Fuse issues

[Kevin Hall]

While my wife and I both love driving our ' 99 Forester, we have had more
than our share of serious troubles with it. Most have been remedied under
warranty, but the 100 mile treks to the closest competent dealership are
wearing a bit thin.

Now the power windows and doorlocks have died, apparently having blown the
30 amp fuse hiding under the hood. It turns out this fuse is identical to
the one which powers the fuel pump, 30 amp, and both are 'Suby only'
parts. So far we've been waiting a week and a half to get hold of one.

What kind of brain-dead design engineer would call for 'dealer only' fuses
in a vehicle? In our case we are lucky it was only the windows and
doorlocks. What happens when some poor bugger is in Elk Scrotum
Saskatchewan and loses the fuel-pump fuse? By the time he can get hold of
one from a remote Suby dealership he could die of exposure or starvation!

My mechanic tells me that some new Nissans have gone the same route; major
fuses available only from the dealership. I can understand the companies
wanting to ensure their genuine parts are used on their vehicles, but to
carry this through to fuses is outrageous. What's next, 16 3/8" wheels so
you can only get tires from the dealer?

As much as we enjoy the car, it has been far less reliable than our vintage
Mini Cooper, which is saying something. Makes me very glad indeed that we
have hung on to our pre-computer-era full-size Chevy Blazer, which has
loyally ferried us to and from every shop appointment to deliver and collect
the Suby.

After discovering little joys like 'dealer-only' fuses, Suby Canada can bet
their corporate ass our new vehicle will be a Chev.

KH

 

[null_pointer]

While my wife and I both love driving our ' 99 Forester, we have had more
than our share of serious troubles with it. Most have been remedied under
warranty, but the 100 mile treks to the closest competent dealership are
wearing a bit thin.

Now the power windows and doorlocks have died, apparently having blown the
30 amp fuse hiding under the hood. It turns out this fuse is identical to
the one which powers the fuel pump, 30 amp, and both are 'Suby only'
parts. So far we've been waiting a week and a half to get hold of one.

What kind of brain-dead design engineer would call for 'dealer only' fuses
in a vehicle? In our case we are lucky it was only the windows and
doorlocks. What happens when some poor bugger is in Elk Scrotum
Saskatchewan and loses the fuel-pump fuse? By the time he can get hold of
one from a remote Suby dealership he could die of exposure or starvation!

My mechanic tells me that some new Nissans have gone the same route; major
fuses available only from the dealership. I can understand the companies
wanting to ensure their genuine parts are used on their vehicles, but to
carry this through to fuses is outrageous. What's next, 16 3/8" wheels so
you can only get tires from the dealer?

If I had problems such as yours, I would buy some automotive style30
amp circuit breakers and wire them up to the terminals where the fuse
goes.

 

[Dan C.]

You can always use a piece of striped wire till the next suby dealer /
or shelter

Talking about the engineering choices on subys. Some of them I find
rather odd. What can we do? We love the dam car anyway

Regards,
Dan

 

[Edward Hayes]

Are the fuses special slo-blow or delay type that they need to be special?
Most of my cars have extra fuses in case of a burn out although I haven't
checked my Forester. Are the fuses like the master link fuses in all cars to
protect the complete wiring system from burning up in case of a massage
short?

 

[Dan Duncan]

Now the power windows and doorlocks have died, apparently having blown the
30 amp fuse hiding under the hood. It turns out this fuse is identical to
the one which powers the fuel pump, 30 amp, and both are 'Suby only'
parts. So far we've been waiting a week and a half to get hold of one.

Why only one? Why not two while you're at it? Was it expensive?

What kind of brain-dead design engineer would call for 'dealer only' fuses
in a vehicle? In our case we are lucky it was only the windows and
doorlocks. What happens when some poor bugger is in Elk Scrotum
Saskatchewan and loses the fuel-pump fuse? By the time he can get hold of
one from a remote Suby dealership he could die of exposure or starvation!

The smart approach would be to swap it with the power window fuse.

My mechanic tells me that some new Nissans have gone the same route; major
fuses available only from the dealership. I can understand the companies
wanting to ensure their genuine parts are used on their vehicles, but to
carry this through to fuses is outrageous. What's next, 16 3/8" wheels so
you can only get tires from the dealer?

This annoys me as well. Why are there eleventy-seven different bulbs,
alternators, oil filters, etc?

How many alternators, for example, does GM really need to make
for their vehicles? Low output, high output, then maybe options
based on rpm range (redline < or > than X times idle speed).

Ok, so that's a total of FOUR alternators...

Then for oil filters you have low or high pressure, low or high
flow rate, maybe a taller and shorter/wider unit for the engine
compartment fit...

Ok, so that's like EIGHT possible oil filters.

And Bulbs! Around here the law dictates how bright a bulb
needs to be... visible at such a distance, etc... It doesn't
matter if it's a Geo Metro or a Suburban. Pretty much everything
is 12V. You have a headlight, a brake light, and tail/signal
lights in descending order of brightness... Sometimes the
brake and tail and signal are multiple filaments in one bulb
or sometimes they separate them out to multiple bulbs...

That's still only a few bulbs, not hundreds!

Am I missing something or are automotive engineers just trying
to create job security?

-DanD

 

[nItpIk]

Am I missing something or are automotive engineers just trying
to create job security?

Bingo !!!

 

[Dan Duncan]

Not engineers but market types!!!!!!!!!!! eddie

As much as I detest marketing weasels...

Why would marketing types want to spend R&D dollars to develop
a different sized base for a light bulb they won't be able to
sell for any more than a bulb they already spent the R&D dollars
on and will cost them less to produce? Unless the new base is
unique enough to actually patent (there's really only a couple
types just in varying sizes) the aftermarket companies will
just start undercutting you.

The existing bulb will turn a higher profit, and I seriously doubt
there's much of a wow factor in tail light bulbs. Lenses, sure.

-DanD