San Antonio mechanic’s attempt to fix a Chrysler 200 starter was so complex and draining, it made him question everything
- A Texas mechanic explained ‘why mechanics hate engineers’
- It started with a Chrysler 200 towed in for a no-start
- However, it turned out to be a lot more complex than expected
Published on Feb 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Feb 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A mechanic from San Antonio, Texas, has spoken out about ‘why mechanics hate engineers’ – and it started with a Chrysler 200.
It was towed in for a no-start.
The customer told him that the battery and starter were bad.
However, it turned out to be a lot more complex than that.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
The problem with the Chrysler 200
According to mechanic John Brian, the vehicle was designed with manufacturing efficiency in mind, not ease of maintenance.
So far, so frustrating when it came to repairs.
Cost-cutting strategies – namely its modular design – resulted in complex component placements.
This made even the most simple of fixes more difficult on this Chrysler model.
Testing the mechanic
First and foremost, the starter was located behind the exhaust manifold and motor mount bracket, making access difficult.
“Another genius idea,” the mechanic said.
The battery was also installed inside the car’s fender and the engine bay was cramped, requiring extra disassembly and components to be removed just to reach it.
“This bolt was so hard to remove, I almost second-guessed my career choices,” he said.
“This has to be the worst engine I’ve ever worked on.”
That meant labor time sky-rocketed on the car, too.
Sadly, the engine was heavily worn, and leaking oil was ‘so bad’, making the job messier and more challenging.
What’s more, the condition of the car raised concerns that other issues, including leaks, could cause further problems post-repair.
In fact, it played a ‘huge part in this starter fail’, he admitted.
“This job was just so much more frustrating than it had to be,” he continued.
“I know you’re wondering about the warranty on this… and you’re guessing right.”
Online opinion
As ever, the comment section was rife with points of view and speculation.
“Spend an hour getting to the part, spend five minutes fixing the part,” one said.
“If engineers made things simple I would not pay a mechanic to do the job, I would fix it myself,” another said.
Several commenters noted that they heard knocking.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness, and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the senior content writer and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms, and coveted brands. When her OOO is on from writing about cars and heading up on-site SEO you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym, or exploring the city she loves.
