Illegal for you to maintain or modify your own car!

[jduke]

I open the hood on anything older that a MY 2K and don't even know what I'm looking at. I swear my '08 mF-150 had no spark plugs. I didn't own it long enough to have look for them.

If you lay underneath them you can recognize the drain plugs and oil filters.

I remember sitting on the fender with my bare feet dangling in the engine compartment while my dad adjusted the valves - WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I learned not to get my feet too close to the exhaust pipes and not to touch the sparkplug wires...BTDT took on real meaning to me!!!
You toss a dime in the engine compartment on today's car and you'll never see the dime again.

[Monsterlover]

^ truth

[ducatiz]

Nah.  The counterargument is that if Chevy pushes up prices, Ford (or Honda or VW) can keep them low, thereby incentivizes people to buy Fords.  Competition is maintained.  No monopoly threat.

The article I posted seemed to suggest that independent shops will be okay (though I bet they'll have to pay more for proper diagnostic tools) and that the legislated had the support of some aftermarket supply association(s?).

For almost 20 years, the only company making EFI was Bosch.

Right now, all common rail diesel is licensed from Benz

There are far more monopolies than are visible.

[DarkMonster620]

For almost 20 years, the only company making EFI was Bosch.

Right now, all common rail diesel is licensed from BenzBOSCH

There are far more monopolies than are visible.

. . . being the first one to use it, MB . . . now, since that PDF was in my now defunct laptop, I cannot prove myself right . . . 

[ducpainter]

<snip>

There are far more monopolies than are visible.

Too bad we don't discuss that here...

[bites tongue]counselor.

[Duck-Stew]

Just a thought I had:

*IF* the manufacturers are successful in patenting their technology and claiming a 'life long right to use' their product, then I suggest the following addition to that bill: 

Make the manufacturer completely responsible for the recycling and ecological disposal of that entire vehicle once that 'life long right to use' has expired (either due to a crash or being worn out or replaced after 'X' # of years).

Thoughts on that?

[ducatiz]

Just a thought I had:

*IF* the manufacturers are successful in patenting their technology and claiming a 'life long right to use' their product, then I suggest the following addition to that bill: 

Make the manufacturer completely responsible for the recycling and ecological disposal of that entire vehicle once that 'life long right to use' has expired (either due to a crash or being worn out or replaced after 'X' # of years).

Thoughts on that?

The effort would die at the blastula stage.

[sgollapalle]

You toss a dime in the engine compartment on today's car and you'll never see the dime again.

That's coz of the freaking plastic at the bottom that eats them all :-p

But its amazing where things have gone. A few months ago I popped the hood of my woman's 2013 puegot, and I couldn't tell where the engine started and ended 
granted it's a 3 cylinder POS and the hood is barely a foot long, but I was still expecting to see the engine head, plugs and exhaust manifolds.... nothing! 

[the_Journeyman]

C's Jetta TDI is the same way.  I can at least find the dipstick.

JM

[Howie]

Many new cars don't have a dipstick any more.

[ducatiz]

Many new cars don't have a dipstick any more.

Behind the wheel, maybe.

[Monsterlover]

Many new cars don't have a dipstick any more.

What?

Really?

[1.21GW]

Behind the wheel, maybe.

 

[DarkMonster620]

That's coz of the freaking plastic at the bottom that eats them all :-p

But its amazing where things have gone. A few months ago I popped the hood of my woman's 2013 puegot, and I couldn't tell where the engine started and ended 
granted it's a 3 cylinder POS and the hood is barely a foot long, but I was still expecting to see the engine head, plugs and exhaust manifolds.... nothing! 

107?

[Howie]

What?

Really?

Yep.  Oil level sensor in pan.  Computer figures out average oil level.  You can view it any time you want.  Light comes on when you need a quart/liter.