Nomination for "Worst Automotive Maintenance Feature Ever"

[HoosierBuddy]

Over the years we've all run into automotive designs that make maintenance way harder than it should be. But this one really chapped by tail.

2014 Subaru Outback - Low Beam bulb Replacement

1. Put the car on a lift or jack.
2. Remove lug nuts tire and wheel assembly.
3. Pop out 10 (or so) plastic pins holding wheel well shield in place. Peel back wheel well shield and get it sort of out of the way.
4. Working from underneath, reach up into inner fender and (blindly) remove plastic plug/cover from back of headlight housing.
5. Pull connector off bulb assembly.
6. Blindly reach into cavity and pull on spring latch assembly until it opens to allow bulb removal.
7. Remove and replace bulb. Utilizing "Keller Technique" spin new bulb in housing until tab drops into groove.
8. Pray
9. Attempt to refasten spring assembly utilizing tip of index finger. The correct motion is forward, down, forward, up.
10. Attach bulb connector.
11. Check low beam for proper function.
12. Replace plug/cover (Good luck with that).
13. Find all the plastic pins removed during step 3. Put shield back in place and reinstall pins.
14. Replace wheel and retorque lugnuts.

I got it done last night in 30 minutes after watching it done on Youtube. I guess it is POSSIBLE to do with the wheel on...but it was hard enough for my big arm to get in there even with the wheel off.

My wife looked it up in her manual and it says "Take it to the dealer" if it needs a light bulb changed. LOL.

Phil

 

[aka Larry]

Since my wife's '13 Fusion requires removal of the entire front bumper cover assembly to do the same, yours sounds easy peasy!

 

[billspit]

It should be a law that the average able-bodied person could change a headlight or tail light in 15 minutes.

 

[tonyciambrone]

I was going to say anything diesel emissions equipment...but yes some Prius models are the same way. Many cars are starting to have inaccessible light bulbs, no spare tire, no jack. Long gone are factory tool sets. Things ain't how they used to be.

 

[ChaseDE]

Audi Service Position, that you need to do to do a whole lot of different jobs on the cars.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...Front_Bumper_Removal_and_Service_Position.htm

 

[cvairwerks]

You guys forget the '78/'79 Monza's with the V8 that needed to have the motor mounts loosened to change the rear plugs...

 

[LAROKE]

I think you have a winner for a thread here.

The only thing I have close to that is checking the ****** fluid in my '37 hot rod truck but it's a hot rod and doesn't count since it's not a factory application. Even if it did count, it wouldn't be as painful as you describe.

1. Remove floor mats.
2. Remove floor (10 screws of varying types).
3. Remove parking brake lever mechanism and move to side (three hard to access bolts and machine screws).
4. Remove upper oil fill plug (T5 5-speed).
5. Check fluid level by sticking large end of golf tee in plug hole (no line of sight since under floor battery is 3 inches away from ******)
6. If necessary, add fluid with a siphon (spilling perhaps 10% on the floor on a good day).
7. Reverse steps 1-4 to button things up.

 

[ChaseDE]

Another good one is if you have to replace the oil pan, normally a very simple job, in a 1996 cadillac deville, and maybe other vintages, you need to pick the motor a little bit in order for the pan to clear the cross brace under it.

 

[dave89iroc]

Since my wife's '13 Fusion requires removal of the entire front bumper cover assembly to do the same, yours sounds easy peasy!

you can have the headlights out in 5 minutes

 

[jako]

You guys forget the '78/'79 Monza's with the V8 that needed to have the motor mounts loosened to change the rear plugs...

Or... 80' Chevy Citation, transverse V6. That back right plug was getting replaced on engine rebuild only!

 

[GYPSY400]

Re: Nomination for "Worst Automotive Maintenance Feature Ever"

Another good one is if you have to replace the oil pan, normally a very simple job, in a 1996 cadillac deville, and maybe other vintages, you need to pick the motor a little bit in order for the pan to clear the cross brace under it.

I hear Starters on Northstar engines are quite fun too. Which might actually be a winner because I consider starters and alternators "maintenence items"

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[TheBigMortboski]

I don't feel so bad for being frustrated doing a water pump on a Scion xB the other day. Although since you have to jack the engine up to get the alternator off, maybe I'm justified.

 

[Falcon67]

>My wife looked it up in her manual and it says "Take it to the dealer" if it needs a light
>bulb changed. LOL.

This and not so LOL at this house. I don't work on the dailies. I've got three race cars, more than enough automotive tech to keep me busy. I don't even change the oil in the two dailies. The 14 Fusion has a busted fog lamp. I've seen under the bumper, so we just ignore it.

 

[exranger06]

Changing a headlight bulb on a 2007 Nissan Maxima is the same procedure as that Outback. I've done one of those before.

Changing a battery on a Chevy Equinox or GMC Terrain -
The ECM is mounted to the top of the battery. First step is unplugging the 3 large electrical connectors and remove a bolt and remove the ECM. Then you can unbolt the battery hold-down bracket, but oh wait - one of the bolts is underneath a plastic trim piece. Remove several plastic clips and flip the plastic trim up to get access to the other bolt. Now you can loosen the battery cables. Make sure to disconnect the negative side first, 'cause the positive terminal is about .003 inches away from the metal battery tray, which is grounded to the chassis . Now you can finally lift the battery out. They're such garbage vehicles.

 

[rburke65]

Wife's '12 GMC Acadia replace driving lamp necessitates removal of grill, etc. dealer labor $100. Decided to pay after watching YouTube video. Tax, shop parts, lamp, labor was ? $125.

 

[MBfreak]

My usual rant about SAAB 9000.
Like
Replace Lambda sensor. Sits nicely in the exhaust in front of the engine, plenty of space to unscrew.
Then the fun begins.
Trace the wire and loosen from clips. The 5 pole BOSCH plug sits at the engine block in the very tight space between the firewall and the "back" of the engine
Almost impossible to reach, the intellectuals at SAAB has an overcomplicated intake manifold, a servo rack, a starting motor, a generator and a servo pump stuck into the same place.

This is just one of the lovely features of this marvel of engineering.

Ola

 

[Jeepster04]

You guys forget the '78/'79 Monza's with the V8 that needed to have the motor mounts loosened to change the rear plugs...

Check out plugs on a ford v8 truck. Not sure what years but some people never replace those back two plugs...

 

[theoldwizard1]

Since my wife's '13 Fusion requires removal of the entire front bumper cover assembly to do the same, yours sounds easy peasy!

Never changed ANY bulbs on my 9 year old Fusion when I traded it in last year.

I also have a 19 year old E150. Only changed one bulb so far.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ford SUVs/trucks that had NO TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK !

 

[ChaseDE]

Ford SUVs/trucks that had NO TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK !

My 1999 c230 Benz has no trans dipstick either, supposed to be a sealed lifetime trans fluid....yeah ok. You can buy the dipstick they use at the dealer on ebay though, then break the tamper cap off the tube and use it as intended.

 

[RVDan]

Can't remove the passenger valve cover of a 78 ford truck that has a 460 and air conditioning.

 

[BPJOOP93]

I heard the new dodge trucks have sealed trannys also

 

[BPJOOP93]

KIA. Need I say more

 

[WhiffySpark]

Jacking motor oil oil pan is pretty normal. Malibu headlights are stupid

 

[neonlazer]

Now I understand why there are so many vehicles in town that run their brights because one of their low beams are out.

Since the topic of hard oil filter placements has been brought up. Can anyone beat the Tacoma v6 placement? I love it.

 

[Moose97]

For years I have complained about Ford's placement of oil filters. My first Ford was a 1974 1/2 ton Ranger (when Ranger was a full size truck). Then a 1985, a 1991, a 1996, and now a 2008. All F-150's. The filter has increasingly been moved to a more out of the way, difficult to reach location and always directly above something for the oil to hit and flow in different directions.

The most recent, the '08, having to be accessed from the top to loosed and then move under the vehicle to take off. It also comes with a plastic "slide" to allow the oil to drain down, which it never actually does.

On the other hand 2 Chevy suburban's with oil filter right next to pan with no access issues at all.

After reading what some have to do to change a light, I'll refrain from complaining too much!

 

[albaran]

My old VW tourareg (worst car I ever owned) had the headlights go out while under warranty. Dealer said bulbs are not warranty items. I claimed that they went out together so there must be something else wrong. I paid the $500 to replace them. Six months later, I get a letter about a class action suit for the headlight situation, I submitted the receipts and got my $500 back.
Moral: the only way to get satisfaction from a VW dealer is to sue them.

 

[meatsis]

Wiper motor on the Aston Martin DB9. First step is remove the engine. In order to remove the engine, you need to remove the transmission and the torque tube. Fun Fun

 

[TheBigMortboski]

.



The most recent, the '08, having to be accessed from the top to loosed and then move under the vehicle to take off. It also comes with a plastic "slide" to allow the oil to drain down, which it never actually does.



On the other hand 2 Chevy suburban's with oil filter right next to pan with no access issues at all.



After reading what some have to do to change a light, I'll refrain from complaining too much!

My 07 F150, I thought the filter wasn't bad to get off with one of those oil filter sockets (is that the right term?), but it did take me about 10 minutes to find the G-D thing.

I actually hated my 98 GMC Sierra's filter placement, got oil all over the front diff yolk and u-joint. Made a huge mess.

 

[nes999]

My 2009 f150 doesn't have a transmission dipstick. Although I do only have 40k miles on it so I shouldn't have to worry.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Jeepster04]

I heard the new dodge trucks have sealed trannys also

Far as I know all new chryslers dont have a ****** dipstick.

Biggest thing that, IMHO, gave chrysler trannies a bad rap was using the wrong fluid in them. They take ATF+3 or +4 and everyone/shops used Dexron. Then they all complained about the transmissions wearing out.... So what did chrysler do? No more dipsticks!

Ive always used ATF+4 and adjusted the bands; yet to have any issues out of the so called bad chrysler transmissions. Always add aux coolers if they dont have them also...

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You guys forget the '78/'79 Monza's with the V8 that needed to have the motor mounts loosened to change the rear plugs...

Or all the Porsches that have to have the engine removed to replace spark plugs.

Or the Peugeot 505's that you had to drill a hole in the engine cradle for oil plug access to do the first oil change...


Tommy

 

[LXCam]

You guys forget the '78/'79 Monza's with the V8 that needed to have the motor mounts loosened to change the rear plugs...

I drilled a hole in the wheel well on mine


As for sealed trannies the level is dictated by the temperature of the fluid. So if you have access to the correlation chart, a method of reading the temp and a separate dip stick with hash mark indicators in metric you're golden .

 

[Ancient Iron]

Now I understand why there are so many vehicles in town that run their brights because one of their low beams are out.

Since the topic of hard oil filter placements has been brought up. Can anyone beat the Tacoma v6 placement? I love it.

Rambler had that over 50 years ago.

 

[onemanarmy]

I don't want to believe this, but I have a feeling that auto manufacturers have been lobbied by dealers and jiffy lubes to engineer cars so the avg Joe can't work on them. There really is no other explanation for such a safety and wear item as headlights being so difficult to change.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Cardboard Man]

Great thread.

My nomination is the frame-rail fuel filter change on a Ford Superduty with a 6.0. Gotta love taking a bath in diesel fuel...

 

[WP9]

Toyota trucks have had sealed transmissions for a while now too! Also had issues due to people using the wrong fluid, so I guess that was Toyota's way to fix that! (my 2014 4 Runner has a sealed trans)

 

[WP9]

Rambler had that over 50 years ago.

Subaru 4 cylinder engines all have oil filters right on top out in the open!

 

[rlitman]

Over the years we've all run into automotive designs that make maintenance way harder than it should be. But this one really chapped by tail.

2014 Subaru Outback - Low Beam bulb Replacement

1. Put the car on a lift or jack.
2. Remove lug nuts tire and wheel assembly....

I got it done last night in 30 minutes after watching it done on Youtube. I guess it is POSSIBLE to do with the wheel on...but it was hard enough for my big arm to get in there even with the wheel off.

My wife looked it up in her manual and it says "Take it to the dealer" if it needs a light bulb changed. LOL.

Phil

LOL, I did that one a few months ago on my wife's '13 Outback. Though for the marker light, not the low beam. The DRL bulbs IIRC were easy to access from above.
Rather than remove the wheel, I just turned the steering wheel to full stop to get more space in there. Yeah, that was oodles of fun.

Since my wife's '13 Fusion requires removal of the entire front bumper cover assembly to do the same, yours sounds easy peasy!

My '13 Accord has "LED look" marker lights in the front that are in an awfully tight spot. I had to wrap metal in places with tape to keep from slicing my arm open while I struggled with the ludicrously tight fittings. I was warned that when you remove or replace these bulbs, they like to fall into the headlamp, at which point to remove the bulb, you've either got to remove the bumper, or flip the car upside down and shake it. A touch of silicone grease on the o-ring made putting them back in with my fingertips a piece of cake. Why the F couldn't they grease it at the factory? Anyway, I put in real LED bulbs that I won't have to replace any time soon.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Another good one is if you have to replace the oil pan, normally a very simple job, in a 1996 cadillac deville, and maybe other vintages, you need to pick the motor a little bit in order for the pan to clear the cross brace under it.

How about 7.3 Ford and 6.5 GM trucks that you have to remove the engine to do the oil pan? It's pretty hard to believe how many models have inaccessible oil pans. My forester you have to undo motor mount and lift the engine slightly.