They're so computerized you can't do sheet to fix them yourself and all the mechanics at the dealership know to do is hook them up to a computer and start switching parts until they get it to work. I had my Chevy truck in the shop for almost 2 weeks until they figured out a low oil pressure warning issue. Now I have Toyota Corolla (of all cars!) in the shop with an issue that the mechanic is in the process of sending the computer info. to Toyota headquarters to see if they can figure it out. New car technology is nice and all, but dang it's a pain in the a$$!
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
They dont have mechanics anymore..... just parts changers. If changing this part dont work, we'll change that part and you're gonna pay for both of them plus our time.
Course, I dont guess it's the mechanics fault. They didn't build the cars.
Last edited by Oldman3; 12/14/18.
Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist
This has been in the works for decades. The shade tree mechanic is about history now and the independent shops are on the hit list. They'll keep making them so complicated that before long nobody but the dealer will be able to fix anything...and sometimes not even the dealer.
Lemon laws need to be tightened. If they can't fix it in 2 weeks, you get a new one that works.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Reason why I hated having to take the 93 GMC Sierra off the road. It IS throttle body injected and has a few sensors but overall was much easier to work on than anything much newer.
They dont have mechanics anymore..... just parts changers. If changing this part dont work, we'll change that part and you're gonna pay for both of them plus our time.
Course, I dont guess it's the mechanics fault. They didn't build the cars.
The problem is much deeper than that.
The mechanic may know exactly what the problem is, and what it takes to fix it.
The problem is, if they want to be paid for warranty work, they have to submit all of the diagnostics to the parent companies and get their direction from them.
My 2014 Ram had serious emissions issues. The EGR valve fried several times. Emissions computer issues. Kept recurring. Truck spent the last 3 months I owned it in the shop more than out...
I told their service manager that he and I both knew that it needed a new turbo, and then replace the computer chip and EGR valve. Hr agreed, but said Dodge wouldn't authorize an expensive repair like that. They had to keep doing what they were doing until it was fixed...
I started doing my own research before taking vehicles to the shop. There is usually a service bulletin, owner's forum discussion or youtube video for the exact issue. Print the documents/web address, inform the service manager and leave it in the car. This saved me several hundreds of dollars in the last couple years for repairs to my Malibu and the wife's Cruze.
Repairs might be a bit more technical but newer cars are much more reliable than anything from the carburetor era. I sure wouldn't want to go back to the days of pulling heads within 100k. Fuel savings alone make up for a lot of the cost of someone else working on my vehicles.
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
Tis why I'm still looking for a 1975 or older 4X4 pickup in the right condition for the right price for my last vehicle purchase...preferably a GMC or Chevy because of the inter changeability and availability of parts for the various incarnations of their small block.
Ford F-350 6.7 Diesel this last time at dealer 9 days because parts were not available. Also had to wait a week to get truck in would only take it with a appointment. It needed 4 EGT sensors, they monitor the temperature in the exhaust pipe, only could get 3. Was the 3rd time it had been in for the same parts. First time at 4000 miles second at 30000 and now at 56000. All 3 times driving 70 mph a warning comes on dash and truck slows to 50 mph, then engine shuts off no steering or brakes and will not start. If you wait 1-2 hour depending on temperature it will start back up but will happen again went exhaust pipe gets hot. It could be very dangerous on a busy expressway no power in the high speed lane. Ford says computer is programed to shut engine down to avoid a major engine failure.
The one that got me recently was back in March for my old Ram 1500 my son drives. The thing would not go into 4WD to for anything. My neighbor that's a mechanic worked off and on with it for two weeks, and then the Dodge dealership had it another two weeks. The neighbor was getting a message saying a wire was shorting out, but never could figure out which wire. Dodge had to call in an engineer, ended up it was the wiring harness going to the transfer case was corroded really bad. The wires were pretty much just dust. I thought I was going to have to sale a kidney to afford it, and when they told me my final bill was $731 I almost hugged the guy.
They're so computerized you can't do sheet to fix them yourself and all the mechanics at the dealership know to do is hook them up to a computer and start switching parts until they get it to work.
Are you OK with all the computerized technology and A&P mechanics who work on and keep America's commercial jet fleet flying safely? This is the 21st Century and all. I would not want to go back. I have a 1965 V8 289 Mustang with points and condenser I can piddle with whenever I get the urge.
Or my 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo V8 which I have to take to the shop for professional piddling!
"All that the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government, as originally organized, should be administered in purity and truth." – Robert E. Lee
Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers.......
They're so computerized you can't do sheet to fix them yourself and all the mechanics at the dealership know to do is hook them up to a computer and start switching parts until they get it to work. I had my Chevy truck in the shop for almost 2 weeks until they figured out a low oil pressure warning issue. Now I have Toyota Corolla (of all cars!) in the shop with an issue that the mechanic is in the process of sending the computer info. to Toyota headquarters to see if they can figure it out. New car technology is nice and all, but dang it's a pain in the a$$!
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
I hear ya, and all of that is true, but your pre-1974 stuff will end up with a shorter lifespan and with way more downtime than a newer vehicle. (Of course, it will cost a heck of lot more, too.) Trucks (mine are Chevy's too) that used to be shot at 100,000 miles are just getting broke in good now. I have one that's got 246,000 + and it's given me very little trouble, just minor stuff like, most recently, the blower motor. I haven't laid a hand to it, take it all to the local independent garage, been going there for 35 years and they take care of my stuff quick. There is a lot of stuff about the old days I'd like to see back the way it was, but vehicles ain't one of them.
The biggest problem our country has is not systemic racism, it's systemic stupidity.
When I was a kid, you financed a car for three years and when you were done paying for it, your car was slap dab worn out with 50 or 60k on it and it was time to get another one. Now pretty much any car on any lot made by any maker will go 100k before you even have think about any kind of tune and you change the oil every 7 to 10k. The average age of the cars on the road today is eleven years and most of us simply get tired of our cars and get rid of them before we wear them out.
I remember when I was a kid that cars from the 50s and early 60s seemed like relics of an earlier age. You almost never saw one and when you did, you noticed because it was so rare. But, now? I’ll see half a dozen cars that old on my way home, just a few miles, from work.
The biggest problem I have with the new cars is they all look alike. They are designed in a wind tunnel to look like a turd and you can't tell a Subaru from a Lexus. I love the old classic designs, but if I was going to Florida, I would take the Thunderbird and not the MG. Comfort and reliability are not the same...
Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers.......
Awesome!!! I also loved my old Suburban at 9000' feet. Nothing better than wheezing along at 20 mph with a 24' travel trailer in tow.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
It's easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses. But 40 years ago one would have to pay Cadillac money to get a car that runs and drives like my base, 7 year old Toyota Camry,...and the Caddy would still come up short in many respects.
"Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers......."
Great post. I'm trying to remember, how often did manufacturers recommend tune-up (new plugs, points and condenser)? Wasn't it something like every 30,000 miles?
And the comment about people using their computers to complain about computers - right on!
My Dad owned a service station/mechanics shop. My '67, '68 and '71 Chevelle's got the oil changed every 1000 miles and plugs, points, and condenser every 10,000 miles. Maybe a bit of an overkill, but they still were using oil before I got rid of them at around 50,000 miles. Some of those miles might have been a bit hard though........mmm
Automotive technology in regards to usefulness peaked in the mid 2000's.
Gee whiz tech has increased. Warranty claims have increased.
Its getting harder and harder to HONESTLY say that cars and trucks are getting better.
More expensive yes, and much more generous financing terms.....like 72 months. Better!
There is probably some truth to that. The automatic ass wiper on my wife’s Cadillac is very nice, but it doesn’t really add much in terms of usefulness and would probably cost $27k to fix or replace when it breaks.
They're so computerized you can't do sheet to fix them yourself and all the mechanics at the dealership know to do is hook them up to a computer and start switching parts until they get it to work. I had my Chevy truck in the shop for almost 2 weeks until they figured out a low oil pressure warning issue. Now I have Toyota Corolla (of all cars!) in the shop with an issue that the mechanic is in the process of sending the computer info. to Toyota headquarters to see if they can figure it out. New car technology is nice and all, but dang it's a pain in the a$$!
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
I plan on doing exactly that only with a pickup. I'm old enough to remember the work trucks we had in the mid 70's, and I prefer pre '69 GMC, Chevys, and Fords. Dodges were good and reliable for us even up to 1980 or so. So far I have a '51 Ford, but that's going a little too far back for what I need. I had to spend $4000 dollars on my newest F150 before it reached120,000 miles. I drove a 73 Dodge 4WD 350,000 miles with one engine replacement that was my own fault. .
Crap, my Kenworth sends me an email with the code while it's going down the road. When it pulls into the dealer, the dealer already knows what the computer says is wrong, and can start down the prescribed diagnostic tree without ever plugging in. Any dealer, anywhere.
None of these will make the "first start in 50 years" videos. But I do like not having to retard the spark going up Loveland Pass, wishing I could rejet at the same time. We get way more power from smaller engines and don't have to put up with a lumpy cam and no low end torque. The anti lock brakes and handling stuff leaves me cold. My one car will growl for several hundred feet, but not stop on ice. I know how to let the snow pile up in fromt of the tires, and how to feather the brakes to steer. But heaven forbid the fuel pump goes out way back in; you can't pump up the tank with a tire pump to get out, or fix any of the ignition stuff if it fails.
Whoever said about 2000 was the peak is right. Now we have drive by wire throttle, steering, brakes; lose your battery or a wire and who knows where you will go. Just wait until the self driving computer fails and all we can do is scream as we go off a cliff.
There is a Pontiac in the family with a computer that does what it damn well pleases, including going into "reduced power" half way through a left turn.
I am keeping my eyes peeled for an old naturally aspirated diesel Nissan or 'cruiser to belt around the scrub, for as nice as the new Toyota are to drive I just do not like all the doodads.
Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers.......
Ahh....how I long for the good old days of getting in the car in the morning to go to work and wondering if it’ll start because the temp’s 30 degrees outside. Crank it for 20 seconds or so then pull out the emergency can of ether, disassemble the air cleaner, squirt some in then quickly run around & try to crank it again. Breathe a sigh of relief when it finally cranks then sit there revving the engine for a few minutes to keep it from dying.
We bought a 2009 Toyota 4 door truck and I hated all the crap on it. Dog sits in the passenger seat and the seat belt alarm goes off. Try to four wheel and it cuts power to the tires when they start spinning. Anti-lock brakes won't let you drift around corners (not kidding). Bells, buzzers, and beepers for just about everything, all unnecessary. While the world is going headlong into more and more automation, dinosaurs like us want more and more control for ourselves. It's our independence vs. the generation that loves having all their thinking done for them.
For hunting trucks I settled on a 92 Toyota 4x4. Wing windows, air conditioning/heater, power steering and brakes, fuel injection, clutch start cancel switch with a manual transmission. Added air lockers, lift and tires. Everything beyond these features for me is fluff or worse.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
I found a '27 Nash once with ridiculously low miles that they probably thought was worn out. It'd been sitting under a tree in a cow pasture for a decade. Bought it, hooked it up to gas and a battery and cranked it right up, purred like a kitten.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
son in law just over to the house. wife's nissan 4x4 frontier or whatever the little truck is started leaking coolant. dealer found hole in aluminum line worn by the serpentine belt wearing against it. belt has only been to factory dealers, belt never replaced. we figured installed improperly during assembly, also needed hoses replaced as leaking. $1000 dollar bill to fix. merry christmas. oh, they had to order the parts out of california. other nissan full size truck had transmission go back last weekend while elk hunting in some nasty country. that one is gonna be 4000 to fix. told son in law we should have dragged up my 72fj40.
son in law just over to the house. wife's nissan 4x4 frontier or whatever the little truck is started leaking coolant. dealer found hole in aluminum line worn by the serpentine belt wearing against it. belt has only been to factory dealers, belt never replaced. we figured installed improperly during assembly, also needed hoses replaced as leaking. $1000 dollar bill to fix. merry christmas. oh, they had to order the parts out of california. other nissan full size truck had transmission go back last weekend while elk hunting in some nasty country. that one is gonna be 4000 to fix. told son in law we should have dragged up my 72fj40.
Probably cheaper to pay the bill than try keep fuel up to the FJ.
I started doing my own research before taking vehicles to the shop. There is usually a service bulletin, owner's forum discussion or youtube video for the exact issue. Print the documents/web address, inform the service manager and leave it in the car. This saved me several hundreds of dollars in the last couple years for repairs to my Malibu and the wife's Cruze.
Repairs might be a bit more technical but newer cars are much more reliable than anything from the carburetor era. I sure wouldn't want to go back to the days of pulling heads within 100k. Fuel savings alone make up for a lot of the cost of someone else working on my vehicles.
Don't try talking logic to a luddite.You will never wipe away the rose colored haze on the "good old days".
I started doing my own research before taking vehicles to the shop. There is usually a service bulletin, owner's forum discussion or youtube video for the exact issue. Print the documents/web address, inform the service manager and leave it in the car. This saved me several hundreds of dollars in the last couple years for repairs to my Malibu and the wife's Cruze.
Repairs might be a bit more technical but newer cars are much more reliable than anything from the carburetor era. I sure wouldn't want to go back to the days of pulling heads within 100k. Fuel savings alone make up for a lot of the cost of someone else working on my vehicles.
Don't try talking logic to a luddite.You will never wipe away the rose colored haze on the "good old days".
Jerry
Good use of the word luddite Jerry!
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
I started doing my own research before taking vehicles to the shop. There is usually a service bulletin, owner's forum discussion or youtube video for the exact issue. Print the documents/web address, inform the service manager and leave it in the car. This saved me several hundreds of dollars in the last couple years for repairs to my Malibu and the wife's Cruze.
Repairs might be a bit more technical but newer cars are much more reliable than anything from the carburetor era. I sure wouldn't want to go back to the days of pulling heads within 100k. Fuel savings alone make up for a lot of the cost of someone else working on my vehicles.
Don't try talking logic to a luddite.You will never wipe away the rose colored haze on the "good old days".
Jerry
Be nice! I'd give my left nut to have my '69 340 Dart back... 🤣
I started doing my own research before taking vehicles to the shop. There is usually a service bulletin, owner's forum discussion or youtube video for the exact issue. Print the documents/web address, inform the service manager and leave it in the car. This saved me several hundreds of dollars in the last couple years for repairs to my Malibu and the wife's Cruze.
Repairs might be a bit more technical but newer cars are much more reliable than anything from the carburetor era. I sure wouldn't want to go back to the days of pulling heads within 100k. Fuel savings alone make up for a lot of the cost of someone else working on my vehicles.
Don't try talking logic to a luddite.You will never wipe away the rose colored haze on the "good old days".
Jerry
Be nice! I'd give my left nut to have my '69 340 Dart back... 🤣
Which is fair as I would be good with giving your left nut to have my 2005 'cruiser back.
Modern vehicles are essentially the same as older vehicles. Yes, we have seen advancements like EFI, DOHC, Direct Injection, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic ignitions, etc. But, as I see it, the problems we encounter with new vehicles can directly be attributed to government interference. EPA regulations have nearly ruined the automotive industry. EPA mileage standards have resulted in much lighter vehicles (which are not nearly as crash-worthy as they once were) as manufacturers try to meet ever increasing, ridiculous standards. My 1963 Studebaker was in a bad hail storm once, and suffered no damage at all due to its heavy steel panels, while many modern cars in the same hail storm were totaled. Additionally, and as many have lamented here and elsewhere, the EPA pollution standards have resulted in extremely expensive emission control equipment that is simply not reliable, stifles performance and requires idiotic, expensive additives that have very little shelf-life. Don’t even get me started on ethanol. Fortunately, modern diesel emission equipment can be fully deleted (EGR, DEF, DPF) in some states, and doing so will not only eliminate these emissions-related issues, but will increase both mileage and performance.
Modern electronics/ECMs also cause a lot of problems. Chasing down a check-engine light or some other electrical gremlin can be maddening and incredibly expensive. The very term “modern electronics” is an oxymoron. For being “modern” they sure do suck and they cause an inordinate number of problems, which may or may not outweigh the supposed benefits they provide, depending on your point-of-view.
Last edited by High_Noon; 12/14/18.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
Modern vehicles are essentially the same as older vehicles. Yes, we have seen advancements like EFI, DOHC, Direct Injection, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic ignitions, etc. But, as I see it, the problems we encounter with new vehicles can directly be attributed to government interference. EPA regulations have nearly ruined the automotive industry. EPA mileage standards have resulted in much lighter vehicles (which are not nearly as crash-worthy as they once were) as manufacturers try to meet ever increasing, ridiculous standards. My 1963 Studebaker was in a bad hail storm once, and suffered no damage at all due to its heavy steel panels, while many modern cars in the same hail storm were totaled. Additionally, and as many have lamented here and elsewhere, the EPA pollution standards have resulted in extremely expensive emission control equipment that is simply not reliable, stifles performance and requires idiotic, expensive additives that have very little shelf-life. Don’t even get me started on ethanol. Fortunately, modern diesel emission equipment can be fully deleted (EGR, DEF, DPF) in some states, and doing so will not only eliminate these emissions-related issues, but will increase both mileage and performance.
Modern electronics/ECMs also cause a lot of problems. Chasing down a check-engine light or some other electrical gremlin can be maddening and incredibly expensive. The very term “modern electronics” is an oxymoron. For being “modern” they sure do suck and they cause an inordinate number of problems, which may or may not outweigh the supposed benefits they provide, depending on your point-of-view.
As crappy as some modern cars are, I would MUCH rather have a serious wreck in one, even a compact one, than the cars of yesteryear. Body panel thickness does not equate to occupant safety, in fact, sometimes quite the opposite. Crumple zones are there for a reason.............
Last edited by badger; 12/14/18.
To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth.
266,000 miles, 242,000 I put on myself with my 2009 Ford Focus. I have no complaints. The car before, a 2001 Saturn SL1, a small car, had a head on with a suv. I'm alive, they are alive. I sure wouldn't want to be driving a 1963 Ford Falcon in either case.
As crappy as some modern cars are, I would MUCH rather have a serious wreck in one, even a compact one, than the cars of yesteryear. Body panel thickness does not equate to occupant safety, in fact, sometimes quite the opposite. Crumple zones are there for a reason.............
You got it. Back in the old days it was common in a wreck for someone to go flying thru the front window. Getting their heart crushed by the steering wheel. Flying pieces of metal dash turning into daggers. The engine ending up in the front seat. The crumple zone was the occupants. The safety factor of todays cars is off the chart compared to those of the good old days.
It depends on how old you are talking about. I'd rather have a wreck in a 1994 Mercedes than a modern small to mid-sized vehicle. If you're talking about vehicles built in the 50's or 60's, then... yeah.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
Mercedes and Volvo where ahead of the American makers by more than a little.
Originally Posted by Szumi
266,000 miles, 242,000 I put on myself with my 2009 Ford Focus. I have no complaints. The car before, a 2001 Saturn SL1, a small car, had a head on with a suv. I'm alive, they are alive. I sure wouldn't want to be driving a 1963 Ford Falcon in either case.
I hear what most of you are saying. It's just frustrating that I have to pay someone else to (hopefully) fix my vehicles when they crap out.
I've had a repair shop for close to 40yrs. I care nothing about getting my hands greasy and busting my knuckles. I'm happy to pay my guys to do it. And no, I care nothing about my plumbing, electrical, a/c repair. I know the good people that do it and let them. Paying the folks that I use is a pleasure. You don't know how many come through our shop that people have spent money on and now need them fixed.
I had over 200,000 miles on a 1971 Subaru before I sold it and I never did have to add oil or do any drive train repairs. I have also had some high mileage Amercan iron which was pretty trouble free. My Toyota Matrix is also very reliable and is functioning just fine but, in many ways, it is not all that great. Throttle response is sluggish, traction control is maddening, many functions which are controlled by a computer would be better handled with a simple switch. Still, I can live with it. GD
Modern vehicles are essentially the same as older vehicles. Yes, we have seen advancements like EFI, DOHC, Direct Injection, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic ignitions, etc. But, as I see it, the problems we encounter with new vehicles can directly be attributed to government interference. EPA regulations have nearly ruined the automotive industry. EPA mileage standards have resulted in much lighter vehicles (which are not nearly as crash-worthy as they once were) as manufacturers try to meet ever increasing, ridiculous standards. My 1963 Studebaker was in a bad hail storm once, and suffered no damage at all due to its heavy steel panels, while many modern cars in the same hail storm were totaled. Additionally, and as many have lamented here and elsewhere, the EPA pollution standards have resulted in extremely expensive emission control equipment that is simply not reliable, stifles performance and requires idiotic, expensive additives that have very little shelf-life. Don’t even get me started on ethanol. Fortunately, modern diesel emission equipment can be fully deleted (EGR, DEF, DPF) in some states, and doing so will not only eliminate these emissions-related issues, but will increase both mileage and performance.
Modern electronics/ECMs also cause a lot of problems. Chasing down a check-engine light or some other electrical gremlin can be maddening and incredibly expensive. The very term “modern electronics” is an oxymoron. For being “modern” they sure do suck and they cause an inordinate number of problems, which may or may not outweigh the supposed benefits they provide, depending on your point-of-view.
Bingo! As the OP, that's pretty much what I was trying to infer.
They dont have mechanics anymore..... just parts changers. If changing this part dont work, we'll change that part and you're gonna pay for both of them plus our time.
Course, I dont guess it's the mechanics fault. They didn't build the cars.
Bullchit,the mechanics of an engine are the same as always except they are controlled by a computer.Anyone can buy a code reader and find out what is wrong with an engine.Not everyone is capable of fixing it.There is a reason that we now have Automotive Technicians.There is so much more than just changing plugs,rotor cap or rebuilding a carb now.Is this good or bad??Well I know back in the good old days if you got 40,000 miles on an engine you were close to a total rebuild.Valves,rings,head gaskets,maybe cams, new crank,push rods etc.Now at 100,000 miles the engine is just broken and maybe you need new plugs.Change your oil regular,and do normal maintenance and you are probably good for 300,000 miles plus.The good old days sucked!!Huntz
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
Those mechanic bills will buy a lot of gas... It's everywhere I sold my old 89 kenworth for 12 k..the guy who bought it has his new Pete in the shop for a computer issue...he had spent more on it than the price of my truck and they still hadn't figured it out...his plan is to go back to mechanical engine fleet... Farm tractors are same also...my dads tractor throws goofy codes every time you start it...combine cost me 5 k for a computer board... I have never had a single computer issue with my 1970 4020 or 84 k20
^^^ Yep. IMO, all the electronics and computers are much more trouble than they're worth.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
Come on guys, get off the nostalgia wagon here. I loved the Tri Fives when they first came out and the 60s & 70s muscle cars when they first came out too. Factory ordered a brand new '69 340 Dodge Dart Swinger set up for drag racing. I thought it was a rocket! But time and technology have passed those antique designs by. Have any of you recently driven a factory spec, fully restored 1964-1975 muscle car? Antique suspension design, drum brakes, crummy steering, terrible transmissions, intake / carburetor / fuel management that sucked causing lousy throttle response, poor performance, massive pollution, and terrible gas mileage. Compared to the steering, suspension, braking, and performance of a modern standard sedan, those muscle cars are downright scary to drive. How we managed to not kill ourselves in them is a miracle.
I'm restomoding a 1970 El Camino a friend and I first built into a custom some 35+ years ago. New modern suspension, large disk brakes, power rack and pinion steering, 460ci big block with sequential fuel injection, bluetooth sound system, navigation system, backup camera as well as front mounted camera, both recording continuously. All in a stock bodied El Camino that now, with the same 460ci big block, produces more hp and torque, significantly better throttle response, and gets double the fuel economy than when it was carbureted.
I'm as nostalgic as the next person when talking about the 60s and 70s muscle car era, however, as one who's actually driven a restored stock version and compared it to the restomod, I can tell you unequivocally that today's suspension, braking, steering, fuel management, shifting, and situational awareness technology included in the simplest of cars makes them light years better than their predecessors. My 2016 Chevy Tahoe is so much more advanced, quieter, more powerful, averaging 6mpg higher fuel economy, and is significantly safer with it lane cameras, front warning radar, and 8" display allowing free navigation with the Android Auto app on my phone as well as other technological enhancements than my 2002 Chevy Tahoe it replaced it's hard to believe.
I've taken it on trips to Montana, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, and a couple of trips to New Orleans and I think its the best distance vehicle I've ever had. So comfortable, quiet, powerful, and well appointed that even in my 70s, I can drive it for 10-12 hrs day after day and not feel worn out. My 2016 Tahoe is hands down the best vehicle I've every owned.
"Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers......."
Great post. I'm trying to remember, how often did manufacturers recommend tune-up (new plugs, points and condenser)? Wasn't it something like every 30,000 miles?
And the comment about people using their computers to complain about computers - right on!
In our '63 Chevy pickup - tuneup @ about 6000 miles.
Originally Posted by papalondog
I could wear out a set of 750X16 8 ply on my Dad's 454 GMC 2 wheel drive in about 2000 miles!! Hated changing those split rim wheels though.
I've still got a pick-up bed trailer (actually a utility bed), made from a '73 Ford F250, with split rims - used as a well repair trailer. It has 16" split rims. Thank goodness the original tires still only need to be aired up every few years - I don't want to be replacing those rims just for fun!
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
I hear what most of you are saying. It's just frustrating that I have to pay someone else to (hopefully) fix my vehicles when they crap out.
I bought a good code scanner and do a lot of my own repairs when needed but honestly don't do much more than oil changes and brake jobs. They just don't break down all that much.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Modern vehicles are essentially the same as older vehicles. Yes, we have seen advancements like EFI, DOHC, Direct Injection, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic ignitions, etc. But, as I see it, the problems we encounter with new vehicles can directly be attributed to government interference. EPA regulations have nearly ruined the automotive industry. EPA mileage standards have resulted in much lighter vehicles (which are not nearly as crash-worthy as they once were) as manufacturers try to meet ever increasing, ridiculous standards. My 1963 Studebaker was in a bad hail storm once, and suffered no damage at all due to its heavy steel panels, while many modern cars in the same hail storm were totaled. Additionally, and as many have lamented here and elsewhere, the EPA pollution standards have resulted in extremely expensive emission control equipment that is simply not reliable, stifles performance and requires idiotic, expensive additives that have very little shelf-life. Don’t even get me started on ethanol. Fortunately, modern diesel emission equipment can be fully deleted (EGR, DEF, DPF) in some states, and doing so will not only eliminate these emissions-related issues, but will increase both mileage and performance.
Modern electronics/ECMs also cause a lot of problems. Chasing down a check-engine light or some other electrical gremlin can be maddening and incredibly expensive. The very term “modern electronics” is an oxymoron. For being “modern” they sure do suck and they cause an inordinate number of problems, which may or may not outweigh the supposed benefits they provide, depending on your point-of-view.
What the hell have you been driving? I have only had mechanical break downs and damn few of them. CV axle and water pump in a 2012 Buick Regal. The biggest pain in the as was parts availability. 03 Honda Accord, trans 183,000, alternator at 210,000 and cat at 246,000 miles. Radiator on my F250 at 183,000. 85 Chevy Astro kept clogging EGR valves and had leaky injectors but the overall build quality sucked. Electronics have all been trouble free for me. You could delete the egr and DEF system I suppose but you don't want to do it before your warranty expires. I have been responding to car wrecks since 1981 and can tell you, there are more people surviving wrecks than are being killed in them unless they do something really stupid. I have seen people standing next to cars that I couldn't see how they got out of them. Crumple zones, integral roll cages, airbags and other restraint systems, I'l take the car with the worst case scenario engineered into them anytime. Anyone thinking they are better off in a severe impact crash in a mid 50's or 60's tank hasn't been there and seen what really happens.
Last edited by smarquez; 12/15/18.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
If we coulda, we woulda.
Originally Posted by Geno67
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual.
Originally Posted by Judman
Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Originally Posted by KSMITH
My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
smarquez: In the 23 years I have driven my current vehicle, it has only left me stranded once, and that was recently when the transmission gave out at 235,000 miles. I’ve had many, many vehicles over the years, the worst of which was a 1999 Jaguar XJ8 that regularly went into limp mode due to shoddy engineering, electrical issues and mechanical issues. I couldn’t get rid of that POS fast enough. Another extremely poor vehicle I had was a 1992 Infinity Q45, which was in the shop more often than not, plagued with both electrical and mechanical problems. You may not have had any electrical problems with your vehicles, but I assure you that they are a big problem in the automotive industry.
I believe you’re reading too much into my statements. I never once said that I’d prefer to be in a severe crash in a 50’s or 60’s vehicle. In fact, I said just the opposite in post #13360978 on page 3 of this thread. The main point of my post was that government/EPA regulations have done much to harm the automotive industry, particularly with the egregious mileage (CAFÉ) standards, which have become more and more ridiculous over the last decades. 0bammy’s CAFÉ standard of 50 MPG by 2025 was outrageous. These regs have become more and more onerous for manufacturers to meet and have played a significant role in the continual rising cost of cars to an average of $35,000 today, which makes purchasing a new vehicle unaffordable for many Americans. Additionally, manufacturers have had to scramble to meet these regulations and one of the main ways they accomplish this is to shave as much weight as possible off the vehicles they manufacture. One result of lighter and lighter vehicles is that they are not nearly as crash-worthy as older cars and as an example of what I mean by the phrase “older cars,” personally, I would much rather be in an accident in a 1994 Mercedes E class than a 2018 Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Honda Fit, or any number of other small to mid-sized modern vehicles. The said E class is an extremely safe vehicle and is engineered to a high standard and has all the safety equipment you mentioned, which includes crumple zones, side impact door beams, collapsible steering column, air bags, etc. Additionally, in an effort to meet these governmental regulations, manufacturers rely heavily on computer controlled nonsense such as cylinder deactivation and complete engine deactivation, which increases wear exponentially. Smaller engines, turbo chargers, and hybrids, which utilize TWO modes of propulsion, etc. are other tactics for meeting these regs. It’s all about increasing control over the population and pushing us into products we do not want. Americans don’t want and are not interested in the anti-car and anti-oil agenda of liberals and commies, nor do they want the government telling them what kind of cars and trucks they can purchase, which is clearly unconstitutional, just as the ACA was and is.
Regarding diesel emission controls, you are certainly correct that an owner should not fully delete one during the warranty period, but the fact remains that the vast majority of the problems with late model diesel trucks are related to all the EPA mandated emission controls on these vehicles. Once the warranty period expires, fully deleting all that crap results in increased mileage, increased performance and increased reliability. I believe many would agree that they would not want a truck that leaves them stranded or goes into limp mode due to emission-related crap - a truck is less than useless under such circumstances, and can, in fact, be extremely dangerous if it suddenly goes into limp mode at speed on the highway. The former Pant-Load-in-Chief was a big proponent of electric vehicles b/c they are viewed as clean – what a crock! No one seems to realize that electric vehicles require ELECTRICITY that is generated mainly by coal-fired plants, not to mention the incredible pollution produced by the manufacture of millions of lithium batteries required to power electric vehicles and the environmental nightmare which results from their disposal. What about the environmental issues caused by the mining of lithium and rare earth minerals – I guess that one doesn’t matter since most of it occurs in China and Afghanistan – two countries that are openly hostile to the US. What about trading our newfound energy independence for almost complete reliance on these batteries and rare earth minerals from countries hostile to the US – see any parallels to OPEC?
Last edited by High_Noon; 12/16/18.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
Yep I miss mechanical brakes, motors using oil at about 30,000 miles, carb flooding out, mechanical windows stuck. And I hate my remote starting rigs with the heated seats and steering wheels that I can give voice commands to talk of the phone and such. Just terrible! We get on our computers constantly to complain about computers.......
This has been in the works for decades. The shade tree mechanic is about history now and the independent shops are on the hit list. They'll keep making them so complicated that before long nobody but the dealer will be able to fix anything...and sometimes not even the dealer.
Lemon laws need to be tightened. If they can't fix it in 2 weeks, you get a new one that works.
The shade tree mechanic isn't dead, he just has to switch from nuts and bolts, to software. I think mechanically, the cars nowadays are a lot better. No more valve jobs at 50,000.
smarquez: In the 23 years I have driven my current vehicle, it has only left me stranded once, and that was recently when the transmission gave out at 235,000 miles. I’ve had many, many vehicles over the years, the worst of which was a 1999 Jaguar XJ8 that regularly went into limp mode due to shoddy engineering, electrical issues and mechanical issues. I couldn’t get rid of that POS fast enough. Another extremely poor vehicle I had was a 1992 Infinity Q45, which was in the shop more often than not, plagued with both electrical and mechanical problems. You may not have had any electrical problems with your vehicles, but I assure you that they are a big problem in the automotive industry.
I believe you’re reading too much into my statements. I never once said that I’d prefer to be in a severe crash in a 50’s or 60’s vehicle. In fact, I said just the opposite in post #13360978 on page 3 of this thread. The main point of my post was that government/EPA regulations have done much to harm the automotive industry, particularly with the egregious mileage (CAFÉ) standards, which have become more and more ridiculous over the last decades. 0bammy’s CAFÉ standard of 50 MPG by 2025 was outrageous. These regs have become more and more onerous for manufacturers to meet and have played a significant role in the continual rising cost of cars to an average of $35,000 today, which makes purchasing a new vehicle unaffordable for many Americans. Additionally, manufacturers have had to scramble to meet these regulations and one of the main ways they accomplish this is to shave as much weight as possible off the vehicles they manufacture. One result of lighter and lighter vehicles is that they are not nearly as crash-worthy as older cars and as an example of what I mean by the phrase “older cars,” personally, I would much rather be in an accident in a 1994 Mercedes E class than a 2018 Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Honda Fit, or any number of other small to mid-sized modern vehicles. The said E class is an extremely safe vehicle and is engineered to a high standard and has all the safety equipment you mentioned, which includes crumple zones, side impact door beams, collapsible steering column, air bags, etc. Additionally, in an effort to meet these governmental regulations, manufacturers rely heavily on computer controlled nonsense such as cylinder deactivation and complete engine deactivation, which increases wear exponentially. Smaller engines, turbo chargers, and hybrids, which utilize TWO modes of propulsion, etc. are other tactics for meeting these regs. It’s all about increasing control over the population and pushing us into products we do not want. Americans don’t want and are not interested in the anti-car agenda of liberals and commies, nor do they want the government telling them what kind of cars and trucks they can purchase, which is clearly unconstitutional, just as the ACA was and is.
Regarding diesel emission controls, you are certainly correct that an owner should not fully delete one during the warranty period, but the fact remains that the vast majority of the problems with late model diesel trucks is related to all the EPA mandated emission controls on these vehicles. Once the warranty period expires, fully deleting all that crap results in increased mileage, increased performance and increased reliability. I believe many would agree that they would not want a truck that leaves them stranded or goes into limp mode due to emission-related crap - a truck is less than useless under such circumstances, and can, in fact, be extremely dangerous if it suddenly goes into limp mode at speed on the highway. The former Pant-Load-in-Chief was a big proponent of electric vehicles b/c they are viewed as clean – what a crock! No one seems to realize that electric vehicles require ELECTRICITY that is generated mainly by coal-fired plants, not to mention the incredible pollution produced by the manufacture of millions of lithium batteries required to power electric vehicles and the environmental nightmare which results from their disposal. What about the environmental issues caused by the mining of lithium and rare earth minerals – I guess that one doesn’t matter since most of it occurs in China and Afghanistan – two countries that are openly hostile to the US. What about trading our newfound energy independence for almost complete reliance on these batteries and rare earth minerals from countries hostile to the US – see any parallels to OPEC?
Well said, sir.
As the OP, I'm not advocating going back to less safe vehicles. But I'd we could take today's more refined engines (the manufacturing tolerances are so precise these days that there's really no break-in required) and strip all the emission control bullsheet off them, along with the myriad of other computer controlled mess on the automobiles we'd have a good vehicle that anyone could work on and not just someone with a computer science degree.
They dont have mechanics anymore..... just parts changers. If changing this part dont work, we'll change that part and you're gonna pay for both of them plus our time.
Course, I dont guess it's the mechanics fault. They didn't build the cars.
Sorry, but I strongly disagree.
I owned a repair shop over 38 years and began working on vehicles when the only emissions system consisted of a pcv valve, and continued up until the computerized systems we have today. Changing parts haphazardly will only cause trouble for anyone in the business, incurring excessive expenses for the repair shop owner and the customer. Repairs are expensive enough, good mechanics almost never guess.
BTW, my customers were under the false assumption that we just had to plug our computer analyzer into the adlc or obd connector and immediately diagnose and repair the problem. This could not be further from the truth. The "scanners" just put us at the starting gate as to the area where the problem exists. It takes a fairly knowledgeable technician to pinpoint the exact problem and what parts, if any, need to be changed.
They dont have mechanics anymore..... just parts changers. If changing this part dont work, we'll change that part and you're gonna pay for both of them plus our time.
Course, I dont guess it's the mechanics fault. They didn't build the cars.
Sorry, but I strongly disagree.
I owned a repair shop over 38 years and began working on vehicles when the only emissions system consisted of a pcv valve, and continued up until the computerized systems we have today. Changing parts haphazardly will only cause trouble for anyone in the business, incurring excessive expenses for the repair shop owner and the customer. Repairs are expensive enough, good mechanics almost never guess.
BTW, my customers were under the false assumption that we just had to plug our computer analyzer into the adlc or obd connector and immediately diagnose and repair the problem. This could not be further from the truth. The "scanners" just put us at the starting gate as to the area where the problem exists. It takes a fairly knowledgeable technician to pinpoint the exact problem and what parts, if any, need to be changed.
-Ken
I completely agree and triggernosis ain't awakened yet has he.
I've made my living as an auto technician since 1984. Yes cars are more complex and more computer controlled than when I started. And no a scanner doesn't tell you what parts to replace, all it does is points you toward whatever system or subsystem is malfunctioning, i.e. fuel/ air ratio, ignition, emissions etc. And now we are dealing w camera systems and radar systems that are tied to the brakes, airbags etc. I spend more time digging through technical bulletins and wiring diagrams than I do working on cars. Most of the BS is there to start with due to mandates from the government.
Quite honestly I personally will never buy a car that has all this crap on it. My daily driver is a 98 BMW M3 that has 215k on it and my 2001 F250 has a 7.3 in it. It's got 195k on it. They'll keep getting repaired by me as long as I'm physically capable of it, then I'll pay someone to do it for me.
Your mind is your primary weapon. Never let it get rusty.
They're so computerized you can't do sheet to fix them yourself and all the mechanics at the dealership know to do is hook them up to a computer and start switching parts until they get it to work. I had my Chevy truck in the shop for almost 2 weeks until they figured out a low oil pressure warning issue. Now I have Toyota Corolla (of all cars!) in the shop with an issue that the mechanic is in the process of sending the computer info. to Toyota headquarters to see if they can figure it out. New car technology is nice and all, but dang it's a pain in the a$$!
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
Had this issue just lately with 160,000 mi on 2011 gmc sierra- twice. 9 mo ago a mechanic onnthe side fixed it with oil sending unit signal part on the back topside just in front of the firewall. It read no pressure and alarm rang. Drove it that way several days till he replaced the part.
Started up again a couple of weeks ago. Guage read 4 lbs pressure. This time it was the cheap plastic inline filter to the signal sending unit insde the motor just ahead of the sending unit. Whew. Thot for a while it was the oil pump.
Last edited by jaguartx; 12/16/18.
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the left.
A Nation which leaves God behind is soon left behind.
"The Lord never asked anyone to be a tax collector, lowyer, or Redskins fan".
I've made my living as an auto technician since 1984. Yes cars are more complex and more computer controlled than when I started. And no a scanner doesn't tell you what parts to replace, all it does is points you toward whatever system or subsystem is malfunctioning, i.e. fuel/ air ratio, ignition, emissions etc. And now we are dealing w camera systems and radar systems that are tied to the brakes, airbags etc. I spend more time digging through technical bulletins and wiring diagrams than I do working on cars. Most of the BS is there to start with due to mandates from the government.
Quite honestly I personally will never buy a car that has all this crap on it. My daily driver is a 98 BMW M3 that has 215k on it and my 2001 F250 has a 7.3 in it. It's got 195k on it. They'll keep getting repaired by me as long as I'm physically capable of it, then I'll pay someone to do it for me.
Id be interested in hearing your take on my post above. Many dont know there is a small filter ahead of that oil pressurd sensor, from what i hear.
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the left.
A Nation which leaves God behind is soon left behind.
"The Lord never asked anyone to be a tax collector, lowyer, or Redskins fan".
We bought a 2009 Toyota 4 door truck and I hated all the crap on it. Dog sits in the passenger seat and the seat belt alarm goes off. Try to four wheel and it cuts power to the tires when they start spinning. Anti-lock brakes won't let you drift around corners (not kidding). Bells, buzzers, and beepers for just about everything, all unnecessary. While the world is going headlong into more and more automation, dinosaurs like us want more and more control for ourselves. It's our independence vs. the generation that loves having all their thinking done for them.
For hunting trucks I settled on a 92 Toyota 4x4. Wing windows, air conditioning/heater, power steering and brakes, fuel injection, clutch start cancel switch with a manual transmission. Added air lockers, lift and tires. Everything beyond these features for me is fluff or worse.
my '91 Toyota drifts great. The problem is I don't want it to. I've been sideways in that son of a gun twice now on wet roads. I drive like its a tractor when it rains around here now.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
smarquez: In the 23 years I have driven my current vehicle, it has only left me stranded once, and that was recently when the transmission gave out at 235,000 miles. I’ve had many, many vehicles over the years, the worst of which was a 1999 Jaguar XJ8 that regularly went into limp mode due to shoddy engineering, electrical issues and mechanical issues. I couldn’t get rid of that POS fast enough. Another extremely poor vehicle I had was a 1992 Infinity Q45, which was in the shop more often than not, plagued with both electrical and mechanical problems. You may not have had any electrical problems with your vehicles, but I assure you that they are a big problem in the automotive industry.
I believe you’re reading too much into my statements. I never once said that I’d prefer to be in a severe crash in a 50’s or 60’s vehicle. In fact, I said just the opposite in post #13360978 on page 3 of this thread. The main point of my post was that government/EPA regulations have done much to harm the automotive industry, particularly with the egregious mileage (CAFÉ) standards, which have become more and more ridiculous over the last decades. 0bammy’s CAFÉ standard of 50 MPG by 2025 was outrageous. These regs have become more and more onerous for manufacturers to meet and have played a significant role in the continual rising cost of cars to an average of $35,000 today, which makes purchasing a new vehicle unaffordable for many Americans. Additionally, manufacturers have had to scramble to meet these regulations and one of the main ways they accomplish this is to shave as much weight as possible off the vehicles they manufacture. One result of lighter and lighter vehicles is that they are not nearly as crash-worthy as older cars and as an example of what I mean by the phrase “older cars,” personally, I would much rather be in an accident in a 1994 Mercedes E class than a 2018 Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Honda Fit, or any number of other small to mid-sized modern vehicles. The said E class is an extremely safe vehicle and is engineered to a high standard and has all the safety equipment you mentioned, which includes crumple zones, side impact door beams, collapsible steering column, air bags, etc. Additionally, in an effort to meet these governmental regulations, manufacturers rely heavily on computer controlled nonsense such as cylinder deactivation and complete engine deactivation, which increases wear exponentially. Smaller engines, turbo chargers, and hybrids, which utilize TWO modes of propulsion, etc. are other tactics for meeting these regs. It’s all about increasing control over the population and pushing us into products we do not want. Americans don’t want and are not interested in the anti-car and anti-oil agenda of liberals and commies, nor do they want the government telling them what kind of cars and trucks they can purchase, which is clearly unconstitutional, just as the ACA was and is.
Regarding diesel emission controls, you are certainly correct that an owner should not fully delete one during the warranty period, but the fact remains that the vast majority of the problems with late model diesel trucks are related to all the EPA mandated emission controls on these vehicles. Once the warranty period expires, fully deleting all that crap results in increased mileage, increased performance and increased reliability. I believe many would agree that they would not want a truck that leaves them stranded or goes into limp mode due to emission-related crap - a truck is less than useless under such circumstances, and can, in fact, be extremely dangerous if it suddenly goes into limp mode at speed on the highway. The former Pant-Load-in-Chief was a big proponent of electric vehicles b/c they are viewed as clean – what a crock! No one seems to realize that electric vehicles require ELECTRICITY that is generated mainly by coal-fired plants, not to mention the incredible pollution produced by the manufacture of millions of lithium batteries required to power electric vehicles and the environmental nightmare which results from their disposal. What about the environmental issues caused by the mining of lithium and rare earth minerals – I guess that one doesn’t matter since most of it occurs in China and Afghanistan – two countries that are openly hostile to the US. What about trading our newfound energy independence for almost complete reliance on these batteries and rare earth minerals from countries hostile to the US – see any parallels to OPEC?
Thanks for expanding. The Jaguar? Yeah, electrics by Lucas, Prince of darkness? I agree that all the technology is not always best especially when they rush them to production. I think that is when we see the problems. I read a long rant by a diesel mechanic that said diesel owners were their own worst enemies because a lot of diesel owners feel that they should only ever have to run their truck at 2000 RPMs. Mall crawlers being the worst. They never work their trucks hard enough to keep the turbos clean. I have talked to a few that said they wouldn't want to own a diesel with a functioning DEF system after the warranty was up.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
I have talked to a few that said they wouldn't want to own a diesel with a functioning DEF system after the warranty was up.
Thanks, that confirms my thoughts on those infernal diesel emissions systems. Most of the guys on the Cummins forum swear by it (fully deleting their trucks).
Last edited by High_Noon; 12/17/18.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
I'm about THIIIIS close to saying to hell with it and finding me a pre-1974 gas-guzzling, carbureted, pre-emissions controls vehicle like a Chevelle or Monte Carlo - something I can work on and is simple to fix!
I don't blame you one bit... Go for it...
Ex- USN (SS) '66-'69 Pro-Constitution. LET'S GO BRANDON!!!
I've made my living as an auto technician since 1984. Yes cars are more complex and more computer controlled than when I started. And no a scanner doesn't tell you what parts to replace, all it does is points you toward whatever system or subsystem is malfunctioning, i.e. fuel/ air ratio, ignition, emissions etc. And now we are dealing w camera systems and radar systems that are tied to the brakes, airbags etc. I spend more time digging through technical bulletins and wiring diagrams than I do working on cars. Most of the BS is there to start with due to mandates from the government.
Quite honestly I personally will never buy a car that has all this crap on it. My daily driver is a 98 BMW M3 that has 215k on it and my 2001 F250 has a 7.3 in it. It's got 195k on it. They'll keep getting repaired by me as long as I'm physically capable of it, then I'll pay someone to do it for me.
Id be interested in hearing your take on my post above. Many dont know there is a small filter ahead of that oil pressurd sensor, from what i hear.
It was a stupid idea, supposed to keep sludge out of the sending unit. However, if you change the oil on a regular basis, there shouldn't be any sludge in there to start with. Synthetic oils are better at suspending th trash you need to get out of an engine when changing the oil. And these 10k mile oil change intervals ? BS. Change it every 7500 miles. Oil is cheap compared to the cost of a new engine.
My ace running buddy drives a GMC and I just had to replace the sending unit on his truck. Pulled the filter out and threw it in the trash when I pulled the switch.
Your mind is your primary weapon. Never let it get rusty.
Asking if you're referring to gas engines vs. diesel. Reason I ask is, wife's previous car (Jetta TDI) recommended specific oils and changes at 10K., which we followed. Never had an issue, but again this was a diesel.
Quote
Change it every 7500 miles. Oil is cheap compared to the cost of a new engine.
Got that right sir.. My current truck (F-350 6.7 PSD) recommends 7500 mile intervals - or 5000 if used for heavy service/towing etc.. I send in an oil change sample every time I change it for analysis and to date it comes back and sez I can go to 10K if I want because the oil condition is so good.. (Mobil-1 diesel synthetic).. Your thoughts on that?
Like you, I'd rather change early for the exact same reason; oil is tons cheaper than an engine..
Ex- USN (SS) '66-'69 Pro-Constitution. LET'S GO BRANDON!!!
Yeah I run full synthetic in the BMW and always have. It gets changed every 7500 even though BMW claims it can go for 15K. Of course BMW never said 15K on oil changes UNTIL they came out with "all maintenance will be included with new cars under warranty" When they started having to pay for it they doubled the oil life. Porsche claims 20K on Mobil one. Guarantee you if I had money ( or the inclination ) to drive a new 911 it would get 4 oil changes in that 20k miles.
Diesels 10k is pretty much the norm on light duty use.
Your mind is your primary weapon. Never let it get rusty.
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