2021 Ford Bronco - shots fired

[Kornholio]

That’s way more than I get. Way more. But I do remember way back in trade school, they were saying if you want to make the real money to go through the diesel program and learn to work on medium/heavy trucks. A couple of my guys left about 4 years ago to go work at a maintenance yard for medium duty trucks. Hear from them from time to time and even though it just looks like that job is physically kicking their ass, they couldn’t be happier they made the change.

It's funny, I chatted with my morning crew today about what you had mentioned and they were saying that while it's not always peaches and cream, they're definitely happier that they went the heavy duty route and then even more so that they went to work for the garbage company. They must be happy considering how long some of these guys have been around.

I see it as a capable replacement for the Cherokee XJ.

Nice!

 

[wazzuFreddo]

What I would want is a two door manual, but speaking practically and having to live with it every day in the Bay Area I will most likely get a 4 door auto.

 

[Charles R]

That’s way more than I get. Way more. But I do remember way back in trade school, they were saying if you want to make the real money to go through the diesel program and learn to work on medium/heavy trucks. A couple of my guys left about 4 years ago to go work at a maintenance yard for medium duty trucks. Hear from them from time to time and even though it just looks like that job is physically kicking their ass, they couldn’t be happier they made the change.

Some of that is the clientele. Working on European cars, you'd get, "it sometimes but not often, makes this little squeak in the dash. You need to fix it or I'm going to lemon law it!"

Where as with med/heavy/fleet work, you get nothing until you get, "it stopped moving...make it move again".

The parts may be heavier...but there's FAR less BS attached to them!

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Some of that is the clientele. Working on European cars, you'd get, "it sometimes but not often, makes this little squeak in the dash. You need to fix it or I'm going to lemon law it!"

Where as with med/heavy/fleet work, you get nothing until you get, "it stopped moving...make it move again".

The parts may be heavier...but there's FAR less BS attached to them!

And RTV is bought in bulk ala Costco.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Some of that is the clientele. Working on European cars, you'd get, "it sometimes but not often, makes this little squeak in the dash. You need to fix it or I'm going to lemon law it!"

Oh you think that’s just limited to European? That’s precious.


Pre Covid, I used to go the extra mile and have the customer drive with me riding shotgun. Make them demonstrate the problem. And even then when we’d drive for miles and miles and nothing acted up, they’re still on an on with what an outrage this is for a $40k car and this is unacceptable and Honda is gonna buy this car back.

Now that I can’t road test with them anymore, it’s back to a quick spin around the block and literally stamp (I had one made) “NPF” on the repair order.

To be honest, the road test with the customer way did manage to catch a couple more problems or at least educate them that it’s normal and why it’s normal, but I save a shitload more time throughout my week now just rubber stamping these stupid nick nack complaints they fuck out of my sight.

 

[Charles R]

Oh no, I'm fully aware it's all makes and models.
I do think some marquees have a higher percentage of snivelers though. You buy a Yugo? You don't expect much. You buy a VW? 75% seem to think they bought a Bentley.

But a CAT D-9 operator? Or in my current case, a postal vehicle? They don't snivel. Hell, half the time I have to red tag their vehicle just so I can take it from them in order to do repairs.

 

[Kornholio]

But a CAT D-9 operator? Or in my current case, a postal vehicle? They don't snivel. Hell, half the time I have to red tag their vehicle just so I can take it from them in order to do repairs.

Same for us...for the most part...

If their A/C is out, god help us.

 

[Charles R]

There's a reason the mail trucks don't have A/C.

In fact, when we just got new tractors, the first thing my supervisor said was, "install cabin fans, so when the A/C goes out, they can't call it a 'safety' issue".

 

[Kornholio]

The first thing I seriously LOL'd about in my first staff meeting with the company was when I found out A/C is a company safety requirement. It's not optional and must be working or the truck is out of service. Seriously.

The driver's union is strong...

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Heat and A/C was a deadline fault for us depending on the season but usually regardless of season.

 

[yumdumpster]

The first thing I seriously LOL'd about in my first staff meeting with the company was when I found out A/C is a company safety requirement. It's not optional and must be working or the truck is out of service. Seriously.

The driver's union is strong...

Depending on the environment I could totally understand the need for either.

Minnesota in the Winter? Definitely. Phoenix in the Summer? Ditto.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Speaking of A/C, who’s old enough to remember how much cooler outlet temps were when vehicles used R-12?

I can get a super efficient 134a system in the low 40s. But the latest and most earth friendly 1234yf stuff is complete dogshit. Plus it’s so expensive you’d think it’s R12 prices.

 

[Abacinator]

Oh you think that’s just limited to European? That’s precious.


Pre Covid, I used to go the extra mile and have the customer drive with me riding shotgun. Make them demonstrate the problem. And even then when we’d drive for miles and miles and nothing acted up, they’re still on an on with what an outrage this is for a $40k car and this is unacceptable and Honda is gonna buy this car back.

Now that I can’t road test with them anymore, it’s back to a quick spin around the block and literally stamp (I had one made) “NPF” on the repair order.

To be honest, the road test with the customer way did manage to catch a couple more problems or at least educate them that it’s normal and why it’s normal, but I save a shitload more time throughout my week now just rubber stamping these stupid nick nack complaints they fuck out of my sight.

I hate that shit. At least since we're an indie shop, most of the stuff we work on is old enough that people expect creaks and rattles

 

[tzrider]

Discs self clean. Wet brakes are less effective. Flood the drum brake with water, and it’s weak for while.

I've heard an opposite argument in favor of drums -- that they tend to stay free of mud and moisture in the first place. They also have more surface area and require less fluid movement and pressure to operate.

But they don't shed heat as well and discs certainly do sweep themselves clean more easily.

One of my vehicles has rear drums and though I've thought it would be nice to do a disc conversion, I can't convince myself it would be worthwhile, as they can still brake hard enough to lock the rear before the fronts lock. Doesn't seem like this would make any difference in stopping power.

In a vehicle towing or otherwise more loaded in the rear, I can see it making a difference.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

I've definitely been guilty of bringing shit in for rattles, but it's usually a pretty targeted thing. For example - got a service where they replaced the cabin air filter, which I know is behind the glove box. Rattling noise + whistling from the AC after I got the car back. "Hey guys, what's with this noise? It's coming from the area you just serviced, and it wasn't doing it before I dropped it off for the service." They found a crunched air filter that hadn't been installed correctly (causing the whistling) and loose plastics that hadn't been snapped back in properly (causing the rattling). Quick, easy, $0 to me.

 

[Charles R]

I hear you Rob! The more we advance! The more we go backwards!

Our previous generation of tractors were the first to have A/C. As I mentioned, none of the mail trucks have it. But they must all have a working "comfort fan". As he did with the current tractors, back then he told his managers they should add "comfort fans" to all those new trucks. They didn't, and sure enough when the A/C started failing, the union jumped on that as a safety issue.

For what it's worth, as noted, there are some areas that just get too hot for a fan only. So there are some regions that have A/C in the mail trucks. Currently, there is a requirement for the next generation to have it in all the fleet.

 

[Abacinator]

How much longer can they keep limping the LLV along?

 

[Charles R]

The LLV is the greatest vehicle of all time! Lol!

Last I heard it may be around for another 8-ish years. They had some final prototype contenders, but they all failed out.

In all honesty, I still feel a repower of the LLV's would be by far the best option. But I admit they're not big enough for the current parcel heavy workload.

 

[Kornholio]

Heat and A/C was a deadline fault for us depending on the season but usually regardless of season.

Heat was a deadline fault since, as you know, that rendered the defrost system inoperable. However, in the summer, I regularly signed off 5988's for being serviceable since there was absolutely no need for defrost in the middle of summer at literally any Army post. A/C, as you also well know, absolutely didn't exist in any Army wheeled vehicle except when in the desert and only then was it a deadlineable item. However, there were times the commander would circle-E that shit when we needed him to. Shit happens. Yes, the 109A6 had a "climate control system" that was basically half-assed A/C, but they absolutely never worked right and we never wasted our time fixing it.

BTW, if your heater wasn't working in your vehicle, the last thing you wanted to do was wait until it started getting cold to bring it up to maintenance's attention. That was a sure way to get your LT told to fuck off and bring blankets for his ride out to the back 40.

Depending on the environment I could totally understand the need for either.

Minnesota in the Winter? Definitely. Phoenix in the Summer? Ditto.

Fremont has neither of those conditions, though. Federal standards do not require A/C to neither be present nor be working if present in a commercial inspection. Only our company requires it to work but we can still send the truck out in most cases even if it doesn't. Garbage trucks break down a lot and A/C isn't always a quick fix.

 

[TheRobSJ]

I've heard an opposite argument in favor of drums -- that they tend to stay free of mud and moisture in the first place. They also have more surface area and require less fluid movement and pressure to operate.

By design they are shielded from moisture and mud. But that same design keeps all the dust in too. That dust gums up the self adjuster and then it becomes hard to turn which may keep from functioning at all. Once they get far enough out of adjustment, they really aren’t doing much braking anymore and all your stopping power is just from the front.

And they’re not watertight. They can still get wet. Which is why I mentioned the boat launch ramp. Worst case scenario would be backing a heavy boat trailer down the ramp. Suppose the trailer brakes failed for whatever reason. Then as soon as the not so well adjusted rear drums hit the water those became not very effective. Now you’ve only got the front brakes to keep you from losing the truck. That’s a butt puckering moment right there.