hi all i think i go to exstreams on maint. at times cant help myself any of yall have that problem? or is it a problem? Hummm

 

Probably not, unless you are changing fluids, tires, plugs, etc far more often then needed. Or to an extreme. I have prefered a vehicle that required maintenance as I had to check it out to keep it running. A really good vehicle, that gives one no problems would then not get looked at very often. But I check them out anyway, wife asks me if something is wrong? I tell her, no just looking. But I do like having a vehicle in good shape appearance wise as I get to turn my maint. energies to waxing and spiffing up. Better to purchase a vehicle with 'to much' maint.done the never having any done.

 

treb & 68torino,
I wish more people treated their vehicles like you do. I feel that I must buy new because so many people today lease their cars - perform mimimum maintenace and have a short term view of vehicle ownership.

Why do we repair and look after our vehicles, beacuse we know a small thing can become a large thing if we don't deal with it. Unfortunately too many people say - I'll just trade it in when the lease is up (and if it is not obvious they will get away with it). Then some poor slob buys somebodys self-induced problem.

I'll get off my soap box!

 

Two examples of how people do not understand vehicles, let alone maintenance.
1. I worked at SDDOT for a few years, we would hire college students in the summer. Had one boy with, went to fuel up chev pickup. Asked him to check oil, went in to take care of business. Came out, kid was looking at the motor. Asked him how's the oil. He asked, how do you check it. This on a 4 speed truck one dipstick.

2. My oldest drove into a parking lot saw a ladt walking around her Mustang. My son asked her if she had a problem. She said a warning light was on in her dash and she couldn't fiqure out what was wrong. My son looked at the dash, only 'warning light' that was on was the high beam indicator.

Point being not all people are stupid or lazy. These are examples of people who were never taught the importance of vehicle care. Now days the manuf. are making cars to see in the dark for you, take control of a skid, anti-lock brakes, crusie and tell you where to go if you get lost. So in essence they are making 'dumber' drivers.
In my opinion people should spend the first five years driving an old Ford pickup with manual steering, manual brakes and 4 on the floor. This way they will now how to drive because they would never over drive themselves, equipment or conditions. When they do they will learn real fast how not to the next time.
Of course I also feel people should spend five years on motorcycles to appreciate what I have to put up with when I ride.

D

 

I am sure I never would have gotten 189,000 miles out of an A4LD tranmission in my Aerostar, that I used mostly in heavy duty service, if I had not changed the filter and fluid every 25-30k.
For $180 extra in filters and parts, it lasted almost 90,000 miles longer than most.

 

I also do all my own maintenance. I learned this from my dad who always did his own. As a little kid I'd watch him grease the wheel bearings, change the oil, hoses, belts and stuff. When ever I'd ask him a question as to why he was doing what he was doing, he'd tell me in order to make it last. I think a lot of dads pass this along. Plus it saves a lot of money doing it yourself.

I agree with 68torino, some people just don't understand maintenance for the reasons given. Others just don't care or think about it as long as it starts up. People who drive older vehicles know the importance of maintenance. It's part of the hobby just like cleaning your guns after returning home form the range. It's part of the enjoyment, for me anyways.

Some people who want to maintain their bodies will read health magazines, eat the right foods, excercise, take supplements and so on but may never give a second thought about their automobile. Same principle. If you want a lot out of it, you got to put a lot into it, maintenance wise.

How many of us here took an auto shop class in high school? Do they still have shop classes in high school? Do kids today have the same resources to learn about such things anymore with programs being axed? Learning about tools and their uses, wood shop, metal shop, craftsmanship, welding, vocational skills and such aren't being offered as much today in high school as they use to be if at all. Not every kid is going to go to collage and the skills a kid can receive in shop class will benefit everyone IMO. The shop teacher is just as important as the science teacher. There is no shame in learning a trade and working with ones hands, doing an honest days work for an honest days pay.

Cars today are way more complex. To learn auto mechanics today is also a lesson in computer skills. The kids who learns this stuff in high school will hopefuly be able to get a job doing what he does best, doing the maintenance and repair on the cars of people who were never interested in shop class.