[AT] More on the water pump

[Ken Knierim]

On Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 5:39 PM, Jim & Lyn Evans <jevans at evanstoys.com>wrote:

> If everyone is paying attention to this thread, you will see that it is the
> same old stuff that goes wrong with the new cars as what went wrong with
> the
> old cars.   If you can fix an old tractor you can fix a new car 90% of the
> time with a little bit of thinking and diagnostic time (and maybe a little
> advise from the internet)
>
> Check the plug wires, plugs, and vacuum lines first when your new car is
> running bad.  Other common problems are the wiring connectors are corroded.
> Unplug them and check that the terminals are clean and not rusty and when
> you plug it back in, it might magically begin working again.   I think the
> majority of oxygen sensors that are replaced are not bad, but all it really
> needed was to be unplugged and plugged back in to scrape off a little
> corrosion.  Same with a computer.  I think they rarely go bad, so why are
> they replaced so often (for $1000 or so)?
>
> I have driven about 5 computer controlled vehicles to 150,000 -200,000
> miles
> each.  Maybe I am lucky, but the only "computer" component I have ever
> replaced was a glow plug controller on my pickup.    I have replaced plugs,
> plug wires, vacuum hoses, alternators, etc, and have fixed several corroded
> connectors and chafed wires.
>
> I do have a $150 scan tool to help me diagnose where to look when I do have
> problems.
>
>
Yes! I'd guess that most of the folks on this list are savvy enough to get a
scanner for their vehicle (at a cost most likely less than one mechanic's
repair), get the codes and look them up on Google. If you've ever done that,
you'll know what I mean; there are a lot of shade-tree mechanics and
gearheads that tinker and have found lots of things the engineers could not
have foreseen. Humans were involved in design, manufacturing and service at
some point, and if someone else can do it, why not a bunch of folks who take
on tractors that have even fewer self-diagnostic systems?

My thinking is: If the vehicle is under warranty, you need a good dealer. If
not, either you need to be a good mechanic or you need to know one. I doubt
that has changed. It's just that there are some new and different tools
added to the mix. I would rather not learn how to fix it on the road if I
can help it, but new vehicles tend to run a lot longer than they once did
between major repairs. That's one of the benefits of the added complexity.
We could go back to the Model T and have to do engine rebuilds every 20K
miles or some such but I'm not in favor of that. Modern computers (both in
the vehicle and sitting in front of you) are tools we have available, and
they can assist keeping the vehicle on the road as much as they do in our
interpersonal communications.

Just my opinion.

Ken in AZ