yet another evil plot

@dawnald (85129)
Shingle Springs, California
July 8, 2011 10:46am CST
So yesterday my right turn signal started making that annoying fast tick that happens when something is not right, like a bulb burned out or whatever. So when I got home I checked to see what was what, and sure enough, the right rear light had burned out. So R goes in there to check it, and he can't get at the bulb. There is some kind of a weird star shaped bolt that he doesn't have a tool for. Great, so instead of avoiding paying the $20 for somebody else to change it, I'm gonna have to go and pay $20 to buy a tool that I'll probably never use again. You think these car manufacturers do this on purpose? Of course they do...
9 people like this
29 responses
@bouncybug (614)
• South Africa
8 Jul 11
ya they absolutely do!! It makes me sick to think about how these manufacturers rip us off like that - there is no reason why they can't make all these bolts and parts a standard size and shape! Sorry to hear about that - but as you said, at least once you've got the wrench you should be able to fix it all the time in the future! But lets hope that it doesn't happen again :)
5 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Jul 11
I had a volvo once that needed a simple part. Can't remember what it was but you could go into the parts store and get it for like 40.00 for any other car but a Volvo. Volvo however had it all set up that you could NOT go into a parts store and get their parts. You had to go directly through them which cost triple as much. It was a 2nd hand car that I only paid 500.00 for so I got rid of that car pretty quickly.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
and then I'll get another car and it will be a different wrench!
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jul 11
Yep, it is a rip off for sure. It would make my dad so angry because he was not going to pay their labor fees. He would rather spend the money on a tool he might not use again than to pay some person $100 in labor or whatever.
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jul 11
Yes, of course they do this on purpose... if you don't have the tools or the know how, you go to the shop or the dealer to get it done. When cars went metric my dad was so upset because all his tools were American or whatever they are called... he had to buy new metric tools... then they put things where you couldn't get them out easily so you would have to tear the car apart to get to a single part. They do this on purpose, I just know it.
4 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Jul 11
hi pointless and dqwn like I said its a gremlin conspiracy. in order to repair our International Harvester pickup years ago they had to actually take the motor out first so of course they tacked on extra fees because of the hard to get to part that needed changing.its a conspiracy.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
yeah, seriously, why should you need a special tool for a special bolt just to change a light bulb?
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jul 11
That's what it is... A conspiracy!
2 people like this
• United States
8 Jul 11
that sounds suspiciously like a mazda. yes,they do do it on purpose-so if you don't have the tool,you have no choice but to bring it in.your other choice is to buy a set from the manufactorer/automotive shop. my ex had a B-2000 POS mini truck that had bolts that fell inbetween metric and standard-requiring special tools.it developed that tick also-it was almost impossible to set the idle correctly for that damn thing-even with the machine.
4 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
Actually it occurs to me we should check the set of tools that came with the car. If he didn't already.
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Of course they do, they work together with the mechanics who charge an arm and a leg for some work..Granted some auto work is worth the money, but some is not...
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
well for sure it's not worth paying somebody just to change a light bulb!
3 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Jul 11
You seriously need to make friends with a mechanic. I have friends that work on cars and I don't pay for things like this. I swap them out some free incense or something and call it good.
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jul 11
Yes, changing a bulb is definitely filed under not worth paying someone else to do it..
3 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Jul 11
I do sympathise. It seems tools are being invented all the time that we have to go out and buy for one specific purpose. However, Mum needs a monkey wrench (don't ask) as my Dad can't be bothered asking anyone to help with a plumbing problem in their house. All it needs is for someone to use a monkey wrench to tighten up a bolt on the pipe.
4 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
I'll send ours.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Jul 11
2 people like this
• United States
8 Jul 11
It is what keeps the communication and the expenses going. Oh wait that is the car dealer and not with R, or is it? lol, kidding. Yes some car repairmen have this habit continually, especially when they know it is us women doing the spending.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
aha it IS a plot
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45226)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Jul 11
Yup, they don't want just anyone messing around with their stuff.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45226)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Jul 11
Better lie down, put a cool cloth over your face.
3 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
oh what an image THAT put into my sick head....
3 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Of course they do. And be warned. Once you put that bulb in, in some makes of cars,the bulbs are now made in china and something with the connectors...the bulb will last a day or two..maybe 3 and be back to blinking. There is something called "dummy goop" that'll fix that problem. Ask your mechanic or you'll be paying for him to check your electrical system for shorts etc. If you can find the bulbs made in america, it's worth the extra cost but you won't find them everywhere and surely not in Walmart. Good luck. Hope this is an easy fix for you.
• United States
14 Jul 11
Guess what? If tapping on it fixed it, you will have to tap it, again. And again, and again, and again, and again...
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Jul 11
We also bought bulbs...
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
actually, he just tapped the bulb and it was fine again. loose. lol
@celticeagle (157583)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Jul 11
Yes! I always seem to not have a philips screwdriver when I need one. Why? My grandson left it laying where he had his last job. He takes things apart and puts them back together. And, amazingly he doesn't have extra parts left over. ONE, they are in a league with the devil and TWO, all these companies conspire together to make money off of us.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
yeah, why is it always the phillips that disappears?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157583)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Jul 11
REALLY! Used the most I guess.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Jul 11
well as the old saying goes, they just dont make things like they used to. and especially these days. time was you could take something out of a car easily and replace it. for the past few yrs. they make sure you have to get a mechanic because you have to take the whole thing a part to get to a lot of the parts desperately needed to run it.
3 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
yeah even a mechanic can't fix half the stuff because it's all computerized or whatever...
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Hi dawnald, that may be true about the car manufactures doing this on purpose. But look on the bright side. There may be someone one else out there with the same problem in the future and guess what.. You can lend them your too. lol
3 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
Yes, but will they return it?
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Jul 11
Oh I've seen that weird star shaped bolt! Once when the signal light on my Dodge Caravan also started that fast ticking sound. And when my mechanical self, armed with some tools, attempted to open the case to replace the bulb. After some frustration with standard shaped tools, I also finally gave up, and brought to a shop to be replaced!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
Dodge Caravan - well there you have it! lol
• United States
8 Jul 11
Definitely is fraustrating, I personally do think that these car manufacturers do it on purpose, so that you can sometimes feel forced to go to the dealer and pay for someone to replace it for an additional cost which is unnecessary. When I first got his Suzuki, two months after he drove it off the lot, the light b went out as he was trying to replace it, he had encountered the same problem (now I can't recall what type of shape or tool it was that he needed). But we also ended up going to Lowes to purchase the tool in order for us to do it at home. That simple repaired ending up costing about $35 between the replacement light bulb and the new tool. Luckily, my truck requires the same tool and we don't have to purchase another. But it is fraustrating, when you find yourself trying to spend money and then you end up spending the same amount and/or even more to get something repaired. But at least look at this way, at least you'll have the tool for future emergencies, there's always an upside to a story...
3 people like this
• United States
15 Jul 11
Dawn, If you don't have it, YOU WILL NEED IT, AGAIN.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
That's IF I ever would need to use that tool again. lol
• United States
11 Jul 11
Well if you still have the same vehicle most likely you will use it again, I've had to use mine about twice already...
2 people like this
@SynDash (133)
• Lithuania
8 Jul 11
But at least you'll be prepared if something like this happens again, see the bright side of the situation!
4 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Jul 11
I will be once I get the wrench.
2 people like this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Yes. I think these car manufacturers know exactly what they are doing when they set vehicles up this way. They get you coming and going.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
yeah, coming and going to the repair shop and/or the parts shop. lol
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Yes....there was a time when everyone...even some women could actually work on cars. Now with all the computers they stash in them...well they make it practically impossible for the common person to do anything to them....hope you got it changed by now!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
Heck, they even make it impossible for mechanics to work on them unless they can afford some real expensive equipment...
@p1kef1sh (45681)
9 Jul 11
In some countries in Europe it is illegal to drive without spare bulbs. I read a letter in the paper today that said that nowadays many cars cannot have just their bulbs replaced, you have to replace the whole light unit! So not only do drivers of these vehicles break the law if they don't carry spare light units (at a considerable price each) but they also have the costs of the manufacturer's greed to contend with. What a rip off. Yes, I do think that manufacturers do this on purpose. All they see if $ signs.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
No kidding... Yikes.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
10 Jul 11
You are sure you can't find someone to change the bulb without beging charged for it? I would try Autozone! If you have them in California! They do it for free for me with my car's burnt out bulbs!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
I'm two days ahead of you there. We asked about the bulb and the tools, and they said we could use their tool.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jul 11
The apparatus to get to the lights in my car has something that is similar. Of course, my husband being the machinist and mechanic that he is studied the bolt that he had to remove and actually made his own tool at work so that he would be able to change the bulbs in our car. There are a lot of times that I don't like being married to a stinky machinist that also works on cars, but there are other times that he is pretty handy to have around.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
Yep, they have their uses...
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
9 Jul 11
I do think they are all in the same ring. If you put odd shaped screws on your vehicles, we will sell the tool to fix it and give you a 15% commission. Hmmm! I think I would consider that if I was into having a business. Now the car company can make a profit either way. Sweet deal if you ask me. Best Wishes!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 11
The car company, the mechanics, the tool makers, the auto parts stores...