Do car engineers deliberately make things difficult ?

[Burnerman]

All I can say is that my local Kwik Fit have all the tracking gear that could be ever needed - of course that doesn't guarantee there's anyone around that can use it
On the occasion when I have mine done, I'm up close to the vehicle seeing what's what like a hawk and they are happy to let me play around with it.
I get all of my MOT's done there - maybe only 8 per year these days, that's all - and again, I'm under the car when it's on the ramp.
I'm sure the tyre prices are top whack but I've never had an alloy wheel damaged and often they will sort punctures out for a beer. Very helpful blokes, and not just because they get a Christmas drink!
John

 

[mointainwalker]

This particular point does , in fact, refer back to the earlier posts. I have just read in focus.de that VW are going to be withdrawing from all LPG-engines. That makes sense as far as their group policy on electrics goes.

 

[Avocet]

When you get to the latest generation of engines special tools will be the least of your worries. An oil filter change will require a visit to the main dealer to register the inbuilt chip within the filter to the ECU of the car. Failure to do so will leave the car in limp mode. The motor industry wants all of your money!

The EU Commission is working on legislation to prevent that. It tends to take the consumer's side in such situations.

 

[Avocet]

I very much doubt that. The EU has previously considered laws to prevent now public making any modifications to cars, it also considered making it mandatory that all factory fitted options on the car must work in order for the vehicle to pass an MOT or equivalent.

I'm not aware of that one, have you got a reference?

The only law introduced was "Right to repair" which allowed independents access (for a cost) to main dealer servicing information.

It is extending that principle further. There's a fine line of course, between giving nefarious and incompetent people access to critical safety and environmental systems on your car, whilst at the same time, encouraging competition.

FIGIEFA https://www.figiefa.eu/

and

EGEA https://www.egea-association.eu/

are putting up a pretty good fight in Brussels right now, and I think the Commission is largely on their side.

However, modern cars ARE highly complex. There's no getting round that. Similarly, we all know horror stories of incompetence when it comes to back street garages. Some of the motor trade is its own worst enemy.

 

[Bodgedbuild]

Can someone definitely tell me how independents deal with the recommendations/requirements of different makes to have very specific oils ? Ignore it and put in their standard oil with different SAE viscosity values, have at least different viscosities available but not different makes, tell the customer up front ?

I have run some vehicles to extreme mileage in the past (one Iveco Daily van to 600,000 miles) and I only ever stick to basic oil requirements. By that I use a full synthetic if specified, low saps if specified but I never get it certified to VW/BMW/Mercedes spec. I only have my own family Bodged personal cars to worry about these days but most cars I have had, I have run to over 200,000 miles an that is just using Tesco/Wilco/Asda, full synthetic oils. I do 6,000 mile changes, never work engines hard until fully warmed and never switch off immediately if stopping at a Motorway Service Area. I'm not sure it is quite as critical as manufacturers make out, with the possible exception of the VW PD engine, maybe......

 

[Avocet]

That last bit is interesting. Like you, I tended to let engines idle for a bit after a hard thrashing, rather than just switch off - particularly turbo engines. However, on my more recent company cars with stop-start, I've noticed that even if you've been pasting it down the motorway and you suddenly come to a stop at the end of a slip road, the stop-start will kick in. So clearly, the manufacturer isn't othered about sudden shut-downs when hot!

 

[Bodgedbuild]

That last bit is interesting. Like you, I tended to let engines idle for a bit after a hard thrashing, rather than just switch off - particularly turbo engines. However, on my more recent company cars with stop-start, I've noticed that even if you've been pasting it down the motorway and you suddenly come to a stop at the end of a slip road, the stop-start will kick in. So clearly, the manufacturer isn't othered about sudden shut-downs when hot!

I'm yet to own a car with stop-start but when I do, I will disable it. Many believe the BMW N57 engine timing chain failures are because of stop-start and the violent nature with which a diesel engine does this. As far as being difficult to fix, the chain is at the rear of the engine, by the bulkhead, so it is an engine out job if the chain starts to rattle...

 

[Burnerman]

It's the first thing I do too, and will continue to do so as long as possible.
Listen to GPO vans after a year or so...the starters and ring gears are obviously knackered.
John

 

[EddieM]

My 1981 Ford Escort had a start/stop engine but not by design.

 

[Munroast]

with ours you have to disable it every time you start it, there is no setting to permanently disable it as there is in my mothers car.

I have found though, it only stops the engine at a certain brake peddle pressure, so if I am very gentle with the brake pddle at junctions it won't stop the engine. It really is a pain in the arse feature of the car (along with keyless ignition)

 

[Bodgedbuild]

with ours you have to disable it every time you start it, there is no setting to permanently disable it as there is in my mothers car.

I have found though, it only stops the engine at a certain brake peddle pressure, so if I am very gentle with the brake pddle at junctions it won't stop the engine. It really is a pain in the arse feature of the car (along with keyless ignition)

If it's a VW group car it can be disabled, quite simply, by using the "long coding helper" in VCDS (formerly Vagcom), not sure but the same might be achievable with BMW using "Carly" and it's coding feature. I think for most cars, there are ECU experts that can remove this "feature".

 

[Burnerman]

True, you have to obey certain criteria before the stop/start cuts in....including being in neutral with the handbrake on and not touching the accelerator.
'Er indoors Honda HRV is keyless and once it locks itself, it unlocks again as soon as you approach - so you can't walk back to it to check if it is actually locked!
A mighty pain in the ass if ever there was one
John

 

[Bodgedbuild]

True, you have to obey certain criteria before the stop/start cuts in....including being in neutral with the handbrake on and not touching the accelerator.
'Er indoors Honda HRV is keyless and once it locks itself, it unlocks again as soon as you approach - so you can't walk back to it to check if it is actually locked!
A mighty pain in the ass if ever there was one
John

I saw a friend of mine arguing in the street last week and he was shouting at his wife for not locking their new car again. He had to eat humble pie when I pointed out he was unlocking it by just going near it with the key in his pocket!

 

[Munroast]

If it's a VW group car it can be disabled, quite simply, by using the "long coding helper" in VCDS (formerly Vagcom), not sure but the same might be achievable with BMW using "Carly" and it's coding feature. I think for most cars, there are ECU experts that can remove this "feature".

I would worry they would use this as an excuse to cancel the warranty. You have been interfering with the ECU sir? I'm afraid your tinkering has caused the wheel bearing to fail and we will teach you a lesson by raising a 5k repair bill.

 

[Bodgedbuild]

I would worry they would use this as an excuse to cancel the warranty. You have been interfering with the ECU sir? I'm afraid your tinkering has caused the wheel bearing to fail and we will teach you a lesson by raising a 5k repair bill.

Technically it should not invalidate anything. Long coding is just operating electronic "switches" within the vehicles computer systems. It is used to determine which functions a car has according to either regional variations or customer specifications. It is not the same as re-mapping that alters turbo boost/fuel parameters or speed limiters. It is also a feature that is free to be switched off by the end user, albeit on a "session by session" basis. Having said that, I agree, some dealers will always look for a reason to get out of honoring a warranty!