Pining For The Good Old Days - Automotive Repair

[Jim Koepke]

When I was younger there were very few problems on any of my cars that couldn't be fixed under a tree providing shade and a small box of tools.

Now days some of the modern cars have the fuel filter integral to the fuel pump which is then hidden inside the fuel tank.

Saves a little cost when making the car. Sure sucks the wallet dry when it needs replacement.

On some of the internet auto repair chat sites the first question is, "what codes are you getting?"

I remember the simpler times when it was either compression, ignition or fuel.

Now there are more little "black boxes" just in the engine area than it took to build some of the cars I used to drive.

My old vehicles had clear fuel filters or a glass bowl with a replaceable element inside, easy peasy.

Our current car took me awhile just to find where the filter was hidden. Relieving the pressure from the system was another added feature. Still after getting the car off the ground with the pressure released there was still plenty of fuel in the lines to spray and drip with a rag held around the fittings as it was replaced.

Rube Goldberg was a prophet and deity to modern car manufacturing.

jtk

[Tom M King]

And in pickups there was enough room to sit on the fender under the hood to work on the engine. I set more than a few sets of points with a matchbook cover. Now you have to be a contortionist to change the fuel filter in my diesel pickup.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Now you have to be a contortionist to change the fuel filter in my diesel pickup.

Ever change the spark plugs in a Ford Areostar van? It ain't easy. Left side is fairly easy, but to do right side you have to remove right front wheel and go through wheel well. Back one has to be done by feel only as there is no way to see in there. Some saw a 3" hole trough fire wall to reach that plug. Suzuki Grand Vertia is a PITA to change oil filter, unless you are left handed. You can't reach it using right hand, unless you lay under car with feet facing to rear, which means oil spills on you when you loosen filter.

[Todd Willhoit]

Changing the plugs and ignition coils in a Toyota Sienna requires removing the intake manifold, working as a blind contortionist behind the engine, and 4-5 hours of your life.

[Bob Turkovich]

When I was younger there were very few problems on any of my cars that couldn't be fixed under a tree providing shade and a small box of tools.

Now days some of the modern cars have the fuel filter integral to the fuel pump which is then hidden inside the fuel tank.

Saves a little cost when making the car. Sure sucks the wallet dry when it needs replacement.

...

Rube Goldberg was a prophet and deity to modern car manufacturing.

jtk

Let's look at it from a different perspective...

Old way: tank to fuel line to filter to fuel line to pump to fuel line to fuel rail (or carburetor) = 6 external connections, most of which are usually located under the hood

New way: filter and pump (located in the tank which has to be protected for impact anyway) to fuel line to fuel rail = 2 external connections of which only one is under the hood.

Which way do you think is better for fuel system integrity under impact?

Also, keep in mind that recent occupant protection standards have driven the auto manufacturers into designing more crush in the frontal area (ie., underhood) to dissipate impact energy and reduce forces on the occupants. Minimizing the number of potential leak points (in this case) would be more of a design driver than reducing cost.

[Art Mann]

I remember the good old days too. It was rare for a car to have 75,000 miles on it without needing an engine rebuild. Automatic transmissions were unreliable and manual transmissions required clutch and pressure replacement on a random schedule. Ten year old cars were either junk or existed in private collections and in museums. Most vehicles had to have some type of repair like a coil replacement or carburetor rebuild done at least once a year. Fuel economy was 13 mpg in a new pickup truck with a lame slant six engine. Outer body rust through was inevitable after just a few New England winters with salt on the roads. It took a modified big block 454 cid engine to make 375 horsepower. Spark plugs and points had to be changed every 15 or 20 thousand miles. Tires typically lasted 20,000 miles. There was no such thing as pollution control. Yes, I remember those days really well and I would hate to go back.

[Brian Henderson]

Ever change the spark plugs in a Ford Areostar van? It ain't easy. Left side is fairly easy, but to do right side you have to remove right front wheel and go through wheel well. Back one has to be done by feel only as there is no way to see in there. Some saw a 3" hole trough fire wall to reach that plug. Suzuki Grand Vertia is a PITA to change oil filter, unless you are left handed. You can't reach it using right hand, unless you lay under car with feet facing to rear, which means oil spills on you when you loosen filter.

Been there, done that. The recommended way is to remove the dashboard and go in through the passenger compartment. That's what happens when cars are designed by computer, not by people who actually have to work on the fool things.

[Jerry Thompson]

All of the above are reasons I still drive my beat up looking 1986 BMW 535i.

[Glenn Clabo]

I love the old cars...but I would never want to use one for every day driving. They are completely unsafe with constant repair needs. My wife would be dead right now if she was driving a 50-80's car vs the Volvo when she totaled it in a high speed crash. Seatbelt gave her a black and blue stripe...but she walked away otherwise. Her now 4 year old one has had zero problems...zero. Not even a light bulb. Back in the day...a 4 year old car would be a rust bucket needing major repairs. Again...I love the old ones...but newer wins for us.

[Gary Yoder]

Hey now, don't muddle nostalgia with facts!!

I remember the good old days too. It was rare for a car to have 75,000 miles on it without needing an engine rebuild. Automatic transmissions were unreliable and manual transmissions required clutch and pressure replacement on a random schedule. Ten year old cars were either junk or existed in private collections and in museums. Most vehicles had to have some type of repair like a coil replacement or carburetor rebuild done at least once a year. Fuel economy was 13 mpg in a new pickup truck with a lame slant six engine. Outer body rust through was inevitable after just a few New England winters with salt on the roads. It took a modified big block 454 cid engine to make 375 horsepower. Spark plugs and points had to be changed every 15 or 20 thousand miles. Tires typically lasted 20,000 miles. There was no such thing as pollution control. Yes, I remember those days really well and I would hate to go back.

[Larry Frank]

I loved working on cars. When I was a kid, my dad and I restored a 1929 Model A.....now that was old iron.

But the new cars, it is great when they will start in almost any weather. My 1970s and 1980s cars were tough when it got really cold.

[Shawn Pixley]

Jim,

I will disagree with you a bit on one point. Yes, cars are harder to work on yourself, but the overall dependability has increased considerably. I could tell you that I haven't had a car have a mechanical breakdown for many, many years. Now all that requires repair / replacements are tires, wipers, oil, brakes, etc... In other words, the consumables. I grew up working on cars. I hated it then, I hate it now. If making cars more reliable also mean I can't do the work myself, so be it.

[Greg Peterson]

I had a 67 VW thity years ago. I don't miss the constant tinkering. I've gotten use to my car starting everytime regardless the weather or temperature.

Yeah, the modern vehicle is vastly more complicated than the good ol' days, but dependability, reliability and durability are greatly increased. That's the trade off.

[Frederick Skelly]

Jim,

I will disagree with you a bit on one point. Yes, cars are harder to work on yourself, but the overall dependability has increased considerably. I could tell you that I haven't had a car have a mechanical breakdown for many, many years. Now all that requires repair / replacements are tires, wipers, oil, brakes, etc... In other words, the consumables. I grew up working on cars. I hated it then, I hate it now. If making cars more reliable also mean I can't do the work myself, so be it.

This point and the related one made by Art were good reminders for me, because I often feel the way Jim describes. But it HAS been a while since I've been left stranded next to the road. I'll try to remember this next time I have to pay someone to work on my car.

[Jim Koepke]

This point and the related one made by Art were good reminders for me, because I often feel the way Jim describes. But it HAS been a while since I've been left stranded next to the road. I'll try to remember this next time I have to pay someone to work on my car.

My old cars only left me stranded by the road a couple of times. Once after I rebuilt the engine in my 1957 VW bus. The person at the parts store suggested this would be a good time to replace the clutch. The clutch webbing broke on the new clutch. The next day a friend of mine and I spent more time drinking coffee and getting to the scene than it took to pull the engine and put the old clutch back in. The other time there was an electrical problem. Same friend and I also took care of that fairly quickly.

My modern truck had a fuel pump go bad that caused the wife and I to take a cab home and have the truck towed to a shop to fix it. Another car broke a timing chain. It was abandon as it wasn't worth fixing.

At times I wish I still had that old VW bus. Likely worth a lot these days. 40 horse power, 6V and a lot of fun for a death trap.

jtk