<VV> now age of vehicles

[Karl Haakonsen]

As complex as some new(er) cars may be, it is still possible to be a 
proficient mechanic if you have the interest. By 2013 standards, my 1993 
Saturn is relatively simple, but it still features a PCM (Powertrain 
Control Module a.k.a. computer) with electronic fuel injection, all the 
associated sensors and distributor-less ignition. With the help of an 
active online community (alas, no national club as yet), I have become a 
proficient mechanic for S-series Saturns (sold from the 1991-2002 model 
years in three generations).

I have also done many of my own repairs on my 2001 L-series Saturn, 
which is markedly more complex than my SW2. There was a time when I 
viewed both cars as more complex than I was willing to take on, but not 
anymore (though the L-series is still a little intimidating, especially 
given the small number of them sold and the lack of a large community of 
DIY experts). For the most part, the computers don't fail and the amount 
of on-board information available for diagnostics makes diagnosing some 
problems easier. If a sensor fails, the computer often will all but tell 
you which one failed.

What is sadly lacking from the Saturn S-series world is a club like 
CORSA and reproduction parts and vendors like Clark's, Corvair 
Underground and the like.

There was a time when doing your own repairs on cars from the 1960s (or 
especially cars of the 1970s) seemed far too daunting to people used to 
working on Model A Fords.

Karl in Boston
CORSA Eastern Director
1966 Monza Convertible project car
Bay State Corvairs
Corvanatics
Stock Corvair Group

On 12/13/2013 4:08 PM, Jay Maechtlen wrote:
> On 12/13/2013 11:57 AM, shortle wrote:
>> That is more than .002 cents Bob. As far as a "$100 per hour parts replacer" you may look for a different guy. In my shop we charge $90/hour and if we put a part on your newer type car and your car is not fixed we will take that part back off the shop and put it back on the shelf. Most of my inventory for customers cars is just that but there is a small amount that is used for diagnosis purposes. For those people on fixed incomes remember I didn't fix your income just your newer type car. Since I only work on 1 kind of car (VOLVO) it is easier to stock/repair/diagnose than a shop that wants to work on every kind of car. Oh I also just renewed my subscription to the Volvo on line service system for 1 year for a little over $7,000.00. Yeah yeah I know: that is my problem. My suggestion to the poor broke motoring public is DON'T DRIVE A CAR.
>> Timothy Shortle in (cold) Durango Colorado 81301
>>    
> That's a non-trivial cost of doing business!
>
> It seems the complexity is a cost of having these amazing vehicles,
> versus cars that were simpler, heavier, slower, and much less crashworthy.
>
> How many 'computers' does the typical new (or late model) Volvo have?
> Just counting the ones you can access using the diagnostic systems?
>
> are they still using one wire per function for tail lights, brake
> lights, etc., or are those networked too?
>
> regards
> Jay
>