On Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:50:10 -0400, Joseph Gwinn
wrote:

In article ,
cavelamb wrote:

F. George McDuffee wrote:
snip
There appears to be no reason [other than inertia] that NHTSA or
another agency cannot require a source code listing for computer
control programs for all vehicles sold in the United States as a
condition of approval for import.


I once had an '88 Corvette, George.

One of the hottest after market items was an EPROM that could
boost performance. Heck, there were dozens of them.
I don't think there was much code there.
Just conditions...

I had a coworker who in the 1980s installed a reground camshaft in his Saab, the
intent being to improve mileage by defeating some of the anti-smog detuning of
the engine. He claimed a great improvement in gasoline costs. His commute was
one hour each way, so it would be noticeable.


I don't thing, in the long run, there was any noticeable difference.
It adapted to the way you drive.
Maybe a different EPROM for the race track would have made a difference.
But for around town?
Nada Much.

Now days, I hear of people reprogramming the engine control computer.


Joe Gwinn
Which IS replacing the Eprom on pre-OBD2 stuff - and even some OBD2
that does not use FLASH rom.