yet another evil plot

ya they absolutely do!! It makes me sick to think about how these manufacturers rip us off like that - there is no reason why they can't make all these bolts and parts a standard size and shape! Sorry to hear about that - but as you said, at least once you've got the wrench you should be able to fix it all the time in the future! But lets hope that it doesn't happen again :)

Yes, of course they do this on purpose... if you don't have the tools or the know how, you go to the shop or the dealer to get it done. When cars went metric my dad was so upset because all his tools were American or whatever they are called... he had to buy new metric tools... then they put things where you couldn't get them out easily so you would have to tear the car apart to get to a single part. They do this on purpose, I just know it.

that sounds suspiciously like a mazda. yes,they do do it on purpose-so if you don't have the tool,you have no choice but to bring it in.your other choice is to buy a set from the manufactorer/automotive shop. my ex had a B-2000 POS mini truck that had bolts that fell inbetween metric and standard-requiring special tools.it developed that tick also-it was almost impossible to set the idle correctly for that damn thing-even with the machine.

Of course they do, they work together with the mechanics who charge an arm and a leg for some work..Granted some auto work is worth the money, but some is not...

I do sympathise. It seems tools are being invented all the time that we have to go out and buy for one specific purpose. However, Mum needs a monkey wrench (don't ask) as my Dad can't be bothered asking anyone to help with a plumbing problem in their house. All it needs is for someone to use a monkey wrench to tighten up a bolt on the pipe.

It is what keeps the communication and the expenses going. Oh wait that is the car dealer and not with R, or is it? lol, kidding. Yes some car repairmen have this habit continually, especially when they know it is us women doing the spending.

Yup, they don't want just anyone messing around with their stuff.

Of course they do. And be warned. Once you put that bulb in, in some makes of cars,the bulbs are now made in china and something with the connectors...the bulb will last a day or two..maybe 3 and be back to blinking. There is something called "dummy goop" that'll fix that problem. Ask your mechanic or you'll be paying for him to check your electrical system for shorts etc. If you can find the bulbs made in america, it's worth the extra cost but you won't find them everywhere and surely not in Walmart. Good luck. Hope this is an easy fix for you.

Yes! I always seem to not have a philips screwdriver when I need one. Why? My grandson left it laying where he had his last job. He takes things apart and puts them back together. And, amazingly he doesn't have extra parts left over. ONE, they are in a league with the devil and TWO, all these companies conspire together to make money off of us.

well as the old saying goes, they just dont make things like they used to. and especially these days. time was you could take something out of a car easily and replace it. for the past few yrs. they make sure you have to get a mechanic because you have to take the whole thing a part to get to a lot of the parts desperately needed to run it.

Hi dawnald, that may be true about the car manufactures doing this on purpose. But look on the bright side. There may be someone one else out there with the same problem in the future and guess what.. You can lend them your too. lol

Oh I've seen that weird star shaped bolt! Once when the signal light on my Dodge Caravan also started that fast ticking sound. And when my mechanical self, armed with some tools, attempted to open the case to replace the bulb. After some frustration with standard shaped tools, I also finally gave up, and brought to a shop to be replaced!

Definitely is fraustrating, I personally do think that these car manufacturers do it on purpose, so that you can sometimes feel forced to go to the dealer and pay for someone to replace it for an additional cost which is unnecessary. When I first got his Suzuki, two months after he drove it off the lot, the light b went out as he was trying to replace it, he had encountered the same problem (now I can't recall what type of shape or tool it was that he needed). But we also ended up going to Lowes to purchase the tool in order for us to do it at home. That simple repaired ending up costing about $35 between the replacement light bulb and the new tool. Luckily, my truck requires the same tool and we don't have to purchase another. But it is fraustrating, when you find yourself trying to spend money and then you end up spending the same amount and/or even more to get something repaired. But at least look at this way, at least you'll have the tool for future emergencies, there's always an upside to a story...

But at least you'll be prepared if something like this happens again, see the bright side of the situation!

Yes. I think these car manufacturers know exactly what they are doing when they set vehicles up this way. They get you coming and going.

Yes....there was a time when everyone...even some women could actually work on cars. Now with all the computers they stash in them...well they make it practically impossible for the common person to do anything to them....hope you got it changed by now!

In some countries in Europe it is illegal to drive without spare bulbs. I read a letter in the paper today that said that nowadays many cars cannot have just their bulbs replaced, you have to replace the whole light unit! So not only do drivers of these vehicles break the law if they don't carry spare light units (at a considerable price each) but they also have the costs of the manufacturer's greed to contend with. What a rip off. Yes, I do think that manufacturers do this on purpose. All they see if $ signs.

You are sure you can't find someone to change the bulb without beging charged for it? I would try Autozone! If you have them in California! They do it for free for me with my car's burnt out bulbs!

The apparatus to get to the lights in my car has something that is similar. Of course, my husband being the machinist and mechanic that he is studied the bolt that he had to remove and actually made his own tool at work so that he would be able to change the bulbs in our car. There are a lot of times that I don't like being married to a stinky machinist that also works on cars, but there are other times that he is pretty handy to have around.

I do think they are all in the same ring. If you put odd shaped screws on your vehicles, we will sell the tool to fix it and give you a 15% commission. Hmmm! I think I would consider that if I was into having a business. Now the car company can make a profit either way. Sweet deal if you ask me. Best Wishes!