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12/10/12, 07:27 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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Dodge made a mistake when they were designing the Dakota
They must have hired folks who used to drive trains instead of the other kind of engineer.
No wait, no need to slander those train drivers, I have no clue what the Dodge folks were up to.
One of my headlight low beams went out.
Simple fix: buy a bulb and replace it.
Nope.
With my old Toyota that would mean just opening the hood, pulling the old lamp out of the headlight assembly and putting a new one in. The biggest worry was trying not to touch the glass on the bulb and getting human grease on it that would shorten the bulb's life.
With the Dodge, the whole headlight assembly has to be removed. The owner's manual says "Remove the screw."
There are three screws.
And, they're No. 30 Torx-head screws.
So, I look through all the odd driver sets in the workbench and boxes. There's nothing bigger than a T25 anywhere to be found.
Off to the super big hardware store. They have sets that have a T30 in them, but no individual bits of that size.
Off to the mom-and-pop hardware store. They have a T30 driver for five bucks. I buy that and go back home.
About 30 minutes of wiggling and finagling later and both of the headlights are working.
That means that it took more than an hour for me to change a silly light bulb.
It would have taken about five minutes on the Toyota.
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Less barking! More wagging!
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12/10/12, 07:40 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 4,293
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I'm dealin with the same thing in my dodge! Love my dodge but not fun for one stupid light bulb.
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I'm so done here.
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12/10/12, 07:42 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central S. C.
Posts: 8,005
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Pray you don't need to replace a heater coil.
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Vicker
If you're born to hang, you'll never drown.
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12/10/12, 08:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: north Alabama
Posts: 10,815
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A 38 will take out that screw in a second.
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George Washington did not run and hide.
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12/10/12, 08:04 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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Used to a Nissan cube truck for work and when the headlight lens got broke it cost $175, had to replace the whole assembly.
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Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi
Libertarindependent
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12/10/12, 08:07 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,150
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I love my Toyotas!
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12/10/12, 08:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ne colorado
Posts: 1,205
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you know that dodge uses "feline" engineers don't you.
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12/10/12, 08:11 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NE Arkansas
Posts: 6,835
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Or maybe you would enjoy the disappearing dash like my Dodge. Tens of thousands of us got that for free.
No more Dodge for me...
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12/10/12, 08:14 PM
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Waste of bandwidth
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: OK
Posts: 10,618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rancher1913
you know that dodge uses "feline" engineers don't you.
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Oh wow!
I just thought that they were inept.
I didn't even consider the possibility that they were evil!
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Less barking! More wagging!
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12/10/12, 08:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,150
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I'm all about buying American, but when it comes down to a big ticket item I buy the best I can afford...I have not purchased an "American" car in many years. I have been so happy with my Yotas that I I ever wear them out I will buy another. I currently have two Tacoma 4x4's and an older 1998 BMW 323, great riding car, perfect condition and a pleasure to drive.
I did just buy an All American 921 canner from a mom and pop store...
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12/10/12, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northern Michigan (U.P.)
Posts: 9,491
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My chevy truck has a rod that holds the headlight assembly in. Just pull the rod, lift out the assembly, replace the bulb and set it back in and replace the rod. At first I was amazed that they designed something that helped the owner in a replacement part. But, I think the design was intended to reduce assembly line labor, that I was helped by this was likely a second thought.
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12/10/12, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CT
Posts: 712
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Not that you mentioned a year, but I loved my '96.
Until I had to change a fuel pump. Seems like all '96 pumps died at 85,000.
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12/10/12, 09:38 PM
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Outstanding in my field
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,186
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vicker
Pray you don't need to replace a heater coil.
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Yep ... I have a 2002 Silverado and you have to take out the entire dash from one side of the cab to the other. Takes an entire day to replace a heater coil 
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12/10/12, 09:38 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12,685
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My Chev Venture has a wing head bolt (I think its plastic too) that you twist out to change the turn signal bulbs. Very easy. I havn't changed a head light yet but I'm sure it will go too. Everything else has!
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Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup........
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12/11/12, 04:32 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oggie
It would have taken about five minutes on the Toyota.
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It all depends on the model and the year. The worst light-bulb replacement I've ever done was on a Toyota. Not only needed a special screw-driver, I had to bend it with the vice so that I reach the screws.
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12/11/12, 04:38 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,154
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They havent designed trucks or cars under a shade tree since the carburater became obsoleet.
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12/11/12, 05:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 1,656
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Wonder how long it will be before the other side goes out?????
Use to own 2 Elantra's that when the headlight went out you best replace both, the one the was out and the one that was still working, cause if'n you didn't you will be within a week or so.........
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12/11/12, 06:55 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HDRider
Or maybe you would enjoy the disappearing dash like my Dodge. Tens of thousands of us got that for free.
No more Dodge for me...
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OK you did the teaser.... what's the disappearing dash? 
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12/11/12, 07:33 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: maine
Posts: 1,175
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Just think of all the work service centers get because the average joe can't replace a headlight bulb. !
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12/11/12, 08:40 AM
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Rat Racer
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 680
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At least they've moved away from the LED 3rd brake light assemblies they put in some of their cars. Nothing like a few hundred bucks for a part because one of the light elements went.
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The garden's getting bigger this year. Again.
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