[AT] Right to repair

[Cecil Bearden]

The most expensive production tractor is the Fendt.  It has more 
electronics than a new Cadillac.  The wiring harness is in a metal 
conduit and is a nightmare for the mechanic as far as I am concerned.   
I don't think they have been here in the US long enough to have a lot of 
electrical failures, but they will.  Their draft sensors are electronic, 
and the transmission is electronic.   My MTZ/Belarus was delivered with 
one of the 2 batteries dead because whoever loaded it on the trailer did 
not push the switch that disconnects the batteries and ran it down. This 
was the battery that is charged by the electronic voltage increaser.   
The neutral safety switch had disconnected from the end of the 
transmission shaft on the trip here so it would not start by jumping.  I 
got fed up with it and pulled it to start. The dead battery pulled so 
much current to charge that the increaser burned out.  I did not find 
out until the first snowfall in late February 2 months later.   The 
warranty is up Jan 1,2020 and I have a 24V alternator to rewire it 
with.  I only have to change 2 wires to make it work.  I had a 
discussion with the engineer in Ukraine, but he missed my point.  They 
now have an "upgrade" that involves changing out the glow plugs to 12V 
and re-wiring the system for 12V instead of 12V run and 24V start.  I 
tried to make them understand that the 12V accessories would run just 
fine off the grounded battery and the auxiliary battery would only be 
used to start and heat the glow plugs as it does now...  I guess 
something was lost in the translation...
I have one of those Fords, a 2003 F-350, it had a bad PCM.  about 8 
years ago, It quit running right, and we installed a new rebuilt PCM 
from O'reillys but they had to have the serial number to flash the chip..

IMHO the best pickups GM built were the 73-85 models.  They still had 
cables to control the Ac vents, and simple controls.  I got a newer 
pickup last year, a 2011 Chevrolet 3/4 ton 4x4, it has a lot of extras.  
My biggest objection is thhe same as I have with all the new pickups.  
They are as tall as my 2ton Grain truck if not taller!!  What is the 
deal with all these trucks that require a step ladder to get into the 
cab or bed??    Now we use a Polaris Ranger where we used to use a 
pickup....
just a ramble
Cecil

On 11/26/2019 7:58 PM, Ralph Goff wrote:
>
> On 2019-11-26 2:21 p.m., Phil Auten wrote:
>>
>> The point of all this is that the weak link in the newer vehicles is 
>> the electronics. They apparently do not understand "worst case design".
>>
>> Phil in TX
>>
>>
>> I've said for some time now that the more electronics on a machine, 
>> the more likely there will be problems I can't fix. I just put in a 
>> few hours on the hammer mill powered by the 66 year old Cockshutt 50 
>> tractor. My old vehicles rarely have electrical problems but my "new" 
>> 97 Blazer has had a few bugs. Light switch almost left me without 
>> headlights to drive home one night. Ignition switch failed and barely 
>> got me home another time. The check engine light has been on for 
>> years now but its just the gas cap or vent or some minor thing. ABS 
>> light has been on a while but the brakes work fine. Of course I know 
>> that they are not built to last now. It makes more sense economically 
>> (for the companies) to have them wear/rust out and sell you a new one 
>> every few years.
> Ralph in Sask.
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