Dealing with computer problems while dreaming of Eldorado Broughams

What are you doing Aug. 11-16? There is still time to register to join your fellow Club members and the host Potomac Region for this year's National Driving Tour.

I have found, no matter how many times I have been to Washington, the locals are able to show me something I haven't seen. I have no doubt this Tour will not be an exception. This is a great opportunity to see something in the D.C. area you haven't seen before. Also, since school will still be out in most of the country, it's an opportunity to bring the family, merging a chance to play with your car and have them learn something at the same time.

Over the last few years, those of us who are mechanically inclined have wondered, what is going to happen to these computer-controlled cars when they get old? Well, I'm getting my second dose of computer obsolescence. My first was several years ago, with a very nice, low-mile, '86 Park Avenue that developed a computer problem. The shop advised there were six or seven different computer chips for the car. Each might, or might not, resolve the problem, might make it worse, cost about $125 apiece and were not returnable once they were installed. Result…no more Buick.

Lately, I'm dealing with another computer problem with Mat's '96 Oldsmobile. The shop has had it for six weeks! They have figured out the factory security system makes it hard to start and randomly won't let it start at all. Problem is they can't figure out how to make it stop doing it.

I suppose I could take it to the Oldsmobile dealer to have them try and diagnosis it, but my time machine is broken. Makes me pine for simple stuff like points and carburetors! If you got air, gas and a spark, they run. They may occasionally be hard to start and sometimes may not run well, but it doesn't take a degree in astrophysics to figure out what's wrong with the cursed things.

Between the weather, home and work obligations, I have not spent much time on the Cadillacs so far this year. I've had multiple false starts, but some other obligation always interferes. I did, however, have an opportunity to get some seat time in the Eldorado Brougham last night. Ah, don't get too excited, it wasn't mine; no, I'm not that lucky yet. It belonged to Morgan Murphy, a Club member who has been traveling the country promoting a new business venture of his.

With that nudge, I anticipate that I'll be re-energized enough after the Grand National to be able to get back to working on the Brougham shortly thereafter. I should have something positive to report on my Brougham by early this fall. Maybe, by that time, I'll have also figured out a way to get into and out of it without knocking my knees!

Happy Motoring!

-Glenn