Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

[Lonestar]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

A guy at work had one of the new VW Bugs. Headlight burned out after about 2 years and he purchased a replacement bulb and started to install it. After a long time of trying he gave and took it to the dealership. He was told the charge would be $50. labor + parts and learned that it took a special tool to do the job. He told the SA that had the bulb and he was told they could only install an OEM bulb and then he said it should be covered under warranty anyway. He was told service items were not covered by VW under warranty after 12k/12months. Do not know if that is true or not but, that is what he was told.

He got hacked, did not have the bulb replaced, took a day of vacation the next day, and traded the bug for a ho-hum, 4 door, 4cyl, very lightly equipped Camry after he looked it over closely and determined he could change all bulbs, belts, plugs, filters, and etc himself.

[Kokomo]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I have had to change my tail light bulbs a couple of times and yes it is a real pain. But, like somebody already mentioned, the high mount light is unbelievable. The instructions for replacement on it start with: "raise the rear of the car and remove BOTH rear wheels". Unbelieveable!

[007Cruiser]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I have had to change my tail light bulbs a couple of times and yes it is a real pain. But, like somebody already mentioned, the high mount light is unbelievable. The instructions for replacement on it start with: "raise the rear of the car and remove BOTH rear wheels". Unbelieveable!

Good God!

[Johnny Gumballs]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Are you kidding Jimmy Fitz????

[Ms Mitchell]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

We had a headlight to go out. Instead of changing out the bulb we just traded birds.

[Lonestar]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

"Are you kidding Jimmy Fitz????"


No he is not. However, you should get a good long life out of 3rd stop lights.

[Kokomo]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Are you kidding Jimmy Fitz????

No I am not kidding.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ht=brake+light

[EllisonCal]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Speaking of parts, labor, and short term rentals. Between 1970 and 1979, I sold Forklift trucks for a Clark Equipment Co. dealer. Clark used to be #1 in the business. When I decided to go to Greener pastures, ie Merrill Lynch, I asked the dealer principal, "... just how long can we sell new lift trucks at virtually cost?"
His answer is the reason New car dealers stay in business and make lots of money.
Paul, the President of the dealership, told me "Cal, as long as we don't lose money on the sale of the new equipment we'll be fine. Most of the replacement parts are only available from Clark, the generic parts are usually replaced by the customers and it's just an annoyance to do that type of labor anyway. Our exclusive parts cost whatever we want to charge and all the manufacturers handle their parts the same way."
The number one selling Fork lifts in the world are now all Japanese!
Cal

[Latebird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

After you change the light bulb in the tail light, go check the
fluid level in your tranny.

Gotta Love It!

[THNDRBRD02]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

A # 12 Snap On nut driver shortened about an inch will get the hard to reach nut. Snap On is the only one I found that was hollow & would slide over the 4" stud.

[n7bbj]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Try the "fan" belt. See if you can even find it, and while your at it, can you find the spark plugs? I LOVE my REDBIRD, but our GM car and truck are a lot easer to work on.

[PaBlkBrd]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Boy, I sure hope Jim Youngs isn't reading these posts

[5bird7]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

don't worry, Mike, Jim Youngs was project engineer - not designer.

We're the ones learning to live with the quirks these cars have that some designer forgot to take into account or had to design to make the asthetics look good. Most of us will be able to adjust and live with them. Hints on fixing or tools to use such as the one that THNDRBRD02 left are what I look for.

[hammer55]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Try the "fan" belt. See if you can even find it, and while your at it, can you find the spark plugs? I LOVE my REDBIRD, but our GM car and truck are a lot easer to work on.

there are not any cars these days easy to work on, maybe some you can see the belt but thats about it

[FEsTbird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I guess I should not really complain with 5.5 years and just over 50K miles on the car but I just had to change the left rear taillight bulb ... Fords price to replace the bulb is about $25, locally. BTW, the service advisor said to expect to pay around $5 for the bulb because it is for a TBird. Mind you now that this is a standard 3157 bulb (I paid $1.59 for a pair) which are made by the millions if not 10s or 100s of millions.:

Had one of the turn signal filaments of the tail light bulb go out. (Note this is the first car I have had that told me "lamp out." I figured it was a turn signal bulb from the sound action when turn signal was actuated.) A review of the change bulb instructions in the manual and the construction of the trunk covering surface led me to the quick conclusion that I should change ALL the bulbs at once. At the parts counter, the tech agreed with me, said that was the most standard way. (The way he talked, the Tbird is not the only Ford car made this way.)

The double filament bulbs were $3.82 each, the single filament bulbs $1.98 each. I had wiped out some of the plastic pins that hold the panels in. Those are free at this parts counter, so I got a complete set. Parts tech said that people don't realize they gave them away, so don't ask.

Fortunately, I have a short crescent wrench to get the nut started on the long bolt, and then used a socket to loosen it the rest of the way. Hopefully, it won't happen again for a few years. But, by then I will have forgotten the tricks I learned this time.