Hi.
Noticed an increasing availability of used cars being sold for parts, with damaged engines and transmissions, trashed the rest. What is it? Higher prices of parts pushing to sell 'for parts' instead of running, or is it the f**ing laziness that nobody wants to check coolant and oil levels; assuming a car is supposed to start and take you anywhere anytime just as turning your bedroom light on, with no need of attention ? Leaving the task for the mechanic when something else fails ?

Am an old fart that checks the basics of my vehicle needs periodically and consciously since a teenager. What is going on with the current generations ? Seen kids handling a laptop as if they were handling a frying pan. Do people have too much money and buy another? O are things too inexpensive ? Or 'daddy get me a new one' ? What is going on ? Since day one; everything I collected came from my sweat and work. Now kids only want jobs massaging keyboards. If a drop of sweat is needed for a task, it is a "bye-bye this job". Can anyone explain ?

 

Can anyone explain ?

No.

But I wish the kids would just stay off my lawn.

 

I owned an older Chrysler LHS. It sat up for over a year after I had my cancerous kidney removed and was recovering. Battery died and the LHS lost its engine computer programming! Being a somewhat older model, none of the dealerships had the programming cable!!! Even my brother-in-law who was a Chrysler Dealership senior mechanic. He had the programming software, but not the cable. I had to scrap what had been a perfectly running automobile for the lack of the programming cable! I miss that car... It had been well maintained and was in good running condition albeit unable to start and run due to the missing engine control software. I'm still PO'd over that one!

 

I owned an older Chrysler LHS. It sat up for over a year after I had my cancerous kidney removed and was recovering. Battery died and the LHS lost its engine computer programming! Being a somewhat older model, none of the dealerships had the programming cable!!! Even my brother-in-law who was a Chrysler Dealership senior mechanic. He had the programming software, but not the cable. I had to scrap what had been a perfectly running automobile for the lack of the programming cable! I miss that car... It had been well maintained and was in good running condition albeit unable to start and run due to the missing engine control software. I'm still PO'd over that one!

That's insane, what a ridiculous situation, this is the reality of our "modern" world.

 

none of the dealerships had the programming cable!!!

Just because of that, I will never buy a Chrysler I never had anything against before ! Will keep my '61 Caddy.

 

I still have our '65 Mercury Monterey and have personally met and know well every nut and bolt on it after swapping and rebuilding 3 390 ci engines, 4 transmissions, 2 rear ends, 2 radiators, and 2 gas tanks! Plus, all the suspension and axle bearings a few times as well. The only thing I never could convince dad of was getting rid of those damned Autolite 4-barrel carbs for some double pumper Holleys! That car has been up and down the Atlantic coast from Quebec City to the end of the road in Key West and back a few times but never crossed the Mississippi River.