Are modern cars too complicated for DIY?

Andrewf20

Im hearing all sorts of horror stories with modern cars when it comes to some basic maintenance that should be DIY tasks.

I know a person who was talking to a mechanic who said that to change the pads on the back of a new Audi A6, you need to hook up a laptop with special software to the engine management system to retract the calipers. What the hell? Then I found this: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Change_rear_brake_pads_on_audi_a6_2005

The bro was coming back from hols when he found a Renault Megane (i think) with a flat battery. The owner couldnt push start the car, because it had an electic handbrake which apparently wouldnt disengage because the engine wasnt running!

Ive also heard of some cars where they recommend in the manual a main dealer to change bulbs, a car that needs the wheel and underwing in the wheel arch removed to change bulbs also.

How bad are modern cars? My motor is well over 10 years old now and maintenance for alot of stuff seems very strightforward, saving me hundreds in labour costs. If this kind of thing is widespread, it would put me off buying a more modern motor.

A

fletch

Yeh as shown on a recent Fifth Gear episode....a headlight bulb change requires a dealer visit. They even got an experienced mechanic to attempt it and it required your to jack up the car, remove the front wheel and poke your hand through a very small hole in the arch liner...think it took him something like 40+ mins :eek:

brundle

The laptop for the rear brakes is becuase you need to wind back in the brake cylinder to fit the new pad and as the handbrake is the electronic one, they simply connect there laptop and request the handbrake motors to fully release the rear brakes. I Have heard that it can be done by connection a 12v supply in the opposite direction to wind back brakes and if that is right, it makes it a very handy job. better than strugling with a pliers trying to wind in the rear brakes

peasant

I think this is done on purpose.
Manufacturers and dealers make very little profit on car sales these days. It's parts and labour where the real money is.

Also ...with all those fancy electronis in a car, why is there no display that actually tells you what's wrong with your car? All you get is one miserly failure light that covers everything and anything from a failed bulb or a quirk in the electrics to imminent engine death ...unless you go to a dealer and get it hooked up to the diagnostics, you'll never know what's wrong.

Andrewf20

I was thinking that myself Peasant, and it p!sses me off how sly it seems to be. It would kill me to hand over cash to do some jobs that in principle are so straightforward.

Brundle, why do they have this wind back thing in the 1st place? My car has the basic but effective piston system that simply requires a screwdriver to push the 2 pads apart. (no winding of the brake piston / cylinder)

r3nu4l

fletch wrote: »

Yeh as shown on a recent Fifth Gear episode....a headlight bulb change requires a dealer visit. They even got an experienced mechanic to attempt it and it required your to jack up the car, remove the front wheel and poke your hand through a very small hole in the arch liner...think it took him something like 40+ mins :eek:

Yeah I saw that, it was a Renault Megane versus a Honda Civic (iirc). The Megane required 40 minutes of the mechanics time, the Civic was done in under 30 seconds...one-handed!

peasant wrote: »

I think this is done on purpose.
Manufacturers and dealers make very little profit on car sales these days. It's parts and labour where the real money is.

Also ...with all those fancy electronis in a car, why is there no display that actually tells you what's wrong with your car? All you get is one miserly failure light that covers everything and anything from a failed bulb or a quirk in the electrics to imminent engine death ...unless you go to a dealer and get it hooked up to the diagnostics, you'll never know what's wrong.

I have to say I think you're right. They tend to make it as awkward as possible in some models to do very simple tasks and as you say dashboard lights are almost meaningless.

no1beemerfan

I agree totally with modern against not-so-modern. I've a '97 renault laguna as my everyday car and my father has a '04 BMW 3series. I can give mine a full service etc in 35 mins whereas it takes de aul fella about 2hours! The first time he did it it took an hour to even figure out how to get at things. And then another hour to get them off! I've changed the rad on my laguna.....I'd hate to try the bmw! And there is way too much electronics nowadays too. I'll be sticking with the laguna! And I've an '86 3series bmw and its a dream to work on.

mickdw

Andrewf20 wrote: »

Brundle, why do they have this wind back thing in the 1st place? My car has the basic but effective piston system that simply requires a screwdriver to push the 2 pads apart. (no winding of the brake piston / cylinder)

Its to do with the self adjusting handbrake setup at the rear wheels. If its required in order to have the self adjusting on the handbrake, I think its worth it. E.g. Older Audi handbrake... always stays at 2 to 3 clicks and works perfectly. None of the pulling it up under your elbow before it engages.

brundle

mickdw wrote: »

Its to do with the self adjusting handbrake setup at the rear wheels. If its required in order to have the self adjusting on the handbrake, I think its worth it. E.g. Older Audi handbrake... always stays at 2 to 3 clicks and works perfectly. None of the pulling it up under your elbow before it engages.

Yep that is where the windback originally came from. Andrew, Does your car need handbrake adjustment from time to time?

Andrewf20

No so far. I have the car about 3 years. It may have been done before I bought it tho at some stage.

Max_Damage

This is the reason why I have a 13yr. old Ford Escort with an engine in it that was originally developed in the 1950's (Ford Kent engine).

It maybe underpowered and slow, but it's cheap and easy to work on, with everything within easy reach. Plus there isn't much in the way of electronics in it, so happy days.

mcwhirter

Max_Damage wrote: »

This is the reason why I have a 13yr. old Escort with an engine in it that was originally developed in the 1950's (Ford Kent engine).

It maybe underpowered and slow, but it's a easy and cheap to work on, with everything within easy reach. Plus there isn't much in the way of electronics in it, so happy days.

Wouldn't like to be in an accident in older cars though.
Newer cars even with there complex systems are safer in that respect.

keepherlit

spot on. would rather have a crash in the new car than my old one. i would have done the services myself on previous cars but its just too much hassle now. fidgeting round for a whole day or send it to garage for few hours. ok it costs few hundred quid but its all done, no having to get codes to reset service lights etc..,,