Car repair has become module sensor replacement

[SeaJay]

Face it, it seems as if the average buyer wants and expects the latest and greatest technology in his or her car. Buy it and trade it in in a few years or lease it so that these drivers always have the latest and greatest.

The car companies are giving them what they want. I'd rather do without most of it, but I am in the minority of buyers.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

1967 Shelby GT500 - 0-60 6.5s, 1/4 mile 15.0s at 95mph
7l NA engine, 9-12 mpg on premium
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/1967-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-road-test

2016 Forester XT - 0-60 6.3s, 1/4 mile 15.0s at 97mph
2l turbo engine, 22 mpg on premium
http://www.caranddriver.com/subaru/forester

I like technology

 

[supton]

I'm reminded of the old saw: man's TV quit showing properly, so he calls up a TV repairman who comes over looks at it, turns a screw and hands over a $50 bill. The owner hits the roof, demands and explanation and hands back the bill. The repairman corrects the bill to read "Adjusting pot: $0.50. Knowing what pot to adjust: $49.50".

Good independents aren't going to stick around long if every estimate requires $100-200 up front to diagnosis. Not only that but who hasn't had a repair snowball on them?

I also have to wonder if this somehow "new" to auto repair. I haven't been around that long, but I'm pretty sure auto owners have been "clueless" since the beginning. And that all new tech has been hated at least for a little while.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: deoxy4
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: deoxy4
Consumer Reports experience with Toyota's TPMS. Written back in 2013. I don't know how prevalent the problem is or if it has been corrected.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/...stems/index.htm


As long as you don't live in a state that mandates TPMS, and if you do, as long as you can get you vehicle inspected when you have summer tires on... just ignore the light. After owning a VW I got good at ignoring trouble lights.

Next set of tires I get I plan to pull sensors, install into a PVC pipe, pressurize and leave under a seat or trunk. I like TPMS and would spend the money, if Toyota had bothered with a dashboard readout of each tire pressure. Since it's just good/bad... it's worthless to me.


American ingenuity at it's best. The birth of a black market cottage industry. Late, late night TV commercials. Scheduled between Ron Popeil's Pocket Fisherman and the Ronco Knives ...."Outlaws... if you call in now, you get two sets...that's right two sets...of Evil Knievel Outlaw Tire Pressure Sending Sensors."

Four sensors are mounted in a plastic likeness of Evil Knievel on his rocket bike. Each unit shares a single rechargeable power source power with USB cable included. Suction cup attachment for mounting on your dash.

"Live free...or die"-NH
The sensors will fail to work properly unless rotating, and will send an error signal.

 

[Colt45ws]

Yeah, well, what will happen is since they are not rotating they will turn off, to save battery power.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: deoxy4
Car repair is a mess.

Too many dealerships write up unnecessary work to meet quota-$xxx per face.

Too many dishonest or incompetent independent mechanics.

Not enough good independent mechanics.

If you are lucky enough to find a good independent mechanic he doesn't get enough familiarity with vehicles to find problems that are tough to diagnose.

So the average Joe goes to Autozone get's an error code and wings it.


Aren't we observant and telling the honest to goodness truth here.

Thank you! Perfectly Stated!

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: Padawan
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Weekly rant against technology in cars - check.


Wouldn't be BITOG without it.

Next up is sure to be something about the government plotting to take away our freedom, then if we're lucky we'll have a refresher on how one should only ever pay cash for a car.

woah, you guys just named nearly all the reasons I took a long hiatus from this forum...thanks!

 

[deoxy4]

Originally Posted By: supton
I'm reminded of the old saw: man's TV quit showing properly, so he calls up a TV repairman who comes over looks at it, turns a screw and hands over a $50 bill. The owner hits the roof, demands and explanation and hands back the bill. The repairman corrects the bill to read "Adjusting pot: $0.50. Knowing what pot to adjust: $49.50".

Good independents aren't going to stick around long if every estimate requires $100-200 up front to diagnosis. Not only that but who hasn't had a repair snowball on them?

I also have to wonder if this somehow "new" to auto repair. I haven't been around that long, but I'm pretty sure auto owners have been "clueless" since the beginning. And that all new tech has been hated at least for a little while.


I believe there are two edges of the sword. I went to a local independent to have an exhaust leak welded. When I picked up the car he asked me if I knew I needed new struts and gave me an estimate of $700 give or take.

I had known I had a "thump" from the rear end of the car. I had gone to a car forum for the particular car model. Many had reported that aged,worn,and hardened sway bar bushings could give the same audible symptom. I could find no evidence my shocks were shot.

So who was right? I replaced the (2) $4 sway bar bushings and it solved the problem. So I don't know if the independent is dishonest or just unaware.

Sometimes the experience of the masses is valuable to at least consider and not all owners are "clueless". Not saying everything on the internet is correct.

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Ill bet a lot of sensors are replaced unnecessarily.


you can say that again. Most problems in cars under 150k miles are NOT sensor related yet talk to anyone with a car problem and off they go to the Autozone to replace "some sensor".