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Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

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Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#1
An interesting video from an auto tech and below text was in the comments that I thought some engineers might appreciate.

It wasn't engine work, but I worked on a friends Hyundai Elantra that had the bights for the head lights stop working. The car had less than 10k miles on it. Come to find out, all new Elantras use a lens on a servo to adjust the focal point of the light to simulate just having an extra bulb in the head lamp assembly. The servo hooks onto a gear that is made out of ABS with no fiberglass reinforcement so the gear melts half the time after prolonged usage if you commute a long way on back roads at night. Oh by the way, this is one of the only parts not covered on their warranties. I replaced the entire assembly twice for her ($400) before just giving up. I ended up drilling a hole in to the assembly, gluing the lens in place and adding a new fuse and wire lead. Then I ended up having to 3d print an attaching assembly to hold a new light that would serve for brights. I had to figure out how the heck to rewire the servo circuit to trigger a relay instead which was an entire other rabbit hole. The lights have never had a problem minus the occasional bulb replacement since and its been 60k+ miles now. But seriously, why do modern engineers try to reinvent the wheel for everything?? I don't even work on cars for a living. I work in software engineering and I see the same thing happening. The same programs need more RAM, more CPU resources just to do the same thing that it did 10 years ago. What does windows 7 do that windows 10 doesn't? Why does the same web page need 60MBs to load when it only need 1-3MB 10 years ago. All this bad engineering is going to catch up to us at some point. It really worries me to be honest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op1D7zWwQA8

Re: Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#3
This is also why all of the auto union are against electric cars. Some person working in their garage will no longer be able to work on cars and get a job as a mechanic/technician and instead will need to have the experience of an engineer.

It's very similar to the horse/buggy and car arguments of years past.

Re: Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#5
post #3

This is also why all of the auto union are against electric cars. Some person working in their garage will no longer be able to work on cars and get a job as a mechanic/technician and instead will need to have the experience of an engineer. It's very similar to the horse/buggy and car arguments of years past.

Have you seen the inside of a modern ICE vehicle?

You pretty much need trade school to become a qualified mechanic anyways.

Additional, with trade school one can increase the amount they can get paid.

They educate on all vehicle types too, not just ICE.

Re: Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#6
post #3

This is also why all of the auto union are against electric cars. Some person working in their garage will no longer be able to work on cars and get a job as a mechanic/technician and instead will need to have the experience of an engineer. It's very similar to the horse/buggy and car arguments of years past.

Have you seen the inside of a modern ICE vehicle? You pretty much need trade school to become a qualified mechanic anyways. Additional, with trade school one can increase the amount they can get paid. They educate on all vehicle types too, not just ICE.

My education is via YouTube and downloaded service manual, and I’m able to maintain my modern ICE car just fine. My hybrid scares me though. High voltage controlled by computers is nothing to play with.

Re: Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you seen the inside of a modern ICE vehicle? You pretty much need trade school to become a qualified mechanic anyways. Additional, with trade school one can increase the amount they can get paid. They educate on all vehicle types too, not just ICE.

My education is via YouTube and downloaded service manual, and I’m able to maintain my modern ICE car just fine. My hybrid scares me though. High voltage controlled by computers is nothing to play with.

There is a disconnect. And information on how to properly insulate and isolate away from the voltages that you may be dealing is also easily found.

It requires maybe a bit of research but it's not impossible.

Are you also able to rebuild your engine and transmission? Service every sensor on board your car? Have access to a diagnostic computer and dicern those codes?

Re: Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away

#10
post #8

I think cars will become either disposable or large assemblies will need to be replaced in full. I'm reminded of how the tv repairman disappeared. TVs too integrated to fix easily, too complicated to fix economically.

I get how mass manufacturing works but it's crazy too seeing people walk on the side of a massive parking lot where cars are just sitting there not used (not sold yet).
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