The Toyota Prius has electrical systems to control the throttle, gearbox and brakes by wire. Most new cars have a form of ABS, traction control, even electric power assisted steering. Along with computerised suspension control, and now sensors to detect a hazzard and apply the brakes. With GPS ever more accurate, we won't need to drive ourselves soon, the car will do it all for us!

Many vehicles have drive by wire on several systems, and dont have problems, hydraulic power steering and power brakes can have problems too. Fiat may use the system to develop a product that can be marketed such as the common rail diesel system (jtd) to other manufacturers. As for Ulysse electrics, we have PSA to thank for them.

So who is responsible for my cars electrics?

EDIT - out of interest, I was under the impression FIAT were responsible for the electrics on the Eurovan2 project?

I seem to remember that the first fly by wire system caused the plane to crash. It thought the pilot was in error, refused to give him control and flew itself into the ground killing everyone on board.
Modern fly by wire systems regularly land planes in conditions too dangerous for the pilot.
A car would need a dual redundant system with a govenor to restrict car speed in the event of a single failure.

Nope, vehicle is Peugeot Citroen rebadged, Fiat have nothing to do with the electrics at all.

NumanR said:

Nope, vehicle is Peugeot Citroen rebadged, Fiat have nothing to do with the electrics at all.

Click to expand...

Yep, totally aware it is a PSA unit, maybe I was misinformed - will go and dig up the post?!

When we purchased it, the dealer said it was an Alfa JTD unit - how wrong they were

Peugeot Citroen use identification numbers on every wire, they also use different types of connector block and there own connector pins. Cant blame Fiat for anything on that car except the badge.

Cheers for that.

Still doesn't solve my electrics problems on my Stilo though - dealership now awaiting for technical support to get back to them - in the meantime, I have had to hire a car for a week just to get to work.

The Negotiator said:

Hmmm, I don't think that's right:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2105-1580548,00.html

Click to expand...

Fair enough - I stand corrected. I'd heard it on the radio that morning (that the Prius was steer by wire) when a motoring journalist was talking about Two Jags not wanting one.

hehe...."The deputy prime minister deserves only the best..." was the press release I believe.

I don't understand this obsession with the Prius, I thought Clarkson found it to be ****?