Engineering fail!

[logroller]

I noticed my dad's car, an '04 Chrysler Concorde, had a headlamp out. Being the good son I am I volunteered to swap it out for him. Little did I realize that the HID lamp assembly fits in there so perfectly. How perfectly you ask...it requires the removal of the front bumper cover to remove the whole assembly in order to access the bulb. With that type of engineering I should be thankful it doesn't have square wheels.

[jimnyc]

I noticed my dad's car, an '04 Chrysler Concorde, had a headlamp out. Being the good son I am I volunteered to swap it out for him. Little did I realize that the HID lamp assembly fits in there so perfectly. How perfectly you ask...it requires the removal of the front bumper cover to remove the whole assembly in order to access the bulb. With that type of engineering I should be thankful it doesn't have square wheels.

So, is the bumper sitting next to the car? LOL

[logroller]

So, is the bumper sitting next to the car? LOL

Still prying fasteners. What a pain in the ass. I'm changing both lamps. Temped to run down to the parts store and buy high same and turn lamps too. I sure don't want to do this again anytime soon, if ever.

[jimnyc]

Still prying fasteners. What a pain in the ass. I'm changing both lamps. Temped to run down to the parts store and buy high same and turn lamps too. I sure don't want to do this again anytime soon, if ever.

I remember the good old days, open the hood, take out like 6 screws and remove the lamp and a socket, pop a new one in, tighten the screws and job done in less than 10 minutes! They probably do this so that you can return to the dealerships and pay $3-500 for swapping lamps!!

[cadet]

I remember the good old days, open the hood, take out like 6 screws and remove the lamp and a socket, pop a new one in, tighten the screws and job done in less than 10 minutes! They probably do this so that you can return to the dealerships and pay $3-500 for swapping lamps!!

Gotta stay in business. A lot of stuff designed is either made to break, (like an air conditioner, it literally has a magnet that slowly falls off breaking the connection causing you to hire a professional) or is made to have so many replacing items that you may as well buy a new one each time. Learned about this while job shadowing.

[mundame]

I remember the good old days, open the hood, take out like 6 screws and remove the lamp and a socket, pop a new one in, tighten the screws and job done in less than 10 minutes! They probably do this so that you can return to the dealerships and pay $3-500 for swapping lamps!!

See, they need an upgrade path. They have to be able to keep making money off you after the initial purchase.

[Noir]

Gotta stay in business. A lot of stuff designed is either made to break, (like an air conditioner, it literally has a magnet that slowly falls off breaking the connection causing you to hire a professional) or is made to have so many replacing items that you may as well buy a new one each time. Learned about this while job shadowing.

This is an obvious failing in capitalist business structure. Building something that lasts, damages the company that builds it.

[PostmodernProphet]

I remember a car back in the seventies, you had to pull the engine to replace spark plugs.....

[aboutime]

I remember a car back in the seventies, you had to pull the engine to replace spark plugs.....

Anyone remember when WE could personally perform a TUNE-UP, and change the Oil ourselves?

Today. There is NO such thing as a Tune-up. Everything under the hood is controlled by computer chips, and Electronic Diagnosis machines that nearly require thousands of dollars worth of equipment...in a shop, being used by a trained Expert in STEALING MONEY LEGALLY.

Yes. They need to stay in business. But they won't get my business.

[Robert A Whit]

I can replace my light bulbs in my caddy in 10 minutes.

I changed oil for the first time recently and it took me maybe 20 minutes tops and included changing the oil filter. Prior to this, I had always taken it in for service.

Prior to Obama, I got oil changes including the oil and filter at Wal Mart for about $23 taxes included.

I had planned to have them change oil the last time but purchased oil for about $14 and saved a lot since Wal Mart had raised the price to about $50. Thanks Obama for making sure CA won't drill for our own oil.

[tailfins]

I noticed my dad's car, an '04 Chrysler Concorde, had a headlamp out. Being the good son I am I volunteered to swap it out for him. Little did I realize that the HID lamp assembly fits in there so perfectly. How perfectly you ask...it requires the removal of the front bumper cover to remove the whole assembly in order to access the bulb. With that type of engineering I should be thankful it doesn't have square wheels.

Never owned a Mopar and likely never will. Thanks for confirming my bias.

[tailfins]

I can replace my light bulbs in my caddy in 10 minutes.

I changed oil for the first time recently and it took me maybe 20 minutes tops and included changing the oil filter. Prior to this, I had always taken it in for service.

Prior to Obama, I got oil changes including the oil and filter at Wal Mart for about $23 taxes included.

I had planned to have them change oil the last time but purchased oil for about $14 and saved a lot since Wal Mart had raised the price to about $50. Thanks Obama for making sure CA won't drill for our own oil.

Maybe IN THIS CASE Walmart is the problem.

[Robert A Whit]

Pep Boys closed here. Still, just to use that coupon, I have no plans to have them drain my brand new oil or install an inferior oil finter just to claim I saved money.

[Robert A Whit]

I noticed a bit of fogging up on one of my tail lights and figured it was time to replace the lense.

Well, Caddy informed me the system is one unit.

What does that unit cost I asked.

About $450 as I remember.

I still have a tail light that has some bit of fog in bad weather. It does not cut down on the light to the rear so as long as it costs that much, I plan to leave it alone.

Front head lights are about $500. Fortunately bulbs are cheap and are easily changed.

[logroller]

All that work and its an electric short. Curses mopar. CURSES!!!!!!!