Right to Repair.

[Tractor Seabee]

Reminds me of the dealer quote of $500 to replace the $12 HST fan on my BX. They make so it is a four hour (at$125/hr) job of disassembly and reassembly to just accesses it to spend 5 minutes replacing the fan.

My local mechanic figured out how to do it in 45 minutes at $75.00/hr, I bought the fan and gave him a copy a TBN post on hows to do it.

That is why we do our own mechanic work.

Ron

 

[not2old]

I asked the dealer to change the plugs on my CTS-V while I was having an end of warranty check done. Got billed $416.00 and only five of the old plugs returned that I had requested as they only had a few miles on them. That will be the last time the dealer sees it unless I'm unable to repair it myself. When that happens it will be sold and I will restore something for my daily driver.

 

[Tomtint]

I wonder what the $890 transmission service involves ?
Probably checking the fluid level, replacing a $30.00 filter, and topping up.

They top off the blinker fluid and rotate the air in thi tires as well ...as a courtesy

 

[Train]

It frosts my fushnairs the way vehicles are engineered nowaday so you can't even do the most simplest of tasks. The first time I ever changed a headlight, it was 3 Phillips screws, remove the trim ring, and swap the sealed beam. A few weeks back I looked at a video of how to replace the bulb on my 2015 Ram, and it's just ridiculous.

 

[mrmikey]

How many people actually change their own oil?

"
Always have and will unitil I can't physically do it. It is a bit cheaper but the main reason is twofold, (1) I get a chance to look around under my truck and check for busted crap and (2) I don't have some 300lb gorilla put the filter on which would require a 2' cheater bar to remove and I do not trust stealers.....ahhh dealers I mean.
At work we recently had some tandem trucks delivered which were supposedly 'PDI'd" by the dealer (I use that term sparingly) while getting under the truck to do something, lo and behold one of the brakes was still caged where they do it for piggyback transport. The wheels were covered in rear end oil where they had pulled the axles and not even wiped down, Looking at the MVI sticker they placed it over 3 of the 5 wire grids for the heated windshield (they aren't embedded in the windshield btw, they're surface mount). The drivers step was installed unsupported for 18" or so as they fuel strap was in the wrong place. They batteries were changed and the hold downs weren't installed correctly.
And you wonder why dealers get such a bad rep and people want to do their own work?

The first time I ever changed a headlight, it was 3 Phillips screws

My old Ranger, didn't need tools of any kind, two levers came up behind the headlight bucket, pull them up and the complete light assembly came out, 5 mins< to change a bulb.
My daughters van an 09 Journey, you have to pull the wheel and remove the fender liner to change the battery.
Sorry for the rant....I'll; stop now ..............Mike

 

[fried1765]

"
Always have and will unitil I can't physically do it. It is a bit cheaper but the main reason is twofold, (1) I get a chance to look around under my truck and check for busted crap and (2) I don't have some 300lb gorilla put the filter on which would require a 2' cheater bar to remove and I do not trust stealers.....ahhh dealers I mean.
At work we recently had some tandem trucks delivered which were supposedly 'PDI'd" by the dealer (I use that term sparingly) while getting under the truck to do something, lo and behold one of the brakes was still caged where they do it for piggyback transport. The wheels were covered in rear end oil where they had pulled the axles and not even wiped down, Looking at the MVI sticker they placed it over 3 of the 5 wire grids for the heated windshield (they aren't embedded in the windshield btw, they're surface mount). The drivers step was installed unsupported for 18" or so as they fuel strap was in the wrong place. They batteries were changed and the hold downs weren't installed correctly.
And you wonder why dealers get such a bad rep and people want to do their own work?


My old Ranger, didn't need tools of any kind, two levers came up behind the headlight bucket, pull them up and the complete light assembly came out, 5 mins< to change a bulb.
My daughters van an 09 Journey, you have to pull the wheel and remove the fender liner to change the battery.
Sorry for the rant....I'll; stop now ..............Mike

I recently passed on a 2014 Mercedes E350 that was for sale.
Headlight assembly had water in it.
Cost for new MB headlight assembly $1,500.....part only!

 

[pmsmechanic]

The right to repair issue would be really easy to cure. Just require manufacturers to provide a lifetime warranty on any software and electronics. I would go so far as to say that warranty should be retroactive.

Further more all diagnostic software could easily be embedded into the electronics. John Deere has gone so far as to phone one farmer that I heard about that was told that if he didn't shut down his tractor immediately his warranty would be void. The tractor was working pretty hard on a grain vac and was running a bit warm. If John Deere can monitor a tractor remotely then they can also figure out how to repair a tractor remotely.

 

[Streetcar]

Tesla can remotely add and delete features on their cars

 

[mrmikey]

Tesla can remotely add and delete features on their cars

I've heard horror stories about that. They will disable the rapid charger if the vehicle has been damaged and repaired by a non-Tesla person/shop. Won't sell you parts...nuthin. So, when you buy a Tesla, do you actually rent it on terms that Tesla dictates? If I want to beat the crap out of a car I paid for, it's no ones business but mine as long as I don't try and blame anyone else for problems I cause, which I'm sure given today's technology could be well documented.
One more story and I'll stop...maybe.
Dodge salesman I work with sold us a bunch of new 2019 1500, 2500, 3500's, they are programmed that if the door is open the vehicle won't move, they are programmed like that from day one, a real PIA. I called him and asked if there was a way to bypass it...nope. His own truck a 2016, was in for a BCM update, one of the changes....yup, added the no move with door open 'feature' he didn't ask for it and no way, according to Dodge to backtrack. BTW a work around is to leave a seat belt extender in place, it'll come up on the screen park mode engaged but won't lock up.......Mike

 

[Industrial Toys]

If consumers acted together, they could bring corporations to their knees. Pick a name out of a hat and until they smarten up, no one buys their product. Can you imagine?

 

[/pine]

The same goes for the outrageous cost of pro sports and the over the top player salaries... buy no tickets or sponsored products and the costs to attend would be much more realistic...

 

[Tomtint]

So today I brought the Sprinter to the dealer for its scheduled oil change. Also had them change the fuel filter while he was in there. The bill was 550.00 ish. Although that's spendy for those 2 services..imo.. , What irked me more was when I was there the service writer came over and said "the tech strongly suggests you change your engine air filter. "It's in the red zone" .... I literally changed it myself about 4 months ago..maybe 6-7k miles on it now. ... along with the attempted frint break job and rear break job that "will be needed soon" for $1800.00.... My belief is that in order to get to the fuel filter, the air intake filter box needs to be removed anyway.. they literally need to remove it to do the job I went in for originally..and figured they would try a 250.00 hit to pad the service.
I told the service writer that I find it hard to believe that the AF is bas as I personally changed it very recntly...his face went blank..and he said he couldn't understand why the tech would say it needed to be done. ...

 

[Alan W.]

More people work on their own vehicles than not , at least around here. Our largest town in the county is small and it has 3 national auto part chain stores. Plus the semi retired junk yard owner. The one oil change center is usually waiting on business.

As for the electronics, its a shame it couldnt be covered by the Moss Ferguson Act.

 

[1010]

They JD and other makers can keep their CCUs, hopefully owners can continue removing some parts and either a new CCU or reprogramming the existing one. With no warning codes, increased HP, and fuel economy. The tractor would make without the garbage these engines are having to run with.

Equipment owners are taking a serious hit $$$ keeping their machines running. And we are seeing in stores.. The folks with a garden tractor aren't getting any idea of the headache,

 

[ruffdog]

Tesla can remotely add and delete features on their cars

Yep, here is one example. It is no wonder their stocks jumped....it sure seems a crooked way to make money though.

Tesla remotely disables Autopilot on used Model S after it was sold - The Verge

 

[RandyT]

They JD and other makers can keep their CCUs, hopefully owners can continue removing some parts and either a new CCU or reprogramming the existing one. With no warning codes, increased HP, and fuel economy. The tractor would make without the garbage these engines are having to run with.

Equipment owners are taking a serious hit $$$ keeping their machines running. And we are seeing in stores.. The folks with a garden tractor aren't getting any idea of the headache,

They soon will since CAN bus hits the lawnmower industry this year.

 

[rScotty]

I'm always glad to hear that there are other people out there who enjoy doing their own maintenance and repair. For awhile I was beginning to feel lonely.

The good news is that the right to repair exists right now and so do the tractors. In large numbers and at affordable prices. All you have to do to access this repairable world is focus on the older models. I'm going to propose pre-2000 as an approximate date. But that's only because that was the time when I first began to notice the change from from "owner repairable" to "owner unrepairable" really began to take hold in the tractor world.

Those older models often have excellent parts availability. For well-known brands of compact 4wd small diesel tractors, I've had no problem getting parts for models back as far as the1970s.

Many of them were so well built that they won't need much repair - if any - and of course the price is proportional to the work that needs to be done. So they are available to folks on a serious budget if they are willing to get mechanical.

I can't think of any "modern feature" that those older tractors lack, although you can expect to have either manual or some form of power-shifting gearbox rather than HST.
Of course as an owner wanting the ability to do your own repairs you probably want that anyway.

So if you really would prefer to have an owner-repairable tractor with all the modern features you can buy one today and save money doing it.
And there are lots to choose from.
rScotty

 

[PILOON]

I'm always on my soapbox about this, but you know what? It's a lost cause because too few people care or have what it takes to fix stuff anyway, even if it was possible. And they like to buy NEW, and better yet if it's not their fault, they have to buy NEW.

When a company tells me that they don't support something they sold a few short years ago and imply I should buy a new one. I say, I guess in that case I won't be buying anything from you again, and pretty much hang up.

I hear U.

Had a question about my cell phone that wife gave me last Xmas.
ELEVEN months old?
The Bell technician said it was too old and that I needed to upgrade.

Fact was he did not know his product as I later found the answer on my own.
He simply was attempting to 'upsell'.

 

[fried1765]

So today I brought the Sprinter to the dealer for its scheduled oil change. Also had them change the fuel filter while he was in there. The bill was 550.00 ish. Although that's spendy for those 2 services..imo.. , What irked me more was when I was there the service writer came over and said "the tech strongly suggests you change your engine air filter. "It's in the red zone" .... I literally changed it myself about 4 months ago..maybe 6-7k miles on it now. ... along with the attempted frint break job and rear break job that "will be needed soon" for $1800.00.... My belief is that in order to get to the fuel filter, the air intake filter box needs to be removed anyway.. they literally need to remove it to do the job I went in for originally..and figured they would try a 250.00 hit to pad the service.
I told the service writer that I find it hard to believe that the AF is bas as I personally changed it very recntly...his face went blank..and he said he couldn't understand why the tech would say it needed to be done. ...

You have just described a situation that in my opinion, occurs at many dealerships, on a daily (if not hourly) basis......dealer fraud!
If your Sprinter is not still under warranty, it would seem that you should search for a local independent repair shop.
The only thing I use my local MB dealer for is wheel alignment.

 

[1010]

I'd also like to mention even if we had total access to the codes, a laptop, cable, most folks including me wouldn't know what to do with it, other than plugging it up. What I'm saying is even the trained service tecs struggle with making accurate repairs. On JD and new Holland AG tractors I've seen it turn into a guessing game.

I watched a N Holland tech try to unlock a T155 for an hour that had an air temp sensor burn out. We tried a few dealer recommendations and had to move the machine to a shop, every time we started the tractor it confused the tractor's computer. The tractor was down a month, before he finally got the right part replaced, the tractor didn't just wake back up with the new part like you would think, he basically had to reprogram/reboot the entire machine to get the tractor to rev up above idle..