Technical Holdens

[smally289]

When the current Fords and Holdens are 20 years old they will be a mechanic's nightmare. It will not be financially viable to fix them when they are worth bugger all, unlike cars the same age now which are still relatively easy and cheap to fix.

[Evgeni]

I wonder if the cost of scopes will eventually come down like most things. Does anyone know if snap on have a patent on the Verus/Solus style scopes?

I remember buying my first Kinchrome 40 odd piece tool kit for $300 in the early 90's which would be over $600 in today's money. Now you can pick up a similar set from Bunnings for around $100 to $150.

Even if the scopes do come down in price, it wont send the auto techs broke. I don't reckon too many people will be bothered with it, but for those that do, diagnosing and rectifying problems will be so much easier. Like others have said, you can so most things with a multimetre, but there is a point where you need to look at the wave forms and interaction between sensors to solve something.
Some hope for the home hack!

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by jpd80

And yet for all of that, modern cars tend to be a lot more reliable....

While i was at the Ford dealer yesterday, they were cursing a brand new diesel territory and complaining how overly complicated it was. (sitting there with a laptop hooked to it), yearning for the simpler engines of last century.

Originally Posted by Nikked

BMW's, Mercs all have fault warnings for lights (the message tells you exactly what light) and many other things.

better than a single light that says 'get service' or 'check engine'.

[poppa smurf]

I guess it's like all those Ipad thingy's and bluetooth whatsits, fly by wire and lots of other "stuff" that we never had when "I was a boy"

you get used to what is around us

my 5 year old granddaughter is well and truly at home with "Mac" our computer and navigates our plasma TV with grace and ease......our surround sound theatre system is a doddle for her

I only learnt how to make these things go a couple of years ago

gotta move with the times or get out of the way......me, I'll sit over here and watch it all go past until I've absolutely got to learn it

[XR Martin]

What good is a scan tool when the HIM module dies on your 15-20yo BA Falcon and you can no longer get a new one. (and second hand ones are impossible to find)
Sure stuff like hoses, brakes, exhaust etc will always be able to be found on the aftermarket, but when it comes to electronics there will be a time you wont be able to get replacements.

[graham7773]

mr hardware "The VT came out in 1997 and only had traction and passengers bag as an option".
Unless you bought an Acclaim which had air, steer, cruise, passenger airbag, abs, traction control, auto off headlights etc, etc. I had one for a while. I thought it was a good ride. Plus the fact that it had no distributor was a bonus for me. Something goes wrong with a coil, throw it over the shoulder and install a new one. Problem solved. But they did have a lot of little electronic thingamajigs which were and are still expensive to replace. I liked the IRS rear suspension with LSD as well.