Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:03:04 -0500
Reply-To: Ben Cichowski <aquasheck@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben Cichowski <aquasheck@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Are Today's Young People Mechanical Nitwits?
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90808140832y6810daa3k866bb6b21cc4c998@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Well, as an already crusty...not so old guy (I'm still in my early 30's), I will completely agree with both of you. In my age bracket, I do not have a single friend who works on their own cars. Not a single one. Now...this could mean that I am too crusty to have friends, but it seems much more likely, to me at least, that people just jump into their cars and drive without a clue as to how it works...and certainly not a clue as to what things to "notice" when something is wrong or going wrong. Even at my age, I'm revered as some sort of mechanical genius, though I make no such claim myself. Younger than me....it is even worse as you say, and I do think that privilege and (dare I say) laziness has a lot to do with that. Very "disposable" society unfortunately...
But, there is hope for some. My 5-year old regularly helps me out with projects on the van. Even helped a good deal during my/our conversion when there were things she could do safely. I can say with confidence that she could talk someone through the proper way to rotate tires and some of the small tasks like that (of course she lacks the strength to do it herself presently, and there are of course safety issues). By the time she is 10, I'm hoping she'll be doing headgasket and timing belt jobs with her dad...and her sister will be 5 so we can start the process all over again. My wife insists that, before any kid leaves the house at 18, they know how to at least do the general maintenance...even those tough ones like changing out a turn signal bulb ;)
-Ben
> Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:32:33 -0700
> From: crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Are Today's Young People Mechanical Nitwits?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> The short answer is 'Yes' !
>
> My kids are revered as mechanical geniuses among their peers though neither
> are qualified mechanics. They do have the chops to re-do their own brakes
> and shocks (and bulbs) but most of today's privileged kids think that
> 'maintenance' is putting the car through the local car wash.
>
> On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Ed Lloyd <elloyd10@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I too have been living the Vanagon Experience during my 20+ years of
> > driving my 87 Westy, and before that a 76 Westy.
> >
> > My daughter just bought a sporty little 20004 Mazda 3, and I looked into
> > the Driver's Manual, and did a double take on this:
> >
> > "Front Turn Signal Lights - Due to the complexity and difficulty of the
> > procedure, the bulbs should be replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer."
> >
> > Same for the Fog lights, and side marker lights. They do show pictures and
> > procedures, which amount to unscrewing the plastic housings and gently
> > twisting and pulling out the bulbs. Installation is the reverse.
> >
> > Low beam Xenon bulb may be more of a problem. "You cannot replace the low
> > beam bulbs by yourself. Must be replaced at an Authorized Dealer." OK,
> > there may be some high voltage and disposal risk here.
> >
> > Oil change, and perhaps Air Filter, and that is the complete list of what
> > an owner can do by themselves! Everything else is Dealer.
> >
> > I also noted that the Windshield washer reservoir has a light on the dash
> > board to tell you when the washer fluid is low. I have never found this to
> > be a problem in my Vanagon. When it starts to dribble out, then you just
> > add more!
> >
> > this is a sporty car for young people, not a big "Luxury" car for pampered
> > fat cats. Her friends all seem to know how to work the CD player and
> > electronic gadgets installed, but seem clueless about the mechanicals.
> >
> > End of Rant by crusty old guy.
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
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