The easiness for repair technician

[Doctor J]

While in the past the parts in the engine comartment were easy to remove without special tricks (even on the small cars); today it seems to be more challenging then before. Please think how to change the alternator on this 2007 Honda Fit [it is obscured by the Toyota Nation logo on the picture](the intake manifold removal is needed to do that).
The access to the drive belt is blocked by ABS unit.



On the Camry it is still very easy

[atobe]

on the camry everything is easy to get to... may be they do that to make you go back to the dealership

[Doctor J]

Even in the dealership they will have to spend long time to service the belt, they dont have special tools for that job.
In addition, the factory service manual shows many external component repairs such asfor water pump, harmonic balancer etc. as the engine is off the car.
Looks like I will have use my engineering technology skills to develop more adequate repair process.

[fredk]

its called packaging, they want a very tight package so major assemblies are a snap to put into the car, its called modular assemblies and the cars are getting so tiny now the powertrain is partally under the dash, a good example of this is the chrysler sebring v6