ERD50
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Apparently, you were not a good mechanic on the older cars that had ignition points and a carburetor, or you didn't have a good mechanic handy.
I had plenty of those simple cars, and all that they required was a good, simple tune up every 10,000 miles or so. ....
... These newer, computer controlled cars seem to either run or just stop, and fixing one in your driveway requires a good ECM scanner and that may not be enough. Oh, and an inexpensive code reader tells you what the "symptom" is and that is generally not enough information to figure out the defective part(s). Try deciphering a typical code that gives the info as PXXXX - "leak in evaporative control system" and go to Autozone with that in your hand. Good luck! ...
Well, I agree with you that the 'transition' years of emission controls before the fuel injection and ECM systems matured were the worst of all worlds.
But I can't agree with much of the rest. The 10,000 mile tune-ups are not required at all these days (and even plugs are good for 40-100,000 miles). I knew how to do tune ups, and I did - but I like it better when I don't have to do them. And the minute you closed the hood, that tune-up was degrading mile by mile - the modern computers keep all that in check with superb accuracy.
Sure, the code readers can only report the symptom, but often it's so pinpoint that the causes are obvious, and the internet helps. And they are no longer expensive. I bought a $15 bluetooth OBDII module and use a free app on my tablet that tells me far more than the $60 scanner I bought a few years ago:
Amazon.com: Bluetooth OBDII OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner Scan Tool Check Engine Light Car Code Reader: Automotive
On my Volvo, the code and a quick internet search pinpointed it down to thermostat or sensor (engine not coming up to temperature in specified time). The thermostat was cheaper, so I did that first, and that did it.
Of all the modern cars in our family, I've never had an actual ECM issue, or anything related to the new stuff. One car did need a fuel injector replaced, but that wasn't a big deal - I'm sure carburetors over that same time and number of vehicles would have required more attention. I've had water pumps, a coil, gaskets, exhaust stuff, and regular maintenance like light bulbs, belts, brakes and tires - all the same old stuff as the old cars.
It would be interesting to see stats on average miles between tows today versus an early 1960's car. I'd be very surprised if the modern systems aren't far more reliable.
No nostalgia for me, you can have the carbs and points and dwell meters and timing lights if you like 'em!
-ERD50