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Topic: Automotive engineers.....What do they know? (Read 5224 times) previous topic - next topic

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

The purpose of this thread is to list engineering mistakes with no regard to nameplate. I'll start. I have seen vacuum tanks made out of thin plastic and mounted on the bottom side of car. No...that will never get broke. How about oil filters mounted in the wheel well. Wheels tend to pick up sharp rocks and hurl them at the filter. One of my favorites.. batteries mounted in the wheel well. They do use liners to protect the batteries, but as for testing and or replacing the battery you are required to remove the wheel. How convenient!:toilet:

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #1 –
how about dodge's long-running issue with the neons and head gaskets? lol and the fact that part of a stratus's 30k mile tuneup was bars leak tablets you drop in the radiator.. pretty big engineering fail on both counts, for not fixing the problems ahead of time..
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #2 –
On the headgasket note, how about gm's 3.1 - 3.4 intake gasket issue that eventually takes the headgaskets out

And lets not forget dodges tranny issue's. I think it was discovered the passages were not big enough and over heated the trannys

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #3 –
took them way too long to figure out their trans issues..

and to add to the stupid battery locations.. how about buick with the battery under the back seat? pretty friggin stupid idea in my book, even if they are 'sealed, special batteries'
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #4 –
F-ing TV cable bushings!!!

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #5 –
I got a few:
Ford's infamous ign switches.
3.8 Esshag headgaskets.
Ford probe
Yugo
Jeep (AMC) model 20 rear ends (2 piece splined hubs on the axle shafts=weak as hell)
A4LD trans in the TC
10" brakes on a Fox CatBird stock
1989 and up Tbird (not really, but I do NOT care for 'em)

I can add more...but too tired and drunk to think of more.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #6 –
The 2.0 head gasket issues were not limited to Neons. Stratus, PT Cruiser (Part Time Cruiser), and Avenger had same issue. Their fix was a multi-layer steel head gasket. PT Cruisers are the worst to fix. Their weird shape makes repair difficult. Motor mount that attaches to front cover can not be removed with the head on engine. Can not remove head without removing front cover. Have to wedge motor mount into the fender.

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #7 –
What about chevy putting the battery by the spare tire in the HHR, because they didnt leave enough room under the hood. If that battery explodes the trim back there is pretty much ruined

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Chrome;376445
The 2.0 head gasket issues were not limited to Neons. Stratus, PT Cruiser (Part Time Cruiser), and Avenger had same issue. Their fix was a multi-layer steel head gasket. PT Cruisers are the worst to fix. Their weird shape makes repair difficult. Motor mount that attaches to front cover can not be removed with the head on engine. Can not remove head without removing front cover. Have to wedge motor mount into the fender.

lets just sum it up in 1 word.. or name.. DODGE
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #9 –
Didn't know about battery location on HHR. I don't like that at all. I have had a battery explosion twice. I felt lucky because both times the hood was closed and I was inside the car.

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #10 –
Neons period. Figured a more economical newer car would be worthwhile. Got worse then my bird freeway snd close to the same city. I married into it, I didn't buy it. With the money I put into to it in two years, I could have had a pretty nice cougar/bird. I actually put more money into that car then I have into everyone before, and after over about 8 years.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #11 –
2nd gear in the GM 700R4
Overdrive in the AOD
The A4LD
The trans in '90s Tauruses.
The stereo in '88-'94 Chevy trucks
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB SN-95 front struts and shocks, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Chrome;376454
Didn't know about battery location on HHR. I don't like that at all. I have had a battery explosion twice. I felt lucky because both times the hood was closed and I was inside the car.

 Only reason I know is Im in college for Auto Tech and one of the biulders is an HHR. Thinks have small windows and very little room for a guy my size 6'5"

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #13 –
The engineers don't get the final say, the bean counters do. They're forced to design "good enough" or "that'll do".
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

Automotive engineers.....What do they know?

Reply #14 –
^^^^^ Mankind is plenty capable of building...THINGS that are very robust. Cost is always the governing factor.....and then people blame the guy that built it, not the one that told him to build it. Such is life :giggle:
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane