In 1963, the workshops in Spain were full of Seat 600 or Citroën 2CV. With easy and simple mechanics, these cars had a “life expectancy” that, with luck, reached 100,000 kilometers, when, six decades later, vehicles reach half a million kilometers thanks to the development and innovation of the automotive industry, As long as there is proper maintenance.
Today’s cars multiply by five the parts by which they are composed compared to the vehicles of the time. And to understand each car, each technology, training is essential.
Most drivers have already become accustomed to modern driving assistance systems, or to the use of GPS navigators. And if we take a look back in time, surely there will also be quite a few drivers who remember when the first seat belts appeared, when they became mandatory, the arrival of power steering and “airbags”.
Released in 1957, the SEAT 600 It meant the massive arrival of passenger cars in Spain and completely changed the mobility of the middle class, allowing entire families to go on vacation. The “ball” consumed an average of about 7.8 and 8 l/100 km. Modern cars can consume around 16 kW7/100 km (100% electric), around 5 l/100 km for a conventional combustion car, and up to just over 1 l/100 km in the case of a plug-in hybrid model.
«In the past, you started working in a workshop and you were learning the trade until you had the ability to repair a vehicle. The cars were simpler and lacked electronics. Now it is different, you need specific training and have the appropriate knowledge to repair them correctly”, explains Juan José Castillo from Euromaster Guadalajara.
Such was the simplicity that the workshops then knew in advance which parts broke in the cars and prepared their stocks, with warehouses full of components.
Parking was a matter of strength behind the wheel of a 600. A way to warm up, also in summer, when the only way to cool down was to roll down all the windows and let the air run. Electrohydraulic power steering in modern cars makes movements smooth and agile, and the climate control system makes driving much more pleasant and comfortable.
However, the problem arose when there was no part, starting a round of calls to suppliers to see who had it and hopefully they would arrive in a reasonable time. “In fact, on many occasions, repairs took too long, even several days, just because of this problem,” says Pedro Tenorio of Euromaster Guadix.
The space in a car like the Seat 600 was not an impediment for families of five people, with the necessary luggage for a month, to head to some destination. Located at the front, the trunk capacity of the 600 was 68.5 liters. Although the size of the Mii is similar, its boot is three times as large, at 238 liters in total, and is located in the rear like most cars today.
The most common faults
The bad maintenance of a car or its age cause a breakdown in the vehicle that leads to a traffic accident. An example of the most normal is that of the breaking of the moon. Electricity also has to do with all those problems that derive from a technological failure, according to the European Automobile Commissioner (CEA). More and more cars have electrical systems, so it is a type of failure that is increasing. For this reason, we must attend to the indicator lights to know how to act, and consider whether the car can continue to drive or not.
The engine is also the most common type of failure on the road, specifically the rupture of hoses and pipes. In the cold, it is recommended to warm up the engine at idle. This is because every morning when you start the car, you have to wait a few minutes for the engine and the vehicle’s main fluids (oil, steering fluid, brakes…) to reach a minimum temperature. If this is not done in this way, the necessary lubrication is not achieved and all the moving parts of the engine can be damaged. Depending on the extent of the damage, the cost can be from 1,000 euros to 1,500 euros for seizing the engine, or in the worst case, rendering it useless.
It is, in the same way, very important to check the condition of the coolant. A timely change of this fluid costs about 70 euros, depending on the vehicle. If we let it go and do not change it, we can cause the engine to overheat and cause the cylinder head to break, costing up to 3,000 euros. Oil, steering or brake fluid are also vital fluids for the proper functioning of the vehicle. These have to be in perfect condition and the cost of changing them is around 49 euros on average.
The tires would have to be the most careful elements of the vehicle, since they are the only ones that are in contact with the asphalt. But not having the tires in order is the order of the day. The pressure is not checked, and age can cause the clamping to be inadequate, making the car skid more easily.
