Replacing Parts Trying To Find A Problem

[68 Ford Stepside]

I'm no spring chicken & for many, many years I've watched people replacing parts trying to find a problem. It doesn't make any sense at all. For heavens sake troubleshoot till you've found the problem & then fix it. If you are not a good troubleshooter, then find someone who is to help you. I'm not trying to hurt the part houses business, just trying to save you money. Have A Great Ford Day! W.Ott

[elgemcdlf]

I have been called a parts changer at times & while I agree with you I do believe in changing out everything that needs it. Many people let things go & I will use shocks as an example. Recommended replacement is every 50K miles. If I have a suspension complaint & the shocks are old they are getting replaced. Everything needs to be as it should be before you can locate the real source of a problem. Ignition is another perfect example. Been forever since it was touched & the vehicle has a miss that is ignition related. Well it's getting cap, rotor, plugs & wires to start if they are all old. Get everything where it should be prior to attempting to diagnose a problem.

Back to the suspension. You have a squeak but it is not the shocks. When you look under the vehicle it is obvious the shocks should have been replace years ago. You can run yourself crazy chasing that squeak when new shock now control suspension travel within designed limits & the squeak disappears. I am not saying shocks are the cure all for suspension problems just using them as an example.

[68 Ford Stepside]

It's certainly nice to change out everything that needs it if you are a man of means. If you are a married guy with a wife & two kids working a minimum wage job, you're not going to be able to spend the extra money to change out everything that needs it. My comment was intended to reach those many poor souls out there scraping for a living. Have A Great Ford Day! W.Ott

[zoso]

No payments, relatively inexpensive parts, USA made used parts available...we are already saving serious money. I say be as aggressive as possible changing stuff out. When it comes to starters go expensive high torque. Just bite the bullet. NEVER buy chinese IF you can help it. NEVER EVER.

If your making minimum wage and you can fix anything that comes up in these trucks, just get an ASE anyway.

Cheers