My dad's old Ford pickup had an engine bay you could actually reach into. Now everything's wrapped in plastic shields so you can't even hear the belts whine. It feels like we traded understanding the machine for just following error codes. Once that screen goes blank, a whole generation of mechanics won't know where to start.
Right? My cousin's new SUV has this smooth plastic cover over the whole engine, lol. You pop the hood and it's just... a lid. Can't see a belt or a hose. I get they want it clean and quiet, but if the check engine light comes on, you're just hoping the code reader tells you something. Makes me nervous for when things really break down.