Date:         Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:28:53 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NVC Friday grounding question
In-Reply-To:  <96c89c360807250652q36dea7b4q85bc3621e6daf25d@mail.gmail.com>
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> Can anyone give me a clue as to why my PT Cruiser has a ground strap to the
> muffler at the back of the car?

Well, according to the PT Cruiser folks around the internet, the
factory manual says it's for RF interference reduction. There's also a
ground strap for the HOOD! Apparently the PT Cruiser has like NINE
computer modules on a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus scattered
throughout the vehicle, and they wanted to make double-super-extra
sure there wouldn't be any RF gremlins messing with it.

CAN bus brings me to another rambling thought. I never understood
folks who found fuel injection engines "too complicated" to work on.
Being fairly competent with electronics theory, I actually found the
Bosch l-Jettronic on my 280Z (and the amusingly nearly identical
Digifant on the Vanagon) to be refreshingly easy to diagnose after the
nightmare of the dual-carb 260Z. Now, with all these danged computers
jabbering at each other from who knows where in the vehicle, about who
knows what, I'm starting to feel like an old carburetor guy looking at
an air flow meter. At least the new cars have OBD-II, which (in
theory) tells you where to look for the problem.
--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Lastwagen"
'90 Vanagon GL - "Wiesel"