my rant @ GM designers..

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 09-19-2012, 01:40 PM

actually it is just about every car I have owned, be it GM, Ford, or Chrysler..

What the hell is wrong with you designers.. WHY do you keep designing cars in ways that make it nearly impossible to change a G-DAMN light bulb..

Holy stupid designs batman.. lets make a car that requires removing half the ass or front end to just change a freaking brake light or turn signal.

AND lets make it damn near impossible to get any normal hand tools into areas to remove the bolts that hold the damn lamp housing on, oh hell forget tools just getting your hand in there..

---------

Last night I put on my Technostalgia Tail Lights.. I couldn't get my damn hand between the framing and the lamp to even pull out the freaking bulb, much less get at the bolts holding the lamps to the chasis. Would it have been too freaking hard to punch a couple of holes across from the lamps in the framing so a socket and long extension could get to the bolts? WTF.. GM.. Tear up my hands, and spend 2 freaking hours simply trying to get the damn bulb and the lamp out..

I had to get my 8 year old to reach her hands into the area to undo the bulb retainer and bolts, guess I'm lucky she loves to wrench on cars and knows WTF she is doing.. Otherwise I'd still be at it..

My Chrysler was no different trying to change a front turn signal, half the damn fasica had to come off. Forget changing a headlight, the factory intake box had to come out on one side, and the ABS controller on the other.

Similar with my 2003 Cadillac DTS, 2002 Impala LS, Moms 1994 Taurus Wagon, and my 1993 Ford Probe GT, and every one of my Chevy Trucks..

Jebus H Christopher.. get it together. At the very least make some holes for tools to extend thru so you can get to the mounting bolts.. Sure would be a hell of a lot easier than the current buttarded design..

Toyota for all their dullness and fault at least I can change all the bulbs on my wife's Camary within 10 minutes and removing nothing, hell I can even pop out the tail lights in under 2 minutes with a standard 10mm socket and no extensions and not rip all the damn skin off my knuckles.

BTW I love my Technostalgia lamps. VERY high quality, AWESOME install instructions.. and of course the look is amazing..

Scalded Dog · 09-19-2012, 01:44 PM

The headlights on my Silverado take almost a full minute to change, if it's the first time you've done it, and you are not comfortable under the hood. Otherwise, the job takes less time.

I wish that those Silverado engineers' influence extended all over GM's empire...

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 09-19-2012, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

The headlights on my Silverado take almost a full minute to change, if it's the first time you've done it, and you are not comfortable under the hood. Otherwise, the job takes less time.

I wish that those Silverado engineers' influence extended all over GM's empire...

The new silverados?

My 2010 Avalanche was a royal pain in the ass, had to drop the fascia to get to the turns and DRL's and the headlight.. High beam was easy. .

my 1996 Silverado was easy for the headlights, the turn signals were another story, same with my 2000 silverado.

I've been wrenching on cars for 30 years. worked as a Mopar Tech for over 15.. this is nothing new to me..

The designers are idiots.. plain and simple.. Make the most common wear items the hardest to replace.. Fracking RETARDED.

Scalded Dog · 09-19-2012, 01:52 PM

That's on my '02... hope the new ones did not lose that awesome feature. Pull a couple of retaining pins out (no tools required!), and the whole assembly comes out. Replace it, drop the pins into place, everything is self adjusting into the correct orientation and position.

Bonanza7 · 09-19-2012, 01:53 PM

Some Chrysler products are even worse. I think they do it to get you to go to the dealership and pay them by the hour.

demonik · 09-19-2012, 01:53 PM

I always think its done intentionally to where we, as DIYers, can still have access but the average joe who is too scared will consider just taking it to the dealership to be replaced. Be it fear of warranty or breaking something else, I agree there has to be better designs.

NYJets77 · 09-19-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonik

I always think its done intentionally to where we, as DIYers, can still have access but the average joe who is too scared will consider just taking it to the dealership to be replaced. Be it fear of warranty or breaking something else, I agree there has to be better designs.

+1

either dealer work , or some 3rd party

Bhobbs · 09-19-2012, 01:57 PM

The turn signal on my 98 Z28 is burned out and I am not looking forward to change it. I have to do it this weekend so I know I have all day Saturday to figure it out. These cars are designed to be built easily, after that they couldn't care less what you have to do to work on them.

05mbm · 09-19-2012, 01:58 PM

If you think car manufactures are bad... You should see military airplane manufactures. Those lets say people must think some parts never fail.

GMTool · 09-19-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

That's on my '02... hope the new ones did not lose that awesome feature. Pull a couple of retaining pins out (no tools required!), and the whole assembly comes out. Replace it, drop the pins into place, everything is self adjusting into the correct orientation and position.

That's right. I got a 2000 Silverado. The best design Ive ever delt with. Although the headlamps high and low beam are 13 years old and original, never burned out yet. But the DRL's below the headlamps have been replaced about 3 times. They also are easy to replace. Like you said,(no tools required!).

Chrisrp454 · 09-19-2012, 02:03 PM

Not really hard just time consuming. This might help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

The turn signal on my 98 Z28 is burned out and I am not looking forward to change it. I have to do it this weekend so I know I have all day Saturday to figure it out. These cars are designed to be built easily, after that they couldn't care less what you have to do to work on them.

CamaroSkooter · 09-19-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

...Last night I put on my Technostalgia Tail Lights.. I couldn't get my damn hand between the framing and the lamp to even pull out the freaking bulb, much less get at the bolts holding the lamps to the chasis. Would it have been too freaking hard to punch a couple of holes across from the lamps in the framing so a socket and long extension could get to the bolts? WTF.. GM.. Tear up my hands, and spend 2 freaking hours simply trying to get the damn bulb and the lamp out..

I had to get my 8 year old to reach her hands into the area to undo the bulb retainer and bolts, guess I'm lucky she loves to wrench on cars and knows WTF she is doing.. Otherwise I'd still be at it...

Just wait 'til you have to replace the reverse bulb

Fifty 2SS · 09-19-2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

actually it is just about every car I have owned, be it GM, Ford, or Chrysler..

What the hell is wrong with you designers.. WHY do you keep designing cars in ways that make it nearly impossible to change a G-DAMN light bulb..

Holy stupid designs batman.. lets make a car that requires removing half the ass or front end to just change a freaking brake light or turn signal.

AND lets make it damn near impossible to get any normal hand tools into areas to remove the bolts that hold the damn lamp housing on, oh hell forget tools just getting your hand in there..

---------

Last night I put on my Technostalgia Tail Lights.. I couldn't get my damn hand between the framing and the lamp to even pull out the freaking bulb, much less get at the bolts holding the lamps to the chasis. Would it have been too freaking hard to punch a couple of holes across from the lamps in the framing so a socket and long extension could get to the bolts? WTF.. GM.. Tear up my hands, and spend 2 freaking hours simply trying to get the damn bulb and the lamp out..

I had to get my 8 year old to reach her hands into the area to undo the bulb retainer and bolts, guess I'm lucky she loves to wrench on cars and knows WTF she is doing.. Otherwise I'd still be at it..

My Chrysler was no different trying to change a front turn signal, half the damn fasica had to come off. Forget changing a headlight, the factory instake box had to come out on one side, and the ABS controller on the other.

Similar with my 2003 Cadillac DTS, 2002 Impala LS, Moms 1994 Taurus Wagon, and my 1993 Ford Probe GT, and every one of my Chevy Trucks..

Jebus H Christopher.. get it together. At the very least make some holes for tools to extend thru so you can get to the mounting bolts.. Sure would be a hell of a lot easier than the current buttarded design..

Toyota for all their dullness and fault at least I can change all the bulbs on my wife's Camary within 10 minutes and removing nothing, hell I can even pop out the tail lights in under 2 minutes with a standard 10mm socket and no extensions and not rip all the damn skin off my knuckles.

BTW I love my Technostalgia lamps. VERY high quality, AWESOME install instructions.. and of course the look is amazing..

AMEN!!!!

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 09-19-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

Just wait 'til you have to replace the reverse bulb

thanks...

-----

the funny thing is I popped some 194 LED license plate bulbs in the Camaro the day I brought it home, and it was the most intelligent design I've seen on my last 3 cars..

couple screws, pops out, replace bulb, put screws back, locked into place so no trying to hold it while replacing the screws and have it get all twisted..

took me a couple minutes, in the dark, and I thought, wow.. nice design..

The Avalanche required getting under the truck and behind the bumper, the Chrysler required a similar feat..

but my opinion of the ease of light bulb changes on the Camaro is now forever tainted..

09-19-2012, 01:40 PM	#1
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	my rant @ GM designers.. actually it is just about every car I have owned, be it GM, Ford, or Chrysler.. What the hell is wrong with you designers.. WHY do you keep designing cars in ways that make it nearly impossible to change a G-DAMN light bulb.. Holy stupid designs batman.. lets make a car that requires removing half the ass or front end to just change a freaking brake light or turn signal. AND lets make it damn near impossible to get any normal hand tools into areas to remove the bolts that hold the damn lamp housing on, oh hell forget tools just getting your hand in there.. --------- Last night I put on my Technostalgia Tail Lights.. I couldn't get my damn hand between the framing and the lamp to even pull out the freaking bulb, much less get at the bolts holding the lamps to the chasis. Would it have been too freaking hard to punch a couple of holes across from the lamps in the framing so a socket and long extension could get to the bolts? WTF.. GM.. Tear up my hands, and spend 2 freaking hours simply trying to get the damn bulb and the lamp out.. I had to get my 8 year old to reach her hands into the area to undo the bulb retainer and bolts, guess I'm lucky she loves to wrench on cars and knows WTF she is doing.. Otherwise I'd still be at it.. My Chrysler was no different trying to change a front turn signal, half the damn fasica had to come off. Forget changing a headlight, the factory intake box had to come out on one side, and the ABS controller on the other. Similar with my 2003 Cadillac DTS, 2002 Impala LS, Moms 1994 Taurus Wagon, and my 1993 Ford Probe GT, and every one of my Chevy Trucks.. Jebus H Christopher.. get it together. At the very least make some holes for tools to extend thru so you can get to the mounting bolts.. Sure would be a hell of a lot easier than the current buttarded design.. Toyota for all their dullness and fault at least I can change all the bulbs on my wife's Camary within 10 minutes and removing nothing, hell I can even pop out the tail lights in under 2 minutes with a standard 10mm socket and no extensions and not rip all the damn skin off my knuckles. BTW I love my Technostalgia lamps. VERY high quality, AWESOME install instructions.. and of course the look is amazing.. Last edited by Mr. iNCREDIBLE; 09-19-2012 at 02:21 PM.

09-19-2012, 01:44 PM	#2
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	The headlights on my Silverado take almost a full minute to change, if it's the first time you've done it, and you are not comfortable under the hood. Otherwise, the job takes less time. I wish that those Silverado engineers' influence extended all over GM's empire...

09-19-2012, 01:52 PM	#4
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	That's on my '02... hope the new ones did not lose that awesome feature. Pull a couple of retaining pins out (no tools required!), and the whole assembly comes out. Replace it, drop the pins into place, everything is self adjusting into the correct orientation and position.

09-19-2012, 01:53 PM	#5
Bonanza7 Account Suspended Drives: 2010, Rally Yellow, Black stripes Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,363	Some Chrysler products are even worse. I think they do it to get you to go to the dealership and pay them by the hour.

09-19-2012, 01:53 PM	#6
demonik Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 45	I always think its done intentionally to where we, as DIYers, can still have access but the average joe who is too scared will consider just taking it to the dealership to be replaced. Be it fear of warranty or breaking something else, I agree there has to be better designs.

09-19-2012, 01:57 PM	#8
Bhobbs Drives: 2015 SS 1LE Red Hot, 1970 Chevelle Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 6,990	The turn signal on my 98 Z28 is burned out and I am not looking forward to change it. I have to do it this weekend so I know I have all day Saturday to figure it out. These cars are designed to be built easily, after that they couldn't care less what you have to do to work on them.

09-19-2012, 01:58 PM	#9
05mbm Drives: 2012 IBM 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Worth TX Posts: 84 View My Garage	If you think car manufactures are bad... You should see military airplane manufactures. Those lets say people must think some parts never fail.