Went to buy wiper blades for my 2024 Mazda only to find that Mazda redesigned the usual blade attachment to the arm. I'm all for changes when it makes things fasterbettercheaper, but this was done "because we can". I had to find "special" blades. I keep running into this in a lot of other things. Drives me nuts. If it works, is easy to make, leave it alone. Stop redesigning things for no reason!
Being a retired engineer, I agree with you on that point. Of course I only did research work, and not for product development. Like the cords that connect electronics to chargers or other devices. It was okay when Apple did their own thing, but now with 3 generations of Apple devices, I have to keep 3 different types of cords. I guess it is just part of the process of designed obsolescence, so we have to keep buying new stuff. Throw out the old, get new. Never mind the cost to the planet…
It's so you have to buy THEIR brand of replacement part, not the cheaper generic. Don't blame the Engineers, blame Marketing.
And now that we’re venting on this stuff, how about battery powered tools? Now flashlights use batteries in standard sizes, AAA, AA, C, D. But power tools? Every brand has their own batteries. I have Ryobi, and yes I’m cheap! I have had a couple of other brands but as Ryobi came out with their version of the tools I use, I’ve just replaced the other brands, to keep one style of battery. Light bulbs have standard bases, ratchet wrenches are standard sizes, why not power tools batteries? Okay, I’m done.
To preserve my own sanity, I won't dive into this, except to say it's not marketing. Those guys wouldn't know the difference in two parts with a spec sheet and the items in hand.
And people wonder why the “mechanic “ is unable to “fix” a computer controlled vehicle. Many “mechanics” in today’s modern world are parts replacers;one can tell quickly how “smart” a parts personnel is when they are asked for a set of points and condenser or how to set the timing using a timing light. I once had a blown(flatheadFord v8) for sale with high compression aluminum heads attached to the engine and some not so intelligent person asked me; “Is that a hemi—-I told him just get away!!” Admittedly MANY computer controlled vehicles can exhibit TREMENDOUS H P gains and many more miles b4 an engine overhaul is necessary,but many have exhibited very hard to diagnose characteristics.Give me something that has a dipstick for the oil level, not some other alternative that figures the oil level for you!
A couple of years I got a recall on the wiper arms on my 2021 F-350. Recall said wipers could fly off. It also said they did not currently have a fix! My thought was if the wipers don’t fly off a 2020 F-350 ,using those arms would be a solution. Of course,I am not an enginneer and it took them 6 months to come up with a solution…
Having worked for a major manufacturing firm I saw degradation in engineering and other disciplines as the years went on. First we have upper management types who wouldn’t know a wiper from a crankshaft, then we have bean counters I won’t even discuss their ignorance, then we have the engineers, technicians etc. (I worked in plant engineering so I got to work with all these groups). When I started engineers, technicians etc worked under engineers with time in and experience, when I retired often times fairly major projects were turned over to fresh out of school engineers. Career advancement nowadays seems to outweigh excellence in the skills or craft said engineer is involved in. Hence we have wipers flying off vehicles going down the highway, this something new to me , I’ve been driving for 50 years. Dan
Because they don't give them away as-needed-replacements for life? . Damn stuff doesn't have a my-life-time warranty, nor do they last anywheres near that long. 6 mo, maybe. Sorry, couldn't resist... . Marcus...
We who live in areas where it rains or snows more than once a year have to replace our wipers about every 6 months, they use to last a year or two, blame that on the god damn engineers also lol Dan
I was an Engineer also “ Stationary Engineer “ . I would be placed under the supervision of PEs . It would drive me nuts , with the silly new designs , they would try to put into service not knowing or caring about codes they needed to meet to be in service. Many arguments about welding practices , as in welded by non certified welder and not xrayed and tested before applying 650 psi on a 36 in diameter pipe . Lots of total force involved in this mix . My answer I always got was “ it will work don’t worry about it !No one will know if you don’t say anything !” I’m like I Know and it’s not happening on my watch !
Oh, remember when you had wiper refills and didn't have to replace the whole blade? Yeah, good times!
Jim, I remember when skateboards had steel wheels about a half inch wide. That'll either make you a skater or a patient pretty quick!
I had one of those - thought I was dreaming about these even existing! Round wheels didn't stay round very long on the roads where I live.
It's a 2024 but it's almost two years old now and even the best blades don't work well after all this time in the Florida heat.
The advantage of the Arizona heat is that it doesn't rain very often You're probably going to have to go to the mazda dealer to get parts for it, until the aftermarket catches up. The wipers on my wife's 2023 mazda still look good. They are a rather modern looking design, very swoopy and clean, not the usual ugly old style blades.
It doesn't rain very often. Just wondering which is worse... rain or 115-degree heat? It's a dry heat.
I don't live in the 115 region, it got up to 105 here yesterday, that's about as hot as it gets. parking the car in a garage is a big help, too.
Engineers know we can design and manufacture cars and products that can last a lifetime. We have the knowledge. The stock holders, CEO’s, CFO’s and Purchasing Executives are the problem. While I was in automotive manufacturing I fought them all the time to not degrade products but they won almost always.
I was in the automotive business for over forty years and it didn’t take long to realize that cars are not made to be worked on, serviced or repaired, they are meant to be replaced.
Cars used to be built to at least last as long as the payment book lasted. That doesn't seem to be a concern these days. The car companies stockholders are getting more greedy every year, it seems. The frugal guys could made those better built cars (and trucks) last a lot longer. What the auto companies missed (or maybe they didn't) was that the frugal guys quit buying the cars the didn't make it to the end of the payment book, they just started buying the older, better built, simpler, cars. The problem is, they have been building unreliable junk for so long now, the frugal guys are starting to run out of options. I suspect that at some point, a car manufacturer will step up and build a simple, long lasting, reliable car, maybe only for a few years. All the frugal car guys will buy them up, and the company will make a fortune, then discontinue building that car again, for another 15-20 years, then repeat the process.
Man, I don't know what you guys call OLDER! But NOTHING from before about 1990 or so would last 150,000 miles. By 1995 , 200,000 + was common. Although I have owned nothing later than the 1995 Park avenue, me thinks folks are running down some pretty good cars. That's my opinion, for what it's worth. Ben
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