There’s a Ghost in the Machine

[spinaltap]

The external proximity sensors on my W169 A Class were acting oddly: in either very wet or cold conditions, on the very last moment of braking the internal audible and visual warnings regularly alerted me to a problem outside.

On getting the issue identified and resolved at my local Mercedes Service Centre, they discovered that my Car's software was expecting an attached Tow Bar, so that when I braked it was expecting a connection to a trailer.

I've owned the Car for over 12 years and have not once had a Tow Bar attached - let alone allowed a Trailer anywhere near my vehicle. Unless there was a malevolent ghostly creature that had taken-up residence within my A Class no one can explain how this unexpected change in software behaviour had occurred.

 

[John N]

The external proximity sensors on my W169 A Class were acting oddly: in either very wet or cold conditions, on the very last moment of braking the internal audible and visual warnings regularly alerted me to a problem outside.

On getting the issue identified and resolved at my local Mercedes Service Centre, they discovered that my Car's software was expecting an attached Tow Bar, so that when I braked it was expecting a connection to a trailer.

I've owned the Car for over 12 years and have not once had a Tow Bar attached - let alone allowed a Trailer anywhere near my vehicle. Unless there was a malevolent ghostly creature that had taken-up residence within my A Class no one can explain how this unexpected change in software behaviour had occurred.

I have always been under the impression that Ghosts cannot interfere with physical things such a Buttons and Switches, in order to install Software Changes a "Mark One Human" must get involved in the Process!

 

[spinaltap]

I was being facetious.

 

[John N]

I was being facetious.

So was I!