Does car's computer store driving info?

[sludgeguts]

There was a case a few years back where some bloke ploughed daddy's range rover into a family.
They pulled info from the event data recorder in the airbag system which proved the guy was doing 70+ in a 30 zone.


Just wondering - since most stuff in a car is controlled by the car's 'puter, how much of this info is stored?


Would the following be possible? ...
"you want us to fix your engine under warranty?"
"sorry mate, we plugged our diagnostics machine in & your car said it's been ragged from day 1!"

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Our mini records loads of info all on the key, they have a little device on the service desk they put the key in and it brings up all the info.

When I put my key in the car it knows what radio station I last had on climate control settings dash speedo settings etc, even if my other half has been driving it and changed everything with her key in.

I don't think they can argue a car has been 'ragged' though in the crash mentioned above the info would have been what triggered the airbags and it would have been recorded to be able to look back and understand why the airbags deployed.

If you were satellite tracked in a company vehicle it is most likely a very different story

 

[dave]

T
"sorry mate, we plugged our diagnostics machine in & your car said it's been ragged from day 1!"

not quite the same but they do record over rev's. they are caused by changing down to abruptly and warranty people wont pay

 

[Focus Owner]

I would imagine a limited amount of data.

 

[sludgeguts]

From my (limited) understanding, early airbags deployed almost at random - hence the event recorder - so manufacturers could 'see' what was happening in the moments leading up to a deployment.

Locally, we have seen a good many serious accidents on our roads & I often think - if only everyone had dashcams...
Then again, if your car could store a bit of data from a few minutes leading up to a crash - much of which can be read 'live' from the obd port using a cheapo bluetooth dongle & a smartphone.
Hence my wondering just what the car recorded/stored.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

My Prius does, can't remember the exact period of time but, its collision data, braking and accelerator input, speed etc, for use by authorities in the even of them wanting it for crash analysis. So I'd assume a few mins of data. They make a rather big thing about it in the handbook, but it can only be pulled with specialist equipment.