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The Frustrations of Working on a Newer Import

6

67TXStang

Member
I can't believe how difficult it is to repair anything on a newer car. My wife's car was leaking oil from the oil pan gasket. Today I spent over four hours fixing it.

To get to the oil pan, you need to take off a couple of underbody shields, the rear engine mount, engine crossmember, exhaust, and two other body braces. It is more than you would expect but might not sound like too bad a job. However, every bolt seems to be positioned as if dissassembly would never be needed.

The best part is there are two small nuts which hold the oil pan on one side. To reach them, you must remove a shield which covers the side of the transmission. If you then drop one of the nuts while removing or reinstalling them, they fall directly into the transmission. Due to the shape of the transmission, they slide 4 to 5 inches into the housing (don't ask how I know).

At least the job is done. Now that maintenance of our regular cars is done, I can pull the rear end out of the Mustang for my rear gear swap.
 
What's the make/model of this POS, so I can avoid buying one in the future?
 
the real bitch of new cars is all the shields and covers...but they can make things look much better, so whatever. I just know a time or two I've taken something off and decided not to replace it :p

I replaced the timing belt in my 99 camry v6. It was insanely easy. I have also rebuild the starter solenoid on that car and my wife's old 99 carolla (Long since sold) The starter was so beautifully accessible, the bolts were easy to get at, the solenoid rebuild came with clear instructions, it was an easy task. I have been wonderfully happy with all 3 of my Toyotas. My Camry is a much better car than my '97 T-Bird was (though, I do miss that car) After the T-Bird, and switching to the camry, I swore to be a convert, and would only buy Toyotas as Daily Drivers going forward. However, since then I've really got the jones for a 05-09 Mustang, so I think once the kid is out of car seats, that will be my next car.

Steve
 
"67TXStang" said:
I can't believe how difficult it is to repair anything on a newer car. My wife's car was leaking oil from the oil pan gasket. Today I spent over four hours fixing it.

To get to the oil pan, you need to take off a couple of underbody shields, the rear engine mount, engine crossmember, exhaust, and two other body braces. It is more than you would expect but might not sound like too bad a job. However, every bolt seems to be positioned as if dissassembly would never be needed.

The best part is there are two small nuts which hold the oil pan on one side. To reach them, you must remove a shield which covers the side of the transmission. If you then drop one of the nuts while removing or reinstalling them, they fall directly into the transmission. Due to the shape of the transmission, they slide 4 to 5 inches into the housing (don't ask how I know).

At least the job is done. Now that maintenance of our regular cars is done, I can pull the rear end out of the Mustang for my rear gear swap.
Click to expand...

Nissan?
 
"Sluggo" said:
Nissan?
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking. I have to drop a pan to get to the oil filter on my Infiniti, bout a dozen bolts, drop pan, drain oil, swap filter, dozen bolts to put it back..
 
I used to own a 240sx, and the only easy thing to change out was the spark plugs. Everything on that car took hours to fix. Even changing the oil was a pain. Last job I did on it was change the front main seal and a few gaskets. Then I sold the thing 6 months later. I miss the car, bur not working on it.
Somewhere in japan, an engineer is laughing at us.
 
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