Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: exranger06
There will always be aftermarket companies that remanufacture electronic modules. Your scenario of thousands of vehicles sitting inoperable because of one little module that doesn't exist anymore will never happen.
I beg to differ, it's already happening. I plan on buying myself a '97-'04 Corvette as a retirement gift. Many of it's electronic parts are no longer available either from GM, or the aftermarket. The EBCM (which controls the anti-lock brakes, traction control, and active handling) are no longer made by anyone, and the '97-'00 units can't even be repaired. The SWS is also no longer made by anyone. Granted, these parts don't render the vehicle undrivable, but if this is already happening with an iconic car like the Corvette, what do you think will happen with all of today's Plain Jane-mobiles once they've been discontinued or replaced with newer models? Many, if not most of today's vehicles rely on electronics to be drivable, and when those units go out and can no longer be replaced, all you have then is a spare parts-mobile...
If that's the case for the Corvette, then obviously there isn't enough of a market for rebuilt modules for aftermarket companies to bother fixing them. If you owned a company that rebuilt modules, and you knew there were thousands, if not millions of cars that were undrivable, but only needed a new module to become drivable, why would you not start rebuilding those modules and sell them and make millions of dollars? When consumers are faced with the decision to scrap a car and spend $30k on a new one, or fix their current car for $200 by installing a rebuilt module, most will opt for fixing it. And if almost every one will break like you say they will, there will be a HUGE market for rebuilt modules and companies WILL start rebuilding them. Like I said, your scenario of millions of cars being inoperable because of one stupid little module will never happen.