I was watching the auto news and found one story I’m not the least bit surprised to hear. Another enthusiast got his car to a dealership so they could fix some triviality only to have one of the service techs take it for a spin and crash it. It’s something that just seems to get more and more common, causing enthusiasts to turn away from dealerships and, in some cases, take matters into their own hands.
While the average modern car has enough electronics to have made NASA go green with envy a couple of decades ago, you can still do some simple jobs on your own. Changing your own oil, rotating tires, changing bulbs and general preventive maintenance are still within the reach of the average person, not to mention more intensive work that still doesn’t touch any electrics, i.e., changing a head gasket/spark plugs. Of course, more complex problems are perhaps best left to your trusty specialist.
Of course I say that, but I don’t actually do any work on my car. For one thing, I have found a trusty mechanic who’s not particularly inclined to go on a joyride (and even if he was, he certainly has better cars to do so in than mine). Second, it’s actually rather cheap to have it serviced there and they’ll work on absolutely anything I manage to push in into the shop. Third, and most importantly, I’m a bit of a klutz when it comes to technical work. When I say a bit, I mean less of a “Oh, I’ve scratched the finish while rebuilding it” and more “Oh no, Gerardo has done the touch of death on yet another innocent machine; may it rest in pieces.”
I’ve never taken apart and rebuilt anything without it being hopelessly broken afterwards–everything from laptops to a simple wind-up clock. If I take it apart, it is not going back together. A few bad experiences shouldn’t make me think that everything I touch will proceed to grenade itself in spectacular fashion, of course. But I still think It’s for the best I try and start with at least making sure things remain functional after I’ve taken them apart and put them back together before moving to the extremely complex machinery that makes my car move through the power of several thousand controlled explosions.
What about you? Do you approach repair and maintenance with an open wallet or an open toolbox? Is the maintenance of your car an incredibly complex task best left to somebody that obviously knows what they’re doing? Or is it something that if done by anyone else would simply mean that you’re being deprived of spending time with your pride and joy?
(PS: The Digital Millennium Act includes provisions that would make it illegal for owners and mechanics to access some of the codes of a car’s electronics for repair or customization. There is a movement/petition drive to exempt vehicle repair from its provisions. More info and a petition are here. – PN)
No where near as much as I did in my teen years.
But, when recently faced with a broken power window along with failing stereo speakers in my kid’s 2002 Durango, and being quoted $650 by the dealer to fix the window and replace one speaker, I had to take action.
The speakers have been failing progressively, so since I was to be in the driver door to fix the window, I wanted to head off those speakers. The passenger front door had a failed woofer. That one speaker was $114 at the dealer, $250 installed.
I went to Crutchfield and bought all FOUR front seat speakers for $129 (quality Infinity speakers to match the factory Infinity system) and installed them myself. Auto Parts Warehouse supplied a regulator / motor kit for $74.00. Along with a few shop supplies that will last a lifetime, I was in about $225 for the project, the stereo sounds great, I fussed over details lubricating window tracks, cleaning out the doors, greasing electrical connections and more.
No one cares about your car like you do.
Side note on car manufacturer build quality: The passenger door of my Durango had the correct Infinity speaker upgrade in it. The driver door clearly had the much lighter weight standard stereo speaker. I was ripped off for one Infinity speaker 13 years ago and didn’t know it!
A bit of both. Finding trustworthy mechanics isn’t so easy here in Britain; even if you go to a dealership they can be surprisingly poor. I’m lucky that I do have a back street mechanic who is a good friend and knows older cars and their quirks but he can’t deal with more sophisticated modern electronics and hasn’t got a four post ramp suitable for RWD cars.
Just finding a mechanic who can be bothered to do the work can be difficult, for any money! I’ve had cars left in the dusty corners of workshops, until I’ve got fed up and just gone and taken them back. Laziness, arrogance? I’m not sure but many mechanics just don’t seem bothered.
So bit by bit I’ve taught myself and realised how easy many motor jobs are, long way to go yet though!
I used to work on my own vehicles all the time. Now days I won’t touch the drivetrain of a FWD vehicle and refuse to own an AWD vehicle. I won’t even do an oil change on one. If there were still any options out there for a standard body-on-frame front engine rear drive economy car with manual transmission I would buy it and work on it myself. I still work on my Ford flatbed pickup.
Yup, I work on my own cars as, I feel i am the only one I can trust to do the job right.
That said, I take my car in for oil changes and transmission fluid changes(if I have an auto at the time) at the dealer as I did enough oil changes at the dealership while in college)
Yes. Engine oil/filter changes, transmission fluid/filter changes, always. Most electrical bugs, yes. Body and paint work is limited. Physically big jobs like changing out engines and transmissions, I don’t do any more; but this is more due to lack of helpers and facilities than anything else. My cousins who used to help have gone their separate ways over the years and I no longer have access to a big garage bay. Contrary to what seems to scare a lot of people, electronic diagnostics can be a big help. I’ve invested in electronic diagnostic equipment since the days of dwell meters, and since none of my cars are brand-new, older equipment made for the advanced home mechanic can be had at reasonable cost with a little patience and careful seeking-out. They do the job on my cars…and on many of my neighbors’, too.
One of those neighbors has a Toyota Camry which developed some annoying electrical problems. Certain things just would not work, and repeated trips to the dealer didn’t cure them permanently (it seemed like the Toyota dealer was just throwing parts at it). Finally he asked me about it. I traced the wiring and found a connector that had never been properly crimped. Every time the dealer worked on it, this connector would get disturbed a little bit and conductivity would be restored…but a few weeks to a few months later, the problem would return and “maybe if we replace THIS” was heard yet again. What did it take to diagnose this? A voltmeter that was a freebie-with-purchase at Harbor Freight, a hand to yank on wires and wiggle connections, and a little brains.
All this after a few hundred dollars had been thrown at the problem…none of which stuck.
I still prefer to do what I can which is not nearly as much as I used to. Problems with the engine/body electronics are a real pisser for me. I figure many of them I could fix, if I could figure out what is really wrong – but I lack the proper diagnostic tools and for the number of times I’d need them I really can’t justify buying them. I’ve tried going the route of paying someone to diagnose and then doing the work myself, but all too often there was yet something else still wrong and another round of diagnosis is needed. Just not worth it.
Have to stick to oil changes, brakes, minor suspension replacements…nice mechanical repairs.
Timing of this question amuses me. I just dragged my bride’s ’02 Grand Caravan to a transmission shop since the van decided it was a statue. Walking into the shop was like walking into the garage my grandfather used to have in Detroit – I made some comment about the last transmission I had opened up (and actually repaired) was a Powerglide. Guy at the shop asked me “aluminum case or cast iron?” I felt better about leaving the van there after that.
One of the things I look for in a car before I buy it is how difficult it will be for me to work on it. I’ve saved thousands of dollars over the years doing things at home rather than taking it into the shop.
With modern cars, having an OBDII will usually let me know exactly what’s wrong with it (or at least give me a starting polint), and from there, it’s just a trip down to Autozone and an afternoon in my garage working with a wrench in one hand and a beer in the other.
Of course there’s somethings I won’t touch or bother with. It’s silly for me to change my own oil when I can let Tuffy do it for $20. And I won’t be rebuilding any transmissions in my garage either. But for minor electric gremlins, most routine maintenance, and bolt on stuff, I’ll always try it myself before I pay $70/hr labor.
I know it may seem strange for some, but even having an issue with my car can be a (somewhat) pleasurable experience knowing that I was able to both fix it myself AND save money.
+1
I work on it as much as I can, but with no garage, I can’t do too much in the winter.
In the summer I change my own oil, filters and spark plugs. I have changed coil packs on a few of my past cars in the driveway as well. I also rotate my own tires and swap the summer ones for winter, and vice-versa. I have an OBD-II reader as well, so that saves me having to take a vehicle somewhere to have something diagnosed.
I used to own a rust-prone Mazda MPV and attempted body work on it a few times. I think I did well in some places, in others I did not. The wheel wells turned out OK, but the quarter panels were a lost cause.
I am also friends with a mechanic that owns his own shop, so anything major goes to him. I can trust him and don’t have to worry about being screwed over, like a few of the local “Canadian big box auto retailer” stores have done to me in the past.
I do most of my own work on my Arctic Cat Prowler 650, however. This past summer I redid the electrical system to replace the small motorcycle battery with a deep cycle marine starting one. It has no trouble starting now! I have changed the drive belt, tuned it up, and even jerry-rigged a battery isolator onto it. This spring I will be installing off road lighting, a waterproof radio, and will hopefully be replacing the steering assembly to beef it up a bit. The aforementioned mechanic even fabricated a new solid steel shifter for it, as the old one was hollow pot-metal and snapped.
I’m no mechanic, but I sure love tinkering around with what I have.
Not nearly as much as I used to – and not by choice. Arthritis limits my automotive “bonding”. Now because we have two elderly cars, I’m subject to hustlers at the repair shop and more hustlers anytime we get anywhere near a showroom, you can see them drool with anticipation whenever we pull in. With the last set of tires for our Matrix, I purchased a “tire protection plan” which includes tire rotation. What this really means is that the tire shop seems to think that they have free reign to find everything “wrong” with the car instead of just rotating the tires. They even pulled the cabin air filter to show me it was dirty; all I wanted was the tires rotated! A recall for the air bag inflaters resulted in the same shameless hustling at the dealer.
The trouble with doing your own servicing is that on that rare time you need to go somewhere for a larger repair than you do at home, where do you go? It’s not easy to find the rose among the thorns.
Yes, because thankfully Bonzo has had no major mechanical issues and I’ve got access to pretty much any tool anyone could have short of electronic diagnostics or a lift. Battery went kaput? Here, just take the one out of the tractor until we get another one. Inside door handle broke? It takes longer to order a replacement than it does to dismantle the door and actually replace it.
But what’s that? You wanna rotate the tires? Too bad, the locking lug nut has seized up and you won’t be getting it off with anything short of an acetylene torch. That was an ordeal. You know it’s bad when you can make an old Lutheran cuss like a sailor.
Years ago, I worked in several different gas stations, and ran one in 1972-73. When I worked in dearership parts, I could have the run of the shop on weekends. Heaven! Even when I didn’t have access to a shop, I didn’t mind tackling routine jobs at the curb or in the alley, even in winter. Today I’m not that bold, and the workings of modern car systems often throw me for a loop. Fortunately I have a good independent garage right across from my office. It’s funny, though. By not doing my own maintenance any more, I always feel a bit diminished, as if my Man Card has been reduced to provisional status only.
Not any more, unless it’s something small & simple. Ever since my eye went bad almost 12 years ago, I can’t lay my head flat under a car – or for that matter, anywhere – I don’t change oil.
I have more money than time and my aggravation meter hits the red very quickly.
The days of being out in the freezing cold changing a water pump or brakes at night are long over. Head for the mechanic, now. He does this stuff every day, and it’s not worth my time. It helps that my friendly Chevy dealer is right on my way home, and Wifey’s Honda dealer is right down the street where she works, plus our old independent mechanic is conveniently located, too.
I like working on my cars for the most part, but I don’t want to be rushed or forced into doing it. On my new daily driver, no. On my 16 year old Chevy truck, maybe 20% of the time. I don’t want to spend all day to replace a sensor. On my 50 year old Lotus, about 80% of the time. I didn’t rebuild the head, but I took it off and put it back on.
If it’s still under warranty, to the Dealer it goes. After that, I do as much of my own work as time and ability permits.
I do quite a bit of work on my older (i.e., ’60s and ’70s) cars. In fact, I have stripped a few almost all the way down to the shell before sending them to the bodyshop, and have rebuilt a few engines. With newer cars, though, I really don’t do much other than change light bulbs, trim, latches, etc. Like others have said, I have a good mechanic who can handle the more complicated repairs. I also don’t do my own oil changes anymore, just because it’s a hassle to get rid of the used oil — even my local Ford dealer will do one for $40.
Not as much as I did in my youth.
Back then, a brake job, changing plugs, flush of the radiator or banging out a bent fender with a mallet for a VW beetle was the norm.
Today, my efforts are limited to changing windshield wiper blades or checking fluid levels before a trip. Maybe a change of the bulb for the headlights. I could not tell you the last time I changed a tire on the road. The electrical systems in cars is so complex and I do not have the patience of my youth.
61 and do more work on my own cars than when I was 16. Why, not because I cant afford to have others do it, but I enjoy working with my hands, having spent 33 years as a Boeing engineer, not allowed to touch actual hardware due to union rules.
Also, it takes me less time to do an oil change or tire rotation than the time to go there, wait around, pay the cashier and drive home. I dont trust the iffy-lube type places where you dont wait long, but they are probably ok most of the time. I dont want to be the one percent where they screw up the job somehow.
I also like to peek around and look for possible trouble before it happens. Some shops do that because the want to sell additional service, but most cant be bothered.
The last job I felt unqualified to do was a rear wheel bearing on the 325i that we no longer have. An independent BMW-only shop took care of that. I replaced the struts on that car and should have farmed the job out due to the time it took, including making a custom tool.
Hell no.
Well, except to replace side mirrors. I’ve broken and replaced three of those on my cars over the years. You break your side mirror, I’m your man.
Wish I knew you whenI had a `93 Lumina. Those lousy outside mirrors must have broken and fallen off the doors three times per side.
I got tired and quit that sort of thing years ago. Automobiles and motorcycles are farmed out. I’ll do some of my own work on lawn and garden equipment; but bicycles are the only thing that keeps me happy when working on them.
After being involved with several GM dealerships that went bankrupt over the course of 25 years, I can assure you that high service prices in many cases still do not cover the overhead….
I do my own work on my 86 Jetta, but since I’ve owned it for 24 years and used to work for VW, combined with the internet and VW mechanics I still can ask for advise, these cars are no mystery and are simple to work on. But still modern enough to have fuel injecton and reasonable safety features. So far I’ve been able to keep the Titan repaired myself, except for a few recalls which of course I let the dealership handle. So far only fluid changes have been required but I drive it only about 1200 mi. a year. I keep the Jetta because it is easy to work on. durable and parts are easy to get and inexpensive. A new car would be nice but not needed due to the fact I drive very little these days and don’t want the expense with full coverage insurance and dealership visits due to complexity requiring special equipment to fix.
I do most of the repairs myself, like Brake pads ,oil changes, spark plugs, window regulators ,interior stuff, radiators. Just small stuff.. The big jobs I have done by the pros (T-belts, clutches exhaust, things like that). I definitely don’t work on cars as much as I did as a teenager though.
For the most part, yes, I try to fix whatever I can.
Winter car is a 77 Olds and I’ve changed the headliner, both bumpers, front end and fender. Fender and bumpers were rust issues, front end was when an idiot backed into it. Also changed the heater core, alternator, things like that.
When I first started working on cars, I’d do the work, then have a mechanic fix it.
But I learned. I was incredibly good at breaking bolts.
I’ll do almost all routine maintenance myself and I’m pretty good at
redneck solutions. Wife has a 2003 Grand Prix. Windshield washer stopped working.
Mechanic said the wiper-turn signal stalk was bad. About $700 to fix.
Instead a $1.50 push button and some wiring and it’s good to go.
Just bought a 2014 Mustang GT and I think I’ll have the dealer do maintenance til the warranty expires.
My 2002 daily driver ? Nope. I just check the fluid levels and the tire pressure. And refuel it.
Everything else and routine maintenance (every 15,000 km): the Toyota-dealership about 5 km from my house is my man. Good work at fair prices, no huge glass palace / showroom. 270,000 km service is scheduled on
March 2.
Light bulbs, tire repair and new tires, window wipers all at that same place. Just one address for everything the car needs.
i do my own work far more often than not. My newest car is 14 years old, but I’m not afraid of the electronics. Started off a doing my own work when I bought an old hobby car and soon realized that many shops really didn’t want to do the work on a (at the time) 22 year old car, and that I couldn’t afford the ones that would do the work well.
I started off with a shop manual, a body manual, and basic tools. Over time, my skills and tool collection have improved immensely. I now realize that my cars are old because I can afford to keep them running very economically (if you don’t count the lost weekends), and that I actually enjoy it. It helps to have a few like-minded friends that are willing to help each other out, and share tools and beer.
At this point, I’ve learned a lot and like to think that my work is generally superior to many (not all!) mechanics. A lot of this has to do with time….it will take me far longer to do a job than a mechanic who is strongly incentivized to beat the book. I may less skilled and slower, but I am familiar with my cars. I will be more careful not to over-torque a bolt, inspect the area around the immediate repair, use anti-seize and loc-tite as appropriate.
The internet is a wonderful resource, and I encourage any enthusiast to expand their repair knowledge and skills in increments that they are comfortable with. I’ve found that with a little common sense, you will rarely make a problem worse, and you can pay for an occasional tow (and professional repair) when you get in over your head with the money you save.
That is exactly my approach. I am still hoping to find some friends to share a beer with after the wrenching.
I also tried to get my boys interested in basic maintenance. But their opposable thumbs get only exercised when a smart phone or computer is involved.
Sometimes. The Kia goes to the dealership as it’s still under warranty and I don’t want to screw with that–I know that you can get things like oil changes and whatnot done at an independent shop, or possibly even do yourself, without imperiling the warranty but why chance it? For the Ford and the Volvo, most things that aren’t major I’ll attempt on my own, but as I currently don’t have a garage or even any off-street parking, I’m kind of limited in what I can do. You *can* change the oil at the curb but I somehow don’t feel comfortable laying half underneath a car on a public road. Too chancy.
But things that one can do without getting underneath, sure. I’ve replaced two window regulators, a stereo and front door speakers, and a set of plug wires on the Crown Vic while street parked. Stuff like that I’d much rather do myself; it’s a good learning experience and it saves money. Previously, when I had off-street parking, I’d get a bit more adventurous, but I don’t have the specialized tools or the know-how to tackle anything major. But in general I figure the more things I attempt, the more I’ll know how to do down the line. And in the future, when I have off-street parking or hopefully a garage again, I’ll need all the skills I can get to attempt restoration on my long-dormant Malibu. Planning on doing as much of that one as I can myself.
> You *can* change the oil at the curb but I somehow don’t feel comfortable laying half underneath a car on a public road. Too chancy.
That’s what orange road cones are for. 🙂
I was sitting in a police car (presumably with lights flashing) which got hit by someone, who then needed a firetruck to come and pry him out. I don’t think orange cones are going to do it.
I was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek, hence the smiley face. I would be concerned about that too.
Another Crown Vic owner here- those cars are pretty easy to work on. The police models at least have high enough ground clearance that you can slide under them to change the oil like a pickup, no curb required.
I am very particular about my vehicles and their maintenance. I probably could not afford the vehicles that I own if I had to pay someone to work on them, especially considering my hobby is restoring big old Chryslers. Also, there are very few people I would trust to wrench on them other than myself.
I used to change my Honda oil by driving it up ramps, rolling underneath, reaching past a hot exhaust (wanting to change oil on a warm engine), and twisting the filter off blind. Now I just take it in, it’s not much more expensive than oil+filter.
OTOH Toyota filters are a cinch, being right up front, though it’s still next to a hot exhaust shield which gets in the way of a filter wrench.
On that note, I can’t believe where they stuck the oil filter on my wife’s CR-V and I’m guessing it’s the same deal for whatever Honda you have. You can’t help spilling oil on the half-shaft and lower A-arm, which means it’s going to dribble out everywhere. I always put down a big sheet of cardboard to make sure I don’t make a mess of the driveway.
Wow, they’re that consistent.
It could be worse: One had to remove an engine mount to get the accessory belt off the ’75 Civic. They fixed that in the next model, but it looks like Honda puts mechanics’ needs near the bottom of their priority list.
Anyone who has ever had the (dis)pleasure of changing the oil on a Ford InTech 4.6 V8 can sympathize. The oil filter is about halfway up the side of the engine, above a bunch of suspension bits, and is pretty much impossible to extract without turning the filter completely upside down in the process and spilling out a large percentage of the oil inside.
Step 1 of changing the oil on the Mark VIII or Marauder therefore became “lay down a tarp on the driveway.”
Any Tbird/Cougar cousin with the 4.6 is the same, whoever designed the suspension didn’t consult the powertrain department and vice versa.
It is a reason to DIY it though, the underbody will be dripping spilled oil for a month after every oil change if it’s done by anyone else, I made a super high tech gutter system to channel the oil out on my Cougar lol
You got that right. I remember needing a joint between my wrist and elbow when changing the oil filter in my ’96 Thunderbird with the 4.6. The filter would invariably drain down my arm and drip off my elbow.
I always just hold a wad of newspaper or rags right around the the filter when I unscrew it and envelop the filter as I turn it upside down. It usually does the trick.
I am right with you regarding oil changes. Not only is it messy and time consuming, It hardly saves money.
There is also the issue of disposing the used oil. I collect used oil in 5 gallon containers that have a 2″ screw on lid. However there is always some oil on the outside. I hate putting this container in the trunk and driving the 2 miles to the recycling center.
And you have to make sure the containers are secure while driving to the parts store to recycle. So now I gladly pay the recycling surcharge the mechanic adds to the bill.
Once I put used oil in a gallon plastic milk jug. You can guess what happened after a couple of weeks. I changed to more fragile glass jugs.
It may not save money, but it saves me time. I live a half hour from the nearest oil change place so I pick up the oil at my convenience while doing other shopping and change it when i feel like it.
Luckily where I live the trash company will take up to 2 1 gallon milk or water containers full of used oil or antifreeze, you only need to mark the container stating what is in it, and set them out with the recycling container. If this wasn’t the case I probably wouldn’t do it at home. Having 2 vehicles makes it so I can take my time and wait for parts without being stuck without transportation. If I only had one car repairs at home would be more limited.
I gauge the task at hand by looking at Youtube videos. i also use forums to get help with diagnosis. I also post answers to those who request help on some forums.
I have changed gaskets and grommets on intake manifolds, replaced alternators, spark plugs and wires, replaced timing belts, diagnosed vacuum leaks, replaced rotors and pads, drums and shoes, pulled out carpets for cleaning. I have done but shy way from changing oil and transmission fluids. It is too dirty to be worthwhile.
I have learned, some times the hard way, that you must use top notch brand name parts to get lasting results. Parts stores can loan you good quality specialty tools and some can turn rotors and drums on a lathe. However, when ever you get something done by a store you must immediately check the work. One store managed to clamp the drum into the lathe off center and this required doing the work over. I did not save any money at all because of that.
Similar I once ordered a set of quick struts with the Raybestos brand name which fell apart literally after only 10 000 miles. I thought that’s an American brand but it was Chinese crap.
Well, yes and no – but the honest answer is no. My car is covered by a 4 year everything including brakes and wiper blades warranty. My wife’s car (purchased new for her) is a 98 328i with 68,000 miles on it – it goes to the specialist shop but it rarely needs anything but routine stuff, which I am too lazy to do, or the occasional mystery thing due to its age. I let the experts diagnose the mysteries. I have changed out the trunk struts and a taillight assembly which had a bad connector.
I have a 71 Alfa Spider which I wrench on as part of its ongoing restoration – after rebuilding the brakes and suspension, I took it to my Alfa mechanic who gave my work a grade of C+… And then said it probably would have been cheaper to have him do the work than it was for me to buy the parts, tools, and then have him check my work….. Still, it was interesting, and the Alfa is old enough that is is bolted together (rather than clipped, snapped,and spotwelded) and therefore can be unbolted and repaired.
When it came time to rebuild the engine and transmission though, I paid him to do it….
So, yes and no, but no.
I not only work on my own cars (FWD and RWD) I built my own car. I converted a Plymouth TC-3 from FWD to RWD. In the process, I learned to appreciate what the big manufacturers go through. It is the little things like the clutch pedal. I used a stock emergency brake pedal, but never liked it. I scrounged a couple of junkyards until I found a pedal that would work. After a little welding and grinding, I threw out the old one and installed the new one. The upgrades I have done to the car really improved the handling and ease of repair (although I don’t have problems with what I put in, only the factory stuff.)
Oil changes are simply not remotely worth doing myself. It costs well over 15 bucks to change it on my own and 20 bucks to have Monroe do it as well as rotate the tires and pump up tire pressure if needed. Things I do myself that save loads of money- brake jobs, tuneups plus air filter changes, throttle body and MAF cleanings, scanning any trouble codes that may pop up, alternator and battery changes if needed, intakes manifold replacement on most common cars and the odd wheel bearing replacement.
I’m in the parts business so I have customers that will do stuff that I can’t do plus I supply my own parts. Tools can be a deal breaker-why spend the money on a tool you will never need again when its the same money as a couple hours labour? Utube is great for some people but for others its the “a little knowledge is dangourous” attitude. Just because a $80 code reader says bank 1 sensor 1 doesn’t mean you run out and buy a new O2 sensor–you got to make sure there isn’t bad grounds or open connections. I’ve been pretty lucky with my cars-I once had to replace a A/C compressor on a Nissan just out of warranty but I think thats the most I’ve had to spend on a unplanned repair–that doesn’t count stuff thats worn out like brakes and tires.
I used to back in the stone age when I would get my father,brother or mostly a neighhbor to help,but since cars have gotten complicated, and I now lease, I let the dealer do everything until the lease and warranty expire. Aside from doing some minor work on cars ,I`m not too mechanically inclined. More of a watcher instead of a do-er, but I can hold a flashlight in the right spot pretty good!
All of it except tire mounting/balancing(and I’m bringing them wheels, not the car). No way some grease monkey is touching my baby.
What I don’t/won’t/can’t do my brother does, he’s a long time wrench and ASE certified at everything but diesel. Only thing I leave to others is oil changes, I get them done at work.
I don’t seem to have the necessary mindset for automotive work. Diagnosis would defeat me, unless it was something blindingly obvious, like the time the coil wire fell off. I’ve pretty much hired out anything more complicated than oil changes. The increasing complexity of today’s cars gives me no reason to change course.
I once tore down the V4 engine in my Saab 96 and took the parts to and from the machine shop. Then I ran into a time crunch and had to hire someone to reassemble it. It was an interesting experience as far as it went.
I like to work on older cars – forward mounted engines with carburetors and nothing more recent than an OBD1 computer (prefer no computer at all except for a basic ICM). However, when it comes to transverse mounted engines that take a contortionist to remove serpentine belts, a lift to remove alternator from underneath, and a subscription to an OBDII diagnostics program for troubleshooting emissions systems, I take it to the mechanic out of convenience and because I don’t feel like messing with all that stuff.
I will disagree with most people when I say newer cars are easier to maintain than older cars. Newer cars have OBD-II ports that you can plug a code reader/scanner which will tell you what’s wrong with the many of the components in the car. In the old days you had to break out the multimeter to check resistance, voltage, continuity etc. You also had to know what components to check in the first place. Early Hondas used to have a birds nest of vacuum lines. Imagine trying to figure this mess out. http://jalopnik.com/237736/welcome-to-smog-hell-the-mid-80s-cvcc-engine
There are other examples as well. Disc brakes are much easier to work on than drum brakes. I hate drum brakes with all their assorted springs, clips and manual adjustments. When it comes to ignitions systems, coil packs are much easier to deal with compared to old distributors with spark plug wires. No need to worry about moving distributors around to mess with the timing, no worrying about spark plug wires being installed in the wrong order. Fuel injection systems are much more reliable and require less messing with than carburetors.
You don’t disagree with me. However, I learned about engines when they had carburetors. What I learned there really helped with on board diagnostics. I can hear when there is a vacuum leak even before the computer throws a P0171.
Lots of people don’t have that experience and think the computer will tell what’s wrong. They may know that P0171 is based on input by the HO2 sensors and throw a new ones under the hood. 30 miles later they get the same code again.
The sad thing is that even mechanics will do such folly.
Like several others, not nearly as much as I used to. As I get older, that little plastic card is the most-used repair tool I keep. As some others have said, oil changes are so inexpensive at dealers/mechanics anymore, I just don’t do those at all.
That said, I did quite a bit of wrenching on my son’t Grand Marquis – mostly smaller items that he did not want to pay a mechanic for. And he wrenched right along with me.
I guess my rule is that on things that don’t have to be done right now and are not too awfully involved, I do it as I have time. I plan to do the coolant hoses on my Miata myself, and perhaps the water pump while I am in the neighborhood. But it is an extra car, so I can wait for good weather and some free time.
Bulbs, wiper blades, oil and various filters, but not much else. It takes electronic diagnostic tools (and knowledge) that I just don’t have. Plus, in college I had no money but more time; now I have no time but a little more money.
I am 58 years old. I have been fixing my own cars since I was 16. Three years of High School Auto Shop with a great teacher, and two years of Trade School with another great teacher to get an Aircraft Mechanic’s License were both a big help in leaning how to fix cars, (and other things too.)
The way I see it every car repair I preform myself is money in my pocket, instead of money in somebody else’s pocket. Nobody else cares about my car the way I do. (Why should they?) I can take the time and effort to do it right, no matter how long it takes. If I have to go buy a new tool to do the job all the better. Having the tool means I can do the job again if need be.
I am just about finished with a suspension modification I am doing to my 1989 Saleen Mustang. I am installing a Panhard Rod on the rear axle. (aka “The Part That Ford Forgot!”) When I finish the job tomorrow it will have taken me 25 hours to accomplish. The Panhard Bar kit costs $385. If I had to pay somebody to install it I am sure that the cost of the part would be a lot less than the labor charge. Yes, they would probably have done the job faster, but would they have done it better? I doubt it.
I change my own oil, rotate my tires, swap out sparkplugs, replace heater cores, install clutches, hocks, everything that I have the capability to do I do. I have a garage I can use and that helps a lot.
But I will add that as I get older it seems to be getting more and more painful to be laying on a cement floor and rolling around under a car. And the getting up and laying back down part is not as easy as it used to be. So I take my time and when I start to get worn out I stop for the day and take it up again the next day. But I like to think that I am staying in shape, and moving around is always a nice change from sitting on my butt and playing on the web.
Absolutely. And I have 4 cars. 3 have no computerized electronics of any kind, and are RWD. There is nothing I cannot do with these cars (and one truck) The other is a modern FWD POS. I can and have always done all the mechanical work on it. I do not own a code scanner, and do not plan to buy one. My check engine light came on once. I had a friend who is also a mechanic check it with his code reader, it indicated a bad EGR valve. A new one costs ‘$80. I still have a year and a half before it is due for emissions, the car has over 200,000 miles now, and I will no longer own it by then, so that light is still own. Something else I can’t do with it (besides the computer stuff) is pull the engine/transaxle out of it. I do not have the equipment.
Unfortunately newer cars are slowly getting worse as far as working on them goes (the Chevy Spark engine and CVT transmission are not considered rebuildable, and are simply replaced with new ones when they fail) I’m sure they could probably be rebuilt in a proper facility, but it would likely cost more than the cost of a new one. One more step to the non repairable, disposable car.
I myself am seriously considering getting rid of modern cars altogether, finding a nice non computerized RWD body on frame transportation car, like maybe the ’77-’80 Chevy Caprice, Putting in a new crate engine and transmission, rebuilding the brakes, suspension and steering, and using it for cross country trips, which is what I use the modern car for. I could rebuild (not restore) it from stem to stern for the cost of a new economy car.
One more point. As more and more cars become less repairable, and as manufacturers use more and more trademarked parts and copyrighted diagnostic software, I think we are going to see more indie shops going out of business. Many smaller shops (and I have found these are usually the best) cannot afford to buy parts and vehicle specific diagnostic software direct from the auto manufacturers, along with the very expensive diagnostic equipment. With modern cars, you can by no means find every problem with a simple code scanner.
The car business is inching closer and closer to becoming a monopoly.
I do my own oil changes because I am so picky. The heavier maintenance goes to a long time independent mechanic or the dealership. Fortunately I drive cars now that never seem to need anything beyond maintenance. I cannot remember something breaking in the past 15 years.
Back in the Paleozoic, when I was younger (and poorer) I routinely did oil & filter, lube, carb rebuilds, brakes, A/C service. Now at 64, I don’t have the flexibility or the inclination to do that sort of stuff. I recently changed out the windshield washer bottle on my ’03 Silverado, and was reminded why I usually pay someone to do repairs.
As someone stated, YouTube can be a good friend.
I still work on lawn equipment and sprinkler system, though.
With 8 cars one must do a lot of their own work. It is for that reason that I do not like newer cars with all their electronics which I could do without. I do major work on my cars such as my wife’s 98 Sable. She overheated it which damaged the back cylinder. So I replaced both cylinders, timing chain, water pump, a new radiator and while at it all new front suspension. After that my 91 Mazda needed a new clutch along with an all new front suspension also. This weekend my 2004 Focus gets new front struts and rear shocks along with springs from the SVT package. How much money did I save there?
To another weekend the 65 F100 needs the intake and heads removed as there is an overheat problem in the new engine so I need to investigate the head gaskets. Last my father has a 2004 Buick LeSabre with very low miles. However it has the GM 3800 V6 with it’s known issues concerning the lower intake gaskets, the upper intake’s erg passage and the two plastic elbows that leak coolant. He is now leaking water and so I have everything to fix those issues for a long time.
I get very irritated when I can’t work on my own cars. When I bought the Focus I spent more time going over the engine compartment, top and bottom, to make sure I could do my own repairs. If not I wasn’t going to buy it. I will never buy a new car again but instead drive older ones. I am always on the lookout for nice 1991 Mazda 626s which I know like the back of my hand plus the Buick which I have been told is mine when the time comes. Oh, and I also do the bodywork, welding of new metal and paint work on the older cars. The 67 Park Lane is due this year for some of that.
I do my own repairs (to my 1999 Buick Regal GS, previously to my 2000 Cadillac Seville STS), since in most cases it’s easier/cheaper for me to do the repair than find someone to do it. Not afraid of most electrical/computer work either.
Most complicated repair I ever did: drop the power train out of the STS and fix the Northstar head gasket failure with a stud kit.
Not sure about other states, but here in Florida it’s really easy to dispose of used oil: all the major auto parts stores (and other retailers) are required to accept used oil. Just bring in the old oil and dump into their collection tank. I usually end up buying something I needed anyway afterwards. 🙂
Props on a DIY STS powertrain repair. I had one of those and did quite a bit of minor repairs. It developed the oil seal leaks. The multi thousand repair estimate among other developing problems doomed this car.
I do some work on my vehicle such as changing oil, air filter, and replacing bulbs, but I leave the big stuff to a reputable shop. Not only do I not know how to replace a CV Joint, but if they screw up they are paying the costs. Also I do not have a second vehicle to fall back on if my repair skills do not go so well.
I couldn’t have said it better DeadEd. I’m 55, my newest car is 12 years old and the only thing I pay someone else to do is tire mounting, balancing and alignment (I’m thinking getting the tools to do those too). A few months ago I installed a 2 post lift in my garage as my only concession to age. I refuse to be held by the short hairs….
I do. 30 years as a professional marine mechanic. I don’t do my tire or exhaust system work however. And I don’t work on head systems in boats either. Don’t even ask.
Im all over the place. When I had my Jeep and Chrysler at the same time, I did a lot more since I could take my time. If one was torn down, I could drive the other. In the case of my truck, this rig is it.
When I brought that PT Cruiser home, I knew a thing or two about it since Id been researching 2nd cars. But it was my first fwd, my first turbo, and my first ‘normal’ car..you know, as opposed to Jeeps and trucks. Opening the hood and seeing the engine turned sideways and all jammed in there…all the high tech turbo bits…it was jarring. But I joined an online forum full of really friendly PT cruiser fanatics who loved modding for performance. In no time, I realized that even with a computer, ludicrous tight working area and my gorilla hands it wasn’t really THAT much different than any other vehicle I wrenched on. Its mostly the same tech, just more modern and many of the same rules apply.
One thing I haven’t done myself is changing oil. When I lived closer to my parents back in TN, my dad has a decent workshop…perfect for it. Here, its a bunch of messy clutter I have to find a place for, its a nasty job that really doesn’t save THAT much money. And one of my tattoo artists’ comment on simple tattoos really put it in perspective for me. He said that simple tribals are something any good artist hates doing. They don’t really challenge you, its not that fun to do, and its not really honing you skills. I remembered that when I started getting my oil done. Its a job that once Ive done it once, its old hat. Unlike doing a new modification where Im tearing into a new part of my ride, Im not learning something new. Im not seeing the inner workings of something different, Im not taking on a new challenge and Im not really discovering anything that I wanted to know. And unlike a new mod, I haven’t really put in the effort for some cool new reward or upgrade that looks badass, enhances performance, or makes my rig any ‘better’. Just less satisfying all around.
The tattoo analogy is a good one. However, I have a hard time trusting a place like a jiffy lube/precision tune/etc. to even get a simple oil change right. I’ve heard too many horror stories about improperly tightened drain plugs, filters that were not actually changed or not noticing the old o-ring was still stuck to the fitting, the wrong amount of oil put in, etc. Plus I like to use synthetic, which they charge you an arm and a leg for, and how do you verify that’s actually what they used, rather than charging you $30 more and still using dino?
Since I don’t have the option to do it myself right now, I prefer to take it to either a local semi-independent shop that does most of my work on the Crown Vic, or to a dealership. While going to a dealership for an oil change on an older car sounds a little silly, a friend once made a good point. A dealership a)is likely to have better trained, more conscientious techs who will probably do better work than the guy in the lube pit cranking out quick changes at jiffy lube and b)has more riding on their reputation so have more incentive to hold their people to a higher standard of work. Plus, if you go online and look for specials, often times you can pay less for an oil change at a dealership compared to a quick lube place.
I am closing out my fourth decade of auto ownership and can count the times I have had oil changed on one hand. From my 1966 Beetle through our current rides (PT Cruiser, Retro Thunderbird, Mini Cooper and Honda Shadow 1100) that has been a constant for a number of reasons, cost being the least among them. It is simply faster, more convenient, I can allow the oil to drain more completely it and gives me a good opportunity to spot other issues before they become problems. In addition I can use the best quality fluids and filters. I ditched the ramps long ago (haven’t had a vehicle that can clear them in some time) and now use two ten by twelves nailed together which provides more than enough room. I can put the cars on them, pull the drain plug, remove the filter and have them draining in five minutes. Then I can do whatever else for thirty minutes to an hour. Replace the filter and plug, and refill with new (always synthetic) oil and I am good to go with about a total investment of 30 minutes including clean-up. The last time I went to a franchise place (Valvoline) was about fifteen years ago and damned if they didn’t cross thread the plug. That said, if you are going to have it done, go to a dealer. They’re just as inexpensive and at least you will be getting a decent filter.
I did rotate my SRX tires at 6000 mile intervals and had oil changes done at 12000, when the oil monitor was around 25%. Now I don’t have a spare tire or a jack, but I do try to keep the tires inflated above the minimum recommended pressure. Also am trying to get them adjusted so the pressure monitor shows the same pressure on both sides.
It all depends upon my mood.
I still do my own brakes, but have ceased doing my own oil due to the aggravation of storing the oil until I take it to the parts house to dispose of it. I guess I could utilize the used oil to burn brush piles! 🙂
In the past I have replaced the power steering pump, intake manifold, rear axle, and rubber brake lines on my 2001 Crown Victoria. I replaced the timing belt in my wife’s 1.9 liter ’96 Escort. The entire brake system on the Galaxie was rebuilt by my hands. Spark plugs and wires are no big deal, having replaced those in everything I’ve ever owned at least once while I owned it – the worst being that damn 5.4 liter Ford Econoline I own.
However a touch of arthritis in my hands combined with a few other factors has got me taking my vehicles places on rare those occasions they need some help.
I do as much as I can. I fixed up our abandoned 1987 Chevy truck, and fell in love with wrenching. I also do my own oil changes. Sure, Quicky Mart can do them cheaper, but I refuse to have other people doing that, and I refuse to use Fram filters, which seem to be the norm at these places. Give me good oil and a good filter, and 30 minutes. It’s worth it.
Now, when my 1995 LeSabre needed a new transmission, I had an independent guy install my junkyard transmission. I still sourced the part, though.
It’s my vehicle. I’ll take care of it!
The only car I don’t work on is my wife’s car. It’s a 2014 and still under warranty. The next newest vehicle I have is my 1996 pickup which is to new for me.
Used to -in my 20s; by the 40s, I only changed oil.
1. Being 6’4″, my long arms have never fit well in any space surrounding the object needing repair.
2. My size was never made for under-dash work -tough to fold up.
3. And for reasons known only to God, every time I just OPEN a hood, I always bust a knuckle open and bleed like a stuck pig. Guaranteed.
Used to, but since I’ve had modern cars it hasn’t been worth the effort. However today I got my mechanic to replace the radiator in my Austin mini and it cost enough to make me seriously consider getting the spanners out again. Minis aren’t the easiest to work on due to lack of space, but at least the mechanics are simple enough.
I always liked working on motorbikes but didn’t like working on cars for some reason.
I do my own basic maintenance and some repairs. I used to have a relatively complete tool set and could even do the struts myself. Those tools are long gone and the current ride is reliable enough.
I have yet to hit a local mechanic.
I have always done my own repairs and also maintained the family fleet for many years. Thirty five now that I think about it. Brakes, suspension, steering, engine, electrical, body and paint and you name it.
We had a local mechanic for official business such as e-testing and safety certifications and such. He said he liked doing safety inspctions for me because they were easy money. Nothing to do but the inspection and paperwork. He even had a write-up in the local paper on how his business was built on trust and honesty.
I can tell some horror stories about his dealings with seniors and so can others. It leaves us wondering what the hell went wrong. Trust well and truely shattered for all time. I’m back to doing all repairs and maintenance on my mom’s car as well as my own and my sister’s car and wouldn’t have it any other way.
The only thing I really hate is exhaust work. I’ll do it, but I won’t like it.
I’m a younger gear head, I’ve been working on cars for 20 years and only recently did I really notice how many gear heads their are who know nothing about working on cars. It seems strange, but their are so many facets of the hobby that it doesn’t surprise me.
that said I take tremendous pride in doing the work my self. Part of my enthusiasm for the hobby is enthusiasm for engineering. Part of the love for old cars is looking at the constraints they had and how they figured out a work around.
I recently did a brake job on the wife’s 2009 BMW. It was less straight forward than I thought. The rotors didn’t want to come off and they needed to be replaced, no turning them. The part that threw me through a loop was the brake sensors. These neat little sensors, I think they read resistance as they wear down and the dash will tell you how many miles you have left on your pads. Pretty neat! But to replace them you have to order them and if you try to reuse them like I did they can fall off and score the rim.
The BMW is not built to be worked on. Why else would they put torx head bolts on the air cleaner housing? That ticked me off to be honest. It’s as if they don’t trust their owners. That and the lack of a dipstick made me feel insulted. We probably won’t buy another BMW.
In one of my former jobs as a Level III Industrial Maintenace Technician I was responsible for 5 German, 1 Italian, 1 Swiss and 1 American made machine.
The American machine was 40 years old, straight foreward design and overbuilt. If there was ever an earthquake and the roof fell in, that was the machine you would want to stand beside.
The Swiss machine was tricky to adjust but once set up it ran forever and nothing ever broke. The electrical cabinet was a thing of beauty and a work of art.
The Italian machine was also a thing of beauty. It needed constant attention and frequent adjustments for it to run well.
What can I say about the German machines? Well, the Germans were so confident that it would never break they didn’t make them easy to repair.
Time is my constraint. When time allows, I do my own work on vehicles not under warranty. I have my limitations; I have no shop and therefore no desire to spend time bending and flaring a new brake line or repairs of a time rather than money consuming nature.
I do my own repairs and maintenance one FWD diesel car and one RWD petrol classic both are quite simple basic cars I just aquire the needed parts and install them a friend has an inspection pit I use occasionally which makes life easier for exhaust work etc.
Minor things that do not require taking things apart to any great extent I will do, if there’s no urgency. Plugs, wires, dist cap. Flushing coolant. Changing a v-belt. Air filter. Replacing minor parts that screw or bolt in and out. Repacking the wheel bearings, changing bulbs, adjusting the choke.
There are things beyond that, especially on my ’77 Electra, that I definitely could do if I sat down for 6 hours with the service manual (surprisingly excellent) or a mechanic that wanted to take that long to teach me. Changing out various gaskets or suspension parts comes to mind. But I’ve never seemed to have that time to spare as an attorney and nor has anyone else, and I don’t have a lift or garage. Pretty much if I can’t do it in my parents driveway or need any kind of power tools it’s going into the mechanic. Same if it involves taking apart a bunch of tiny pieces and putting them back together: I will never rebuild a carburetor or transmission.
I have changed the oil but have found it more convenient just to go into to JiffyLube. I bring my own oil and filter and make it very clear what I want (you have to slightly underfill the oil on a Buick 350, fill it to or even a fraction over the top line on the dipstick and it will froth >> lifter tick.).
Adjusting…a choke? My…that is a lost art…!
The prior owner had set it all the way lean and I was having starting issues. My dad told me to check it before I took it to a mechanic and explained what to do on the phone and then I watched a youtube video to confirm. Haven’t had an issue since and have never been sure why it was set so lean.
So is setting points.
I own a 2003 Jaguar S Type 3.0 as a daily driver. I absolutely have to do my own work, and I’m pretty busy working on it! If I had someone else work on it, I would have spent more than the value of the car! I’ve never had a car with the amount of issues this one has. If you’re a hobby mechanic, get an S Type, it’ll keep you busy!
I do enjoy doing the maintenance, and do it on the Jag, my ’06 Mustang GT ( of which I have to replace the plugs, ouch!), and my wife’s ’05 Escape.
I’ve done little over the past three years. Renovating my home (even though I’ve hired out a lot of that too), volunteer work and my home business have shifted priorities. I hope to get back to more hands-on car stuff after finishing the reno.
We have two cars in the family right now. One is new enough that it’s still mostly-owned by the bank and under warranty; it goes to the dealer for service.
The other car… Its manufacturer no longer sells cars here. We’re largely on our own for that one, though we do have a good shop about an hour away that knows them and can handle jobs that we don’t have the time / space / ability for.
In general, though, we do as much of our own work as is reasonable. Doing an oil change is no big deal, but when you get a coupon for them that makes it cheaper to pay someone to do it than you can buy five quarts of oil for at the local auto parts store, DIY doesn’t make sense. But if it’s something that can easily be done in the space of a weekend or less (say, replacing an alternator), absolutely.
I grew up during the tail end of the hot rod era, when nothing was out of bounds in the realm of doing it yourself. Age and illness have limited me from the heavy stuff (no more clutch changes on the driveway) but I feel that having at least a working knowledge of how stuff works and how it can be repaired adds a profound dimension to the admiration and enjoyment of an automobile from any era.
I can still replace an engine or transmission on a ’70s or older RWD car. It takes longer than it used to, and hurts more, but I can still do it. I would never attempt a job like that on a FWD car. I have replaced CV joints, struts, steering racks, lower control arms, etc. Some of this stuff you can still get to. I recently replaced the harmonic balancer on my ’01 Malibu, and despite what the manual said, I had to use an angle grinder to cut away part of the inner fender to get to it. Replacing the 3 rear plugs is about a 10 hour nightmare.
I do all service/repair work on my cars—and some of my neighbor’s cars as well.
The only exceptions include wheel alignment (I don’t have an alignment rack) and auto transmission rebuilds. With regard to crash and rust repair–I can swap out doors and fenders, but must farm out the metal and paint work.
On the rare ocassion one of my cars has been in a shop, I have inevitably found the work to be below my own standard, and I have gotten deeply frustrated. I work hard to avoid such nonsense.
I did the front wheel alignment on my ’64 Fairlane with a carpenter’s level and a tape measure after rebuilding the front end. It drives fine, and is not wearing out the tires. Good enough for me.
I jumped in and did the timing on my 91 3000gt VR4. It was a massive pain in the ass but everything seemed to run okay once I put everything back together. It only took about 3 months to do it. i would gladly do it again, it taught me quite a bit and I think it would go much faster the next time around.
I replaced the turbo on my Subaru after it blew up. I don’t know if i ever want to work on a Subaru boxer engine again. It would almost be easier to remove the whole engine.
Always get the factory shop manuals they are a godsend.
I’ll do it mostly myself, on both the Riviera and the Grand Cherokee. But inside the trans and the differential I’ll use someone else.
I don’t do all my own work on my cars, when I was younger yes, That was over forty years ago. I did most of the work on my motorcycles, rebuilt my Sportster a couple of times, and did stuff to my Big twin and the Hondas and Kawasakis that preceded them. My cars back then too. As I got older I could buy newer, and and even brand new cars. I saved my wrenching for my hobby vehicles which were my bikes. Round about the mid nineties, I was in my forties and I got the bug for a hobby car. I got a real nice 71 Riviera. Then I decided that I wanted a 66 Riv and for some reason decided that I would get one that needed to be “fixed up”. Well many more hobby cars have come and gone, some were purchased in better shape than others, But my rule is that I do almost all the work on these cars. I could not justify spending money to fix up a car that I don’t even need. Now, I also don’t have the extra money to spend so that it is even more critical that I do the work. I have a lot of tools and have always been interested in mechanics so I read about everything. The internet has been a real boon to car repair. and even at sixty years of age I still enjoy it. I will work on my newer cars to get things done and save money but I would prefer not to. My plan for the future is to have new or late model cars for my daily drivers and to have some type of hobby car for fun, But like most older guys we have to be careful not to hurt ourselves while we do repairs. My back is messed up enough already. My current car, the 70 Mustang is one of the worst I have started with, and probably the oldest. (It’s funny that my fifty six Caddy was only forty years old at the time I had it, while my 70 Mustang is forty five years old). I have replaced the exhaust system, rebuilt the brakes, starter alternator, rewired and repaired the wiring harness.I have spent a lot of time lying on my back, looking up under the dash. I replaced a fender, heater core, repaired the seats and interior( still got a ways to go) prepped for paint, built a custom grill and turn signal set up, replaced the turn signal switch, steering wheel, fixed the carb and still have a long way to go,
I’ve had a lot of “hobby” cars, in fact that is the main purpose of a car to me. Every single one of them has been old school, carbed, no emissions crap or electronics on them. And except for 3 VW bugs, they have all been American. There was one exception. A 1993 Chevy S10 pickup I bought about 10 years ago in literally like new condition. The bottom was as clean as the top, no rust anywhere, the frame still had that factory applied greasy waxy stuff on it. Only one problem. It had a computer and a TBI injected 2.8 V6. I had already planned on getting rid of that. Today it has been totally rebuilt from the ground up, with a healthy carbed 383 under the hood. It’s a total blast to drive, and occasionally race. And easy to work on. I had to register it out of the county to avoid the emissions test.
I try to at least think about it. I change the oil in the Porsche myself, it’s so easy and does save a bunch of money (not going near a quick-lube place with it). The 300 I just took it to the dealer the other day, for $39 they change the oil (7qts), filter, AND rotate the tires. The wife’s car currently is under a service plan so the dealer does the oil on that as well.
Regarding more involved work on the Porsche, when it needs something I look it up and generally attempt it myself if I have the time although there is a good independent in town that I can fall back on. Looking at replacing the suspension and probably the brakes as well. I just replaced the front brakes on the wife’s car, and the 300 won’t need anything that’s not under warranty for a while.
The old Honda I used to just take it to a different independent, I found a guy that is cheap and very trustworthy a few years ago in a networkig group we both belonged to. He works on anything so he has seen the Honda, the Saab, as well as the old Tahoe I think over the years and I’d probably take any of the cars to him. And I make a point of referring him to others that are then sure to mention me, this helps keep him on my side.
The next big project is on my wife’s car. Gearing up for that now. Need to change a license plate bulb. 🙂 I would totally ignore it but the “Licence Plate Bulb Out” warning message dominates the gauge cluster readout so it’s become annoying.
Having started my wrenching on a 1966 Beetle that could be static timed, I’ve had to adapt to a lot of changing technology. I’ve read a lot of bias against newer technology here, so I wanted to share this recent event.
My PT Cruiser, closing in on 160,000 miles, threw a check engine code the other day. Then, shortly afterwards, would not accelerate past 30mph. So, I attached the OBD scanner which told me there was a fault in the cam position sensor. A trip to Advance, a $35 dollar part and ten minutes to remove the old and install the new and everything is fine. I consider this progress.
I was getting my car it’s annual state required inspection and I watched the inspector almost take the center support between his garage doors out. He then nerviously let me park it in the garage to check the breaks etc. Needless to say, he passed the car and allowed me to back it out and leave. His partner was very angry.