What have you learned in your old age that you feel should be taught to high school students?

Let's not forget electric parking brakes. Sometimes a simple pad slap requires the removal of the e-brake motor followed by an electronic recalibration.

As far as sensors, I rented a Nissan Rogue a few years ago. Tried to back into my BIL's driveway and it wouldn't let me.

Narrow driveway and I was trying to back in between his truck and a retaining wall. There was some vegetation hanging off the retaining wall and I guess the Rogue thought it was a little kid or something. Locked up the brakes - hard - every time. I suppose there was a way to turn it off, but it wasn't worth my time to figure it out.

What dream planet are you living on ? In my world the Snap-On stuff _always_ fetches top dollar. .. whether it's the online classified ads or the auction sales - - live or online / estate or consignment auctions - Snap-On gets noticed and sells accordingly. John T.

You should read a book! The electronic power steering is very cool and it is in fact pretty much like the hydraulic steering system except there's a sensor and a servomotor instead of hoses.

Because there's a computer mediating between the sensor and the motor you need to understand how to watch the data going through the computer controls, but you CAN watch that, and much more easily than watching pressures at the steering rack on that old Galaxie.

Everything being packed more tightly IS a problem, but by the same token we also have better tools for getting into places than we ever had before.

For the first couple of years until the people who make the scanning tools for BMWs catch on and figure out how to emulate the factory tools, and then it's just a matter of visiting your local independent shop with BMW tools.

The same thing was the case back in the sixties with special tools. At first the dealer only had the tools, then a couple years later everyone had them.

--scott

You know that but do the kids? He's right, often they just want to get rid of stuff they know nothing about and it goes for cheap. Good chance the kids or grandkids don't even know what a wrench is.

Are you on the same dream-planet ? Where is it that Snap-On goes for cheap ? .. me and a few million other people want to know - old _and_ young ... John T.

Try telling that to the simple (spin off oil filter) new way Toyota has for the oil filter change.

Probably yard sales at the parents estate .

Yard sales.

Oh .. OK _that_ yard sale ... the one where you find the Picasso and the Stradivarius .. John T.

All the BASICS of the above are taught in the physical sciences - basic Physics in particular.. If you unddrstand basic physics you understand basic hydraulics and plumbing.If you understand basic physics you understand electron theory and basic electrical and electronics. If you understand basic physics you understand the basics of simple machines - levers *suspension) ratios, etc.

The problem isn't hat schools don't teach everybody basic auto mechanics, or basic home construction, or plumbing, or rocket science, it is that schools don't theach THE BASICS As a former technical teacher I found it HILARIOUS that administration would take the kids who couldn't pass basic math, couldn't read at a grade 5 level, failed grade 9 science, and recommended them for technical trades - in particular, they sent the DUMBEST ones to Auto Shop!!!!!!! As an automotive shop instructor I had to teach them physics - basic machines, ratios, levers, inclined planes etc for them to understand the hydraulic systems (brakes etc), the power transmission systems (transmissions, steering gear, final drives etc) and the basics of fasteners (the function of torque and the reasons for having coarse and fine threads etc.) I had to teach them the basics of thermodynamics - how a heat engine works -how a cooling system works - the basic refrigeration cycle to understand air conditioning. I had to teach them basic metalurgy - about eutectic alloys for solfering and brazing - about fusion and the chemical action of fluxes for welding. I had to teach them about the chemistry involved in coolants and lubricants - and batteries. I had to teach them electron theory - condictoes, electromagnetism, capacitance and reluctance, semiconductors and basic electronics. I had to teach them basic boolean logic.

And that is just touching the surface.

I agree students should have a BASIC UNDERSTANDING of all you mentioned - but there is no way that every student needs to know how to do brakes on their car - and no way that even a mojority of those who think they know how should ever actually DO it. Brakes and steering IN PARTICULAR are critical safety systems that should NOT be done by rank amatures. In my many years in the trades I have seen WAY too many instances of extremely dangerous stuff done by guys (and gals) who knew just barely enough to be dangerous Not everybody should know how to wire a house - nor should many whothinkthey know how ever actually do it. The value in knowing the BASICS is knowing how much you do NOT know, and how impoertant it is to have things done right. They should know enough to know when they are being snowed.

Funny, they still workon the same principal. Suck, squeeze, bang, blow. They are still basically air pumpsThey still need air, fuel, compression, and spark. How they get the fuel and the spark has changed but the basics you would have learned on a Model A ford are still applicable. The BASIC diagnostics have not changed. Which one is missing? fuel, air, compression, or spark?? It will ALWAYS be one of them if an engine will not run.

From there on, it doesget more complicated - but today's engines can actually answer whenyou ask them "where does it hurt"

DEFINITELY. Add to that a bit of basic boolean logic for if not then and or - and you can figure out almost anything!!!

There WAS a large capital L stamped into the end of the stud or the head of the lugbolt on older cars - and "notches" on the flats of the LH nuts

It MIGHT - if the pinto was carbonned up - or hot-rodded.

Not exactly the same - but basically. When you throw in CVT transmissions you've moved the goal posts. When you thow in VVT you've moved the goalposts. The BASICS are the same. The implementation has DEFINITELY changed!!

The BASICS are all applicable. But the basics of Physics and Chemistry havde not changed either - and ALL of the rest is based on that.

Teach the BASICS to everyone. The BASICS apply to EVERYTHING!!!!!! Add deductive reasoning and boolean logic to the basics and you've pretty much hit all the "usefull things to know" that need top be taught to the "masses"

The biggest change??? Undoubtably it is Unleaded fuel. No lead means no phosphorous - which makes oi last longer. No lead makes plugs last longer. No phosphorous mkes exhaust last longer. No phosphorous makes engine internal parts last longer. No lead makes valves last longer.

Add electronic controls and you get away from running too rich cold which makes EVERYTHING last longer. No carb and choke adjustments. No point adjustment or change. No timing adjustment. Now no plug wires, cap and rotor, distributor advance, Basically NO TUNE UP. No valve adjustment, no valve grinds, no re-rings or bearing replacements for the life of the car - which is a MINIMUM of 4 times what it used to be.

That's the MECHANICAL end. Then we get to the bodywork Cars used to be rusted away junk within 6 years. It was common to have competely repainted a car at least once in it's short lifetime. By 1971 my1963 Valiant had been repainted twice. It was not uncommon to have the transmission replaced or rebuilt before 60000 miles and replacing the exhaust was pretty much an annual occurence.

Don't be silly. Go to some of the estate sales and such and you will see some stuff both over and under priced. Sure, a mechanic that retires would sell the stuff at a good price but to others, it is just dirty old tools.

Recently a drawing was sold at a yard sale for $30 and turned out to be worth millions.

Just because you know the value does not mean everyone does. Often the kids just want to clear out the house to sell it.

I'll give you another example. When my wife passed she had some dolls and stuff worth considerable money. I could have taken the time to sell it and put $500 to $1000 in my pocket. Instead, I gave it away. That could happen to your tools. You are on the dream planet.

Actually in the early years with poor manufacturing tolerances the left hand threads DID address a problem of wheel lugs loosening and wheels coming off. By the late 40s and mid 50s it was no longer a significant issue and slowly companies like oldsmobile, Hudson/nash/American Motors and others revedrted to RH threads all around - finally followed by Chrysler in the very early seventies (1971 I believe)

Bypass thermostats,reverse flow cooling systems,electric water pumps, electric cooling fans, - for starters.

The regulator is part of the alternator - or more likely the ECU or BCM. Now the starter is often controled by the ECU for start-stop - and you no longer have anignition key - and there are anti-theft systems that prevent the car fromstarting - for starters ----

And the oilressure guage is a "dummy" - just a "mechanical low oillight"

Yes - and for the AVERAGE new car owner, they will not need to warry about anything other than oil changes, brakes, and tires as long as they own the car.

John, you would be SURPRISED what the next generation doesn't know the value of. The stuff always gets snapped up REAL QUICK by those who DO know. The kids often have noidea what the stuff even IS, muchless what it is worth.