Topic: I love smart engineering

[Trav-i]

After my good old Subaru quit on the side of the road today, when the fuel pump quit I was dreading the tow bill and having to replace the pump.  BUT thanks to some smart engineering I was able to change the pump on the side of the road and save a ton of money and time.  Subaru was smart enough to create an access hole in the floor right above the pump for easy removal (I know they are not the first to do this), but that simple hole made a normally horrible job so much easier.  I think it's about time domestic OEM's take note and make dropping the fuel tank a thing of the past.  Just had to share.

[dave500]

our Hyundai is like that under the rear seat has a panel.

[Bailgang]

The Dodge Neon my youngest son used to have had it's fuel pump mounted in a way that you didn't have to remove the tank but the 95 S10 I had would need either its tank dropped or pull the bed off to get to its fuel pump. What pissed me off the most about the S10 though was the cheap grade of steel Chevy used for it fuel lines which were prone to rusting really bad, I figured being it's a pressurized fuel system that they would've used a much more corrosion resistant material.   

[faux fiddy]

  I think it's about time domestic OEM's take note and make dropping the fuel tank a thing of the past.

Good engineering is a totally different thing in the U.S.   Good engineering in the U.S. is what they do to make you bring it in to the Dealer with inaccessible bolts, special tools, etc.

[Trav-i]

Faux you are so right.  It has gotten to the point that with out a college degree and dealership with OEM support you can't even troubleshoot new vehicles. This is one of the key reasons I got out of turning wrenches for a living.  I couldn't get the OEM support I needed.

[dave500]

what about pcv valves under the inlet manifold?or the inlet manifold on some v6 Mitsubishis you have to remove to pull the rear three spark plugs?most water pumps on front drive cars are a bastard to get to now aswell.

[70CB750]

Colleague of mine asked me how much time you need to change spark plugs on a VW Beetle.  I asked if it's a new one or the old one.  He said old one and I said 20 minutes max and that includes a beer brake 

Turns out he meant old VW as from 2001, LOL!  So I looked it up and on that POS you have to remove cables to two injectors to get to spark plugs - altogether majow pain in the arse work.

Nothing like the original VW Beatle for easy access 

[70CB750]

Speaking of MG, the owner of the shop I worked at for a year or so was fitting LS7 in an MG, together with Corvette transmission and rear axle and Mustang front.

[DH]

Faux you are so right.  It has gotten to the point that with out a college degree and dealership with OEM support you can't even troubleshoot new vehicles. This is one of the key reasons I got out of turning wrenches for a living.  I couldn't get the OEM support I needed.

100% agreed. It's nice when they do you a favor..... I started a post, but deleted it, as it was becoming a rant. Working on cars is becoming more and more something you can't do your self. If the accessibility/lack of information doesn't stop you, the requirement of factory tools and the ability to bend your limbs in ways they were never intended will. .............Why can't everybody have access to the fuel pump? Seems like a good idea, yes? Pulling a tank sucks. It's dirty, and can be dangerous. Don't understand why some make it harder. Good that you didn't have to. Whoever designed that portion of your Subaru deserves a raise

[Duke McDukiedook]

Dumb engineering rulz!!!

[dave500]

gotta remove the power steering pump on triumph stags to fit a battery,the front wheel on some small dodges?

[faux fiddy]

Colleague of mine asked me how much time you need to change spark plugs on a VW Beetle.  I asked if it's a new one or the old one.  He said old one and I said 20 minutes max and that includes a beer brake 

Turns out he meant old VW as from 2001, LOL!  So I looked it up and on that POS you have to remove cables to two injectors to get to spark plugs - altogether majow pain in the arse work.

Nothing like the original VW Beatle for easy access 

I might be able to get an old cabriolet rabbit. I think those are easy enough to work on, but we'll see.