grumps147
LIFE MEMBER
Am I alone?
Do not get me wrong, I am not hopelessly lacking in skills or knowledge. Vehicles especially were never a problem from leaving school, in fact I was the one family members brought vehicles to for repair and especially tuning at home.
Then, work gradually took over and the balance between being desperate for cash and doing everything on the cheap including getting parts from scrapyards, was gradually taken over by my lack of time due to work and earning more at work. The bottle jack and car axle stands became a thing of the past, and over time garages took over servicing as well.
Then, technology took over. A look under the bonnet showed a big keep out cover, and the gubbins under that cover became a mystery. It now needs computers with special programs before a spanner or screwdriver is needed. All kinds of screw heads exist, and even basic electrical connections show torque settings needed in some instructions.
So, along comes a large motorhome and any hope that my little jack or axle stands are safe is out of the window. There is no big cover over the engine, but the electronics are a myth to me. Our Autotrail’s had an accessible wiring diagram that reminded me of similar in my old car and Haynes manuals that I had no problems understanding, but my Rapido does not, and nor can I find one on the web anywhere.
Now finding myself in the lithium minefield, I am finding so much conflicting advice I am beginning to think it is me.
I do not seem to have any of the skills needed. Even though it did not need a detailed existing wiring diagram, just looking where to run a solo 3 core cable to and from became an impossible task. At each end of the connection cables disappeared into a black hole with no idea of how or where it needed to be run to get between A and B.
What was also highlighted was even if I could run the cable I would not have the special heads to undo screws, no real understanding of electrical testing equipment, no crimping tools and no way of knowing if when I turned the key after an install there would not be lots of smoke and an insurance company saying no to a claim. The job in tools alone could cost a small fortune.
That was all reinforced in a recent thread where something was described as a simple job taking a very short time. That was the straw that broke the camels back.
I do know I can look to YouTube, but that seems to be full of the same which expert do I believe material. Even with my skills one persons video of fitting a diesel heater got me to question all the other advice they had given. Back to the selection of which expert(s) are the ones whose advice we mere mortals need to follow.
So, am I alone, or are others out there having similar issues?
Do not get me wrong, I am not hopelessly lacking in skills or knowledge. Vehicles especially were never a problem from leaving school, in fact I was the one family members brought vehicles to for repair and especially tuning at home.
Then, work gradually took over and the balance between being desperate for cash and doing everything on the cheap including getting parts from scrapyards, was gradually taken over by my lack of time due to work and earning more at work. The bottle jack and car axle stands became a thing of the past, and over time garages took over servicing as well.
Then, technology took over. A look under the bonnet showed a big keep out cover, and the gubbins under that cover became a mystery. It now needs computers with special programs before a spanner or screwdriver is needed. All kinds of screw heads exist, and even basic electrical connections show torque settings needed in some instructions.
So, along comes a large motorhome and any hope that my little jack or axle stands are safe is out of the window. There is no big cover over the engine, but the electronics are a myth to me. Our Autotrail’s had an accessible wiring diagram that reminded me of similar in my old car and Haynes manuals that I had no problems understanding, but my Rapido does not, and nor can I find one on the web anywhere.
Now finding myself in the lithium minefield, I am finding so much conflicting advice I am beginning to think it is me.
I do not seem to have any of the skills needed. Even though it did not need a detailed existing wiring diagram, just looking where to run a solo 3 core cable to and from became an impossible task. At each end of the connection cables disappeared into a black hole with no idea of how or where it needed to be run to get between A and B.
What was also highlighted was even if I could run the cable I would not have the special heads to undo screws, no real understanding of electrical testing equipment, no crimping tools and no way of knowing if when I turned the key after an install there would not be lots of smoke and an insurance company saying no to a claim. The job in tools alone could cost a small fortune.
That was all reinforced in a recent thread where something was described as a simple job taking a very short time. That was the straw that broke the camels back.
I do know I can look to YouTube, but that seems to be full of the same which expert do I believe material. Even with my skills one persons video of fitting a diesel heater got me to question all the other advice they had given. Back to the selection of which expert(s) are the ones whose advice we mere mortals need to follow.
So, am I alone, or are others out there having similar issues?
