Ford doesn't want you to fix your own vehicle.

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It's because my father, my best friend at work, supervisor, and 3 direct coworkers are all engineers I understand them lol. Idk if there's much of an incentive to be one anymore. Whether it be electrical, mechanical, or computer.

I understand them, that’s why I don’t have a degree in engineering, lol

 

[Ranger Kip]

I understand them, that’s why I don’t have a degree in engineering, lol

Same here lol I prefer a simple life, cursing them out as I work on my ranger

 

[SenorNoob]

They are license plate readers. Lots of controversy. Some cities are now getting rid of them because of public citizen privacy issues.

They can be soo much more. That was the original intent. Depending on the model and options they can do facial recognition, and grab any signals from any kind of wireless devices. Saw a news story the other day of them being used to mail out speeding tickets.

Traffic Violation! License Plate Reader Mission Creep Is Already Here​

 

[ekrampitzjr]

They can be soo much more. That was the original intent. Depending on the model and options they can do facial recognition, and grab any signals from any kind of wireless devices. Saw a news story the other day of them being used to mail out speeding tickets.

Traffic Violation! License Plate Reader Mission Creep Is Already Here​

This has come up with toll roads as well, using the same method. Essentially if you travel too quickly between two Flock cameras or between the points where you enter and leave a toll road, the authorities figure out your average speed and ticket you if it's too much above the posted speed limit. It isn't Flock, but the police department using the cameras and storing the info that's issuing the tickets. EZPass users in some states have been dealing with the same thing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Deere's thing was basically you can't use a code reader/scanner or anything like Forscan. They wouldn't provide any intel for any aftermarkets to make anything and didn't release anything of their own. Some dealers were even stingy with shop manuals (other brands as well)

There was a thing you plug a fuse in and it would give you a code which basically decoded to "repair at soonest convenience" "shut down immediately" etc. No real diag.

They are more than happy to sell you parts however so really they have no issue with you fixing your own junk. It inspires parts cannons which is a cash cow if someone wants to just start throwing parts at it.

But wait, it is their junk (in their eyes) JD's stance at one point is you do not buy their equipment, you buy the rights to use their equipment and since it is theirs they do not need to release anything.

Over the air stuff, I had one customer whose machine was running hot. He shut it down to let it cool and look it over and got a call from mother Deere they had detected he had a overheat situation and asked if he would like a tech sent out...

Some guys eat that crap up, some get freaked the heck out by it lol.

Car stuff... is hard to keep under the dealer's nose. Most people don't want to keep going to dealer much past the warranty period and really it doesn't make much difference because with the churn of techs and whatnot... they don't stay up on vehicles forever. They are not training anyone how to repair 2011 Ranger's at Ford school any more than they are training techs to work on 1960's JD 4020's at John Deere school.

RTR goes away so Ford basically isn't forced to release anything to the masses, Chiltons/Haynes/Mitchel etc go quiet. Ebay has no surplus shop manuals after Ford cracks down on dealers dumping them. Can't swing into Harbor Freight to pick up a code reader Sunday on vacation to see what your CEL is. Can't run over the parts store to get a code pulled there either. Tech isn't shared on the internet because it doesn't exist anymore so after dealer support dies you have nothing to go on.

Basically they make it enough of a PITA when something goes wrong you are more inclined to dump it for something else. I'm sure they would like to kill independent dealers and "the marketplace loophole" as well "for safety" if they could so everything has to go back thru a OE dealer.

Farm equipment also lasts much longer than a road vehicle, a 20 year old tractor is pretty new. So now we have computer operated machines that are basically hobbled going to dealers being worked on by techs that are younger than the equipment is. And then out comes the parts cannon... if it is electrical in JD land if they plug it in its yours. Don't like it? Take it to one of their sister dealers 200 miles in all directions.

Deere kinda got slapped a couple years ago, they had the world by the tail before that and that is exactly what GM/Ford are wanting as well. And they used automakers as an example as to why JD needed slapped... so I wouldn't be surprised if Deere was behind it in some way as well.

 

[SenorNoob]

The town I live closest to and work in has them on every road entering/exiting town. All of those also have the speed limit sign that show your speed. I've driven by enough times to know that if you pass by after dark above the speed limit by 1MPH there is an extra light ON the Flock camera that flashes. No citations issued yet. I expect it to happen any time now.

 

[SenorNoob]

Since vehicles are registered anyway, I could see it becoming a requirement to register with the ICCID of the built-in modem just to get plates one day. Then traffic violations can be issued based on the data from your vehicle. Maybe even directly charged to the service on the LTE modem. If any of that isn't working the car won't start. Dystopian nightmare.

 

[Ranger Kip]

From my 2021 Ford Escape AWD Hybrid.

Try and stop me lol

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

From my 2021 Ford Escape AWD Hybrid.

Try and stop me lol
View attachment 144944View attachment 144945

ur goin 2 jail

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

What are those flock cameras? I see they are putting them in my town now

DM me. I can explain a lot. Here is something to get you started.

 

[Angry Possum]

Apparently, Ford, GM, and Roger Penske (who owns 200 new car dealerships) met with the White House on the 3rd wanting legislation that would prevent people from being able to repair their own vehicles.

President Trump discussed what the auto manufacturers wanted and that a guy got sentenced to 7-years for fixing a vehicle. Some of the media is acting like he doesn't know what he's talking about and that it never happened, but it did. A simple search will give you this:

"Former President Donald Trump recently revealed that he pardoned Troy Lake, a 65-year-old Wyoming diesel mechanic, who had been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for removing emissions control devices from diesel engines in school buses, ambulances, and fire trucks.

Lake’s prosecution under the Clean Air Act stemmed from his work in rural Wyoming, where extreme winter weather often causes emissions equipment to fail. To keep these critical vehicles operational, he removed or bypassed emissions controls so the engines could run. While the modifications were intended to prevent breakdowns and keep public services running, they violated federal environmental laws. Lake was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and served about seven months in prison before Trump’s pardon Daily Headlines. The case became a political flashpoint, with critics calling it an example of federal regulatory overreach targeting working men for keeping essential equipment running"

I'm not here to argue whether the guy was right or wrong, just clarifying who the President was referring to.

I've been annoyed with Ford because they lead the industry in recalls, and in my opinion build a cheap product, but pay huge bonuses to their executives for profit goals. I think Increased profits + Increased recalls = bad math.

The more complex and unreliable new vehicles become, the more I don't want one.

I found this guys video talking about this recent meeting and right to repair:

Interesting, I'll stick with my 1993 Ranger, 2005 Wrangler and my 2011 Buick Lucerne. I'm good, I don't need a new vehicle, especially after reading this. Insane.....

 

[don4331]

@don4331's conspriacy theory:

No one makes hard copy repair manuals anymore; pretty easy to create bots to shutdown repair videos.

Fund buys up auto parts companies; operates selling product below cost by not paying suppliers. Big investors make a tidy profit, then dump the stock. Declares bankruptcy - Sells inventory to metal recyclers as part of foreclosure. No parts left for consumers.

First Parts group situation has me concerned.​

Domestic parts manufacturers are given choice - if they want to supply OEMs for new manufacture, they won't make parts for out of warranty vehicles. If you want parts, you go to the dealership.

You block foreign manufactured parts as dumping (Sorry for the political statement; its more about the cost of starting a new business while not having the volume of supplying OEM, means your unit cost is higher, than a manufacturer who has been in business/is doing volumes).​

Auto wreckers are targetted by EPA - chemical spills (anti-freeze/oil) are found, massive fines ensue...Auto wreckers close doors - not profitable. We can add people hurt in yards lawsuits.

With those in place, you can't get brakes, wipers, etc, etc for your example: 1993 Ranger, 2005 Wrangler or 2011 Buick Lucerne. Within 5 years, the only thing you can do with your "off warranty" vehicle is turn it in to a crusher. And buy a new Ranger/Wrangler/etc.

Complete win for Ford/Jeep/GMC, customers are guaranteed back with 5 years (end of warranty) for a new vehicle.

Probably even better than Japan's Shaken laws.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

@don4331's conspriacy theory:

No one makes hard copy repair manuals anymore; pretty easy to create bots to shutdown repair videos.

Fund buys up auto parts companies; operates selling product below cost by not paying suppliers. Big investors make a tidy profit, then dump the stock. Declares bankruptcy - Sells inventory to metal recyclers as part of foreclosure. No parts left for consumers.

First Parts group situation has me concerned.​

Domestic parts manufacturers are given choice - if they want to supply OEMs for new manufacture, they won't make parts for out of warranty vehicles. If you want parts, you go to the dealership.

You block foreign manufactured parts as dumping (Sorry for the political statement; its more about the cost of starting a new business while not having the volume of supplying OEM, means your unit cost is higher, than a manufacturer who has been in business/is doing volumes).​

Auto wreckers are targetted by EPA - chemical spills (anti-freeze/oil) are found, massive fines ensue...Auto wreckers close doors - not profitable. We can add people hurt in yards lawsuits.

With those in place, you can't get brakes, wipers, etc, etc for your example: 1993 Ranger, 2005 Wrangler or 2011 Buick Lucerne. Within 5 years, the only thing you can do with your "off warranty" vehicle is turn it in to a crusher. And buy a new Ranger/Wrangler/etc.

Complete win for Ford/Jeep/GMC, customers are guaranteed back with 5 years (end of warranty) for a new vehicle.

Probably even better than Japan's Shaken laws.

I’ll go back to riding a horse everywhere before I submit to buying a new POS of a car

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

@don4331's conspriacy theory:

No one makes hard copy repair manuals anymore; pretty easy to create bots to shutdown repair videos.

Front pinion seal is seeping on our Bronco. I figures it is probably time I might as well snag a Chilton/Haynes for torque specs and whatnot.

Nope, they are no longer doing print manuals for new models as they come out.

I’ll go back to riding a horse everywhere before I submit to buying a new POS of a car

And you will pay thru the nose for feed because they guy that makes that is still dealing with the BS you are trying to avoid.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

And you will pay thru the nose for feed because they guy that makes that is still dealing with the BS you are trying to avoid.

That’s assuming I can’t grow my own feed