EV problems thread

Racer88

Racer88

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no4mk1t said:
No thanks, I'll keep my old truck with no computer, no touch screen, no power anything except steering and brakes. Have fun at the dealer while they play the parts changing game of changing one electronic component after another until it magically starts working.
Oh, and if the part is on B/O for a month, you still have to make the payments anyway. Ford Motor Credit doesn't care... :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

View attachment 16656
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I found some info on this:

ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

And using my Google-fu, I figured out that this display is from a Ford Mach-E.
1703971313893.png
 
Racer88 said:
View attachment 16717
I found some info on this:

ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

And using my Google-fu, I figured out that this display is from a Ford Mach-E.
View attachment 16716
Click to expand...
Can't imagine owning a personal vehicle that vulnerable to software/hardware malfunction. Not the same thing but the F/A-18 I helped develop and flight test, had fail-safe modes to let you make safe landing back at home plate! Imagine being far away from home and finding that your multi thousand dollar vehicle is now a multi thousand pound piece of junk for want of a software upgrade. . .NO BUENO!
 
Most definitely not just an EV issue! There are lots of chips and software required for most any car made in the last 15 or so years and one of the reasons I'm resisting buying new. I'll likely drive my 2015 Explorer till it dies.

My '79 CJ7 restoration project is looking more and more attractive every day! Like Michelle's '66 Chevy, parts are plentiful and I can even upgrade technology where it matters and make sense to do so, even sitting in the engine bay as I work if I wanted to!
 
BeerHunter said:
Most definitely not just an EV issue! There are lots of chips and software required for most any car made in the last 15 or so years and one of the reasons I'm resisting buying new. I'll likely drive my 2015 Explorer till it dies.

My '79 CJ7 restoration project is looking more and more attractive every day! Like Michelle's '66 Chevy, parts are plentiful and I can even upgrade technology where it matters and make sense to do so, even sitting in the engine bay as I work if I wanted to!
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While not a "restoration", I built a 350 for my 1984 Chevrolet van when I managed the auto parts store many years ago. Kept it in storage until the factory 305 bit the dust and then swapped them. That was in 2005, and it still runs like a top. Twice the power of the anemic 305 as well. No computer, and no check engine light, just the factory GM HEI ignition. Everything else is old school manual/analog. A few years ago, a buddy helped me rebuild the entire front suspension. New bushings in all the control arms, new ball joints, new tie rod ends and idler arm. Drives like a new one again.
So, keeping an old vehicle road worthy is doable. The older they are the simpler it is.
 
no4mk1t said:
While not a "restoration", I built a 350 for my 1984 Chevrolet van when I managed the auto parts store many years ago. Kept it in storage until the factory 305 bit the dust and then swapped them. That was in 2005, and it still runs like a top. Twice the power of the anemic 305 as well. No computer, and no check engine light, just the factory GM HEI ignition. Everything else is old school manual/analog. A few years ago, a buddy helped me rebuild the entire front suspension. New bushings in all the control arms, new ball joints, new tie rod ends and idler arm. Drives like a new one again.
So, keeping an old vehicle road worthy is doable. The older they are the simpler it is.
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Sure, but if it's a daily driver... eventually the upholstery, moldings, dashboard, etc... start to break down.
 
Racer88 said:
Sure, but if it's a daily driver... eventually the upholstery, moldings, dashboard, etc... start to break down.
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All that can be replaced, too. There's already a market for it and I don't think it's going by the wayside anytime soon. Like PMFs, it's doable by anyone with enough skill and resourcefulness.
 
As far as EV's go, I'll never buy a Tesla or a Prius, or a Leaf.

If it wasn't for the astronomical cost, it would be cool to build an updated Corvair with modern brakes, suspension, interior, etc.
The Corvair is unibody, so the front and rear suspensions unbolt from the body and could be replaced with redesigned modern versions.
So, theoretically, you could have a Tesla large rear drive unit for 450+ h.p. for fun, and modern everything else for drivability and creature comforts. I've always thought the second gen Corvair design (1965-1969) to be classic and timeless. Granted, this would not be a cross country machine, but for 95% of my driving it would do. The gas car would be used for trips outside the range of the Corvair.

A project like this would rival the cost of a new Tesla, so it will remain a pipe dream unless a Powerball win lands in my lap, but it's still interesting to contemplate. Maybe in 5 years or so, battery chemistry will advance to the point where 400 mile range is doable. Lithium Iron Phosphate is the emerging battery chemistry, and sodium is also being looked at.

Fun fact:
GM experimented with an electric Corvair as far back as 1963 (Electrovair I), and again in 1966, (Electrovair II). The battery technology of the time (silver oxide) only gave the car an 80 mile range, but otherwise the project was a success. The 1966 car still exists and is in GM museum.
 
no4mk1t said:
GM experimented with an electric Corvair as far back as 1963 (Electrovair I), and again in 1966, (Electrovair II). The battery technology of the time (silver oxide) only gave the car an 80 mile range, but otherwise the project was a success. The 1966 car still exists and is in GM museum.
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Shit, that's pretty good! In other words... in SIXTY years, the improvement in EV range is MARGINAL in proportion to the advancement of other technologies. That's really quite pathetic. So, they've only tripled that range in the BEST EVs today. Pathetic!

Moore's Law definitely doesn't apply here, eh? LOL!
 
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Racer88 said:
Sure, but if it's a daily driver... eventually the upholstery, moldings, dashboard, etc... start to break down.
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Yes, and I've replaced weatherstrip, heater core, seats, and other items as replacement dictates.
Maintaining an older vehicle is a choice between doing a total rebuild where everything is replaced, or ongoing maintenance where repairs are made as needed. The first gives you essentially the same as a new vehicle reliability wise, if you can afford to do it. The second spreads the cost out over time.
Also, older vehicles had less plastic and more metal. UV's deteriorate plastic requiring replacement, metal is simply repainted.

Folks relish a new car. in that regard, I am no different. When I get the chance to drive a new car, all the bells and whistle are amazing...until they fail, then they are costly to repair. And the manufacturers are given to discontinuing replacement parts after about 10 years.

Being you are in Florida, I imagine cracked dashes are common. There is a company in California that can rebuild any padded dash using the factory vacuum molded technique, and make it any color to match the interior. The results are spectacular, and look like NOS.
 
no4mk1t said:
Yes, and I've replaced weatherstrip, heater core, seats, and other items as replacement dictates.
Maintaining an older vehicle is a choice between doing a total rebuild where everything is replaced, or ongoing maintenance where repairs are made as needed. The first gives you essentially the same as a new vehicle reliability wise, if you can afford to do it. The second spreads the cost out over time.
Also, older vehicles had less plastic and more metal. UV's deteriorate plastic requiring replacement, metal is simply repainted.

Folks relish a new car. in that regard, I am no different. When I get the chance to drive a new car, all the bells and whistle are amazing...until they fail, then they are costly to repair. And the manufacturers are given to discontinuing replacement parts after about 10 years.

Being you are in Florida, I imagine cracked dashes are common. There is a company in California that can rebuild any padded dash using the factory vacuum molded technique, and make it any color to match the interior. The results are spectacular, and look like NOS.
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Wish I still had my 1967 Mercury Cougar!
 
Racer88 said:
Shit, that's pretty good! In other words... in SIXTY years, the improvement in EV range is MARGINAL in proportion to the advancement of other technologies. That's really quite pathetic. So, they've only tripled that range in the BEST EVs today. Pathetic!

Moore's Law definitely doesn't apply here, eh? LOL!
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Battery technology has never kept up with other tech.
We are still using lead acid batteries that weigh 35+ lbs. to start our cars. This is more or less the same battery as has been used for the last 100 years.
If battery tech was on par with other advances, we would have an energy cell the size of a AA battery to start the car.
 
Racer88 said:
Wish I still had my 1967 Mercury Cougar!
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If you have the means, you could find another one and build it back over time.
If you look at most hot rodders, the car they display at the event took them a couple of years or more to build if they are blue collar and still have a full time job.
 
no4mk1t said:
If you have the means, you could find another one and build it back over time.
If you look at most hot rodders, the car they display at the event took them a couple of years or more to build if they are blue collar and still have a full time job.
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Maybe some day when I have that kind of time and inclination. Back when I had it, there was a company that made replica parts for just about everything old Mercury Cougar. I got a rear "package tray" (under the rear window) from them back in the late 80s. I'm sure that company doesn't exist anymore.
 
Racer88 said:
Sure, but if it's a daily driver... eventually the upholstery, moldings, dashboard, etc... start to break down.
Click to expand...
All that’s easy DIY stuff to redo. So much re-pop these days. Like old school sears, order on line pop it in. I’ve re done my seat 2x easy peasy
Old seat
IMG_0131_Original.jpeg
IMG_0633.jpeg

New seat
IMG_0179.jpeg


Note- the dash is metal. No sun damage with cover
IMG_0181.jpeg
 
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I miss my old Yamaha SRX6 motorcycle. Rudimentary electrics, no electronics, and there's nothing like kick starting a 600cc one-lunger. If the battery died, you just kicked it over and rode anyway.
 
Dont you just hate it when the axle comes off the truck?

apple.news

Ford to recall 112,965 F-150 trucks - NHTSA — Reuters

Ford (F.N) is recalling 112,965 units of its F-150 vehicles because of its rear axle hub bolt which may break, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday.
apple.news apple.news
 

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