I was able to determine that
they had successfully replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter the
previous day. OBD2 delivered the obvious fact that the fuel system
wasn't working, along with about 10 associated downstream errors
(mostly misfires).

When fixing anything, the problem can be attacked with either logic or
psychology. Logic would require following the troubleshooting flow
chart that everyone seemed to be ignoring. Looking at the flow chart,
I can see why. However psychology requires only the assumption that
three well educated and intelligent engineering types are fully
capable of stupid mistakes, missing the obvious, and dumb oversights.
I chose the much easier psychological approach and went immediately to
the fuse and relay box. My plan was to push the fuel pump power relay
and see if it would spin. I didn't need to do that as it was obvious
that the fuel pump fuse, adjacent to the relay, was missing. Argh.

A brief interrogation of the participants in this fiasco revealed that
nobody remembered removing the fuse, or had any knowledge of its
current hiding place. I found a replacement fuse, inserted it in its
socket, and suggested that the owner attempt to start the vehicle
(while the rest of us stood by with fire extinguishers). The engine
started and ran quite nicely.

To verify that the fuel pump had really been the problem, I attached
clip leads to the fuel pump connector and applied 12VDC. Nothing. I
then applied power directly to the fuel pump motor. Nothing, which
means a bad pump moter. Unfortunately, I wasn't very careful about
where I pointed the pump outlet, and sprayed some gasoline on myself.

In the same class as remembering to turn on the printer power, we now
have remembering to insert the fuse. I just wish everything was this
easy. Unfortunately, this is yet another friend, and not a customer.
With luck, I'll get a free hot chocolate at the local coffee shop.

Sigh.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jamie]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:32:56 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com
wrote:


In a parallel effort, a different
friend and one of his accomplices are currently trying to troubleshoot
a non-functional Mercedes ML320. My guess is $200 in wasted money on
parts that were not defective so far. The problem is that despite my
advice on approaching the troubleshooting in a logical and systematic
manner, they've been floundering around for several days without any
useful results.


Roll forward one day. I arrive at the scene of the crime fully
prepared to get greasy, filthy, and frustrated. Standing around the
vehicle were three well educated and intelligent engineering types,
desperate to get the vehicle running. As soon as my feet hit the
ground, I was immediately deluged with one complex theory after
another. So much for intelligence as a survival attribute. As the
barrage of brilliant theories subsided, I was able to determine that
they had successfully replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter the
previous day. OBD2 delivered the obvious fact that the fuel system
wasn't working, along with about 10 associated downstream errors
(mostly misfires).

When fixing anything, the problem can be attacked with either logic or
psychology. Logic would require following the troubleshooting flow
chart that everyone seemed to be ignoring. Looking at the flow chart,
I can see why. However psychology requires only the assumption that
three well educated and intelligent engineering types are fully
capable of stupid mistakes, missing the obvious, and dumb oversights.
I chose the much easier psychological approach and went immediately to
the fuse and relay box. My plan was to push the fuel pump power relay
and see if it would spin. I didn't need to do that as it was obvious
that the fuel pump fuse, adjacent to the relay, was missing. Argh.

A brief interrogation of the participants in this fiasco revealed that
nobody remembered removing the fuse, or had any knowledge of its
current hiding place. I found a replacement fuse, inserted it in its
socket, and suggested that the owner attempt to start the vehicle
(while the rest of us stood by with fire extinguishers). The engine
started and ran quite nicely.

To verify that the fuel pump had really been the problem, I attached
clip leads to the fuel pump connector and applied 12VDC. Nothing. I
then applied power directly to the fuel pump motor. Nothing, which
means a bad pump moter. Unfortunately, I wasn't very careful about
where I pointed the pump outlet, and sprayed some gasoline on myself.

Ok, something is wrong with your assertion here, you stated that nothing

happen which indicates the original pump to be bad however, you also
claim to get fuel on you via a spray? This would indicate that it must
of work?

I am confused..

In the same class as remembering to turn on the printer power, we now
have remembering to insert the fuse. I just wish everything was this
easy. Unfortunately, this is yet another friend, and not a customer.
With luck, I'll get a free hot chocolate at the local coffee shop.

Sigh.

P.S.
If this was a test to see if readers actually read other's material?
it worked.


Jamie