I lived in a townhouse complex awhile ago. I checked my oil level & tire pressures, as a minimum, before monthly long trips. A 30ish neighbor had said during a chat that he noticed I did that. He was looking over his car one weekend, getting ready for a trip with his wife & kid. I sauntered over to chat. He pulled out the engine oil dipstick, without anything to wipe it off, and admitted, “I have no idea what I’m looking at.”
I showed him his windshield washer tank. It was empty. He thought the pump had failed. He said he had been raised by his mother, who knew nothing about cars. He had his owner’s manual, so I suggested he take the next weekend to get familiar with this expensive thing he depended on.
It has been technically illegal to work on many parts of your own car due to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
However – “The Library of Congress issued new rules (PDF) Friday outlining when it’s legal to circumvent copy-protection systems. Among the activities blessed by the Librarian: unlocking cell phones to move from one network to another, repairing cars and tractors, performing security research, and pulling data from medical devices. The agency also expanded an existing jailbreaking exemption to cover voice assistant devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home.”
“…carmakers have sought to use the law to limit how customers can tinker with their own cars.”
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
he must’ve not taken automobile mechanics in school
Darsan54 Premium Member over 5 years ago
Don’t worry, you got lotsa company.
whahoppened over 5 years ago
Designers are trying their best to keep you OUT.
Pedmar Premium Member over 5 years ago
Check the oil. Check the tires. Check the windshield washer fluid. That’s as far as I go.
drycurt over 5 years ago
I lived in a townhouse complex awhile ago. I checked my oil level & tire pressures, as a minimum, before monthly long trips. A 30ish neighbor had said during a chat that he noticed I did that. He was looking over his car one weekend, getting ready for a trip with his wife & kid. I sauntered over to chat. He pulled out the engine oil dipstick, without anything to wipe it off, and admitted, “I have no idea what I’m looking at.”
I showed him his windshield washer tank. It was empty. He thought the pump had failed. He said he had been raised by his mother, who knew nothing about cars. He had his owner’s manual, so I suggested he take the next weekend to get familiar with this expensive thing he depended on.
Brass Orchid Premium Member over 5 years ago
Hmm… I don’t see the set screws for adjusting the carburetor…
And the distributor cap seems to be missing…
Tue Elung-Jensen over 5 years ago
Impressed he got his head under the car.
Silly Season over 5 years ago
Actually…
It has been technically illegal to work on many parts of your own car due to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
However – “The Library of Congress issued new rules (PDF) Friday outlining when it’s legal to circumvent copy-protection systems. Among the activities blessed by the Librarian: unlocking cell phones to move from one network to another, repairing cars and tractors, performing security research, and pulling data from medical devices. The agency also expanded an existing jailbreaking exemption to cover voice assistant devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home.”
“…carmakers have sought to use the law to limit how customers can tinker with their own cars.”
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/feds-say-its-ok-to-jailbreak-alexa/?
chris_weaver over 5 years ago
The problem with the car? It bwoke!
paranormal over 5 years ago
Honey, just back up now and you’ll solve all your problems…
Mike H over 5 years ago
Bad muffler bearings I bet.
Indianapolis Smith over 5 years ago
Blowing through the tailpipe isn’t helping.