Comment by peckrob | Hacker News Reader

Comment by peckrob | Hacker News Reader

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> It's a shame companies do this, not just to phones. Laptops and small-form-factor desktops have the same problem.

This isn't unique to technology either. Making a simple repair to most modern cars is an exercise in frustration even if you have all the necessary documentation.

I just recently replaced the headlight assemblies on my Toyota Tacoma. I had to disassemble the entire front of the truck to get them out. The grill, bumper cover, and wheel well liners all had to come off just to get the headlight assembly out. I had a bucket full of screws - many of them those garbage plastic ones - a garage full of parts, and a bloody hand by the time I even got to the meat of the project. It literally took me about four hours and 14 pages of directions start to finish.

Twenty years ago I did this same thing on a Dodge Spirit. Three easily reachable bolts and the headlights came right out. New one popped right in, and tighten three easily reachable bolts. Took like 15 minutes.

It seems like everything is becoming more complex and difficult to repair.

Last year, I replaced the alternator on my Ford Escape and you have to either disconnect the U-joint going to the front passenger side tire or remove the air intake plenum and fish the alternator up the back of the engine by the firewall.

It was a four hour job when on my older cars it would have taken less than one hour.

It's maddening.

Alternatively, I have a Crown Victoria, the alternator is the first thing when you pop the hood, it can be swapped with under an hour of labor.

The Crown Victoria is quite pleasant to work on in general, although changing the rear spark plugs on my '86 was a huge pain--not as bad as a transverse V6, though!

I agree, that was a considerable factor in my purchase of it - in general though, all of the modular V8 engines have the alternator right on top of the sucker, and all of them are easyish to work on.

I have a 1986 Camaro too.

It has a small block V8 and it's a dream to work on any bolt-on component, unlike most newer vehicles.

The Crown Victoria was the go-to for police forces across North America for decades. Maybe the key to getting a repairable car is getting one that is commonly used in fleets? (I know nothing about repairing cars, but would be interested in getting a repairable car if only to avoid the need for dealer repairs)

The things that made the crown vic more repairable are unique to it:

Physically large car, so there is plenty of room to get in and out to work.

Body on Frame instead of unibody construction, so damaged body panels are easy to change out.

Unchanging Design: the final body design was originated in 1992 on the Grand Marquis, and is otherwise unchanged.

I had an Audi that required the engine to be removed to replace the starter. Good thing it was almost new and thus covered by warranty. People wonder why German cars are so cheap used. High cost and frequency of repairs make their value evaporate the moment the warranty is up.

Odd. I have a (used) Audi A4 and it's been the best car I've ever owned. For the past four years, the only issues I've had with it were two flat tires.

And this is the poster child for the entire issue. It's maddening TO YOU. Is your ease of repair what most people think? Do you think 99% of people that own a Ford Escape are going to go under the car and replace a U joint whether it takes 1 hour or 4 hours.

The answer is no. Why should the 99% of folks that don't care sacrifice cost, reliability or other qualities for your ability to repair it on your own?

Is your ease of repair what most people think?

Probably not but it is what I think and well, I tend to advocate for my position more than the position of others.

Do you think 99% of people that own a Ford Escape are going to go under the car and replace a U joint whether it takes 1 hour or 4 hours.

Reading is fundamental. I was speaking of replacing an alternator and the U-joint was in the way.

Why should the 99% of folks that don't care sacrifice cost, reliability or other qualities for your ability to repair it on your own?

Just going with your figure of 99%... They should care because it will have an effect on how much it costs them to have the repair performed by a professional mechanic. If you don't think that a professional mechanic will charge more to perform replacement of a difficult to reach component, you're woefully uninformed on the subject.

The more difficult it is to repair something, the more expensive it will be to hire a professional to perform said repair.

Replacing the headlight bulb (let's not even talk about the headlight assembly!) on the driver's side of a Chrysler 300 is very difficult.

The "easy" way involves removing the air filter housing. Fortunately that's only held in by one screw.

I know next to nothing about electric cars, but I've heard they have a drastically smaller amount of moving parts. I'm curious if that would make them any easier to work on.

Sounds like Toyota's given you plenty of incentive to take it into one of their shops (and, thus, give them more money). The system is working as intended ;)

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