Engineers are REALLY soopid!

[Nevada Ed]

It all started back when I had a 2010 jeep.........
I needed threee (3) types of screwdrivers to to fix my rear window strut,
so the window would close slowly and also stay shut.

I also noticed that a star tip was needed....... something that most did not have in their tool box, yet.

The days of just two screwdrivers and a socket set, are long gone.

Bring money !!

 

[PALADIN85020]

When I was in high school, a friend had a '49 or '50 Olds V8. To change the sparkplugs, the car had to go up on a lift, the front tires removed, and the wheelwell splash panels removed to reach the plugs...

John

 

[GypsmJim]

This is all poofy news. Not like it never happened before.

When I was a little kid we had a garage up the street from me and my Dad used to take the car there. I distinctly remember walking with him hand in hand when the shop called with a problem.

All it was in for was a freaking muffler that was noisy. The shop said the whole exhaust system needed to be replaced. It was going to cost more than the car was worth.

It seems that when the car was built the engine and exhaust system were installed before the body was installed. All the pipes were bolted thru the top. No way to replace them.

This was circa 1954 and the car was a 1936 Graham-Paige. Later part of the Packard and Studebaker family of cars.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I have a 2018 BMW M2, and it too lacks a dipstick.

Look behind the steering wheel...........bwa ha ha ha.....RUN AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYY...........................

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I discovered long ago that as long as my transmission wasn’t leaking, I never needed to add fluid. Same for the differential, radiator, etc.

If they are leaking, I’m prone to repairing the offending leak.

What was the last vehicle you owned that had grease fittings? Sealed joints last as long and probably longer than the grease or fittings of days gone by.

Cars are nearly maintenance free anymore. I am glad for this.

Hell I remember an old Murray riding mower that my grandfather had. Thing had grease zirks all over. Has a pull start that you had to manually wind the cord before pulling-double blades run by belts on top of the deck unprotected. manual clutch with three speeds. Remember like it was yesterday him working on it. That thing was a grass cutting **********er

 

[meaneyedcatz]

Designed so it goes to the stealership for a throwaway trans

 

[DWalt]

If I remember correctly back in the 70's the Chevy (Monza)? in order to get to one (or two)? spark plug(s) one engine mount had to be unbolted. Then jack up the engine to gain enough clearance. Some other cars had to be jacked up, remove the wheel and fender skirt to gain access to the spark plugs. What's old is new again.

Back in the mid-50s my father had a Dodge. About the same thing had to be done to change the oil filter. A frame member was in the way. He got somebody with a cutting torch to cut away a small area of the frame so the filter could be removed. I never understood why Chrysler designed it that way.

 

[fordson]

My wife has a 2008 VW Rabbit, and the transmission is starting to act up a little.
I thought "No problem, I'll check the Fluid Level, and add some.
Open the hood looking for the dipstick to check it. No joy, so I look on the Interwebs, and apparently you need to put the car up on a lift just to CHECK the fluid level!!

WTH? Didn't even delve into it beyond that point, but how stupid is that?

As a graduate engineer (three times over), I take exception to the assertion that engineers are stupid. I’ve known some truly brilliant engineers, a lot of very good engineers, and some not so good engineers and a very few incompetent engineers. But never “stupid “ engineers. All the ones i knew could at least spell stupid correctly.

 

[BC38]

Look behind the steering wheel...........bwa ha ha ha.....RUN AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYY...........................

Nah, nothing there but a loose nut.

 

[BC38]

As a graduate engineer (three times over), I take exception to the assertion that engineers are stupid. I’ve known some truly brilliant engineers, a lot of very good engineers, and some not so good engineers and a very few incompetent engineers. But never “stupid “ engineers. All the ones i knew could at least spell stupid correctly.

Yeah, FWIW, the prof that taught tech writing and engineering ethics and a couple of other classes where I got my BS had this spiel he'd repeat to almost every class at some point during the school term. It went something like this....

"You just don't realize how DUMB the average person really is. You're all bright - you wouldn't be here getting an engineering degree if you weren't. You come here in the evenings and hang around with other bright people. You go to work and spend all day around other bright people. If you graduate from this engineering program, that means you're in about the top 5% of the population for brains. You're so surrounded by other bright people you just don't realize how far above average all of you are."

Now keep in mind, this guy wasn't an engineer. He was an award-winning newspaper writer and editor. He wasn't patting himself or people like himself on the back or trying to blow smoke up our skirts. He really believed what he said. Whether it is true or not, each person has to decide for themselves.

 

[Psy]

Modern cars are not designed to be owner-serviceable at all. The days of doing your own tuneups and maintenance are all but gone. I have a small fortune invested in Craftsman mechanics tools that I hardly ever use. I can't even remember the last time I used my timing light or dwell tach...

My thoughts exactly.

 

[BC38]

Back in the mid-50s my father had a Dodge. About the same thing had to be done to change the oil filter. A frame member was in the way. He got somebody with a cutting torch to cut away a small area of the frame so the filter could be removed. I never understood why Chrysler designed it that way.

I used to have a 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Sweet hopped up sedan - a real sleeper. The engine and 5 speed were a thing of beauty. BUT Ford really messed some things up too - like to replace a heater core you had to remove the steering column and ENTIRE dash. Not part of it - the WHOLE thing. All it would have taken is to put the heater core in behind the glovebox with an access panel, or even put an access panel in the firewall. But NOOOOO, that would be too simple....
Ford... a better idea MY FOOT!

 

[pantannojack]

The more I read about Chevys, the better I like my Fords. 91 E350 460 cu in, 438k one new tranny, nothing else, don't smoke drink or complain. 96 bronco, 271k all original same story. Change the oil, it's cheap.

 

[BC38]

I read a story that when William Lear had his engineers design the Learjet, he would build one to their exact specifications. Then he would tell them to put on coveralls and work on it. Any too tight spaces, too sharp edges, anything that required major disassembly to work on-they went back to the drawing board.

I've always said that before they let them design anything ALL automotive engineers need to spend a year or two working on the current designs - so they understand what NOT to do in their future designs.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I used to have a 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Sweet hopped up sedan - a real sleeper. The engine and 5 speed were a thing of beauty. BUT Ford really messed some things up too - like to replace a heater core you had to remove the steering column and ENTIRE dash. Not part of it - the WHOLE thing. All it would have taken is to put the heater core in behind the glovebox with an access panel, or even put an access panel in the firewall. But NOOOOO, that would be too simple....
Ford... a better idea MY FOOT!

The heater core was about the only thing I didn't have to replace on my 1991 SHO. Between about 55,000 and 80,000 miles (a little more than a year) I had to put about $4000 into that car...power steering pump, A/C, and more.

It was a blast to drive, and a nightmare to own. I sold it as soon as it was paid for...

 

[BC38]

The heater core was about the only thing I didn't have to replace on my 1991 SHO. Between about 55,000 and 80,000 miles (a little more than a year) I had to put about $4000 into that car...power steering pump, A/C, and more.

It was a blast to drive, and a nightmare to own. I sold it as soon as it was paid for...

Funny but we bought ours used with around 60k miles on the clock, drove it for about 5 years and 50k miles, and the only thing that had to be repaired/replaced was the clutch and pressure plate - mostly because I couldn't resist driving it hard! The clutch job was done right before I traded it in on a minivan, because my wife's back was suffering from having to wrestle our one-year-old into a rear-facing carseat in the middle of the back seat.

I never had to replace a heater core on mine, but I belonged to the SHO Owners Forum and heard a LOT of people complain about having to do one.

 

[BC38]

Having spent my career as an engineer, BC38 is absolutely correct. The bean counters over-rule any engineer. The dollar is the most important item. Also most of the managers have no touch with reality. They will come up with some hair brain idea and will want it produced. Engineers MUST obey the Laws of Physics while most managers do have a clue about Physics! I've had many managers tell me they saw something on TV or in a movie and they want one just like it. I try to explain that it is not possible to do that. They just say, if they saw it on TV or in a movie, it has to be real!

I'm sure you love reading Dilbert? Most engineers do.
You just described his boss - the pointy-haired guy - to a T.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[BC38]

I like this one even better.
I'm afraid your son has the knack. - YouTube

 

[Rustyt1953]

Thanks for the earworm.

"My Sharona" The Knack 1979.