Hi, I love watching your channel. I was hoping you could consider answering my question. I know you've compared hybrids before but hybrid and electric cars seem to be coming with probable extinction of petrol/diesels. Could you do a brief video on servicing highlights of these types of cars?
Clarification: Are you asking what needs to be serviced on these vehicles?
Yes, and the merits of a home mechanic doing it
There will be a fair amount of items in ICE that will transfer over to hybrid/EV that can be serviced. Although you should understand EV/hybrid architecture and working with high voltage (dangerous in hands of untrained) before working on these vehicles:
- suspension (i.e. springs, struts, shock absorbers, control arms, bars, linkages, bushings, joints, etc.)
- alignment will still be needed
- brake system (brake pads, rotors, calipers, including bleeding) - although you won’t wear these items out as much since EVs will rely on one pedal driving to slow down, so you will hardly need to use your brakes.
- brake fluid and bleeding brakes
- wheels (and wheel hubs)
- tires (and rotating them every so often) including TPMS; knowing how to change a tire, fix a flat still applies
- EPS (steering)
- ADAS (driver assistant - lane change, adaptive cruise control, cross-traffic alert, blind spot detection, etc.)
- wipers and windshield wiper fluid
- cabin air filter (still need to change that)
- cooling systems (to keep batteries from getting too hot) - you will need to change the coolant from time to time
- battery
- windshield and glass (and how to replace if cracked/broken)
- infotainment
- electronics
- horn
- E-brake
- Headlight and lights (blinker, turn signal, fog, rear, etc.)
- body work (if get into accident body shops will still be able to work on them)
- seatbelts
- electrical gremlins (will see more of them esp. from automakers that already are not known for reliable electronics and electrical systems)
Body, suspension, brakes, steering etc will remain mostly the same.
The powertrain + batteries will become prohibitive or impossible to work on.
In the video Scotty explains why a hybrid is not a DIY vehicle at the 3:25 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ6EKLub0gc
Should one consider a hybrid (Toyota in this example), … here is just one harangue:
F.S.
electric cars have much less maintenance compared to hybrids or gasoline cars.
Thanks all. The reason I asked was because I was bored and looked up most reliable sedan/saloon cars in UK. The Lexus GS came up which is hybrid. I like working on my car myself (basic servicing etc) but would be hesitant at buying hybrid or electric as I fear I’d suddenly have to take it somewhere for servicing
Don’t buy any hybrids or electric for that reason. Also, finding independent, honest mechanics that know how to work on hybrid/electric is difficult (it’s tough enough finding them for regular gas vehicles), and if you find them they will charge a lot (they have you cornered). Also, going to the dealer will be even more expensive, assuming they even know what they are doing: I have lost hope for them.