Are there any new cars which can be home spannered?
Discussion
Controversial but I'd much rather fix a fault or work on a 2020's car than on a 1990s one, having done lots of various ages and conditions of cars on my drive.
Yes you need a decent scanner to help guide you to what might be wrong (it can actually be engaging in a "investigative" way), and to code/adapt certain things on newer cars.
But when it comes to actually replacing bits, it's much easier on a new car than one where everything has seized or rusted to hell.
I'd take splashing a few £000 on a scanner vs the same amount on oxyacetaline, grinders and a day's of effort just to try and remove a bolt.
Having said that, doing basic maintenance on a 50 year old car in excellent condition is still the most rewarding
But quite rare..
Yes you need a decent scanner to help guide you to what might be wrong (it can actually be engaging in a "investigative" way), and to code/adapt certain things on newer cars.
But when it comes to actually replacing bits, it's much easier on a new car than one where everything has seized or rusted to hell.
I'd take splashing a few £000 on a scanner vs the same amount on oxyacetaline, grinders and a day's of effort just to try and remove a bolt.
Having said that, doing basic maintenance on a 50 year old car in excellent condition is still the most rewarding
But quite rare..If you are not moving sensors about then there is nothing to calibrate.
Modern cars are still just cars, especially once you pull off the silly engine plastic / foam covers. The electrics are unfathomable but you just make a note of which plug goes where. Just watch Matt Armstrong taking apart and rebuilding supercars to get inspiration.
I have the ODBC programming software for my two VAG cars. VAGCOM. I've only needed it on the Yeti to diagnose a headlight issue, and to disable the seatbelt beeper. On the R8 I used to to code add the cruise control stalk. I think I paid around £200 for the dongle, software and license for three VINs (to write changes, you can read as many cars as you like).
As mentioned above, modern cars are a s
t load easier to work on than old cars in some respects. My transit van is a bloody nightmare when it comes to disc and bearing changes. Conversely, putting new discs and pads on the R8 was a doddle.
On my Yeti I do all the basic servicing and also brake fluid refresh, plus brake pads etc , though it's been on the same set for 40,000 miles! It goes to the garage for anything major. WHich was once for a water pump and cambelt change. I can't be clogging up my garage with that kind of ongoing job. I don't do the R8 oil and filters as I can't easily get it in the air to access all 4 oil drain plugs and I won't go under a low car on axle stands (I have drive up ramps for the Yeti and Transit). I do almost all the work on the Transit too. It went in for brake line repairs as if I stuff that up I can't even drive it to the garage! :-)
Modern cars are still just cars, especially once you pull off the silly engine plastic / foam covers. The electrics are unfathomable but you just make a note of which plug goes where. Just watch Matt Armstrong taking apart and rebuilding supercars to get inspiration.
I have the ODBC programming software for my two VAG cars. VAGCOM. I've only needed it on the Yeti to diagnose a headlight issue, and to disable the seatbelt beeper. On the R8 I used to to code add the cruise control stalk. I think I paid around £200 for the dongle, software and license for three VINs (to write changes, you can read as many cars as you like).
As mentioned above, modern cars are a s
t load easier to work on than old cars in some respects. My transit van is a bloody nightmare when it comes to disc and bearing changes. Conversely, putting new discs and pads on the R8 was a doddle.On my Yeti I do all the basic servicing and also brake fluid refresh, plus brake pads etc , though it's been on the same set for 40,000 miles! It goes to the garage for anything major. WHich was once for a water pump and cambelt change. I can't be clogging up my garage with that kind of ongoing job. I don't do the R8 oil and filters as I can't easily get it in the air to access all 4 oil drain plugs and I won't go under a low car on axle stands (I have drive up ramps for the Yeti and Transit). I do almost all the work on the Transit too. It went in for brake line repairs as if I stuff that up I can't even drive it to the garage! :-)
Edited by Griffith4ever on Friday 3rd November 09:05
Griffith4ever said:
If you are not moving sensors about then there is nothing to calibrate.
Modern cars are still just cars, especially once you pull off the silly engine plastic / foam covers. The electrics are unfathomable but you just make a note of which plug goes where. Just watch Matt Armstrong taking apart and rebuilding supercars to get inspiration.
I have the ODBC programming software for my two VAG cars. VAGCOM. I've only needed it on the Yeti to diagnose a headlight issue, and to disable the seatbelt beeper. On the R8 I used to to code add the cruise control stalk. I think I paid around £200 for the dongle, software and license for three VINs (to write changes, you can read as many cars as you like).
As mentioned above, modern cars are a st load easier to work on than old cars in some respects. My transit van is a bloody nightmare when it comes to disc and bearing changes. Conversely, putting new discs and pads on the R8 was a doddle.
On my Yeti I do all the basic servicing and also brake fluid refresh, plus brake pads etc , though it's been on the same set for 40,000 miles! It goes to the garage for anything major. WHich was once for a water pump and cambelt change. I can't be clogging up my garage with that kind of ongoing job. I don't do the R8 oil and filters as I can't easily get it in the air to access all 4 oil drain plugs and I won't go under a low car on axle stands (I have drive up ramps for the Yeti and Transit). I do almost all the work on the Transit too. It went in for brake line repairs as if I stuff that up I can't even drive it to the garage! :-)
This !Modern cars are still just cars, especially once you pull off the silly engine plastic / foam covers. The electrics are unfathomable but you just make a note of which plug goes where. Just watch Matt Armstrong taking apart and rebuilding supercars to get inspiration.
I have the ODBC programming software for my two VAG cars. VAGCOM. I've only needed it on the Yeti to diagnose a headlight issue, and to disable the seatbelt beeper. On the R8 I used to to code add the cruise control stalk. I think I paid around £200 for the dongle, software and license for three VINs (to write changes, you can read as many cars as you like).
As mentioned above, modern cars are a s
t load easier to work on than old cars in some respects. My transit van is a bloody nightmare when it comes to disc and bearing changes. Conversely, putting new discs and pads on the R8 was a doddle.On my Yeti I do all the basic servicing and also brake fluid refresh, plus brake pads etc , though it's been on the same set for 40,000 miles! It goes to the garage for anything major. WHich was once for a water pump and cambelt change. I can't be clogging up my garage with that kind of ongoing job. I don't do the R8 oil and filters as I can't easily get it in the air to access all 4 oil drain plugs and I won't go under a low car on axle stands (I have drive up ramps for the Yeti and Transit). I do almost all the work on the Transit too. It went in for brake line repairs as if I stuff that up I can't even drive it to the garage! :-)
Edited by Griffith4ever on Friday 3rd November 09:05
Same old stuff in most cases with more black boxes, I grew up on old school Fords and stuff so am familiar with the mucky bits, I work in IT so computer stuff doesnt scare me, in fact plugging in an ODB reader and getting a code is rather good.
Suspension, brakes, bodywork, trim etc is pretty much the same, and due to the electronics you dont have to fanny about with points, most stuff just tends to work without regular intervention most of the time.
Thirded on the "no need to calibrate if you don't move sensors".
I had to remove the radar from the Lexus when I replaced the radiator, and IIRC it was mounted to a bracket that had the adjustment. So I just removed the bracket+radar assembly.
Bleeding modern brakes can be a pain without a suitable diagnostic tool, but is still possible in some cases if you don't mind clearing codes frequently while doing it. Something like a Dacia probably has a traditional braking set-up where you CAN bleed it without throwing codes.
I had to remove the radar from the Lexus when I replaced the radiator, and IIRC it was mounted to a bracket that had the adjustment. So I just removed the bracket+radar assembly.
Bleeding modern brakes can be a pain without a suitable diagnostic tool, but is still possible in some cases if you don't mind clearing codes frequently while doing it. Something like a Dacia probably has a traditional braking set-up where you CAN bleed it without throwing codes.
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