[MichaelJennnings]

I spent 15 years on the line working for Ford. I was EEC-IV Cert, ASE Cert, CA State Smog Cert and a bunch of others that I no longer remember. When someone criticizes info or lack there of, they need to stop and think. Being a mechanic is a VERY expensive profession especially in the high tech world of on board electronics.
We only have a BRIEF written description of the problem. I don't know about the other techs but it took a whole lot more than a couple of layman sentences about the problem to diagnose it.

Don't be so harsh on us old time mechanics. I got into cars when we still had to set dwell on the points & condensers.

[drumsdaddy]

Been there Michael on the points and condenser.

I still enjoy doing that when the opportunity comes by...

Drumsdaddy

[Canuck623]

Originally Posted by drumsdaddy

Been there Michael on the points and condenser. I still enjoy doing that when the opportunity comes by... Drumsdaddy

My 65 F100 in the garage still has em. And I will probably keep them in there for now. It starts and runs so I don't see a reason to change right now. I started in this trade in 69 and it has been a life time of learning.

[Graybeard]

My Model T has been UPGRADED/modernized to a disturbutor from the original timer and buzz coils. The timer and buzz coils were already obsolete in 1908, but Henry refused to pay patent royalties that would have been required for a disturbutor and single high tension coil.

[phantom]

I heard those thing would knock your wee wee in the dirt if you got zapped. Not fun to work on in the rain on the side of the road i imagine.

[drumsdaddy]

I got into points/condenser with my folks '66 mustang. At least with points you could sometimes "limp" home. Today you have to tow it home.

Aint 'lectronics wonderful?

[Canuck623]

Originally Posted by phantom

I heard those thing would knock your wee wee in the dirt if you got zapped. Not fun to work on in the rain on the side of the road i imagine.

Oh yeah. Those old coil boxes could bite. And you didn't have to get all that close to them either. Just present a better path to ground and the blue spark would reach for the change in your pocket or what ever you had. I watched a guy at a car show lean over and idling T a couple years ago. You could see the blue arc head for his dangling necklace from across the parking lot. You would have thought he had been bit by a rattler the way he flew back. Still brings tears of laughter to my eyes when I think of it.

[Dominick]

I was working at a service station back in 1957 and my boss had a 53 plymouth with one of those coils rigged up on it.
I was Bsing with some girl in a 56 chebbie and he pulled up and touched the bumpers of both cars and flipped the switch and zapped me.
No wonder I'm all screwed up

[Skyhawk]

I had a 29 Model A that bit me a few times. The hand crank hurt my arm once, but didn't break it. You had to pick you route because of the gravity fuel feed and a limited supply of fuel in the bowl. Going up long hills would not happen. Vacuum wiper motors are a PIA as well, and the hand spark advance keeps you busy. God I loved that 29. I have a good friend and customer with a 31 model A Tudor that I work on for the cost of parts so he lets me drive it. I drove it in a parade last summer. What happened to "rebuiding" things, like the brake cylinders, fuel pumps, carburators, etc. Now everything is a "throwaway" and modular replacement. The simple diagnostic equipment, e.g. tach and dwell meter and oscillascope is now a computer and a service bay that looks more like an operating room in a hospital. Todays mechanics have to be diagnosticians more than "wrench turners" and keeping up with the changes is darn near a full time job. This forum is one of the best ways to do that as it provides the accumulated experiences of numerous top nontch mechanics, AND its fun. Thanks guys. ARE there any PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCED mechanics here? I am not thin skinned, but that approach ticked me off.

[Kruser]

Originally Posted by Skyhawk

I had a 29 Model A . You had to pick you route because of the gravity fuel feed and a limited supply of fuel in the bowl. Going up long hills would not happen........... What happened to "rebuiding" things, like the brake cylinders, fuel pumps, carburators, etc. Now everything is a "throwaway" and modular replacement.

My dad told me quite a few stories about those cars when I was growing up. He said that, more than once, he had to go up a steep hill backwards so you didn't run out of fuel.
I, too, am a little disappointed with our throwaway society. About two weeks ago the starter on my Jeep needed new brushes. RockAuto does list them, but I needed them now. None of the local places could even get starter brushes and they just laughed at me when I tried. One store told me that they hadn't sold a set of starter brushes for years. Once I figured up the cost for the bushings, starter drive and brushes, it would exceed the cost of one located at a local FLAPS. I grudgingly purchased a "remanufactured" (cough, cough) starter locally and had it running again in no time.
The starter that I took off my Jeep lasted 236,000 miles. I bet the one I put on won't last one-fourth that long.

[phantom]

my grandmother broke her thumb and they had to remove it, due to a model A crank start.

[Graybeard]

If your grandmother had been cranking with the RIGHT hand, her left hand, she wouldn't have been hurt. Back in the era, there was a broken arm type that was known as a Ford Fracture. A kickback will just throw the left hand out of the way.

[lincolndriver]

Originally Posted by Kruser

The starter that I took off my Jeep lasted 236,000 miles. I bet the one I put on won't last one-fourth that long.

You have a point, but, if you bought a lifetime starter It wont last a lifetime, but they will honour a replacement starter for either as long as you own the vehicle OR till they close their business, whichever comes first. That way you are only out your time and labor to r&r.

[phantom]

yea thats all lol,after your fourth autozone starter it gets alittle old,jus sayin.

[Kruser]

Originally Posted by phantom

my grandmother broke her thumb and they had to remove it, due to a model A crank start.

I've got an Allis-Chalmers "C" tractor that has a wood-cutting buzz saw blade on it. I learned at a very early age that when hand-cranking the thing, you do NOT stand in front of the tractor and push down on the crank. You get on your knees and pull on the crank with your finger tips or one backfire could easily break your thumb.
It's no wonder that a lot of yesteryear farmers had missing appendages.

[MichaelJennnings]

Originally Posted by Canuck623

Oh yeah. Those old coil boxes could bite. And you didn't have to get all that close to them either. Just present a better path to ground and the blue spark would reach for the change in your pocket or what ever you had. I watched a guy at a car show lean over and idling T a couple years ago. You could see the blue arc head for his dangling necklace from across the parking lot. You would have thought he had been bit by a rattler the way he flew back. Still brings tears of laughter to my eyes when I think of it.

Canuck623, Those old coils weren't the only thing that could pack a punch. I was working on an early '80s MOPAR with their crazy system. The customer had removed the coil wire so I was making a new one. The battery was dead and the lock cylinder was missing so you had to use the push rod down to the ignition switch to operate it.

I had a battery charger hooked up, made the coil wire and reached over to install it. I had one end in the palm of my hand leaning on the carb when I plugged the other end into the coil. I didn't notice I was standing in a puddle of water. Of course because there was no way to tell if the switch was in the run position at that time or not, you guessed it, the charger was triggering the ignition system and I received one heck of a shock. I was knocked back about 3 feet. Had a red mark on the palm of my hand where the ignition spark burned me a bit.

I still laugh about that one to this day.

GM's HEI system could also pack a punch. I hated it when some "wanna be" would try to locate the misfire by taking an icepick with a wire attached and use it to walk the distributor. One clown brought one such "diagnosed" car into me and when I went to set the timing, I found out that all the plug wire boots at the distributor had little holes in them from the icepick. That one stalled the engine before I could let go.

The old magneto systems on the old cars had some heat to them but the newer ignitions could get you "excited" too!

[dyngrngalaxie]

Originally Posted by Skyhawk

Ah Canuck, how much was the $1000 Canadian worth in real money, eh? Said with tongue planted in check and just a bit cheeky. I know, I'm a "hoser". In Canada, like Europe, there is a respect for "certifications" of both blue collar and white collar professions. In the U.S. this is not the case. One of my mechanics has a 4 year college degree in auto mechanics. He got his degree from one of only 4 universities offering such a degree at the time. Now there are many more. I started putting together numbers for my CPA for last year and I spent almost $20,000 on training my employees and myself, and that does not inan clude the "on-line" reference stuff. The guys want to go to a one week course in Vegas this year. I"ll see if they deserve it when the numbers are all in. If we go, we are all going. I'm the boss and I'm going too. The point is that these vehicles continue to be more complex every year and those of us who work on them have to keep up, and that costs money. And the OP cops an attitude because we didn't come up with a magical answer quick enough to suit him/her? Bovine excrement?

I could get into a tirade about the little guy being used as a doormat, but you wonder what's the point? I'm not a tech
myself, just a car guy and one who absolutely respects any person trying to make an honest living. I joined this forum as a car guy looking to chew the fat with, and pick the brains of other car guys. I'm sure most of us sincerely appreciate it when a licensed tech comes along to bail us out. I have come to know several technicians on and off the job. Sad that a particular co-worker was so turned off by the dealership environment and flat rate system that he hasn't lifted a wrench other than to fix his own vehicles since joining our job 30 years ago. Keep the faith guys. As is the case with life in general, 99% are probably the good guys who appreciate you.

[trhaus]

hey guys does being a liscensed autobody tech, count lol and mechanic oops (automotive tech) on the side count. i understand where guest fustrations come from but he directed it at the wrong people. people trying to help or make light of the situation arent really a good place to put your fustrations, and i will be the first to forget to thank people for there opinions, but hearing how much it means to the community im gonna work on that. thanks guys and your opinion/advice is always welcomed.