Are there NO used cars anymore? (a rant/question)

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well i would have gone to the ford ranger forum, and get the answer in a few minutes just like this forum, no need for any manual, some one would have talked you through it




, but i can't blame you i don't own anything newer than a 76 .i got other things to spend my money on than heartbreak and making my self sick about a new vehicle gone bad or you can't service without NASA helping

 

Don't beat around the bush, tell us how you really feel?

Seriously, the trade's getting more complicated due to emission control, fuel economy, and people wanting Onstar and DVD players... The manufacturers don't want you to be able to fix it, the dealers don't want you to be able to fix it (and you can believe the fucking engineers don't want you to be able to fix it ) They're just cars, why do they want to make them the effing space shuttle??

Flatman

 

Well, as far as the manuals go, most everybody went to computer stuff within the last 10 years, so when you wlak into the parts dept, and ask for a manual, they have to special order a printed version.

The new cars are so complex as far as electronics, etc. it's MUCH cheaper to stick the manual online and the dealers download it to their service depts.

You might ask about a CD-ROM version, they are usually $50-60 when available.

But I agree with you, I wouldn't buy a new/used car unless it was from a dealer and had whatever their certified pre owned thingy is. One widget craps out and you're looking at a $1500 repair bill. And I fix BMWs for a living, so I would know!

 

Hey...that's a FORD you're talking about!

 

Good for you Tingler... I'm with you all the way. My Toyota SUV with V6 costs more to run than any V8. The motor had to be lifted to replace the starter solenoid, and the spark plugs are $180 a set, but I cant change them myself cos I cant even SEE the bloody things!
This topic DESERVES a rant!

 

About $400.00 for a fuel pump on the 98 G.M.C. Z71, If I do the work.

 

You tell em Bro!
By the way, I think I emailed ya, but if I didnt, the Tee shit you did of my 61 ROCKS! Ill be ordering one of my 65 pretty quick.

 

Yup. You're all correct. I do vehicle development. It's amazing the toil and trouble these geeks can put themselves through designing shit. We spent nearly a year to get an exhaust on a fuckin van to lose a frequency that was read by electronics. Meaning a normal end-user would not know the difference. I wasn't privy to all the details but I know I made a dozen hangers for this shit and the final outcome was decided by my apprentice. That's just one instance. There's so much more.

What the big 3 need is a team of GENUINE hot rodders to design some of this junk. When the CAD master gets done half the shit's impossible to actually build anyways. Nice rant Ting. Right on spec.

How's yer hood scoop lookin?

 

Ranger-Forums.com and rangerpowersports.com are good ranger sites there are a bunch of Ford techs on there that are always willing to help

 

Ok I give up "Where is the thermostat?"

 

#1 - As a shop owner I may be biased.

#2 - I can't imagine a $55 thermostat. That would send a flag up - even in my world.

#3 - At 6:00 pm, after you paid the bill, is not the time to rant. Rant before you take it to the shop. Want my phone number? I'd happily tell you where it is.

#4 - You are correct in the assumption that no-one in authority want's you to be able to work on your own vehicle. You could affect the emissions, after all.

#5 - Sometimes it isn't all that easy these days even with the "manual".

 

You could had just asked Tingle Bingle.....we've owned a lot of domestic vehicles including a Ranger like that. I still have the manuals, I could had walked you thru it.

But I agree, go with the oldies but goodies........it'll make YOU happier in the long run.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-FORD-RANGER-FACTORY-SHOP-REPAIR-CD-MANUAL-01_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34221QQitemZ8040004740QQrdZ1 .

 

I still am amazed that people who frequent this site have anything that new.
My cars:
1985 Merc 300D (diesel, NO computers, NONE. Hell, it'll run without a friggin' BATTERY!!) 280,000 miles...everything still works, including cruise and A/C!!

1981 Citroën 2CV6. Comes standard with a HAND CRANK!!! YES, I have hand cranked this bad boy into LIFE!!! Try THAT with your HEMI (oh, BTW, the Cit IS a hemi-head design, too. And a four-valve as well, 4 valves per CAR ). Oh, yeah, no computers on this thing either. For that matter, no radio, no crank windows, no water pump, no radiator, no nearly nothing, just a ball of fun to drive.

Wife's car: Compromised a little: 1989 Volvo 240. Yup, it's got Bosch Lh Jetronic, but that has to be the least troublesome 'leccy injection that's out there. And I CAN fix it.

Cosmo

Sorry 'bout the thermostat, but, hey, at least you don't have the S10 heating problems...I've seen the factory rigamarole that is supposed to fix THAT one...

 

Here in filthyrich New Jersey, everything around is new or nearly new, including as far as I can see teenager's cars. You can drive all day without seeing a car that predates the current bar of soap look. The only non-rodders who either drive anything more than 5 years old or fix their own drivers are recent immigrant Central and South American immigrants, mostly people who didn't even own a car before they got here! I have no idea how they learn how to do things, especially since many don't even read English, but they do--I guess the process is pretty similar to my teenage days back before the Kaiser war or whatever. In the junkyards, they fall upon ten year old Toyota carcasses and pick them clean, armed only with $9.99 K mart socket sets and Chinese forged zinc screwdrivers. They can't afford anything less than 10 years old, cars that exist only out on the fringes of suburbia, but even those are heavily computerized boxes of complexity.
It's kinda inspirational seeing them keep a '92 Datsun Wombat running just about the way I ran my '48 Ford in college, actually.
Me, I got up to 1978 and then bailed out of the complexities back to 1970...and I'm still running.

 

Ill just give you my sedan, better?

trey!

 

I can hear you from here Tingy-thingy. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I learned a long time ago from brothers,sister,and my parents who bought new cars. so I never bought a new car. The newest car we own is an '85 crown vic. My daily driver is either the '30 sedan or the shoebox. I know its nice to have a 'newer car,but I will not ever buy a new car. Open the header caps on the Fairlane,and enjoy!!

 

Okay, so where IS the thermostat on a Ranger engine?????? does ANYBODY know??

My A pickup has one of those little poppers in it---should I yank it outta there NOW?? Ohmygod, the SKY'S fallin'......

 

Its probably a classic case -that as usual, involves removing the fuel injection/manifold to access it.[DESIGNED BY "ANTI-MECHANICS"]

My wife drives a 2000 Old Alero- another classic....
AS SOON AS IT DIES, I AM GOING the other direction too....am building my all "new"[1956] S.U.V, as we speak.
Total cost should run close to cost of a 5 yr old BIG3 car in the used car price guide!

 

My grandfather was a packard dealer...my dad had a lincoln/mercury dealership....american cars have fed me my whole life...and I have fed my family fixing cars. I used to be a dyed in the wool american car patriot.....fuck it...I give up....it's a hopeless case that just keeps getting worse....I'm buying japanese from now on. I don't make enough money to repair worthless "big three" scrap in my driveway. They are now "No deposit, no return" The auto industry has had TOO much time to catch up to the japs, but just focus on short term goals (profit) and keeping the stockholders happy.....and not on gaining paying customer loyalty. Goodbye "Big Three"......Hello Toyota....they are here to stay and will do anything it takes to be number ONE. America....a democracy....and people vote with their wallets.

 

I have also found it odd that the readers on this forum have so many'new' cars like Cosmos. I have a 1966 but its way too modern. I refuse to drive it. I rarely drive the 1959 or the 1957. My favorites at all times are my Fords from the 1930s. Just Right! The older the better. My next car I am working on now is a 1926 Ford.

 

They quit making OLD cars in 1948!

 

I sympathize with you my friend.You are correct;there are NO used cars anymore.

My son came out to see me last week driving his new used truck('03 Ranger with a V6)for me to stripe.He had done a tuneup on it prior to coming out but could only replace 5 of the wires.The right rear wire is situated behind the heater box.

After I striped it I decided to see if I could get it out.It took an hour and a half but I manged to remove it by going in through the wheel house and ripping the wire off with a pair of long needlenose pliers.The plug would only come out using just a plug socket and a short ratchet and tearing half the flesh off my hand.

My GMC Syclone is just as bad(it has sat in my driveway for the past two years as I need to re-replace a fuel pressure regulator(parts store gave me the wrong one)and you need to pull half the engine apart to remove it).

The crowning touch though has to be one of my customers whose new HHR I just finished striping.He went to check the oil on it and found that it not only has no means to check the oil but he can't check the trans fluid either. Why? There are NO DIPSTICKS and no place to pour in oil!

Apparently the only way to put in fluid is via a plug in the side of the crankcase(similar to a rear axle filler)using a pump to dispense the oil.

He questioned the dealer what he would do if the engine sprung a leak in the middle of Death Valley.The dealer's answer? Call Triple A!

Needless to say an HHR is not in OUR future!I'll stick with my Safari.At least when I open the hood I can see ALL 8 plugs and wires and if it stops running I can pull off a plug wire to check the spark without fear of frying a thousand dollar ECU or a fuel line to make sure my trusty maual fuel pump is working.And if there is no spark I don't need a hundred thousand dollar diagnostic computer to tell me what is wrong.

The 94 TransAm also sits idle after spending a thousand dollars to replace a water pump and distributor(neatly positioned so when the pump shits the bed it drools antifreeze into the distributor effectively rendering it useless).

FUCK NEW CARS!!!

 

There isnt one.

 

It's all about morals and quality now....which is driven by money.

60+ years ago, auto makers KNEW that people would buy new cars because of STYLE.

NOW? Now auto makers know that they lack in that same STYLE...so to get consumers to buy their cars they produce vehicles that are DESIGNED TO FAIL. One fails, off you go to buy the bigger, badder, newer model.

It's all in the marketing my friend.....so no need to get all grouchy. Think smarter not harder.

 

What motor do you have? You never did say.

If its a 4.0 V6, it should be behind the upper neck. Same for the 4 cyl.

Or, if you have a 2.9 or 3.0 (I don't remember which engines were out that year) they share the same block and front cover design as the old Pinto 2.8 V6. The stat is behind the lower radiator hose neck on the bottom right side of the water pump.

 

whaaaaaa,whaaaaa,whaaaaaa, if you really think about it how hard is it to find your thermostat? if you weren't so lazy and afraid of getting a little dirty you might have found it and been able to replace it yourself.after all you're gonna have to replace the thermostat on your fairlane someday,hope you won't cry about that too

 

That's easy to say in Texas. I doubt you'd want to salt up your prized antiques for 6 months out of the year if you lived in Wisconsin. I can't bear to ruin the sheetmetal on a classic by winter driving it in Wisconsin, although my modern winter beater '90 Civic decided to blow a head gasket last week (at 256K miles) and until I get that fixed I'm driving my trailer pulling '99 Chevy truck (207K). I can't wait for spring when my '55 Dodge is done (so close!).

New cars are like those happy-fun-time cameras you get where you take the pictures then you throw the camera away. There not meant to be fixed, just use them up and get a new one. Kinda sucks, but I can't think of anything produced in the last 25 years that's worth fixing up and saving.

 

Obviously it's a LOT easier to drive an old car in Texas than through a Chicago winter.
For one, you don't need heat.
For two, you don't see snow, or salt, or bad drivers ON snow and salt...
I have what ARE old cars in Chicago, because most of 'em are dust by now...
We ain't called the "Rust Belt" because we like the colour orange...

Cosmo