Ridiculously complicated easy fixes?

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin) 04/14/2017 at 10:39 • Filed to: None

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What you got? I’ve been working on my buddy’s 06 Sienna lately. Air filter... no problem! A couple clips and go. Wrong. 2 10mm bolts, one tucked under the cowl. Rear license plate light bulbs... no problem! Just a couple screws right? Wrong. Disassemble and remove all rear hatch pannels. Battery in a Stratus? Pull the wheel off.

What are some usual minor maintenance items (I’m not talking Audi timing belts here) that manufacturers made far more difficult than necessary?

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:44

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Cabin air filter in my old X-Type, remove the wiper arms, remove the cowl, remove 30 dozen screws from the filter box.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:47

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Spark plugs on an AMC pacer. How do you start? By pulling the engine. Why? Because there’s an inline 6 in a space designed for a rotary. Have fun.

and 100 more > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:50

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1st-gen Lexus LS400 starter motor: must remove the intake manifold to access.

MonkeePuzzle > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:51

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every car I’ve done cabin air filter on: push in sides of the glovebox, flip it down. zero tools needed.

the impreza: remove 9 screws and completely pull out the glovebox. disconnect 2 wires. #dumb

(the centre console/dash removal was unrelated)

facw > MonkeePuzzle 04/14/2017 at 10:54

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Mine has two screws, you need to take off a panel under the glove compartment to get to the air filter. Still a quick job.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:56

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Thunderchicken SC spark plugs: Pull RT FT wheel and fender liner to access rear plug.

Cadillac Northstar: Hey, lets put the starter under the intake, between the heads!

04ish Infiniti G35 Coupe (probably sedan, as well): Need to replace a $0.99 194 marker lamp bulb? Even with wheel and fender liner removed, you’ll still shave half the skin off of your arm getting to it.

98-05 VW Beetle: This isn’t really minor maintenance, but it’s still a glaring example of poor assembly design. Need to repair/replace a bumper cover (front or rear)? Be prepared to put vehicle on jackstands, remove wheels (both front or rear, depending on which bumper, god help you if it was sandwiched), remove fender liners, and remove bumper cover, fenders, and headlights/taillights as an assembly, to then break down to just the bumper cover. I’ve had technicians threaten to quit over New Beetle bumper jobs, I have to keep track of who’s had them, and distribute the misery evenly across the entire shop staff.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:56

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Doing the alternator on an ‘84 Jaguar XJ12 required either removing the entire air conditioning system from the top side or the front sway bar from underneath.

Also, spark plugs and wires on a 4th gen V8 Camaro/Firebird. Yikes.

Urambo Tauro > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:57

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I always thought water pumps were pretty easy jobs until I tackled my brother’s ’04 Sebring (2.7L).

Instead of being driven by the accessory belt, it’s driven by the timing chain. So you have to remove the timing cover, which means removing one of the engine mounts. And you have to remove the intake manifold so that the valve covers can come off to unbolt the cam sprockets. Then up by the firewall, you have to deal with the tensioner, and yes, the chain guides are gonna have to come out, too.

Here’s a picture I found that gives a good view of it all. Except that this shows a longitudinally-mounted engine, which has more room to see things than the Sebring does.

itschrome > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:57

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how to change a 2008 to 20012 malibu head light...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 10:59

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Fiesta ST air filter removal/check:

Step 1: Realize you don’t have torx screwdriver bits, and you need them.

Step 2: Go buy them.

Step 3: Remove 3 of the 4 torx screws.

Step 4: Start to remove 4, realize that Ford engineers have a sense of humor.

Step 5: Disconnect intake hose, and force it out of the way.

Step 6: Remove 4th screw.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 04/14/2017 at 11:10

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Radiator on X-Type, remove the entire front bumper assembly to drop the mounting bar and then proceed to have to drop radiator. Also don’t forget you need to remove the battery and air filter so you can reach hoses.

Dave the car guy , still here > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 11:17

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Cadillac Northstar starter...remove intake.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 04/14/2017 at 11:19

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Valve cover gaskets on the X-type, Remove the intake manifold, air box, throtle body, 27 vacuum hoses and hope you put everything back in the right place.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 11:25

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This sounds almost like every car repair I end up doing. :(

Vtamin-C > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/14/2017 at 11:32

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The Ford engineer is named Larry and he also decides where to put oil filters. He’s a riot at parties.

interstate366, now In The Industry > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 11:40

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Pretty much any idle issue on any Honda.

Boxer_4 > MonkeePuzzle 04/14/2017 at 11:48

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At least the new ones are easy (the SJ being the easiest of our 3 by far).

That also reminds me, I should probably inform my newly ‘03 WRX owning friend that he has a cabin air filter...

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 04/14/2017 at 11:54

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No wonder it was 4.5k and 5 weeks when my beetle was rear-ended :(. It’s an ‘06 but I assume the process is similar.

My bird IS the word > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 12:21

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Remove exhaust manifold? It’s only six bolts on each side. Six months and an engine pull away.

Gotta love rust.

gmctavish needs more space > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/14/2017 at 12:24

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The #5, I believe, spark plug in the 4.3 in my Blazer. It took about an hour to change the other 5 plugs, due to a mix of having to go in from the top and also the wheel well. But that last one, the steering shaft goes right past it. There’s about an inch of space between the shaft and the plug with the lead off it. I tried for a little while, and eventually gave up when I saw that most forums accepted that the only reasonable way to do it was to unbolt the steering box, and pull everything out of the way. So I took it to a mechanic that was close by, who quoted me 20 minutes for the one plug. I said “yeah, okay sure”. Two hours later they call me. “Yeah so it took an hour and a half....but we quoted you 20 mins, so that’s what you’re getting charged.”

The 5 plugs I changed were all NGK, and looking fairly used up. The #5 plug was an AC Delco, and had basically no electrode left. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was original, it would explain why it sounded like it gained a cylinder when that one was finally changed.

MonkeePuzzle > Boxer_4 04/14/2017 at 12:30

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well, oddly enough, he may not!

while mine has a place for one, it didnt haev a filter in it :P

ToyotaFamily > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 04/14/2017 at 12:50

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Is the process for the G35 coupe really that hard? My sedan’s popped off with enough pressure on one side, and so did my friend’s coupe.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 04/14/2017 at 13:19

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Yup, 98-2011 had the goofy design.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > ToyotaFamily 04/14/2017 at 13:31

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I kind of misspoke, it was the turn indicator in the headlamp assembly, not the marker at the edge of the bumper. Had a customer picking up at 5 on a Friday from a rear bumper repair, asked if I could pop a bulb in for them. “Sure thing, just give me a second!” says I. Popped the hood, and realized the air cleaner prevented any chance of gaining access to the back of the drivers side lamp from the engine bay. I’ve got smaller hands, but reaching in through the wheel opening through the fender inner structure to get to the inner part of the headlamp next to the grille still sliced me up a bit.

Boxer_4 > MonkeePuzzle 04/14/2017 at 13:40

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I’ve heard that...

only one way to find out, I guess...

MonkeePuzzle > Boxer_4 04/14/2017 at 13:46

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indeed. and there is certainly an appropriate space for one. worth the work. I mean, it’s more work than other cars, but still not exactly a full day of labour

ToyotaFamily > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 04/14/2017 at 14:33

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ahh okay, that explains it. Luckily I’ve never had to do it because I’m sure i would’ve sliced my hand as well.

Boxer_4 > MonkeePuzzle 04/14/2017 at 19:44

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I just looked into it; the filter was apparently a $71! option from 2002 to 2005. All GDs and GGs had the capability, but it only became standard starting in 2006.

MonkeePuzzle > Boxer_4 04/14/2017 at 20:19

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lol, yeab that sounds about right. leave it out then charge 70 for a 10 part.

i got mine from amazon, $10, and 10minutes labour

pip bip - choose Corrour > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/15/2017 at 08:33

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6G74 FWD rear spark plugs

thermostat on VZ or VE V6 Commodore, as it’s at the back of the motor, easiest way to get to it is to remove the transmission as being RWD

V6 Holden Vectra 97-99 V6 X25XE radiator, step one - remove engine, trans,x-member steering rack and front suspension in one go

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/17/2017 at 09:34

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A lot of Cadillac’s require removing the entire front bumper fascia to replace headlight bulbs. Here’s a image from a first-gen CTS repair manual. Step 1 is actually raise vehicle on lift...

Boxer_4 > MonkeePuzzle 05/01/2017 at 11:40

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It turns out his ‘03 WRX did in fact have a cabin air filter. That was news to him, and likely would have been news to the previous owner(s)...

This is quite likely what a cabin air filter looks like after 14 years and 145,000 miles. The replacement filter is on the right...