Understanding Engineers

[F.R.O.G.]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

If you stop and think...

OC, that's where your argument falls apart. Stopping and thinking is a pretty tall order for most of us when we run into a design "problem."

[dwaynerz]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

No. its because speed (and cost) of assembly rules the roost in automotive plants. You design a system that was 3 parts that had to be bolted together and is now two parts which saves 6 seconds of assembly time and 37 cents in cost, you will get a nice letter of praise in your file and bonus, and a dinner out with the wife at a expensive restaurant on the company nickle.

Design something that makes it easier on the owner to service but costs an extra 15 seconds on the line to assemble, and you would get career counseling.

Tim

save 6 seconds and 37 cents so they can make it up on the back end

first remove positive battery cable from battery. Then remove front passenger tire, then remove strut and hub, then remove cv axle undo two mounting bolts from bottom, once this is done access to three mounting bracket bolts. to remove mounting bracket then slide alternator btwn frame and engine and replace, have fun this takes avg 4-5 hours!

i found out that if you take out the oil filter u can get to the bolts with easy access. it beats taking of the drive shaft. once the bracket is off you can take it out from the top. it would be easier if you unbolt the tension assembly. it took me about 2 hours to do all this and put back together. $20 extra bucks for the oil beats the extra hours i would have to put into working on the car. have fun

OOOOOOOORRRRRRRRR,,,,,,,,

It is possible to remove it from the top of the engine. I know this becasue i just accomplished this in under 3 hours. Start to finish with a coffee break in between. If you want to know exactly how i did it feel free to email me atomic_aura@hotmail.com 03 ford escape v6

3 hrs for an altenatar swap? remove front wheel and hub/axle assembly? where again is the engineer who designed this? i understand the packaging deal, but this is a service item, most likely to go out while you still own the car (thats out of warrenty).

please bring engineer head on platter. doesnt even have to be the good stuff either

[OldCoot]

Look on the bright side, if you folks didn't have engineers to gripe about, someone else would have to take the heat about something else.

[B47]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Look on the bright side, if you folks didn't have engineers to gripe about, someone else would have to take the heat about something else.

Sort of like saying if you didn't have Turbs to pick on, someone else would be your subject.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by B47

Sort of like saying if you didn't have Turbs to pick on, someone else would be your subject.

Oh double snap!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by B47

Sort of like saying if you didn't have Turbs to pick on, someone else would be your subject.

Not at all. FT Turbs deserves and expects it.

[rockfordroo]

Just remember - if there weren't engineers, we'd all still be sitting around campfires chipping arrowheads!

[VinceU]

Mem, the engineer's job is to to envision, package and out the door for 13K! Remember the Clhevy Vega, had to drop rear motor mounts to change rear plugs. Maintenance is a future problem.......

[hkreck]

Just think most Engineer's went to party schools where they drank more than they studied.

[B47]

Originally Posted by VinceU

Mem, the engineer's job is to to envision, package and out the door for 13K! Remember the Clhevy Vega, had to drop rear motor mounts to change rear plugs. Maintenance is a future problem.......

I remember the Vega thing - if I'm not mistaken,they weren't the only vehicle that required you to do that or some other thing to replace routine components.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by B47

I remember the Vega thing - if I'm not mistaken,they weren't the only vehicle that required you to do that or some other thing to replace routine components.

Agree, even today many veh's require removal of dams, shrouds etc. Just for a easy oil change has been complicated.

[itat]

In my experience in municipal (civil) engineering, Engineers are not unlike any other profession. There are good ones, and some...not so good.

[B47]

Originally Posted by itat

In my experience in municipal (civil) engineering, Engineers are not unlike any other profession. There are good ones, and some...not so good.

So I guess you're saying that Engineers are just human like the rest of us and everything that goes with being human.

[dwaynerz]

best thing for a vega was a v8 swap. a 3.8 turbo motor out of an early buick regal also did wonders to their personality

[rockfordroo]

Usually, the problem is NOT the engineers. They know how to do it. It's the bean counters who won't let them (or YOU the consumer, because you don't want to pay more money for the vehicle.)

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Usually, the problem is NOT the engineers. They know how to do it. It's the bean counters who won't let them (or YOU the consumer, because you don't want to pay more money for the vehicle.)

Amen rockfordroo. You hit the nail on the head. Bean counters or lawyers and the cya syndrome.

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

She calls me a pathological compulsive fixer.
Tim

Just caught this thread.

Not an engineer but probably should have been. My thing is fixing WiFi at restaurants. Since no one at the stores know anything about WiFi, they usually don't bother to change the default admin password. So I log in when it won't connect to the internet properly and reset the WiFi so it starts working. Done this a half dozen times, but usually don't tell them because it just causes more confusion if I do.

[rockfordroo]

Pooneil - wish you'd been at BOTH of the KOA's I was at this week. They would let you connect, but you couldn't get to the internet half the time. Very frustrating!

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by VinceU

Mem, the engineer's job is to to envision, package and out the door for 13K! Remember the Clhevy Vega, had to drop rear motor mounts to change rear plugs. Maintenance is a future problem.......

trust me, engineers have the LAST say in how a car is made. First off, you have to cram a v6 engine in a car that would have been just fine with a 4 because marketing told you that nobody will buy the 4 cyl version. it has to fit in the form that the styling department came up with, and accommodate all the safety stuff like crumple zones, and impact bumpers, and it can't weigh too much because of CAFE requirements.

Oh, you want to put the alternator on top where you can get at it?

If engineers got to make a car with full control... You would be driving a Checker Marathon with a 4 cyl diesel engine. It would be dull and bland as hospital meatloaf. it would last for 50 years, cost 25K and the company making it would fold in about 9 months. Sometimes, overriding the engineers isnt all bad.

Tim