update, my mother had some of her co-workers working on the vans-plural.
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Nothing tops the 2016 Audi Q5. Its not under the hood. You have to take out the floor under the hatchback to get to the donut spare. Then you have to take the spare tire out. Then you have to disconnect some wire which holds the spare tire frame in. Then take that frame out. Voila, the battery at last!
Need a jump, good luck!
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I will never be confused with a mechanic and replaced my wife’s battery in her 2018 Ford Escape by following a YouTube tutorial. If you don’t know how sadistic Ford engineers are, look up the battery placement.
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Those Audis typically have jump posts under the hood. Hidden behind one of the plastic panels on the fire wall.
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The dumber ones are FAR more entertaining though
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Love my 2024 Ram 1500 limited. But by god the oil filter placement is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.
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They are amazing for that two weeks when everything works.
my mom had this certain ‘Pacifica’ for 4 to 6 years, it’s always ran fine-BUT small things like : trouble lights come on, electric doors won’t close fully on occasion, that kind of thing, but this winter-her strange-ass battery went bad ( it looks really odd) , but it’s not like the old ‘top/side post’ you just jump or hook a charger to, it’s some “new” chit they came up with–what did she do, ran out and bought another one just like it for over $200. ugh! this van is a 2017.
Shoot…..they created their own circle of hell called the EcoBoost engine.
Can Phaser rattling coil failing turbo leaking manifold warping brake booster leaving me with no brakes three separate times lead frame transmission POS.
Nice F150 otherwise
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I can not remember what the car was. Either a GM or a Chrysler, I had to take off the front tire and all the trim in the wheel well to change the tire. Additionally, due to location I also had to replace the wires because shockingly they corroded… I work in auto engineering in the supply base and lots of bad engineers. Just like any profession. It is amazing how easily a group of people can convince themselves that a really bad idea is a good idea… and I am not trying to introduce politics. Group think is hard at work in all areas of life.
I will give you 1 actual example.
We had a part that indicates something and needed a red indicator. So our engineer and the customer engineer all agreed that putting 2 small stickers (1/2 inch by 1/2 inch) on a piece of plastic in a manufacturing plant was a better idea than just molding the part in red. Like literally picked the more expensive way and the way for the most issues to happen because they followed a “process” that took them there. When I as the manager realized what had been decided I literally called my customers manager and asked him how this happened…he was as shocked as I was. So we pushed a change through at launch because…shockingly the stickers were falling off…and the 2 dumbasses were quick to show us how the process took them that the way…and that they had considered molding in red but that they had eliminated it as a option but could not actual show anyone why…like yeah we considered, it is not like we are dumb, we just eliminated it…my blood pressure is spiking again.
So yeah when I find a battery under a car I just chuckle and smile. Or in my Flex when you are supposed to take apart half the engine compartment to get the battery out I just “persuade” all the plastic to “bend” out of the way.
On another note, one of the reasons I love my Jeep is that it is pretty easy to work on. Lots of room and often it appears someone put in some thought about the actual owner/user.
Imports are cool, until they break. Then, you better have good credit.
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I was explaining this to my wife.
Sure we can get you a German car. But the issue is the maintenance is so expensive. And forget it if it needs to be actually fixed. And even if you are good with all of that, you still have to wait for the parts. Which that in my opinion is the biggest issue. The cars for the most part are well made and good quality. But the price and time for repairs is just not reasonable in this market.
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Grand Am’s have a shit time getting to their battery.
Ford Escapes, too!
It’s under the cowl and behind the junction block.
Even trying to add antifreeze is a PITA. The coolant reservoir is on the other side, under the cowl. I found that out on a long trip when it went into limp mode in the boonies in the U.P..
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I’m super happy that Bigfoot didn’t get you.
I don’t want to talk about it.
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The Germans can cut metal like none other. But they cannot built an electrical system to save their arses. Thus, since most newer cars are filled with sensors, relays etc. stick to Japanese or good ole US made. They fail too, but the repairs are infinitely cheaper.
For a while I reeeally wanted one of the V-8 S5 Coupes. Beautiful car. Then I read up on a “little problem.” They made the timing chain to last a lifetime, so they put it on the back side of the engine. Unfortunately they made the follower out of plastic and it will desintigrate somewhere between 50K onward. When they do, the engine has to be pulled to replace it. So I stuck with Infiniti G37 Coupes (3 in a row) until they changed the design and effed one of the most perfectly balanced driving experiences completely up with drive by wire steering etc. So many electronic nannies trying to out drive you that as one review said “you’ll never take a corner the same way twice.” Nope. So to the Roush RS2 which still has the original Brembo brakes at 78K miles! It just goes. Something is rattling in the driver side A pillar, but it’s all good. Just oil and tires so far.
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