Regarding the OP and the article link, one part of it that did not ring true for me is in relation to VIN locked parts replacement on automobiles. We’re all gearheads here, and I have not read about it nor have I experienced that with the car Zion. Nor anyone else I know. They suggest that the major automobile manufacturers have locked aftermarket parts out of modern vehicles, that just doesn’t ring true to me.

I wondered about that as well. Many cars these days have multiple computers, I could maybe see if one of the computers were swapped and would then not talk to other computers (although I've never heard of that). But I wouldn't think alternators, heads, intakes, blocks, etc... Maybe a transmission if it's got any integrated electronics? But again, I've never heard of that.

Actually, the biggest factor is the f’ing weather. One of my best friends is a farmer and we talk about it daily. There are some advantages to the modern GPS crap but they are minor compared to the yearly struggles with weather.

There’s a fantastic technology out there but it comes at a price too high for average farmers. And John Deere is a **** company to work with.

My wife's old Mercedes had to go back to the dealer after changing the battery. All four windows, and the sunroof had to be reset to and the car had to be introduced to the battery.

Her current Macan has to use a computer to reset the car when the battery is changed.

I bought the Autel scanner just to do oil changes and battery replacements. Skipping one dealership oil change will pay for the oil if I do the oil change myself.

I will say the Autel was easy to use, as it red the vin automatically, and reset the oil change due alert.

When the battery goes dead in my wife's Outback, the power windows stop working from the driver's door switches, but they'll work from the switches on the other doors (local to the window). But you can reset the windows from the car. Something like "turn the car to "on" (but don't start it), roll the window all of the way up and back down with the switch on the door." (or something like that). Once I've done that, the windows work for all of the switches.

But it's just a regular computer thing. That's weird about introducing the car to the battery. I don't think that's the same though. I don't think the battery has a digital signature that has to be programmed into the car or it won't work at all, and I suspect there's a way that it could be done without being an issue, but maybe I'm wrong.

If it’s anything like my Mini, it’s more to do with the charging system. My Mini has a progressive charging regime. As the battery ages, charging voltage goes up and the CPU remembers. Put a brand new battery in without resetting the CPU and BOOM,,,, from overcharging.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

If you ever wondered how they get the rows so perfect...gps and self driving.

John deere is for pop country. If you're not running an Oliver or an old mechanical pump cummins high hp unit. You're a hipster.

There some things that can retro-fitted to older tractors, and many have. The main one is GPS guidance and then you can attach a motorized steering wheel control to tie into the GPS information. I think JD pioneered this as a kit