To all Mechanics

[MAKG]

Hmm. How long do CSBs go between rebuilds? How long do new Chryslers go between tune-ups? Why are these numbers comparable?

As a mechanic, you have a highly biased perspective. You only see broken vehicles. Of course you see more broken newer vehicles than older ones, because there are quite a lot more of them.

Modern engines will often run upside down (though it's really not recommended). Try that with any carbureted engine.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Don't get me started on ABS, Airbags (I'm a short dude..a friend of mine was almost killed because she had to sit close to the wheel ot get the clutch in...the response was she should have purchased an automatic), and Electronic Stability Control. They SHOULD NOT BE MANDATED! If I want them I'll buy a car with tme....If not, I SHOULD be able to get a car without them.

Don't you see ?? If she was too short to reach the clutch pedal, what makes you think sitting close to the steering wheel WITHOUT air bags is safer ?? If in an impact, that steering wheel is going into her chest-- even with collapsible columns.


As for ABS and stability control, its because of the people who don't know how to react to emergency situations ( skids, slides, too fast around a corner ) that you can't buy a vehicle without them. It's cheaper to equip every car with them than to delete some of them.

 

[Mutant Pony]

I am very happy that a carburated engine won't run upside down, That is a good thing!!!
I work at a used car dealership, Yes, all I see is broken cars.
When your '86 or newer vehicle is completely useless because the obsolete parts can't be bought, my '84 Ranger will still be able to be drove.
Yes, I do own A few fuel injected vehicles and no, they are not as hard to fix as some people think.
Electrolics WILL fail! All parts fail eventually but, electronics don't live as long as good old mechanical parts. The more electronics, the more failures, the more cost. Once enough parts are broke and obsolete, You have to buy a new car. THAT is what it is all about.

 

[Simple_serf]

Don't you see ?? If she was too short to reach the clutch pedal, what makes you think sitting close to the steering wheel WITHOUT air bags is safer ?? If in an impact, that steering wheel is going into her chest-- even with collapsible columns.

How?

The seatbelt (Which I DO think is a good idea) would have kept her from hitting the steering wheel. She would have gotten close to it, but all of the injury was caused because the airbag went off. The wheel wasn't pushed back, and the crash wasn't a big one...I think it was at like 25 mph. She would have probably walked away.

As to the others...I'll deal with them, just so long as it isn't illegal to disconnect them. Otherwise, expect my unsafe old clunker to be rolling down the road until I can no longer afford gas. As to the tire pressure monitor though....HMMM....my tire is flat....HTF can you not notice a low tire? I check all of my tires once a week. At least I am used to having my Door Ajar light on....I can get used to few more lights I suppose.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I'm not saying older vehicles are unsafe. A 2008 Ranger is by it's very nature ( ABS, 2 2nd generation airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners ) safer than a 1983 Ranger. If people knew how to drive within their skill level and maintained their vehicle in the first place, the government wouldn't have to mandate the stupid things like TPMS and traction control.

And as for having low tire pressures, I see vehicles EVERYDAY that don't have their tires inflated properly. To the point where it's dangerous. A focus with 50 psi in one tire and 18 in another. Today was a F-350 with 30 psi in the rear and 50 in the front. He was hauling a loaded trailer.

Thats why TPMS is on every vehicle now.

 

[chittybangbang]

Hey I 'll take abs and air bags any day of the week. I can tell you first hand that they do indeed work.Get in a accident and find out.

 

[Insanejughead]

With all the things the government is mandating, they still haven't mandated that retards be taught better.


I like my old carbureted engine too. I could give a rat's ass if an engine could run upside down, but I'm wondering how the hell the oil pickup tube would work if all the oil is stuck inside the valve covers? Mechanical parts FTW! Electrical parts can kiss my ass (I can deal with a few, but to make everything electrical... pointless). The only code left on my truck to fix is the damn ICM, but since I'm getting 25 mpg, I'm not too concerned with replacing a near $200 part.

 

[rickcdewitt]

Let me start by saying that I have been pulling wrenches for over 35 years now, but Is it me or have a lot of the newer so called mechanics have no clue how to troubleshoot any more? I have read posts where there is an obvious mechanical problem such as a vibration and what is the FIRST thing they do? Lets see what the COMPUTER says!!
We seem to be "Parts changers" today.
OK, I done for now, Thanks. Greg

this forum would have much less worthless teenie bopper posts if wasen't this way.a lot of the time i wonder if these kids research or even think about the problem before posting "HELP ME I'M CLUELESS, THIS IS NOTHING LIKE MY NINTENDO!"

 

[Insanejughead]

this forum would have much less worthless teenie bopper posts if wasen't this way.a lot of the time i wonder if these kids research or even think about the problem before posting "HELP ME I'M CLUELESS, THIS IS NOTHING LIKE MY NINTENDO!"

Ahem,... change that to "THIS IS NOTHING LIKE MY IPOD"

 

[Loanranger]

How?

The seatbelt (Which I DO think is a good idea) would have kept her from hitting the steering wheel. She would have gotten close to it, but all of the injury was caused because the airbag went off. The wheel wasn't pushed back, and the crash wasn't a big one...I think it was at like 25 mph. She would have probably walked away.

To me, this is all speculation, just like saying the guy that walked away from an accident that wasn't wearing a seatbelt had his life saved by not wearing a seatbelt. Nobody is to know what MIGHT have happened. And as far as a 25mph accident setting off an airbag? Highly doubtful. I can't tell you how many cars I've repaired that have considerable damage, requiring frame rails be replaced, and the airbags didn't deploy. The airbag sensor almost needs to be crushed for the airbags to deploy for the most part.

 

[Mutant Pony]

I recently worked on a '05 trailblazer. The drivers power door switch has its own computer which has to be programmed at the chevy dealer.
Most of the newer cars don't have throttle cables, The computer just reads what you want to do and it tells the throttle what to do. That IS gonna kill people. It is stupid to think that it won't.

 

[Loanranger]

Most of the newer cars don't have throttle cables, The computer just reads what you want to do and it tells the throttle what to do.

I was working on a newer F150 the other day and noticed it was drive by wire. I stabbed my foot into the gas pedal about halfway to the floor and let off real quick, and the rpms only went up by about 100.

 

[gotmudd]

No, there are only a half dozen or so sensors. And their functions are ALL present in carburetors, too. You just think of them as bending a choke rod or a float, etc.

EFI isn't nearly as hard to understand as some of you old farts think it is. But you do have to understand Ohm's Law. Just like you have to understand how to time a carbureted engine with a vacuum gauge.

Like it or not, the world changed. Modern car and truck engines are all SUBSTANTIALLY better than their cousins were 50 years ago. No one considers 100 HP to be a "hot rod" anymore. And the flathead V8 has mercifully gone where it belongs.

ford motorcraft carb:stuck float=rap with hammer=95% chance of unstuck float, if not take out for retaining srews holding top find what make float stick and purge fuel bowl.
ford EFI engine run rough , unresponsive throttle=rap with same hammer = several hundred dollar repair
sensors suck, half the time they don't work and when they do it has to be at the same time

 

[MAKG]

What you're saying is that you don't know how to diagnose. I have yet to need a "several hundred dollar repair" on the emissions system. Most "sensor" problems end up being wiring (or silly mods, like oil bath filters fouling MAFs), and those that aren't get cheap fast.

The worst I've needed is $140 to replace a PCM I blew by my own mistake. I wouldn't have needed that if I didn't try to probe the PCM internally with an uninsulated alligator clip.

Even the Exploder's perforated exhaust system ended up being less than $200 to replace, from the manifolds to the tailpipe (and I really can't count the muffler and tailpipe as emissions related, hence why it isn't the "worst").

 

[rickcdewitt]

I recently worked on a '05 trailblazer. The drivers power door switch has its own computer which has to be programmed at the chevy dealer.

good thing the trailblazer line is getting dumped instead of revamped.i hear there are a lot of recalls on them.that kind of reminds me of land rover and range rovers that need the stereo to be reprogrammed by the dealer if you disconnect the battery for service