Shedding light on unsafe modern cars
Wednesday 28th September 2011, 6:00AM BST.
Peter Rhodes asks: Why are so many cars driving with headlight bulbs not working?
Simple. It’s because in many modern cars replacing the bulb is so complex, and occasionally dangerous, that it is a job for the authorised dealer.
No wonder so many drivers decide to leave it until the next service.
Car makers boast endlessly of how safe their vehicles are. Yet cars with impossible-to-replace bulbs are clearly dangerous.
One little line in EU car regulations would fix it: “All vehicles must be fitted with bulbs which can be easily removed and replaced by the driver at the roadside.”
Sorted.
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Well said Peter.
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Well it is if you can come up with a definition of ‘easily’ that cannot be challenged in the courts.
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I fully agree. Remember though it is the manufacturers who do this so the vehicle owner will take it to, preferably, ‘approved’ dealers who then will charge ‘per hour’ fees.
I write as a skilled vehicle engineer who have noticed the changes.
For example, on earlier vehicles,the majority of owners could change the battery. No cost to him/herself.
On some cars now, for example a model of the Vauxhall Corsa, the owner/driver cannot do it. The dealer will charge on the per hour rate approx. 45 minutes. I call it an ‘engineered Rip Off’.
It may cost less to buy the battery than to fit it.
There are other examples on vehicles such as the location/fitting of Clutch hydraulic components (takes about 4 hours on some cars now, usually about, say 30 minutes or less.
Depending on the hourly rate it could be about £240 as opposed to say £30.
Just the rich want to make more money. People do not seem to understand the linkup between government and industry.
Long ago I thought of writing to the Department of Trade & Industry about this, but it would probably need a robust campaign to get any changes.
Shall we start one ? .
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