Auto mechanics aren't overly proficient with the detailed workings of electrical systems.

They're trained to diagnose and replace, not dissect and experiment.

Therefore, I don't understand the hilarity behind using NASA scientists to examine these electrical systems in detail.

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Wheelhouse

Because these guys put things in outer fucking space. I believe studying the electrical system of a toyota is a little beneath them.

It's a sensor or programming error...

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So who/what would be a good alternative to NASA scientists then?

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Wheelhouse

Automotive engineers designed the detailed workings of the electrical systems in the cars to begin with.

They should be the most qualified individuals to analyze and diagnose the problems, not NASA scientists that work on completely different electrical systems.

This is true, but then who's automotive engineers are you going to use? You can't trust Toyota's, and you can't use a competing automaker's engineers.

This should be a cake walk for the scientists at NASA.

Not to mention, this isn't the first time they've been used to work on other projects unrelated to space.

They're very proficient in automobiles. Much of their technology is used in cars today, and they're even working on ways to develop more fuel efficient motors.

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Wheelhouse

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Hold my beer and watch this...

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Wheelhouse

Why would they be more qualified?
They're not automotive experts either.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Just saying that there's more going on here than NASA. That's all.

Personally, I don't think there's a better alternative to NASA scientists in this situation. They have a lot more experience with consumer automobiles than people here are giving them credit for.

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Wheelhouse

Does anyone here but me even drive one of the recalled models?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Honestly, I think that using NASA scientists to troubleshoot automotive electrical systems is kinda like having an oncology specialist do routine checkups. Yeah, the job will get done, but it is it really the most efficient and effective use of resources?

Don't forget that this problem has killed American citizens, and injured many others.

This team is only compromised of 8 scientists, who will be done with the investigation in less than a month.

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Wheelhouse

...and if I had to spin the wheel of Federal agencies to do this job, the TSA and NHTSB would definitely come first.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

You could have chosen 8 SAE affiliated engineers, hired them on a contract basis, spent LESS money than you would have on the NASA engineers, and gotten the same answers.

It's a waste of money and resources.

Well wait a minute....what if they fill a prius with solid rocket fuel to test out its theoretical terminal velocity and put it on TV in HD...I totally wouldn't mind paying for that.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Hell yeah, I'd PPV that in a second.

But didn't NASA screw up the math on one of the Mars rovers sending it crashing into the surface of the planet.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

That was the mars climate orbiter...the rovers landed.
It crashed because the engineers that built it at Lockheed Martin programmed it with metric and the navigation team tried to talk to it with US measurements.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric/

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Hold my beer and watch this...