Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology (Bodging!)
Sunday, October 5th, 2008
Based on our choice of vehicle, we are anticipating that issues will definitely arise with our trustee LR Defender en-route which may immobilise us. In fact, given the ‘which vehicle?’ debate - we are counting on a problem or even a series of problems, based on past travellers experiences.So - for us total novices at present, it’s about learning to be ‘prepared’ rather than ‘scared’ in dealing with any vehicle problems as they arise i.e. how to ‘botch’ or ‘bodge’ as it’s known in the trade - to get us to the next nearest town when necessary and with this, it is becoming critical to understand about vehicle fundamentals. We know there will be plenty of garages and dealers along the way but for contigency between long trips (where a garage may be far and few between), it’s about being able to handle a problem logically should it arise.
So far, from asking questions and performing some research, we understand
Don’t bring what you can’t fix
Only fix what immobilises you
Think laterally to apply a solution - i.e. botch/bodge with cable ties, gaffer tape and a host of other kit list essentials (the more technical goes right over our heads at present!)
We can’t plan for every eventuality or every single disaster that may never happen but we have 18 months to try to undestand our vehicle fully.
Under instruction of a couple of 20 years+ automotive industry experts, plus those on the Landyzone forum, we’ve started gathering information (and trying to digest it!) and also bought a book called Hillier’s Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology - a bible of basics by students starting out in vehicle technology trade. Apparently, still best known and most widely used text book in its field.
This is going to start becoming our homework over the next coming months in a bid to become more familiar with what’s under the bonnet of our vehicle and to begin thinking about spare and equipment to bring for areas of the vehicle we aim to be able to fix ourselves.
We started today, armed with Hillier’s, (and also a Haynes book as well as the manual that came with the vehicle plus a few notes gathered from the experienced) and had our first real look under the bonnet. It became clear in the rain and wind that we have a very long way to go. Much of the engine layouts in the books don’t match the layout under the bonnet but although a bit daunting, at least we’ve started! We identified a couple of bits and pieces but need more time to fully comprehend everything. Would be great to have an expert standing by our sides and pointing all of these things out - instead, we plan to try to self-teach and ‘then’ check with an expert as to whether we are right or not and also before attempting to do anything ourselves. This also to ensure safety, the right tools and approach as well as what we think needs to happen. Right now, we need to do more homework to properly identify each of the components and get underneath the vehicle itself.
We had a look into a local college course but the one of most interest has been withdrawn due to not enough interest. Personalised expert tuition seems to be the way to go and we have found willing people at Anne’s workplace (automotive trade - thank you Paul and Reg!) to get us started so we’re now busily building a list of terminology we don’t understand and a raft of what are probably very silly questions to begin with.
Otherwise, things have been quiet. Busily plotting places of interest on our maps that interest us but it is a huge job and beginning to think in more detail about the likely route and challenges (e.g. shipping, storage, carnet, costs, costs, costs and more costs etc.) along the way.
