Are Manufacturers to Blame for Excessive Auto Repair Costs?
In the ongoing effort to shed light on excessive car repair prices, we can’t discount the manufacturer’s role. During a spirited discussion in an automotive forum, the comments below from Ray Fast highlight the role the manufacturer plays in taking money from the repair customer’s wallet. The discussion revolves around the difficulty of replacing an alternator in an Acura. The Acura, like all front wheel drive vehicles, has a transverse mounted engine. Transverse engines are the ones mounted sideways. Because of this “sideways” design, the alternator is mounted low and behind the engine, making it difficult to remove and replace on the year and model we discussed. Front wheel drive has some good features, but is it better than its rear-wheel drive predecessor? Front wheel drive has created a host of additional repairs, none of which were necessary in years past. These repairs have been costing you, the service customer, a fortune. Ray writes: The shift to transverse engines and front w
