Stupid maintenance requirements
Discussion
A Winner Is You said:
Cyder said:
Gooose said:
Freaking side light on a Suzuki Grand Vitara, I don’t know much about cars but I can do most jobs with a little guidance from the inter webs.
I didn’t know a side light fault was a MOT failure and stupidly thought all I would have to do was open the bonnet and swap the bulb from the holder. Googled it and realise it was an MOT failure and cue me stripping the dam bumper grill and god knows what else in the dark for the retest.
Any car manufacturer that can’t design an easy bulb change needs flogging!
You’re welcome to come and have a go at designing and packaging a lamp into a car anytime you like. It’ll take about 3 years from sketch to launch though so bring some sandwiches and a flask.I didn’t know a side light fault was a MOT failure and stupidly thought all I would have to do was open the bonnet and swap the bulb from the holder. Googled it and realise it was an MOT failure and cue me stripping the dam bumper grill and god knows what else in the dark for the retest.
Any car manufacturer that can’t design an easy bulb change needs flogging!
Don’t forget you need to consider the styling, the performance, the lighting layout regulations, the pedestrian safety, the layout of all the other oily engine bits behind it and the Nov doubt existing platform you’re mating it to, the vehicle crash tests, the assembly method, oh and the budget and development schedule.
Trust me, the design engineers don’t make bulbs difficult to change on purpose, it’s just that the serviceability just ends up somewhere on a long list of priorities to be considered during the design process and inevitably compromises end up being made.
Most of the exterior design guys I know are into cars and regularly fight with our own vehicles. We know what an arse it is in when they’re difficult to work on.
Edited by Cyder on Sunday 21st March 23:06
This guys milking it for all it’s worth. Could be done in 1/2 the time he has taken to explain it.
https://youtu.be/GkUiW3flDHg
Edited by MB140 on Monday 22 March 08:32
Our Volvo V60 has this, it's a great bit of design and makes bulb removal a doddle, but does limit the lamp styling and structure somewhat. (the lamp housing width or height can't be any bigger than the outer lens).
Also the hidden part of the lens often has guides to support the bumper vertically and keep a consistent gap condition to between the lens and bumper.
So for example, a link to an Audi A4 headlamp below, the removal method wouldn't work with this due to the housing size behind the bumper.
And you can also seem the bumper guides under the lens.
https://eurowagens.com/headlight-left-chrome-bi-xe...
Regarding the testing to just achieve the warranty period, that's not true of parts in my experience. They are typically tested to simulate 10 years hard use. For example, on/off repeated switching in a heat chamber that cycles through extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Bulbs are assumed to be serviceable of course, and are off the shelf, but we do also have design standards for bulb life and the OE spec parts too are tested to avoid them failing too early in the market. (I can't remember off hand the life expectancy of a bulb)
Also the hidden part of the lens often has guides to support the bumper vertically and keep a consistent gap condition to between the lens and bumper.
So for example, a link to an Audi A4 headlamp below, the removal method wouldn't work with this due to the housing size behind the bumper.
And you can also seem the bumper guides under the lens.
https://eurowagens.com/headlight-left-chrome-bi-xe...
Regarding the testing to just achieve the warranty period, that's not true of parts in my experience. They are typically tested to simulate 10 years hard use. For example, on/off repeated switching in a heat chamber that cycles through extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Bulbs are assumed to be serviceable of course, and are off the shelf, but we do also have design standards for bulb life and the OE spec parts too are tested to avoid them failing too early in the market. (I can't remember off hand the life expectancy of a bulb)
PH User said:
ovlovlover said:
Volvo V50 is similar to above but you don't even need a tool.
One tent peg to remove.
One plug to unclip.
Whole headlight comes out.
Out and back in the warm house in less than a minute
Similar to a MK3 Mégane then. Very easy and quick.One tent peg to remove.
One plug to unclip.
Whole headlight comes out.
Out and back in the warm house in less than a minute
Audi A6 (C6) with 3.0 TDi engine - to change one headlight bulb you have to remove the power steering reservoir, on the other side the air filter and then you need to employ a child with small hands.
(Driving home from my parents late in the evening on christmas day, one headlight bulb blew, then a few miles later the other one blew. In a layby in the dark I had no chance of changing them (I had spares), 6 hour wait for the AA wasnt great with 2 young kids in the car, so I drove home on foglights slowly!. Got the dealer to change them
(Driving home from my parents late in the evening on christmas day, one headlight bulb blew, then a few miles later the other one blew. In a layby in the dark I had no chance of changing them (I had spares), 6 hour wait for the AA wasnt great with 2 young kids in the car, so I drove home on foglights slowly!. Got the dealer to change them
Patrick Bateman said:
I imagine the heater matrix is a mare in most cars
When it started leaking in my 2.8i Capri I tried some coolant system sealant, knowing it wouldn't work - But it did!
And it lasted for the rest of the life of the car
Not sure whether vacuum actuators are considered service items, but the HVAC ones on the 928 are a pain, as no doubt they are on Mercedes of the same generation
However the 928 clutch makes up for it by being so easy to access, it's a doodle, although you do have to lift the car
kev b said:
Spitfires and the other Herald based cars are awkward to work on in some areas as they don’t have many captive nuts meaning you need to hold a spanner at the back of the part, often tricky on your own.
I removed the seized diff from my Mk2 Vitesse in a gravel car park, that was fun but not really a regular maintenance requirement so I can forgive Triumph for that.
As it was raining, I once changed the clutch on an early Spitfire entirely from inside the car. OK it involved some weird contortions, I was a lot more supple in those days, but it could be done with the roof on and the seats still in place.I removed the seized diff from my Mk2 Vitesse in a gravel car park, that was fun but not really a regular maintenance requirement so I can forgive Triumph for that.
Spoke said:
As it was raining, I once changed the clutch on an early Spitfire entirely from inside the car. OK it involved some weird contortions, I was a lot more supple in those days, but it could be done with the roof on and the seats still in place.
Likewise in a Herald or Vitesse. A quick and relatively easy job.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff