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.
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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.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
