[Boatanchors] Off Topic...?? possible RF interference with automotive electronics

[Drew P.]

Ian wrote:

<snipped for brevity>

>Has anybody else been wondering about this or have any specific >information about how well protected those systems are from external >Electro Magnetic radiation?

>Does anybody have any information about shielding and packaging and
>protection of those potentially troublesome computer packages in >automotive products???  I'm wondering how many of them are protected from >external high powered electromagnetic interference???

Well, as an anectdote, I had a 1986 Honda Accord in which I occasionally used a Utica 650 6 meter transceiver (sort of boatanchor related).  Power output was about 8 watts.  Receive was besieged by trash from the car's engine control computer, and when I keyed the mic, all of the instrument cluster idiot lights would illuminate, but the engine still ran OK.

Going back a couple of decades, there was trouble with U.S. military Blackhawk Helicpoter control system RF susceptibility.  There were several crashes in which RF interference was suspected.  In one incident, when flying near a high powered transmitter site, the helicopter tumbled out of control for several thousand feet before the pilot regained control.

Regarding Toyota, one of the ARRL publications has, in recent years at least, had an article offering advice on contacting vehicle manufacturers regarding EMC issues. The author contacted a number of manufacturers and related his findings.  He found Toyota to be the least forthcoming of all manufacturers contacted with respect to EMC.  He also mentioned that Toyota cautioned against installing transmitting equipment having output power in excess of 10 watts in their vehicles.

To me, throttle by wire is bad enough, but steer by wire is downright scary, particularly given the preponderance of electrical problems experienced with older vehicles. My current vehicle has mechanical throttle and steering control and that's the way I prefer it.

Drew