Show Me Examples of Poor Design

Design failures?

I don't want to post a selfie, though.

DrBoost said:

After Hurricane Ian rolled over us, I'd be listening to the radio in the car and there were PSAs put out by the different internet providers saying that they know the issue is huge. Then they'd give a web address that you could go to in order let them know you had no internet.
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there were also no cell providers up. We were effectively living in 1876 (no phones, no power, no running water, no internet) and they wanted us to go to the website to tell them we can't go to any website LOL

A tornado ripped the roof off my house on Jan 12, and destroyed the neighborhood. I've been living this ever since. 

VW automatic wipers. With a properly cleaned and treated windscreen, there is never a situation where the wipers need to be on high. There are only about 2 occasions per year that don't need to be intermittent. Apparently, the intermittent switch is just a suggestion for the car because there is NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE AUTOMATIC FUNCTION. VW sets the speeds for you whether you like them or not. A heavy mist will get you full berkeleying throttle. Wipers thrashing away at the windscreen to remove 4 drops. So I end up just turning the damn things off and using the mist switch to clear the windshield when it needs it instead of the wipers running full blast for a small amount of rain. 

Here is another one.

calteg said:

In reply to SV reX :

If it makes you feel any better, I had the exact same scenario happen with Spectrum, except they sent out an actual human who ran a new line, told me it was fixed and then bolted. It wasn't fixed. 

I have an internal hatred for Spectrum that only ferments day by day. 

1) Two years ago, my ex-wife, who still resides in my home with my kids, calls me to tell me the internet is out. At the time she was working from home so it was critical to get it back up and running. 

2) Spectrum says service isn't out at our house and to just reset the router. I go visit the home to inspect and diagnose the issue. Come to find out the new neighbors didn't bother to call before they started digging their new french drain and severed the coax running from the Spectrum PoP on the street to my house. 

3) Spectrums solution was to run a 3/4 inch diameter orange cable from the PoP to my home, above ground, and that a team would be out in the coming months to fully repair everything. They didn't. I got letters from the HOA weekly on how they were going to fine me for it. That same dimwitted neighbor then ran over that cable with his lawn mower. 

4) Spectrum sends a team out again to just put another bright orange cable out there. Two years later, we still don't have a permanent fix and Spectrum customer service always says "We have a team scheduled to repair it soon!"

rslifkin said:

In reply to DirtyBird222 :

I've always assumed that starter-under-intake designs were intended to keep the starter away from wet, corrosive road grime. 

Yes; but, after taking the starter off my S2000 last night, ask Honda why they chose that location. All the videos and write-ups I watch showcased early AP1s and later AP2s. Nothing there about how the 04-05 AP2s have a rats nest of cables and vacuum hoses that make it nearly impossible for me to reach my hand there from the top. Also took me a long ass time to get a socket on the top starter bolt because it's a completely blind mess. 

This thing.

It turned into a very capable bomber. But no where near the way envisioned.

The intakes were redesigned.  3 times-3 times to finally get the right airflow for the temperamental TF30 engines.  The B model, the one the Navy really didn't want...didn't work on carriers and was dropped.

The whole commonality dictated by McNamara died right there. The actual winner of the design competition, the Boeing 818 bested the General Dynamics design in almost every category. McNamara and the Wiz Kids chose the F-111 due to better commonality, which went in the bin after the Navy stated, repeatedly, that the design as offered would-not-work for carrier operations and rejected it.

SV reX said:

My AT&T internet line was damaged during a storm 2 weeks ago. I've received 8 different automated text messages telling me the repairs are complete and my service should be working. 
 

It's not.  No one has been to my house, and the cut wire is still laying in the yard. 
 

The texts tell me to reply "FIXED" to confirm. They give no option for reply if the service is still not working. 
 

They did give a link for me to use to manage the account.  But I can't use it with no functional internet.  I did try to use it from someone else's computer. It required an access code which was never given to me. 
 

One of the largest technology companies in the world doesn't seem to be able design a simple response text message. 

We had some high winds move some trees around, I was on a road test and wanted to report some power lines arcing.   I remembered the nearest street address and everything.

The web app directed me to a text-to-reply automated system whose only offer of assistance was "If there are down power lines, call 911."  There are not down power lines, but there is a huge fire hazard.  No way to send a message.  Any other request for help required you to have a smartphone and a way to do a GPS tag, which is hard to do a) from four miles away or b) in a city with a $500 fine for handheld cell phone use.

I got our sales advisor to call them up and, after a half hour on hold, get told that 123 Fake St. is not a valid address.

Fine. I tried.  Enjoy blowing out a transformer and taking out half the city and possibly setting someone's house on fire.

DirtyBird222 said:

Yes; but, after taking the starter off my S2000 last night, ask Honda why they chose that location. All the videos and write-ups I watch showcased early AP1s and later AP2s. Nothing there about how the 04-05 AP2s have a rats nest of cables and vacuum hoses that make it nearly impossible for me to reach my hand there from the top. Also took me a long ass time to get a socket on the top starter bolt because it's a completely blind mess. 

That's a big one.  Any part can be made hard to access no matter how good a spot it's in.  All you have to do is pack too much other crap around it. 

DirtyBird222 said:

rslifkin said:

In reply to DirtyBird222 :

I've always assumed that starter-under-intake designs were intended to keep the starter away from wet, corrosive road grime. 

Yes; but, after taking the starter off my S2000 last night, ask Honda why they chose that location. All the videos and write-ups I watch showcased early AP1s and later AP2s. Nothing there about how the 04-05 AP2s have a rats nest of cables and vacuum hoses that make it nearly impossible for me to reach my hand there from the top. Also took me a long ass time to get a socket on the top starter bolt because it's a completely blind mess. 

According to Honda, you pop the alternator off and access is right there.

Just an FYI in the future, in case you got a remanufactured starter and will have to replace it again in a couple weeks.

Appleseed said:

This thing.

It turned into a very capable bomber. But no where near the way envisioned.

The intakes were redesigned.  3 times-3 times to finally get the right airflow for the temperamental TF30 engines.  The B model, the one the Navy really didn't want...didn't work on carriers and was dropped.

The whole commonality dictated by McNamara died right there. The actual winner of the design competition, the Boeing 818 bested the General Dynamics design in almost every category. McNamara and the Wiz Kids chose the F-111 due to better commonality, which went in the bin after the Navy stated, repeatedly, that the design as offered would-not-work for carrier operations and rejected it.

...And then history repeated itself with the cluster now known as the F-35.

rslifkin said:

That's a big one.  Any part can be made hard to access no matter how good a spot it's in.  All you have to do is pack too much other crap around it. 

As much as people whinge about the Northstar's starter, access is extremely good.  All of the electricals and fluid connections for the intake manifold come in from the transmission side.  You unbolt the manifold and tip the thing up, leaving everything connected, and the starter is right there.  Have seen someone do one in a half hour, and it was the first time he saw one go bad.

Disconnecting electrical components underhood is Bad and should be avoided if possible.  The terminals are only rated for 4-5 connection cycles at most, and you can generate your own electrical issues by taking stuff apart often.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

YouTube's new layout.

I'll see your YouTube, and raise you a Facebook Marketplace.

In reply to Toyman! :

I cursed the auto wipers in my volvo for the better part of a decade, because automatic E36 M3 DOESN'T DO WHAT I WANT, so one day I was cursing them while stopped at a traffic light and they were either going to fast, or not at all, and realized that if I reached up and popped the bezel off the rear view mirror, and unplugged the sensor, they would not work, and it has been wonderful.

Streetwiseguy said:

In reply to Toyman! :

I cursed the auto wipers in my volvo for the better part of a decade, because automatic E36 M3 DOESN'T DO WHAT I WANT, so one day I was cursing them while stopped at a traffic light and they were either going to fast, or not at all, and realized that if I reached up and popped the bezel off the rear view mirror, and unplugged the sensor, they would not work, and it has been wonderful.

I don't push the auto button.  Simples 

When I worked at Saturn, when you could still buy new SLs, I grew to curse the wipers. Specifically the washer.  You'd hit the washer to clean salt/brine scum from the glass.  Spray, wipe wipe wipe, done.

3... 2... 1... and then the module would give one extra swipe of the blades. Smearing the previously clear glass.

I went through nearly a full washer fluid tank in one drive home.

I loved SLs except for that one glaring flaw.   The '96-up gauge cluster was the best in any car before or since, the shifters were the best cable shifter I have ever experienced, there were no subframe bushings and very small TCA bushings so steering response was rightnow responsive... *sigh*

This piece of cohesive design. Random shapes! Non-matching switches! The window switches are a pretty standard shape but why is the mirror control in the shape of a conch? 

DirtyBird222 said:

rslifkin said:

In reply to DirtyBird222 :

I've always assumed that starter-under-intake designs were intended to keep the starter away from wet, corrosive road grime. 

Yes; but, after taking the starter off my S2000 last night, ask Honda why they chose that location. All the videos and write-ups I watch showcased early AP1s and later AP2s. Nothing there about how the 04-05 AP2s have a rats nest of cables and vacuum hoses that make it nearly impossible for me to reach my hand there from the top. Also took me a long ass time to get a socket on the top starter bolt because it's a completely blind mess. 

I didn't mention that one. If you've ever to tried to pull the s2k transmission it's much harder than it needed to be. Some of the bolts come from the back, some from the front, then there's some nuts on studs in some spots. Several of the fasteners require 3-4 foot long socket extensions. And then there's the one under the intake manifold that requires multiple wobble extensions and an endoscope to even get your tool on to the head of the bolt.

In reply to freetors :

And then there is the precise angle for the engine, and for all three axes for the transmission, to get it out of the car.

If I had an S2000 the first thing I would do if I had the trans out would be some strategic application of a 5 pound hammer to the tunnel and firewall to make putting the trans in easier.  IIRC it requires putting the trans in rotated and the tail all the way to one side, and when you get it past a certain point you can straighten the tail to get the input splined in, and then you rotate the trans to get the dowels aligned.

It is not as if the chassis is particularly narrow, Honda why you do this

Bad design? The Fender Stratocaster:

It's that DAMNED VOLUME KNOB!

j_tso said:

 

 

 

For real, I nominate engines with the power steering pump located over the alternator which kills it from leaks over time.

I can do you one worse. The Lancia Gamma, the power steering pump was run off of a doubled pulley on the cam belt.  If the PS pumps craps out, it stops the exhaust cam dead, allowing the pistons to come up and get nice and cozy with the valves.

The middle years of the Fiat 124 did something similar, the airpump for the emissions system was also run off of a doubled pulley on the cam belt.

I would nominate the tach on the early Fiat 500s.  With the speedo on the outside ring and tach on the inside, it makes it impossible to see what either is doing. Fashion over form.

Even fiat knew it was rubbish as the later years did this:

In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :

It requires the precise angle at which to strike?  Must have been a Stratocaster.

/yes, I know this is not the original, I don't care, Kleptones rule

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Haha yes the wipers in Saturns are always one wipe too many. I do really like the 96+ cluster.  It's just correct.  I don't know that it's inherently better or worse than other similar clusters.  Z32 I liked a lot as well.  It's really good for something you find in a E36 M3box though.

Maybe I missed it, but has no one mentioned changing spark plugs on a V8 Chevy Monza?

ProDarwin said:

Oh two designs that are a huge pet peeve of mine:

1)  Why is there not just a continuous dial to control wiper speed?  The first half could be intermittent, the second half could be constant speed.  I get that back in the 70s or the days before more complex electronic control introducing a delay required a separate circuit.  But now it should be super simple to unite them.  You want to clear water faster, turn it right.  Slower?  turn it left.  

2)  Similarly, I have an older version of this toaster oven.  To use the oven you use the top dial for temp and bottom dial for time.  To use the toast, you must have the top dial set to toast and then use the middle dial for the duration.  The number of times I have "toasted" something only to find out the heater wasn't on is crazy.  Its a magnificently stupid design. 

Thank you.  I said the same thing about that toaster oven.  My wife said it was me who was magnificently stupid.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

There was no auto button.  It was supposed to turn on or off by some magic combination of on-off-on of the wiper switch, but it never shut off.

Unplug sensor, happy.