Reminiscing about older vehicles

[ovrszd]

It's funny you say that, I sometimes listen to "the car doctor" guy on the radio, just this past weekend he was saying the exact same thing with examples from his shop in NJ. He couldn't get a part for a 99 (?) Lincoln's anti theft system, it's now obsolete. He also said that Chrysler Fiat is real bad for parts support. In another instance, my friend had a 2006 GMC 5500 truck, the wiring harness had given him major problems, partially due to plowing (salt), but quite a bit from chaffing by "cobbing" this truck together from a GM van (the cab) and a truck chassis. No replacement wiring harness available from GM.
You might see your current truck on the road in 30 years, absent a bunch of electric stuff and a whole bunch of spliced wiring.:laughing:

Couple years ago I swapped a computerized powertrain into a Jeep Buggy that I was building. The PCM had 60 wires coming out of it. I used 5.

So, I agree, the current vehicles can be made to run in 30 years. The number of luxuries they have might be dependent on your wiring skills!!!!

 

[JerryK]

Most of us, in twenty years, will have a lot more to worry about than if we can still get parts for our old vehicles.....

 

[ovrszd]

Most of us, in twenty years, will have a lot more to worry about than if we can still get parts for our old vehicles.....

Well, I'm 64 now, so I'll be 84 then and just entering mature age, is it health??

 

[JerryK]

Well, I'm 64 now, so I'll be 84 then and just entering mature age, is it health??

I'm 68, so I will be 88.... Wonder if I will still have a license...?? [ ]

 

[ovrszd]

I'm 68, so I will be 88.... Wonder if I will still have a license...?? [ ]

Oh. Never thought about that. Well I guess if I'm in so bad shape I can't get a license I probly shouldn't be driving.

 

[3930dave]

Its gotten to the point that once was a simple mechanical system that cost about $30 in parts has become overly complicated electronically controlled stuff that cost $800 in parts.

Hard to buy a new car without all kinds of junk I don't want.

With ya there.

Parts cost is way up, but so are diagnostic hours.

How many olde tyme mechanics couldn't diagnose a broken accelerator cable ? Not that they broke that often....

Today, with a pedal sensor, driver module, and a stepper motor on the intake, it can be an expensive fix.... esp. if the mech doesn't find a simple wiring problem quickly.....

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

Serviceability down the road is very important to some and others simply budget to replace... I'm around a lot of people that will not own a car not under warranty.

My Friend inherited a mint 18,000 mile Lincoln, always garaged kept runs great.

The digital instrument cluster went out... spent 2k with Lincoln and it was in the shop several months... they finally gave up...

Donated the car after trying aftermarket and coming up dry...

 

[GPintheMitten]

I think cars in the 60's and 70s were more disposable than current vehicles. My last several vehicles were very dependable.

I hardly ever see cars on the side of the road disabled anymore. 40 years ago there were broken down cars, often over heated on the roadside.

 

[Fi-Q]

I am a 81 model myself..... My "old car" memory is from my first ride, a 89 sunbird with 330 000km on it when I bougt it for 1200$ for a summer coop student job in my college trade in a factory, 700 km from home..... And no, I would not trade my Sierra 3500 LBZ for it, not at all .... But I would be tempted for a camaro SS 69, or a chevlle SS 70 with a 454.....

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

So concerning these sensors, am i the only one that had 4 leave me stranded in the last couple years and on a fairly late model truck?