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I wonder if car makers put any effort to make replacing parts easy and less time consuming. We have all heard of horror stories like changing spark plugs that requires emptying half the engine bay. They must have a system where every piece goes. I wonder if repairability is a factor.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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On the contrary, making it easier takes money out of their pockets. The labor charges for the dealers can be more profitable than the car sales, and they also make money selling special tools to independent mechanics. Many of us that used to do all of our own car repairs are now limited to basic oil changes and maybe brake pads since we don't have all of the expensive electronic equipment to diagnose the 30+ computer systems in the modern vehicle.
There's a feeling that design is always toward their long term profit. Where parts from older cars can't be transplanted into new ones requiring the purchase of a new component to making home repairs as impossible as they can..I don't believe that as being all true...Meeting government imposed regulations and being competitive along with the mechanical/computer.digital goodies people want and need has changed the picture...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemlock140
On the contrary, making it easier takes money out of their pockets. The labor charges for the dealers can be more profitable than the car sales, and they also make money selling special tools to independent mechanics. Many of us that used to do all of our own car repairs are now limited to basic oil changes and maybe brake pads since we don't have all of the expensive electronic equipment to diagnose the 30+ computer systems in the modern vehicle.
Making it more difficult increases warranty repair costs. I doubt there's a simple answer to the question, there's a constant battle between designers/engineers and the bean counters. There are always compromises to be made. i.e. There may be a design item that decreases manufacturing cost but increases potential warranty costs, you can bet it's studied before a decision is made. For the average man on the street a half cent or penny savings per vehicle seems laughable, when making a large volume of vehicles, it's not.
There is a difference between increased complexity of engines and making it difficult to swap a part. I don't hold it against car makers to have incorporated computers and sensors in their engines. I do question why they had to embed the oil filter in an impossibly tight space or make that last spark plug reachable only from underneath the car. I think ease of serviceability will have returns for the company too. The word will get out.
But honestly, how many do their own car repairs? Most women I know barely know how to pop their hood. The GM3800 was easy to work on from what i heard, but its still a smaller percentage who would work on them compared to taking it to a shop.
Kinda like PC repairs, the easiest things to replace, most people were scared to touch in fear of breaking things.
Yeah, I agree that it seems designers seem to win out and therefore cars become very difficult to service at times.
You could start a thread dedicated to service "horror" stories.
I really do think you could aggressively market a car that is easy to service....imagine if Toyota was advertising it's Corolla as reliable....and easy to service.
I think that's appealing and there would be market for that.
Check the engine compartment of any "newer" vehicle and you'll agree.
Every new car I've bought in the last 10 years was easy to work on. My newest, a 2014 Accord Sport has a huge engine bay and a small 4 cyl engine. I can reach everything in there without a problem
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAAN
But honestly, how many do their own car repairs? Most women I know barely know how to pop their hood. The GM3800 was easy to work on from what i heard, but its still a smaller percentage who would work on them compared to taking it to a shop.
Kinda like PC repairs, the easiest things to replace, most people were scared to touch in fear of breaking things.
The 3800 was only okay to work on. You still needed to disconnect the 2 upper wishbone motor mounts so you can rock it forward and get to the rear plugs. Then they were still quite difficult to get to.
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