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The art of auto engineering

howacarworks.com

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Re: The art of auto engineering

#61

Post by lezojeda »

moffkalast wrote: post #50
Reason077 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main problem with GPT is that it will sometimes quite confidently give you incorrect information. It's like a kid who will just make up some elaborate story rather than admit they don't know something. So it can't be considered a trustworthy source. Yet.

True, but anything it says is generally easy to verify before you do something stupid. And for things as common and relatively standardized as cars I would expect it to do very well.

But if you add the verification to the asking process you might as well just skip GPT altogether... It becomes a waste of time asking if you have to check every thing you ask it.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#62

Post by LastTrain »

ljf wrote: post #36
Reason077 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main problem with GPT is that it will sometimes quite confidently give you incorrect information. It's like a kid who will just make up some elaborate story rather than admit they don't know something. So it can't be considered a trustworthy source. Yet.

I asked GPT about some snorkel trails near my house, as I wanted to know what it knew of them and see if there was anything I didn't know about that I should find out before I snorkel again. First of all it told me that the area is not suitable for snorkelling, and that it is dangerous here. When I corrected it and reminded it about the snorkel trail it confidently corrected itself, then directed to me to snorkel 6 m…

The thing is, and this is especially true for hobbies and entertainment- I’d rather read up on what people have said and apply MY OWN algorithm to it.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#63

Post by LastTrain »

moffkalast wrote: post #52
ljf wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I asked GPT about some snorkel trails near my house, as I wanted to know what it knew of them and see if there was anything I didn't know about that I should find out before I snorkel again. First of all it told me that the area is not suitable for snorkelling, and that it is dangerous here. When I corrected it and reminded it about the snorkel trail it confidently corrected itself, then directed to me to snorkel 6 m…

Well why don't you tell me about the hiking trails around my house? Oh you don't know them? It's too specific information and you couldn't possibly know that? Ah interesting... The trick is to ask it only things that are both physically possible and also possible for it to actually know or provide the required extra context from which to deduce the answer. Otherwise it acts not unlike someone pushed against a wall by…

That is like asking for travel tips from someone that has never been there.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#64

Post by bluetomcat »

AlexMuir wrote: post #34
bluetomcat wrote: post #9

Good stuff, but to do all this "at home" requires ample garage space and a solid investment in tools and equipment. It also helps to have non-busy roads in the vicinity, in order to do "test flights" after the fixes. It is certainly helpful as a guide to understand the basic automotive systems and not get scammed at repair shops, but for most people to start wrenching on their car confidently, not so much.

This is true - I can only speak about Europe but almost no young people have feasible access to either the space or tools to do any of this unless it's their career or they have family. I wish I could solve the space, tools, and money situation but I can at least help with knowledge.

Exactly my point. It is probably feasible in rural and sub-urban parts of the US, but unthinkable in certain parts of urban Europe where parking spots are hard to come by, let alone spacious garages and long driveways.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#65

Post by Fradow »

BlueGh0st wrote: post #23
AlexMuir wrote: post #15

Oh no! I come to procrastinate on HN and find my own site at #2. After many years, it's still not ready to share!! I've got so much more I want to do with it. Even though I'm sure it looks abandoned, I have been working hard on getting back into this. The last couple of months I've been developing a 3D viewer for mechanical components that lets you disassemble/rebuild/step through processes. I wish I could share it b…

As usual, Miata is the answer. But in a world where the Miata doesn't exist, which car do you think you would have chosen for this project?

I had to answer this question for myself, because Miatas were outside of my budget (3000€), and a bit rare to find in the first place where I live (France).

I went with a 1st gen Mini Cooper (2001 to 2006). So far it has been the perfect car to learn on, because I went with a working one and did the basic maintenance plus a few not-too-hard parts that needed replacement (of course your luck can vary, I'm very lucky that the one I chose was in a very good shape).

Why a Mini Cooper? My criterias were (1) a fun car, and by that I mean a 100+hp compact car around 10:1 ratio (2) of course the budget, 3000€ (3) the "fun car" part pretty much guarantees it, but good community support (4) I need to fit in it (I'm tall at 1.88m) and (5) must be Euro 2 or better (so pretty much a gas year 2000 or after car)

Compared to the Miata, it's probably a bit less fun to drive, and a bit harder to work on (everything is super compact in the engine bay), but you get a hard-top and small back seats, which to me means more space to put stuff. I actually carry most of my tools in my trunk all the time and work ... wherever I am. I've spent more time working on my car at my parents or in-laws than in my own garage (which isn't super great to work from).

I have to say I don't regret that choice. As for filming (I do record and did a Youtube channel about my tribulations, though nowhere near this course quality), interior has not been a big issue. Filming under the car while working on jackstands is pretty much impossible though (I'd need to buy a wide angle GoPro and more lights to even entertain a passable quality).

Important note: if you go for a Mini Cooper, prefer a 2005 or 2006 year model (post-facelift) if you go for a 1st gen. Going for a 2nd gen is not advised as they have tons of engine issues, and starting with engine work is not a great idea.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#66

Post by kotaKat »

Eldar_ wrote: post #3

Would be nice to have similar course for EV

Not to steal thunder from the OP site but WeberAuto has amazing YouTube videos on a LOT of EVs, systems, transaxles, motors, gearboxes, and everything.

https://www.youtube.com/@WeberAuto

The professor that teaches it (John Kelly) is amazing and very well experienced in the industry: https://www.weber.edu/automotive/j_kelly.html

Re: The art of auto engineering

#67

Post by ofrzeta »

bluetomcat wrote: post #9

Good stuff, but to do all this "at home" requires ample garage space and a solid investment in tools and equipment. It also helps to have non-busy roads in the vicinity, in order to do "test flights" after the fixes. It is certainly helpful as a guide to understand the basic automotive systems and not get scammed at repair shops, but for most people to start wrenching on their car confidently, not so much.

> a solid investment in tools and equipment

That's true. You need a lot of special tools for modern cars. When you acquired the required tools you'd best stick to that manufacturer with future car purchases or you'll have to buy the whole set again for your new brand.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#69

Post by csours »

AlexMuir wrote: post #15

Oh no! I come to procrastinate on HN and find my own site at #2. After many years, it's still not ready to share!! I've got so much more I want to do with it. Even though I'm sure it looks abandoned, I have been working hard on getting back into this. The last couple of months I've been developing a 3D viewer for mechanical components that lets you disassemble/rebuild/step through processes. I wish I could share it b…

Love Tim Hunkin, truly a hidden gem.

Re: The art of auto engineering

#70

Post by AlexMuir »

samwillis wrote: post #43
AlexMuir wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I too had that very book as a teenager. It's a small world - when I was at uni I was hired to build a website for someone. Their friend then asked me to build them a site and I recognised their name from the caption of a photo of a couple of schoolboys on the back page of that very book. Turns out they built the car at school and went on to build an automotive company.

Amazing, the author was a DT (design technology) teacher at a school just down the road from where I grew up. They would build these in a club at school. Photo of the school workshop, with a production line of cars: https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/oundl...

I read the caption of the photo you linked to and my ex-employer is there. Wonderful!
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