Stupid Manufacturer Designs
- Thread starter Phil W
- Start date
Focus Mk1
Speed sensor is in the most awkward position on the back of the gearbox.
The 'cup' holders are bigger than any drinks holder I have ever tried to put in it, combined with low 'walls' - nothing says upright in there.
Other than that I have no major complaints with the design of the vehicle. At least the engine is the right way round in the 1.6 - it's the opposite way round in the 1.8 upwards so you have to be under the car to get to the oil filter. Wonderful!
Speed sensor is in the most awkward position on the back of the gearbox.
The 'cup' holders are bigger than any drinks holder I have ever tried to put in it, combined with low 'walls' - nothing says upright in there.
Other than that I have no major complaints with the design of the vehicle. At least the engine is the right way round in the 1.6 - it's the opposite way round in the 1.8 upwards so you have to be under the car to get to the oil filter. Wonderful!
Diesel Particulate Filters and Exhaust Gas Recirculation.
Pointless tat forced on us by EU idiots who have no idea about car running costs, all in the name of something we're forced to believe despite the fact it's not been conclusively proven.
YES, mine are on the blink and I AM BITTER.
Pointless tat forced on us by EU idiots who have no idea about car running costs, all in the name of something we're forced to believe despite the fact it's not been conclusively proven.
YES, mine are on the blink and I AM BITTER.
Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 2,569
- Location
- Cambridge,York,Bristol
Just about to say that one - grrrrr - stupid metal pin instead of a bolt to save a few pence for ford, cost hours for me.
Diesel Particulate Filters and Exhaust Gas Recirculation.
Pointless tat forced on us by EU idiots who have no idea about car running costs, all in the name of something we're forced to believe despite the fact it's not been conclusively proven.
YES, mine are on the blink and I AM BITTER.
They work exactly how they are meant to, as an excellent revenue stream for the main dealers.
I want to shoot the person who decided to put a 2 channel abs ECU in the VX220. Last week, a car pulled out of a petrol station about 10m in front of me and I applied the brakes with the intention of letting them carry on in front of me. I applied the brakes gently as I went over a rumble strip and the ABS activated going BURRRRRRRRRR really loudly and I didn't come to a stop within those 10m. In fact, I don't think I lost any more speed than I would have if I just let go of the accelerator.
This is the recommended way to do it on the Evo 7-9 however being the turbo-alpha-gangster that I am - I didn't do it.
Have relatively little to moan about on mine. Apart from an rear engine/transmission mount with a bolt IN it - just ridiculous - I don't know how we got it out - basically edged it out a degree at a time.
Oh and a brake/clutch system that won't bleed unless it's practically overflowing. So you have to overfill it and then syphon it when done.
Changing headlight bulbs in some Impreza models... You have to remove the bumper to get the headlight out to get at the bulb.
A skoda my boss did the other day you had to remove half the trim and the headlight AND dismantle the actual headlight to change a sidelight bulb. Kin cray
A skoda my boss did the other day you had to remove half the trim and the headlight AND dismantle the actual headlight to change a sidelight bulb. Kin cray
BMW Z3 and its stupid rubber window seals which jam the windows shut in winter.
Inferior quality heater unit in BMW Z3, which means driving around in a sauna thanks to the aforementioned solid rubber seals.
Towel + squeegee = not fun on motorway, let alone with snow falling..
Inferior quality heater unit in BMW Z3, which means driving around in a sauna thanks to the aforementioned solid rubber seals.
Towel + squeegee = not fun on motorway, let alone with snow falling..
I like timing belt driven water pumps. If you snap an aux belt, you aren't stranded at the roadside.
One upside I guess. However, when the water pump siezes (a la the mass produced GM / Fiat 1.9 TDi engines), Mr Piston gets to have a fumble with Mrs Valve.
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2009
- Posts
- 6,038
- Location
- North Leicestershire
Not sure they'd like you mucking about with the Scania... may aswell get a remap while you're at it?
I suppose the good side of all this is when I do get to where I want, I'll have around 45bhp more - should be noticeable at least.
Another stupid design in my car - to change a rear bulb you have to remove the rear light cluster from the vehicle - incredibly annoying.
This i hate so much my Zafira is the same combine the fact i have very large hands and the space they give you to work with is no bigger than a gnats testicle
I would say the majority of new cars involve removing the lamp units to change the bulbs, pain in the backside.
As for annoying design features nasty little pugs and citroens where the pedals are 1mm apart and perfectly shaped so you can press all at once when trying to drive pieces of junk in work boots.
As for annoying design features nasty little pugs and citroens where the pedals are 1mm apart and perfectly shaped so you can press all at once when trying to drive pieces of junk in work boots.
The Undertray on the 156 GTA.
It seriously couldn't clear anything successfully, made worse as the rear fasteners are the first thing to be ripped off, leaving you with a sagging undertray. Not amusing after the 3rd time in a given month.
Been running without one for 7-8 months, much better. (Albeit the bottom of the bumpers have little or no red paint on them anymore...)
It seriously couldn't clear anything successfully, made worse as the rear fasteners are the first thing to be ripped off, leaving you with a sagging undertray. Not amusing after the 3rd time in a given month.
Been running without one for 7-8 months, much better. (Albeit the bottom of the bumpers have little or no red paint on them anymore...)
*sigh* The EGR valves on my engine, of which there are two, were blatantly just 'stuck on' as an afterthought to meet emissions as one makes changing the spark plugs a royal PITA, and the other makes changing the water pump a royal PITA, both of which last around 100k miles and so have needed doing this year.
The only two things I have done to my car are replace the spark plugs and replace the water pump, both of which would have been 1 hour max most likely but the location and fixings of the EGR valve made it into a 4hr+ job, not to mention leaving behind good portions of skin on various parts of the engine and engine bay.
Non-mechanic answer - the GM electric window design has some stupidly cheap plastic part that is known for breaking and would have cost pennies to design something sturdier that doesn't break - fortunately it's only one of the rear windows that never gets used but still frustrating.
The only two things I have done to my car are replace the spark plugs and replace the water pump, both of which would have been 1 hour max most likely but the location and fixings of the EGR valve made it into a 4hr+ job, not to mention leaving behind good portions of skin on various parts of the engine and engine bay.
Non-mechanic answer - the GM electric window design has some stupidly cheap plastic part that is known for breaking and would have cost pennies to design something sturdier that doesn't break - fortunately it's only one of the rear windows that never gets used but still frustrating.
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This i hate so much my Zafira is the same combine the fact i have very large hands and the space they give you to work with is no bigger than a gnats testicle
AH yes, I'd forgotten this one....
On the MK1 focus you must remove the rear cluster to get to the bulbs. Inside the car is a huge plastic nut specifically designed to be removed by hand - wonderful you think. Until you get it off, try to pull the cluster free and realise the thumb screw was there to tease you, as you now need to find a T6 driver to undo the little screw at the top.
Cheers ford.
Here are a couple from me
Ford Cougar V6
Headlamps have a handy little flap at the back that grants access to the bulbs. The manual says to open this flap to replace the bulbs but neglects to tell you about the metalwork directly behind it that prevents said flap from opening by more than 2mm. Headlamps have to be removed, then you can open the handy flap.
BMW E65 Facelift
To replace the sidelight bulbs one has to remove the entire bumper skin including the park radar sensors, the headlamp washers, the IR camera (if fitted) and a whole host of other things to access the front of the headlamps. Then you have to remove a whole host of other stuff in the engine bay to release the lamps enough to be able to access the bulb holder.
BMW E32 with self levelling rear
Hydraulic system controls the self levelling and happens to share fluid with the power steering. When the accumulators fail and slash their fluid all over the road (as they have a habit of doing) you lose steering too.
Lexus Gen3 GS
Handy little fold-out cubby that houses all of the switches for things like the mirrors, OBC etc down by the driver's knee........that you can't see when sitting in the driver's seat and that you then smash your knee on when exiting the car.
Aprilia RSV1000R
Rear brake master cylinder that is located just above the clutch bell-housing. A great place for keeping the fluid cool. I've yet to ride one of these with a working rear brake.
Ford Cougar V6
Headlamps have a handy little flap at the back that grants access to the bulbs. The manual says to open this flap to replace the bulbs but neglects to tell you about the metalwork directly behind it that prevents said flap from opening by more than 2mm. Headlamps have to be removed, then you can open the handy flap.
BMW E65 Facelift
To replace the sidelight bulbs one has to remove the entire bumper skin including the park radar sensors, the headlamp washers, the IR camera (if fitted) and a whole host of other things to access the front of the headlamps. Then you have to remove a whole host of other stuff in the engine bay to release the lamps enough to be able to access the bulb holder.
BMW E32 with self levelling rear
Hydraulic system controls the self levelling and happens to share fluid with the power steering. When the accumulators fail and slash their fluid all over the road (as they have a habit of doing) you lose steering too.
Lexus Gen3 GS
Handy little fold-out cubby that houses all of the switches for things like the mirrors, OBC etc down by the driver's knee........that you can't see when sitting in the driver's seat and that you then smash your knee on when exiting the car.
Aprilia RSV1000R
Rear brake master cylinder that is located just above the clutch bell-housing. A great place for keeping the fluid cool. I've yet to ride one of these with a working rear brake.
A couple from me:
Honda Prelude 4WS model 4th/5th gen
Unlike the 3rd gens mechanical system the 4th and 5th gens had electronically controlled 4WS run by the 4WS ECU, its a great system that operates depending on road speed and works very well, when it works. It was great in the day but its now 20 years since the 4th gen went on sale, given that this is a computing forum would you be happy with a 20 year old computer deciding which direction your rear wheels are pointed in? Accidents are thankfully rare but when they happen they are downright spectacular.
Toyota 7M-GTE engine
The 7M is (as the name would imply) is the 7th revision of an engine design that started in the 60's. The 7M-GTE was a 3 litre turbocharged straight 6 that produced 230bhp stock. It performed well in testing however just before it went on sale Toyota decided to change the head gasket for an asbestos free one, which wouldn't have been a problem had they remembered to adjust the torque settings. Toyota never acknowledged their mistake so even to this day the service manual for this engine contains incorrect torque setting for the head bolts. (not that the engine doesn't blow head gaskets when its torqued correctly but with the standard under-torqued settings they may as well be chocolate).
Rover 75
The entire car, meh that's prob taking it a bit too far, the worst part is probably that if you don't clean the leaves out regularly then the foot-wells will flood with stinking water, that kind of sucks.
Honda Prelude 4WS model 4th/5th gen
Unlike the 3rd gens mechanical system the 4th and 5th gens had electronically controlled 4WS run by the 4WS ECU, its a great system that operates depending on road speed and works very well, when it works. It was great in the day but its now 20 years since the 4th gen went on sale, given that this is a computing forum would you be happy with a 20 year old computer deciding which direction your rear wheels are pointed in? Accidents are thankfully rare but when they happen they are downright spectacular.
Toyota 7M-GTE engine
The 7M is (as the name would imply) is the 7th revision of an engine design that started in the 60's. The 7M-GTE was a 3 litre turbocharged straight 6 that produced 230bhp stock. It performed well in testing however just before it went on sale Toyota decided to change the head gasket for an asbestos free one, which wouldn't have been a problem had they remembered to adjust the torque settings. Toyota never acknowledged their mistake so even to this day the service manual for this engine contains incorrect torque setting for the head bolts. (not that the engine doesn't blow head gaskets when its torqued correctly but with the standard under-torqued settings they may as well be chocolate).
Rover 75
The entire car, meh that's prob taking it a bit too far, the worst part is probably that if you don't clean the leaves out regularly then the foot-wells will flood with stinking water, that kind of sucks.