OT: Just had a good laugh

Oct 15, 2004 5 Replies

One of the ladies that I work with asked me to help her change the dead instrument panel lamps on her '97 F150 pickup truck.



I started to pull some panels off since you haven't been able to reach the lamps from below the dash since about 1975. With three panels dangling and still no visible means of removing the instrument cluster, thought better of going on intuition. Called a friend with the service manual and got a copy of the R&R info. The procedure was about 30 steps long and included dropping the steering column. Should take about 4 hours... all to replace four 59 cent lamps. (must cost over $300 for a professional to do). At that, I put it all back together and asked her to consider taping a couple of lamps to the outside of the plexiglas cover. Infinitely more cost effective considering the shape of the vehicle.



I recall that Ford used to have a slogan, "Ford has a better Idea." Then I remembered that they haven't used that one in many years. Now the rallying cry is more like, "Ford has a better idea, Yeah, my "


You hit on a good point. Auto makers do some things that make servicing easier, like bright yellow handles on the oil dipstick, but things like the bulb replacement is classic dumb. I'm seeing LED's used more now and they have a longer lifespan so hopefully they'll find their way into applications like dash lamps. But if I look at a dash, any dash, they are way too complicated for what is needed. Put a ruggedized PC with a flat screen in the center console and call it day...

applications

Are you that eager to see the blue screen of death on your car ? :)

Well, there's always UNIX? (smile)

Challenger... now you're talking!

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