On Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:22:28 -0400, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

Again, it all depends on the mechanic. The computer tune may only get
you a small improvement and it will take 5 years to make up the cost
difference. I had a car that started running real bad. After the
simple things I replaced like spark plugs, wires and coil, I looked on
an Autozone page and one thing was a $ 500 sensor that may cause the
problem. I took it to a dealer that should have all the proper
equipment. After about 3 weeks he finally replaced that sensor and it
fixed the problem. The part would have taken less than half an hour to
replace. They may still have been working on it if I had not sent off a
nice email to Toyota after a week and a half of no repair.

I know of a case where a Freeze plug was leaking and the motor company
wanted to pull the engine to get to it. Shade tree mechanic pulled back
the carpet inside the car, took a hole saw and cut a hole in the
firewall to get to the plug. Repaired the hole with a beer can and pop
rivits for less than $ 100.

All that you've shown is that an idiot with all the technology of
modern electronics can screw things up, and that simple repairs can be
done simply and cheaply by someone who has some experience. I'm
talking about a given situation, which could be done with either a
light bulb or a pile of test equipment. Not two different repair
situations.

So, let's take your blown $500 black box, presumably out of warranty.
Would you take the problem to the shade tree mechanic with his beer
can and pop rivet tool? What would you expect him to do? Drill open
the black box and start replacing parts until it works? Would he
offer a warranty? At best, he would find a similar black box at a
scrap yard, box rebuider, or midnight auto, and sell it to you at a
discount. Would you consider that acceptable?

Let me bring it closer to home. You purchased an expensive HF radio
with all the bells and whistles. It's out of warranty and you need
something fixed. Would you send it to 1) the factory, 2) an
authorized repair station, 3) a rebuilder in China, 4) the ham
equivalent of the shade tree mechanic, or 5) the teenager next door?
The distinction between these choices is a experience and training,
but also access to the necessary test equipment and parts. Better
yet, if you knew any of these used a light bulb to determine if your
transmitter was working, and a "talk test" as QA, would you do
business with them?

No need to answer the questions. Just think about the implications.


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558