OT: Long Rant

I am at a complete loss for today's business models. Manufactures make things disposable so we'll have to buy more. OK, I get the logic behind that.

And here's the example. Wife drives a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's got about 95k miles on it and so far, besides a couple of warranty repairs, it's been a pretty decent vehicle. Well, the taillight assemblies have to be removed to change any of the rear bulbs. I've removed both sides probably a couple of times by now, and of course they are attached by a disposable plastic rivet(instead of a screw/bolt the pretty much last till you lose it). When I replaced them the last I noticed they were loose, but they still held. I told myself I'd get replacements a little later and replace them. Well, I had actually forgot about them and the wife went a car wash the other day. Drivers side tail light Assembly literally fell off when the brushes ran over it. No damage. Car wash was like oops...here's some scotch tape till you get home.

Wife calls me and explains what happens and I tell no big deal, I get the replacement rivets and fix it in about 5 minutes when I get home from work. I call 3 parts store, 2 only have generic plastic rivet combo pacts, and one just laughed at me we don't carry any of those. So I stop by the Jeep Dealership figuring OK, I'll just pay the dealer price on these stupid things and go on. Nope, we'll have to order those, we don't keep them in stock.

So you mean to tell me, that you don't stock a part that the manufacturer has made disposable so that I'd have to come in and buy more them?!? And its not like its an obscure part...every 2005-2010 Grand Cherokee(and I'm sure they were used in other models as well, but I know these were all the same) has to have these things?

So it now has the generic ones in, they're as loose as the old factory ones, and some duct tape along the inside edge. Just makes no sense to me...

we stock a lot of fasteners here at the shop, but there are a ton of them that are special use and you just cant stock them all. and the one time use fasteners are a real pain. easy for the assembly line, real problem working on em.

If you had one for a sample many times the body shop departments for dealerships have drawers full of those in assortments provided by some outside supplier who only sells to dealerships.
At least our GM dealer had several drawers of them.

Just an idea, but don't know if some double sided velcro would work on the inside, as you said you used some duct tape?

SWMBO's 03 PT Cruiser has same type of tail lights. When I have change a bulb I put a little dab of clear caulk on the housing to keep it in place with no rattling.

Probably another reason Jeeps get such a poor rating in Consumer report magazine. Other thing I don't understand is all the bulb replacement, cant remember the last time I changed a bulb.

One thing to do. Go on fleabey and buy some LED replacements. They are pretty impressive.

What glennster and Mike M said....a body shop at the dealership should have them.

Impressive as in dangerous. those lights are very hard on the eyes of anybody following or the way they put the led's around the headlights they blind you, should be outlawed.

my local true value hardware has an assortment of them in the hardware section. Try a Hardware store with a good hardware section you should find what you need.
Chuck

I've commented 'around' this problem many times when the subject of old -vs- new comes up. Usually what happens is the guys on the new side of the equation talk about how much better engine life there is with the newer stuff, etc. What pretty much all of them fail to mention is that it's just fine if the engine can last a million miles, but if the rest of the plastic parts that make up the vehicle are falling apart at the half million mile nark, then the engine life doesn't matter. Not to mention you often run into the same problem you have when it comes to getting common, small parts, they are either not available, or something. Case in point, a buddy went to get the clips that hold the door panel on his 15 year old truck the other day. He stopped several places, including one devoted to auto body/repair, and was told that there are no aftermarkets available, and was told by the dealer that they no longer carry them. He finally found a couple of usable ones in a salvage yard.

On the subject of salvage yards, I work for a few of them local to me, including one that's international. For all the "long life" expectancy of the newer vehicles now days, you realize it means very little when you look around one of those yards. It never ceases to amaze me the number of vehicles brought in with a bad transmission, bad engine, or something similar that would be considered a major, but repairable, problem with an older vehicle. Many of these vehicles look better than anything I'll ever be able to afford to buy, but they are pieced out for parts for a set amount of time, and anything left after that is recycled. Heck, I've seen good looking, running, vehicles brought in that could be driven off the lot. Usually they are tow in's that weren't claimed, or insurance/repo recoveries, or somehting like that, but regardless, they run. Thing is they were bought at an auto auction for pennies on the dollar, and when parted out can bring more than the value of the car sold outright, and the cost to buy it at auction too.

In other words, they might last a long time, but with very little age, they are pretty much worthless when it comes time to resale, and as you stated, they are designed to be scrapped and/or recycled, which ever you want to call it.

Had Gr Cherokee, went quarter million mi with it. Except for brake pads, spark plugs , headlight bulb, an engine sensor never had any more problems than other makes. Got over 20 mpg. Parts were available because so many were made. It was ready to go in any type weather. Sat outside in weather.
Modern vehicles have many thousands of parts, a smaller dealer might miss stocking some.

Ease of assembly could outweigh servicabilty. Lots of things like that on an Avalanche .{ but they were sold by the pack in auto stores]. Can't work around the grill area without a new pack.

agreed

yup, maintenance is not a concern for automotive designers, at least the Detroit 3. I've been pleasantly surprised how my Nissan has been designed for maintenance type stuff I've had to do.

I understand part of your rant.

But, its not that Chrysler doesnt still make the part, its that they didnt have it in stock at the dealership you visited.

OEMs have distribution centers throughout the US. Most deliver overnight if ordered early enough. It is impossible for a dealer to stock every single part number for every model that has been built in the last 10 years.

The part of your rant I agree with... EVERY time I step foot in the dealer they never have the part I need in stock either. Ugh.

rick

Nobody sells those by application, they have to be matched up. Find an Av-Ve-Co retailer.

As for new stuff not being made like old stuff was, thank goodness! Could you imagine running a car today if tires only went 15K, brakes 10K, and point maintenance every 5K?

About everytime you see one in a minor accident it's rolled over on it's side.

How about this? Almost ALL of these types of fasteners are NOT made by the manufacturer of the vehicle. They are made by specialty jobber shops that crank them out by the millions. The carmakers are in the business of making CARS and TRUCKS. Making fasteners is simply too expensive to do in house. Takes up precious production space, takes more expensive labor to tend and operate, and is generally not made in sufficient quantity to pay for itself. Also, as far as the disposable stuff........
It would be easier and cheaper to restore a 1959 Buick than to restore a 1989 Buick. More parts are likely available for the 1959! Maybe not at the local Auto Zone, but there are plenty of places that specialize in antique car parts.