How many of you work on their car?

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HaywoodJablowme10@reddit

Yep. I do most work. Have been for 40 years.

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Bigbangmk2@reddit

Yup, all of our cars, I even make vids sometimes .

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AnonEmbeddedEngineer@reddit

I'm a firmware engineer by day, but I do basically everything on my cars whenever I have the time. It's fun to learn and mess about, especially on my project cars.

I'm considering an EV as a daily as driving stick all the time kinda sucks, gas price fluctuations make a big dent on my monthly expenses and there's really no maintenance on those so I guess I won't do anything other than maybe brakes on that car if it ever needs it.

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whiskey_piker@reddit

You are making a silly statement for someone that claims to have taken mechanical engineering. Dismounting wheels, replacing a battery, replacing a burst radiator hose, draining the transmission and replacing the trans filter are all pretty basic. It isn’t like you need to remove your pistons or replace syncros in a transaxle.

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MaciMaci9999-2@reddit (OP)

You're making a silly statement as I don't deem these things mechanical. I just don't want to open the motor or transmission, even to change the spark plugs

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RateMaterial7453@reddit

I do pretty much everything myself except engine internals and transmission work. Everything else isn’t that hard, and even if you mess something up, it usually won’t cost you a fortune to fix.

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Budget_Trifle_1304@reddit

You'll learn the basics pretty quick.

Head down to Harbor Freight, pick up the set of SAE and Metric combo wrenches on their own storage case for like 15 bucks, a combo head screwdriver, and get after whatever you're thinking about doing.

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Just-nonsenseish@reddit

and a cheap 1/2inch impact. hyper tough has a really good one for 100

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dubgeek@reddit

Doing my own oil changes was my gateway drug into doing brakes, suspension work, and more.

Get some ramps, a drain pan, and a basic socket set and you're good to go to change your own oil.

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Just-nonsenseish@reddit

and jack stands

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jorked_penits@reddit

I'm an automotive mechanic by trade. I do all of my own work 99% of the time. the only exception is sometimes I go to Valvoline for oil changes because I don't feel like doing it on a Saturday or staying late after work to do it

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Just-nonsenseish@reddit

I just do it so I don't have to get rid of used oil

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OrdinarySecret1@reddit

The basics: lightbulbs, oil change, tires, and other stuff, but I wouldn’t touch the engine.

I am very handy and figure things out (I changed the steering wheel and the entertainment system of my wife’s car). But the engine, to me, is a big deal.

Breaks? I haven’t done them yet… we’ll see if I ever adventure myself into changing them.

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Just-nonsenseish@reddit

same plus alternators, starters. trans filter and all brakes but drums.

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

Yup, I do all the work on all my vehicles. Have been that way pretty much my whole life

Working on them is easy as long as you have good service literature and the right tools. The hard part is diagnostics, but once you understand how everything works it all comes together

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Expensive_Candle5644@reddit

Additionally YouTube makes it soo easy these days. Whatever we are looking to do someone has done before and made a tutorial on it.

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chibicascade2@reddit

YouTube can make it look easier than it is. They don't show the 45 minutes with a torch and breaker bar to pop a couple nuts loose.

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Character-Theory4454@reddit

Or loosing that 10mm socket for the 100th billionth time

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Just-nonsenseish@reddit

pro tip. buy the 12 pack of variety 10mms. fill a drawer

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ThatDude_Paul@reddit

That’s ok, I’ll still take that over the encyclopedia Britanica

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Electrical-Money6548@reddit

Or smashing your hand against something trying to get a bolt off.

I'm glad I don't live in the Rust Belt anymore. My high school days were spent messing around with friend's cars because we were too broke to send them to a mechanic.

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Few-Conversation7144@reddit

Not to mention they usually have better and more specialized tools.

I made the mistake of using cheap Amazon sockets to work on my cars for a while which stripped bolts 90% of the time until I upgraded to a more expensive socket set

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JesseKFK@reddit

This!

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

For sure, I like to watch a Youtube video on jobs I haven't done before. Sometimes there's little tricks or small things the manual doesn't cover but some guy on Youtube does.

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TheOriginalRed@reddit

Where do you source service literature?

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valleylegend69@reddit

i'm interested too

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

I copied the response I gave to the other guy so you can see it:

For basic stuff, Haynes manuals are good enough and cheap enough. For more advanced diagnostics, full wiring diagrams, and stuff a subscription to Alldata DIY is $60/yr or $20/month. It literally pays for itself the first time you save a trip to the mechanic. With VW products you can do a one day subscription to erWin and download all the service info for your car

Also, I have found forums for certain cars I've owned with members who are dealer service techs and have been kind enough to download and post info. For classic cars, many times you can find where people are selling old dealer service literature on Ebay.

It depends on the vehicle, I'd recommend joining a dedicated forum for whatever car you're working on and asking around as to what other members are doing to find repair info

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HeavyDutyForks@reddit

For basic stuff, Haynes manuals are good enough and cheap enough. For more advanced diagnostics, full wiring diagrams, and stuff a subscription to Alldata DIY is $60/yr or $20/month. It literally pays for itself the first time you save a trip to the mechanic. With VW products you can do a one day subscription to erWin and download all the service info for your car

Also, I have found forums for certain cars I've owned with members who are dealer service techs and have been kind enough to download and post info. For classic cars, many times you can find where people are selling old dealer service literature on Ebay.

It depends on the vehicle, I'd recommend joining a dedicated forum for whatever car you're working on and asking around as to what other members are doing to find repair info

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1sixxpac@reddit

“It’s easy” .. it’s not easy for everyone just like playing a guitar isn’t easy. I can engineer and wrench my ass off, it just comes naturally. I can not for the life of me play guitar. Between my brain and fingers there isn’t the natural ability.

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No_Scallion2923@reddit

Bass player diy mechanic here. Just like when you picked up a wrench the first time and started to wrench your ass off, it became natural to you; guitar is the same exact thing.

Playing guitar IS easy. It just takes knowledge and practice. Just like everything else that is a skill.

When talking about the difficulty of something like guitar, it depends on your expectation. I can teach you 10 easy songs in a month. But a classical song could take years to master.

I didn't write this to shit on you, I wrote this to motivate you to consider to try learning guitar. I used to say my fingers/brain don't work that way either. And that part does take a little time but not as much as you'd expect.

Try bass out before guitar (less strings to manage, no chords). It all depends on who is teaching you. I went with an online course called bass buzz because the way he taught worked best for me.

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tech240guy@reddit

I use to work on my own cars (like literally track builds and engine swaps) when I was younger (hell, even had an ASE cert). Then career advances and responsibilities came and now I don't even have time repair my cars. My cars that need repairs would sit for months until I finally have a free day or when planets align with the sun.

Fortunately, I'm doing well financially and pay a local shop to do the work.

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Beautiful-Owl-3216@reddit

You went to school for engineering you can't work on car? Did you have to do any lab experiments or anything? Working on cars is mostly very easy.

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waterdog250@reddit

I do . Don’t alway know what I’m doing I just always figured another human engineered this mess I’m equal as smart to figure out why or how to make it better.

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Survivaleast@reddit

I’m the opposite. Don’t trust anyone else to work on the car but me. You only have to have someone else mess up once for you to realize all this stuff can be learned.

Tools are cheap and YouTube instructionals are free. It gives peace of mind knowing YOU turned all those bolts to make sure everything is correct. People overthink it, but using a scan tool and turning a wrench is hard to mess up.

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sir_thatguy@reddit

Tools are basically free if you justify their purchase against what a shop would have changed.

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WaffleSelf@reddit

That's the same thing I tell my wife

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Upstairs-Fan-2168@reddit

I trust others, but I certainly don't like dealing with most others. It ends up just being a different type of work I like less. If rather just fix it myself compared to finding a mechanic with a price I don't feel is outrageous and who I believe will fix it correctly and in a timely manner.

Like OP, I'm a mechanical engineer. I was on track to go to mechanic school, but I had done enough wrenching to know it's a tough job, and I looked into what would allow some wrenching / tinkering, but some desk work. Mechanical engineering seemed to have the best balance for me, but damn was it a lot of hard ass math.

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maybach320@reddit

I do a lot of my own work, a bet less on my diesel truck vs my cars but it’s kind of tool and space in the garage issue vs willingness for the diesel.

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Potential_Credit_801@reddit

Im also 20 with 0 wrenching experience i own a mk7 gti and have replaced my turbo, changed my oil pan and installed my muffler delete kit and my downpipe multiple times its not to bad just time consuming and needing the money for the right tools and parts and have time on your hands to do what you want or need to.

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JennItalia269@reddit

I do most of my work. Can easily do suspension, brakes etc no problem.

The right tools and a few YouTube videos and can fix most basics on a car. Hell… I replaced my clothes dryer heating element using YouTube videos. Saved myself a couple hundred dollars and my dryer still works fine.

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SmallFly101@reddit

Tryna replace my spark plugs the most I ever done on a car was change filters, but watching YT videos & having the right tools got me feeling confident

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cyprinidont@reddit

What car? Most spark plugs are easy but God help you if it's a Subaru.

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SmallFly101@reddit

Lmao it’s a Nissan, looks easy hopefully

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cyprinidont@reddit

Hmm. Depends on the engine but probably. Some Nissan engines have weird ones like the last gen Versa/ Sentra.

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ShinyAfro@reddit

Spark plugs? That requires either risking losing sockets to the abyss or an engine lift for me, hehe.. Boxers ftw. Always fun working on the engine in general. At first you're like damn better make sure the car still works and baby it after you touch it then later on ur like bro full send this bitch. Even if you're playing with oil stuff it's not going to piss out immediately, you will have warning and i got a pressure gauge anyhow, not just the default factory 0 psi switch.

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JennItalia269@reddit

Only way you ever will. Just make sure the engine is ice cold and get a spark plug socket as they’ll have the foam holder thing to prevent it falling in. And be gentle when tightening it in there.

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AutoMechanic2@reddit

As a mechanic I do all my own work to all of my families cars, mowers, big trucks, tractors etc. I don’t trust anyone at least if I’m not right there supervising lol. If I need a hand I call one of my many mechanic friends and we tackle it together. Heck I don’t even trust my coworkers because I see them do things and I’m just like uh ok you’ll never touch my car lol.

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ssjisM_7@reddit

If it's the (76 280z) of course

If its the traverse, yes and no

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navis_monofonia@reddit

engine blew, didn’t have money to pay someone to rebuild it, so i learned myself. if i have the resources to the work, i’ll do it. but i still sent my heads to be machined and paid for a new oil pump install on the crank cover when i sent it off to the same machine shop.

i have never worked on cars professionally or taken any courses, aside from being a tire installer at costco for a little bit.

if you have the time, space, and determination, most anyone can learn to do it.

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Independent_Top7926@reddit

Gosh.... not since carburetors.... those things got complicated and it seemed to me manufacturers wanted to end shade tree type mechanics. Do you need a lift to work on cars today?

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dustsmoke@reddit

I have to ever since book time got more expensive than the hourly wage of a brain surgeon. Nobody can really afford to take a vehicle to a mechanic anymore.

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No-Inspection-985@reddit

I went from not even knowing what a cabin filter was 2 years ago, to doing an oil change and brakes this year.

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Agitated-Finish-5052@reddit

So, you went to school for mechanical engineering but don’t work on your car? Weird.

I guess the time is to start now on working on your car. Not much of a engineer if you can’t pick up a tool and start wrenching

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Adventurous_Emu_9274@reddit

Started working on my own cars 17. Turned 18, started working for a local Mercedes dealer for the summer. They liked me so much they recommended me to another Benz dealer 5 hours south where I was going to college for mechanical engineering. Worked in the service dept after my classes for the day. Failed out of college. Left that job, moved back home. Stayed a dealer mechanic at various places for the next 5 years. Ended up going to tech school, became a career aircraft mechanic. I work for United Airlines in sunny FL now. Still do all my own work on my cars and my families.

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Rising_Awareness@reddit

Work on whose car? 🤔

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Neon570@reddit

Why? It's just a pile of parts with some nuts and bolts holding it all together.

What's the worst that happens? You break something?

They make parts every day around the world.

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RevolutionaryJob6315@reddit

Used to do all my work when I was younger because I couldn’t afford a mechanic. Rebuilt engines, swapped engines, turbo’d a bunch of cars, painted cars. Basically did anything unless professional equipment was required (alignments, tires mounted, etc).

Now I take it to my mechanic. Great guy and probably the only place I’ve ever taken my vehicle and not felt ripped off. Been using him for almost ten years now. It I had a project car I would definitely still be doing my own work on that but for my daily, I’ll just take it to him.

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RicKaysen1@reddit

Always did, ever since I started driving. Then one day I bought a 1990 Ford Thunderbird Supercoupe. When it inevitably had issues, I was confronted with a computer controlled, laser guided, nuclear powered enigma that I never could get running right. Ever since then, I buy new and if my car needs air in the tires, it's going back to the dealership.

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Dorsai56@reddit

There are a lot of things you can do on your own. Youtube is a gold mine of how to information. There are any number of car guy message boards, whether for specific models/brands or in general. You can buy repair manuals.

Things like fluid changes, filter changes, wiper blades, all sorts of minor stuff is easy and will save money if you can do them yourself. Just don't jump out there and try to rebuild stuff that you can see is over your head. If you don't have the proper tools, you'll start to accumulate them by buying the couple of things you need for a given job.

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TheEstablishment7@reddit

I'm no mechanical engineer, but I am pretty handy. My advice is that there are things that are easy that you should do yourself at least sometimes. Oil changes, air filter changes, and battery checks and replacements are easy peasy. If you have three jacks, do your own tire rotations (if you don't have three jacks, go to Harbor Freight and get a couple jackstands and a hydraulic jack). I personally don't do much more than that on my daily driver. I use an independent mechanic with a good reputation who warranties his work, and I know enough about what he ought to be doing to follow along and double check it. The electronics are complicated, and the packaging of modern cars makes it really hard to reach anything in the engine bay, which also makes me more likely to go to someone who has invested in top notch electronic scanners and reprogramming equipment, has an All Data subscription, and knows all the shortcuts to avoid skinned knuckles.

For my part, I have an older car that I do everything on, because I enjoy it. But I don't rely on it to backstop my getting to work every morning.

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Ok_Minimum8318@reddit

I’m a mech E too. I love cars. Do your work yourself. If you’re a mech e, you should be mechanically inclined. The only way you can learn is by starting somewhere. YouTube is your friend! It’s a free resource and videos are up for everything!

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Objective_Bag8428@reddit

Life experiences have made me not trust anyone to work on my vehicles.

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vLOOKUP_13@reddit

If I can learn to do routine maintenance in my late 30s, anyone can do it. That said, it always takes longer than you expect so make sure your significant other doesn’t mind or else they’ll get pissed. Especially if you have young kids.

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getfuckedupaye@reddit

I’m a damn poser… I can change a tire, my windshield wipers and my cabin air filter, that’s about it.

Would love to start working on it myself but idek where to start. There’s a shop by me that’s a DIY garage or something like that, you just rent it by the hour. Might do that when I have to change my pads and rotors.

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Healthy_Pain9582@reddit

I do most of mine because I don't want to pay a mechanic. That's money I could use for other mods

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Healthy_Pain9582@reddit

It's not that bad honestly, it's very stressful since I only have 1 car and if I'm missing a part or tool my car is usually unusable until I get that.

Cars are not super complicated (old ones at least) so they're not impossible to learn. Everything I do to my car is easier than the last.

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vLOOKUP_13@reddit

If I can learn to do routine maintenance in my late 30s, anyone can do it. That said, it always takes longer than you expect so make sure your significant other doesn’t mind or else they’ll get pissed. Especially if you have young kids.

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Abject-Celery-7645@reddit

I have always worked on all my cars as i find it therapeutic and relaxing.

Also do some services(brakes, Fan belts, Valve cover gasket, engine mounts etc) on some of my friends cars. On my own car, i replaced the clutch kit for the 1st time EVER. Having the right tools and knowing how to do research online helps.

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boostedmike1@reddit

I’m building my own suspension right now 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Innocent-Prick@reddit

I hear you but I don't trust mechanic shops more so I rely on my own work ethic to do a job right

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sebastiand1@reddit

Mechanical engineering and actually fixing cars are two different things, doesn’t mean you can’t learn or be good at it though. I fixed cars for a living for 10 years and currently I don’t work on my car. I find it annoying and I’m not getting paid for it. I’d rather pick up an extra shift at work to make the money back, than to waist a weekend fixing something. I enjoy driving cars not fixing them same with my motorcycle. It also helps that I know a fuck ton of technicians that I trust so there’s that.

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szaade@reddit

Only easier stuff, but I want to get into doing more. Currently I observe/sometimes help my mechanic while he's working on things that'll be done in one day.

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Sauce218@reddit

I figure if another human can do it, I can get the tools and do it too.

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ProfileTime2274@reddit

Start with something easy do your own oil change. Buy the parts the tools and a pan and funnel. Get a few seals or gaskets for your oil plug . I just drive the vehicle up on some 2x6s usually 4 in will get you enough room underneath the vehicle to be able to do your own oil change.

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DoctorSquibb420@reddit

Do you work as a mechanical engineer? If so, just buy a cheap car with some of the money in your sofa cushions and practice on that.

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TheWhogg@reddit

Cars haven’t changed much. How do you think we changed lower control arms when I was in my 20s?

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sfo2@reddit

Yeah, almost all of it. YouTube. All the basic stuff is fairly straightforward if you have the tools, the time, and are willing to make some mistakes early on.

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sir_thatguy@reddit

I applaud the effort. You gotta find a way to make it fun for them.

(With appropriate PPE) they could finger paint the hell out of some grease on the caliper slider pins. You’ll probably have to clean it up some to use them but they’ll probably like that.

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sfo2@reddit

lol yeah at this age, it’s mostly going to be me doing everything, and then them touching some of the parts and doing little stuff, probably like applying grease to the slide pins, tilting the calipers back into position, pushing the torque wrench until it clicks, etc.

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runenight201@reddit

They could also hand you the tools you need at any given moment so you never have to leave the area.

They could grab the bolts and place them in a safe area while your removing, and then run them back to you when your placing everything back together.

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sfo2@reddit

Ooh good idea. I’ll bring out some magnetic trays and puppy pads and have them sort and clean the stuff as it comes out

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garthywoof@reddit

I unashamedly started working on cars with my friend who’s been doing full scale classic rebuilds for years doing exactly this: I came over and we spent 3 days organizing tools and hardware, sorting and cleaning and laying out on paper towels. Within a week he had me shaping his rear brake line (which still runs btw), while he did fuel lines. I’m 28 now, and last week with my own tools and hardware, changed the struts on a Mustang I’ve since bought, as well as diagnosed, found and rebuilt a bad wire going to the starter.

Before I post this, to be fair I also kinda made him do the cleaning and sorting, cause he had been through a rough move and breakup, had no time, and his stuff was getting ruined in weather and it made me mad that no one else around him was helping him out when he needed it, despite him doing so much for others. I’m talking gigantic plastic totes 3 inches deep of random bolts and nuts that were filthy, unsorted, and getting ruined.

But yeah, even 27yo dudes sometimes start out cleaning off bolts and nuts and laying em out on puppy pads to dry, lolll.

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durrtyurr@reddit

Don't get intimidated. Cars are designed to be consistently built by people with a middle-school level of education, you can fix one.

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Ornery_Golf6994@reddit

All I know is this, about 15 years ago, some shade tree mechanic with a potato camera had the exact same problem you do now, and is more than happy to walk you through the process step by step.

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garthywoof@reddit

This is the absolute best summary of how the DIY online car community works, in all its glory.

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pfcgos@reddit

Any work I'm not familiar with on my vehicles or a friend's vehicles, I go to YouTube and look for a walk-through to see what is involved. From there I can decide if it seems like something I'm capable of or if it's something that I (or my friend) need to take to a shop.

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cyprinidont@reddit

Until their photo bucket links rot.

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chibicascade2@reddit

I saw how to do my intake gaskets on a video series like that. They had to shoot it in 10 minute segments back then.

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Revolutionary-Tiger@reddit

I love cars but I don't trust myself to work on my own car regarding anything actually mechanical.

As someone who is around your age at 27. Let me tell you now that there's only ONE way that's going to resolve itself

https://youtu.be/0B4vt9apNTM?si=KR2N0_3oFtzlBqOD.

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Bluetex110@reddit

No mechanic either but do all the work myself.

Some stuff breaks the first time I do it 😁 sometimes there is just the knowledge missing of where certain clips or anything is, but once i did it, i learned and next time it's no problem.

Last week i replaced my radiator, never did this before, on Youtube it took 30 minutes 😁 I needed an hour and got a nice coolant shower but in the end i fixed it😂

And I also learn that if you have a leak, it doesn't mean you can pull of the Hose expecting the system to be empty😂

In the end i always take a bit longer than a real mechanic, i hurt myself more often and sometimes i break things but I save a lot of money and you can be proud on yourself that you fixed it.

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MeepleMerson@reddit

Before we moved on to EVs, I would do basic maintenance stuff (even swapped out a bad starter once). Whatever I could manage without a lift or expensive tools, and reasonably within reach of my not-very-long arms. I relied on Chilton’s manuals originally (if you know what those are).

I got to the point that I preferred taking the car in for fluid changes because it was less mess for me and I didn’t have to drive the stuff somewhere to recycle it (required in my state). And I typically felt better about having a mechanic do my brakes. So, after that, it was mostly just air filters, washer fluid, wiper blades, and tire rotations.

With the EVs, cabin air filters, washer fluid, wipers, and tires are the only maintenance there is.

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thymewaster25@reddit

I started doing my own work before the Internet existed, using Haynes manuals and reading books from the library. I still do most of my own work now. I send exhaust work to a muffler shop, with a lift and a torch what takes them an hour would take me all day and 2 cans of penetrating fluid, lying on my back under the car getting crap in my eyes.

I can save myself $500 to $700 in a day doing brakes using good parts ordered from Rockauto, rather than send it to a shop.

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graytotoro@reddit

When I can and as time allows. I don’t like dealing with brake and coolant disposal so I’m more than happy to pay someone else to deal with them.

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Physical-Result7378@reddit

I neither have the time, nor the space, nor the tools nor the knowledge to do anything more than exchanging summer and winter tires and refilling wiper water. Oh and I replaced a battery twice. That’s it.

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pfcgos@reddit

I do minor work on my daily (2008 Dodge Ram 1500), but I don't like to touch anything that is tied to the computers. I am just not comfortable with my ability to repair it reprogram any of that if I break something.

I have 2 classics (65 Mustang and 68 Coronet) and I am MUCH more comfortable working on those. There are things I've never done on them, and things that I consider outside of my abilities, but the list is much shorter.

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alwtictoc@reddit

I've worked on my own cars since I owned my first car 35 years ago. I most certainly broke some stuff early on. That's how you learn. The ol I ain't doing it that way ever again. Worst I've had happen after a repair in the last 20 years was have a castlenut walk itself off of a ball joint after id just replaced the axle. Came loose at like 2 mph and the ball joint popped out of the hub. Destroyed the boot on my brand new axle. :( I jacked it up. Popped the ball joint back in the hub. Went home with wifey. Grabbed the old castle nut. Put it on. Drove it home and went and got another axle the next day. Came apart really easy the 2nd time!

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Substantial-Ad-8575@reddit

I do regular maintenance all the time. Have tools-lifts. Do oil changes on my new cars. Then everything on my 90s JDM sports cars and 2 restomods I have. Also do prep for our spec Miata’s and track cars. But leave my WEC and IMSA cars to professionals.

Just did oil changes on a coupe of cars on Thursday.

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ottrocity@reddit

Been doing my own work since before I owned a car, lol. Started on my parents' cars. Have done 95% of all car work for the last uhhh...almost 20 years.

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dildozer10@reddit

I fix as much as I can on my own vehicles, if I don’t have the tools or the experience to fix something the right way, then I’ll take it to a professional.

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do2g@reddit

I do. And I’m an EE :)

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outline8668@reddit

I'm a mechanic by trade so I do it all myself because I can't bring myself to pay someone else to do something just because I don't want to.

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GIMMESOMDORITOS@reddit

There are very few people I trust other than me to work on my car and they're usually too busy for my bullshit.

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Goingdef@reddit

Just keep in mind, you might not be the most experienced guy but chances are neither is your mechanic…don’t be afraid to work on things as long as you keep in mind”I gotta put this back together” label all hoses and bag and tag all bolts, use cardboard to organize bolts that are different lengths on parts(water pump) and get a torque wrench if you don’t trust doing it by feel. Remember cars are designed to be built as easily as possible in the factory by people who only know how to put on a specific part, you can do the same.

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Evee862@reddit

Dad and father in law mechanics. Sure I do. Just replaced the suspension and steering on my 02 Silverado

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TheCamoTrooper@reddit

Do it all myself, redid the top end of a bimmer, redoing the whole engine on my prelude and SiR, do effectively any and all work any of my or my families cars need

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DifficultStruggle420@reddit

See if your local community college offers classes. If you have an ME degree, you'd probably learn things in no time at all without any trouble.

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PollutionOld9327@reddit

I do most all the work on my stuff. Most of it is just Common Sense. If you have that, you'll be fine.

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Alert-Manufacturer27@reddit

I once crossed the wires of a Mazda 626 1982 so badly that when you took the keys out as long as the parking lights were on the car would still run

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dchef40@reddit

Hire a in home services mechanic that’s willing to let you help him. I have my cousin

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ted_anderson@reddit

I've been wrenching on my own cars for the better part of 35 years and I helped my dad work on his cars before that. I've done just about everything other than rebuild a transmission, rebuild a diff, and pull an engine.

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Ting-a-lingsoitgoes@reddit

I don’t mean to be a dick but you’re already ahead of the engineers I know.

Start small. Change your oil. Tools cost money but you can buy them over time.

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Acrobatic_Remove3563@reddit

You just have to know your limit, i.e. what things are you comfortable doing without any experience and are still uncomfortable about after watching someone else do it. I still have limits on what I feel comfortable doing. It used to be just oil changes, but I’ve done a lot of work in the last few years on different vehicles, and sent them to the shop for others. As you start to branch out, you begin to feel more comfortable and competent doing more jobs for the first time, while getting a better feel for where your limit should still be.

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Milnoc@reddit

I do whenever it's within my abilities or slightly above them so that I can learn from the experience. I've progressed a lot in just five years. It also helps that Ottawa has a DIY Garage with lifts, tools, and a certified mechanic if you get stuck on a problem.

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sir_thatguy@reddit

Warranty work, collision, tires and alignment, I go to the pros. Everything else I do and I’m just a shade tree mechanic.

Last time I went to a shop for work was in the 90’s and I got forked.

I started working on cars when I got my first one. Starter went out and my dad went and bought a new one and a few tools. Got it up on ramps and he opened the box and said “crawl under there and find one of these.”

Learned everything from Haynes and/or Chilton. “Other models similar” my ass.

YouTube generation is lucky.

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Ok_Top55@reddit

Smart move. Mechanical engineer and auto mechanic is different thing.

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libra-love-@reddit

All the time. Unless it gets to things I’m not willing to possibly fuck up lol

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drpepperfan69420@reddit

I used to, when I had Japanese cars. Japanese cars are super easy to work on. With a 10 mm and a clip puller you can take damn near the whole car apart.

Fixing basic car stuff isn't generally that hard, it's usually that all the crap you have to take off before you get to the broken part - and then putting all that crap back on after you replace the broken part.

I don't wrench on my own car anymore because I have a Mini now, and it just seems way over my head, so I bring it to an indie guy who specializes in Euro brands.

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nanneryeeter@reddit

I won't buy anything that expensive that I cannot perform most repairs on.

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BunningsSnagFest@reddit

Um, no. New AMG. Not the model for an amateur wrencher.

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GuiltyDetective133@reddit

Shop labor rates are too expensive for me not to do the work.

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L1NK1N_P4RK@reddit

I do basically everything myself with the help of friends. Started by replacing light bulbs, doing oil changes and brake replacements. Evolved into modding exhausts, installing intakes and now dropping s gearbox to replace the clutch. I absolutely need to do the work myself, my cars (BMW E46 and Nissan S14) would be astronomically expensive to own if I were to hand it to a mechanic every time something broke.

Just gotta take baby steps man!

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mmmmmyee@reddit

Software deskjocky by day, amateur mechanic by night. I’ve touched every single bolt inmy car with exception of the transmission internals (that stuff and assembling rear ends scarreeeeme).

I started small tho; brakes, clutch, waterpump, headgasket… engine rebuild took me til my mid 20’s to build the courage for

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kalelopaka@reddit

I’ve been working on cars since I was 12, and I’ve always worked on my own cars.

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proscriptus@reddit

Sitting in the garage taking a break from working on my suspension as I read this.

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VW-MB-AMC@reddit

I do almost everything myself on my own own cars. I don't paint. And I am currently learning to weld and make rust repairs.

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RadicalSnowdude@reddit

I work on my cars. I’m poor and I can’t afford to just send my car truck a shop when it breaks.

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SVTContour@reddit

I used to before I went electric.

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lovyouall@reddit

Yep, everything and anything.

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LowPop7953@reddit

I do when i have the time. most of the time just easier to pay somebody.

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Elk_Man@reddit

Currently scrolling reddit while I soak my heater box in simple green because when I pulled it off to replace the leaking heater core and dead fan I found an old mouse nest and a dead mouse or two stuck to the bottom of the box.

Fun times...

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SkylineFTW97@reddit

I'm a mechanic but I was a DIYer even before that. Just replaced the alternator on my truck a couple hours ago actually.

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Deplorable1861@reddit

The only thing I don't do myself is A/C gas work, or mount and balance tires. Technician competence greatly varies, and I refuse to pay top dollar money for mediocre work. Warranty is something else, as tje dealer is strongly incentivized with the lemon laws to get the issue properly resolved.

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JesseKFK@reddit

I maintain and repair my vehicles at home. I have 3 Fords, N55 BMW, 1 Chevy. I also take on alot of side work for ppl that I know. It's a great way to learn, collect more tools as needed, and of course, a lil cash in the pocket never hurts.

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Calm-Championship472@reddit

I use self service garages. Fluids I'll get from Walmart or Fredmeyer. Car Batterys from HomeDepot. Everything else I get the closest to OEM/best from Autozone or Oreilly

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MyIncogName@reddit

I do all my own work with the exception of transmission and engine internals.

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Hopeful-Savings-9572@reddit

I am a mechanic, have done it for many years myself. Went through a phase where I heavily modified everything I own, however now I don’t think I’ve touched one of my own vehicles with a wrench for over a decade. Other than tossing on a tonneau cover when I got my new truck.

I guess I’d rather just drop it off and pick it up done now.

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Usual_Blueberry_1953@reddit

I don't own a car as of now. It's not real-world experience persay, but I did play Car Mechanic Simulator which familiarized me with work on sedans. Really, you're only pressing a button to remove/add parts. It's an ok game for the price, and can prepare you with the right visual experience to diagnose mechanical issues.

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dunncrew@reddit

I do brakes, and replaced ignitors on my daughter's car.

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chibicascade2@reddit

I'm trying to learn. So far I've done plugs, wires, oil and transmission fluid changes, and a serpentine belt.

I have a car that needs valve cover and intake gaskets, and I'm trying to work up the nerve. I think I'm going to take it in for a coolant flush, so I might see how much they charge...

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ctrlaltdelete401@reddit

You can do the coolant flush yourself and save $200 in labor. I just did mine recently and spent 3-4 hours of work.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Miata/s/3uCnMOK8bx

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chibicascade2@reddit

I've been trying, but it's just not going well. I can't drain the block without pulling knock sensor that tends to break. , so I've only been able to drain the radiator. I've drained and filled it about 4 times, and it's still coming out as nasty as it did on the first drain.

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ctrlaltdelete401@reddit

So what I did was I used the garden hose method for 5 flushes. I did not start the car or blast the heater. Just filled the radiator with 1 gal then drain and repeat 5 times. Then I got 5 gallons of distilled water and for each gallon i filled the radiator and started the car and let it run for 10 minutes with the heater on. Then drain and repeat. Eventually it will come out clear or green clear enough to add coolant.

Like I said it took me like 5 hours before I called it quits. But a mechanic is not going to sit there and flush your coolant for 5 hours. They’re going to add a flush additive to your radiator and let it run for 30min and drain it and take $200 from you.

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chibicascade2@reddit

What is the garden hose method? Are you just spraying hose water into the block?

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ctrlaltdelete401@reddit

That’s one way to do it. They sell a Radiator Flush and Fill Kit at the auto parts store for like $5 you hook up a garden hose to.

What I described was using garden hose water filling up one gal jugs and just running that through the system while the engine is off it’s kinda the same thing just slower.

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Nippon-Gakki@reddit

I’ve always worked on my own cars. I used to be too poor to take them in but now I’m too cheap and I’ll almost definitely do a better job than most other mechanics out there.

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voidsarcastic@reddit

Parts are cheaper and there is no labor charge. I have limits, but have saved thousands by doing smaller projects on my own.

Just start small, maybe change your oil and filter. Things will come up, you can do a simple youtube to see if it is something you could take on. A lot of things are simpler than they look. And some things that should be simple will test your patience😆

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StaarvinMarvin@reddit

Heck no. I bought my car to drive it, not work on it. Being a mechanical engineer doesn’t mean you have to work on your own car by any means.

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revocer@reddit

I do a little of both. Work on the stuff I am comfortable with, and go to a mechanic for the stuff I am not.

There was one anomaly during the pandemic, when I had and I didn’t need a car as much, and I could afford to let it sit for a bit. I did a timing belt and axle boot job. But it took me several weeks to do. Lots of random stuff came up in between, that I didn’t know how to solve at the time. (Broken bolts, not the right tools, tight spaces, stuck bolts.)

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Remarkable_Ad5011@reddit

I work on my vehicles… and for others at times. Have been doing it as a side hustle since about 2007. I do a lot less of it now than I used to, but I have a goal of getting HVAC installed in my shop this year. So, I’m going to ramp up the scheduling as soon as I get back from vacation.

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General-Winter547@reddit

Replaced shocks and got half the break pads done on my wrangler today. I’ve got ball joints coming in the mail, which will be the most extensive thing I’ve worked on. I sometimes do oil changes but pay to have them done if I don’t feel like using the time to do it.

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whookid1209@reddit

The fact that you realize the gravity of the situation means you are going to be super careful. It's the dumb people that wing it that are a danger to others and themselves.

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firm_hand-shakes@reddit

I don’t trust the other mechanics to work on my own vehicle 😂 I have a standard of work that I go by. It might take a bit longer if I’m doing it myself, but I know what’s being done.

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gotcha640@reddit

There are plenty of people who are interested in cars but not wrenching, or only like wrenching but don't care to go to a track, or only want to race but don't care what car it is or how it works.

Play however you want.

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Upbeat_Muscle8136@reddit

I run an automotive repair shop, I just take my car in super early or on a Sunday (we are closed). I take advantage of the fact I have access to any tool needed and a lift.

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ViewedConch697@reddit

I do most of the work on mine. The few things I'll send to mechanics are complex timing jobs (I've exploded one too many engines by messing up a single step), body stuff like rust and dent repair, and fabrication like exhausts. I'm cool with pushing my limits with a wrench, but sometimes the risk just isn't worth it to me

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brown_nomadic@reddit

I only trust myself to do basics. Spark plugs and oil change / replacing headlamps

I wanna learn to change brakes, but I’m scared of dying 😭

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Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit

No one in my family is into cars, but I started doing repairs when I was 18 and did my first engine swap and turbo install by 22. I've since rebuilt a few transmissions, many engines, fabricated turbo kits, and done pretty much all of my own tuning.

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someonetookmyaccount@reddit

I do what I can, thankfully one of my close friends is very mechanically minded and helps me a ton. I make sure to pay him in food or energy drinks. Treat your friends well, don’t be that guy that takes advantage of a good thing or people’s time

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pm-me-racecars@reddit

I do most of the easy stuff myself. If I had my own shop then I'd do a lot more, but for right now I'm stuck with jack stands on the side of the road.

Depending on the weather, I'll sometimes even pay for an oil change.

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billp97@reddit

i didnt start until i got a job in a machine shop and gained confidence with hand tools. I started with simple oil changes, then i bought a motorcycle and have done alot of work on that so at this point there isnt much im concerned with when it comes to a car and time/space/tools is what limits what im willing to do. its easier if you start simple and small. maybe do an axle back or a cat back system, spark plugs (depending on your car, mines a wrx so i wouldnt recommend someone that isnt confident even bother) do your engine oil changes, maybe your trans/diff oil as well if its not complicated. honestly cars, especially maintenance and non performance modifications tend to be pretty straightforward

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Layth96@reddit

I saw someone on here say that it’s much easier to learn on motorcycles and that they are overall “simpler”, would you second that?

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kograkthestrong@reddit

Been doing it since I was a kid. Just did a motor swap in the front yard since I do not have a garage. I am at the point in life where I will pay someone to do a job if I do not want to.

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SeniorHovercraft1817@reddit

I have always done most of my car repairs. Just start maintaining your car, do the scheduled maintenance. Changing your oil and rotating tires and checking and changing things like belts and brakes will get you used to working on cars. Then when something bigger needs to be done , like maybe a timing belt, you can take it on with a little research.

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JustinMagill@reddit

Many people have no choice. You don't have to be a engineer to do simple repairs. As a mechanic I wish more engineers would bother to pick up a wrench once and a while and realise that maybe they could engineer things better.

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Itellitlikeitis2day@reddit

maybe see if your husband will help you work on it?

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Equivalent-Habit-102@reddit

It's a logic puzzle, and it's actually pretty hard to get most things wrong. Most of the risky jobs like timing belts you'll immediately know your in over your head.

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PassengerLow1252@reddit

I started 2 years ago. You'd be surprised the variety of tools you need.

If you enjoy fixing things it's worth it. I think people conflate the "if it costs more than you make working to fix..." line.

I wouldn't be working on a Saturday morning lol

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those_ribbon_things@reddit

I do, for anything I reasonably can repair on my own. Ive saved thousands. I never considered myself smart or mechanically inclined, until the day I had to take an anesthesia machine apart for maintenance and put it back together (I used to be a vet tech.) When I put it back together, and it worked and no patients died, I realized none of this is really that hard. You just need instructions and tools.

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angrycanadianguy@reddit

I use YouTube videos to determine if the job is outside my skill set, and so far, I’ve only been wrong once.

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

Learn better mechanical engineering by getting your hands dirty. If you can't put the knowledge into practical skills, you have no business being the engineer who makes mechanical decisions.

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J0E_meteriote@reddit

You're not really a car guy if you dont work on your car.

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SenorCardgay@reddit

Don't be a baby. Only way to learn is to fuck shit up and try again until you fix it. I remember when I could barely change my own oil, but this past summer I did an LS swap by myself. Only reason my car has been to a shop in the past 5 years is for an alignment.

We all gotta start somewhere. Get some tools, a Haynes manual, have youtube and Google on standby, and fuck around and find out.

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nrk97@reddit

Anything up to the mid 2000’s I am confident that I can do a good portion of the work myself, past that and stuff has so many sensors. I think I could do a lot on stuff 2015 and up too because I feel like there are a lot of video tutorials.

Basic get done at the dealership (oil changes, tire rotations. Anything more than that I’ll likely do

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gearhead5015@reddit

I do the majority of the work on my vehicles. Warranty work is always done at the dealership, and I leave transmission and electrical work to the experts.

I changed the water pump of my truck in my apartment complex parking lot in college with just some simple hand tools. I was incredibly happy the super didn't live on site, pretty sure I would've been fined for the amount of antifreeze that got dumped.

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MycologistAny1151@reddit

✋🏼

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Egnatsu50@reddit

I do.... it made me a mech and ended up being my livlihood(on airplanes)

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azroscoe@reddit

I don't trust anyone else to work on my cars.

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hitch-pro@reddit

But the Baynes or Chilton service manual for tour vehicle and a legit tool set and 3/8ths drive torque wrench

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w00stersauce@reddit

The older I get the more my back hurts doing the work. :/ I do wish I had made enough money to have a detached garage and a lift by now tho.

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xc51@reddit

Yep, I do all my own work as long as I have the time. Replaced my clutch recently on my own

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SailingSpark@reddit

It's the only way I could afford to keep my land rover on the road. Granted, most of the issues on it are easy to fix and older landys like mine are designed to be easily worked on.

The only part I do not trust myself to fix is the black magic known as the gearbox.

Right now, my Landy is completely stripped down for paint. She goes in on Wednesday. Another job I won't do.

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ctrlaltdelete401@reddit

I originally went to school for Automotive mechanics. But that’s not my profession today. I can do basic maintenance everyone should know how to do like;

brakes pads
drum brake shoes
rotors
brake fluid flush and change
oil changes
manual transmission and differential oil change
tire rotation
coolant flush and change
spark plug
windshield wipers
wiper fluid (I’m adding this because anyone can do it but people really don’t know how to sadly)
engine air filter
cabin air filter

In the past I’ve replaced or repaired that needed more than basic knowledge; * door actuators * rear strut and shock assembly decompressing the spring for removal and replacement. * EVAP repair * wheel studs

But for everything else that needs a lift, tools I don’t own or too expensive to own, specialized equipment, and experience and knowledge I don’t have I’ll take it to a qualified certified professional

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375InStroke@reddit

Always done everything myself since my first car at 15. Rebuilding motors and automatic transmissions before 20. Body work, interiors, you name it. No sewing, though. It all looked simple to me, I'm a cheap bastard, and I feel like there are too many hacks trying to rip people off.

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Motor_Arugula_4282@reddit

If you live in the rust belt factor that into timeframes. If you want to do anything under the car you’ll have to fight the rust first

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A_Random_Sidequest@reddit

easier things and cleanup, I'll do myself...

things that needs specific tools, heavy, safety, I'll take to a professional...

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series_hybrid@reddit

Sometimes I do my own. My tool set is mid-level, but not pro. I watch YouTubes and try to figure if it's worth me risking it.

On rare occasions I still use a local mechanic I trust

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Lower_Kick268@reddit

We always fix all our own cars, YouTube exists and so do manuals for the cars

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triumph_hammer@reddit

Just handy, not a mechanic. I’ve fixed our appliances, re-surfaced our deck, and car stuff? Just oil changes, a ton of mods to my Toyota Tundra, etc.

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Shroomboy79@reddit

I do all the work on my 2 older cars but my girls newer car goes to the shop for what it needs. Everytbing is a lot more simple on my cars so it’s easy to get almost anything I need done on my own. I actually just completely rewired and refinished my interior in my apartment parking lot

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Savings_Public4217@reddit

Only thing I don't have the tools for at home is mounting and balancing tires and most machine work. Last summer I completely tore down my engine and rebuilt it. Cars are like lego. Follow the instructions when you have access to them, and put it back together the same way you took it apart (mostly). If you want to get in to working on cars start with basic maintenance and work up from there. I really suggest Chris fix's videos, he shows you pretty in depth how to do mostly anything you need with basic hand tools

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No_Explorer721@reddit

I try to work on it as much as I can, changing oil, brakes, spark plugs, anti freeze, simple stuff.

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Castabae3@reddit

The meticulous and tedious stuff is the worse, Especially when you're using non ideal tools.

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dustyflash1@reddit

I'll do anything in my driveway except internal trans work nope id buy a new trans at that point

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Inevitable-Scene3930@reddit

I used to all the time. There’s a lot more electronics on them now that I didn’t keep up with the learning and how to. Basic mechanical type stuff, totally. I also got out of that game years ago and just buy and enjoy my vehicle as it’s. Use the warranty until it runs out, then buy again. Crawling under a chassis isn’t as easy as it used to be. 😅

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Sharp_Anything_5474@reddit

I work as a helicopter mechanic. Last thing I want to do when I get home from work is work on my vehicles. I found a guy that is good and affordable and he gives me a discount because I already know what's wrong or I'm mostly there with diagnosing the problem and can tell him every thing he needs to know for him to 100% know what's wrong within 30 seconds of talking to him.

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gadget850@reddit

I'm pretty handy but I know my limits. Replacing tires is obviously a shop job. Ditto for repairing the rusted exhaust pipe on the Vibe. So was installing the trailer hitch on my Odyssey after I found all the mounts were rusted and needed retapping.

I did change the engine on my 82 Subaru, but I had a good book and my brother to help lift it out with a 4x4 and a cahin.

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cormack_gv@reddit

68 years old. I DIY almost everything. As a kid, I had no money and it was a challenge. From time to time, I've decided I'm too old for that, but I find that dealing with service people is more hassle than DIY. I do oil changes and brake jobs routinely. I have been known to do ring jobs, but haven't done so recently. I fix my own punctured tires. I don't do transmissions.

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Chan_Ch@reddit

Basic maintenance, yes.

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Brainfewd@reddit

Former tech, I do all my own work outside of transmission internals, AC work and alignments. I might try a trans if I could justify the downtime, but the only two times I’ve needed it done, was way more cost effective to just leave it with a buddy who builds them. I do tires at the shop I used to work at. Alignments are cheap enough I just pay and drink iced coffee in the break room.

I’ve built multiple motor swapped cars, timing jobs, and loads of suspension work in my 24x24 garage.

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TheMostModestMaus@reddit

I do the very basic stuff.

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trix4rix@reddit

I have two sets of vehicles, ones I work on, and ones I don't.

Old cars and all bikes? I do those. New, leased cars? Nah, I bought prepaid maintenance at a discount.

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OmericanAutlaw@reddit

i do when i have the time to. sometimes im forced to have someone do work

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Awit1992@reddit

I’m in finance and a weekend auto warrior. Love wrenching on my own cars.

I’ll tear my own engine apart before I change a friend’s oil tho lol.

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Expensive_Candle5644@reddit

I have a four post lift I’m a two car garage. 😄

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OFFRIMITS@reddit

I can do everything expect wiring, that’s when I need to call a professional for either they visit me mobile or I go to them.

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cjandstuff@reddit

I do most of it. But engine and transmission, I’ll trust the professionals for that.

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uhbkodazbg@reddit

I’m pretty good with diagnosis and understanding the needed repairs. It all goes to hell when I get frustrated during the actual repair and try to resist the urge to grab a hammer and just start smashing things.

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PhysicsAndFinance85@reddit

I've always done all of my own work. We grew up broke so paying someone else for maintenance was out of the question. Additionally, paying to do it again was not in the budget. So you took your time and learned the right way the first time.

One of my businesses now is a performance shop. A surprising number of my customers are engineers, mostly mechanical. I'm regularly amazed at how many have zero clue on basic mechanical concepts.

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mordolycka@reddit

you're overthinking it. it'll take you a lot more time to do your first few jobs but after that you'll be fine.

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Acrobatic-Echidna-47@reddit

I had a million problems with my 2010 Camry. Watched my dad do basic shit like changing brakes and replacing the generator, etc. Realized that with the proper research, fixing a car is a bit like putting together Ikea furniture. My best advice is to use the local junkyard to practice. If you have a popular, basic car you can always find another and practice working on it without consequences of fucking up. By the 3rd try, you'll be pretty good.

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Solid_Enthusiasm550@reddit

I have worked on cars since I was little. I was usually helping my uncle or father. I use to repair/service my mom and sister's cars when I was late teens.

My love for cars and engineering brain ( was planning on being one but it didn't happen), I went to automotive school. I actually went because I hated paying ridiculous repair bills. Especially for something I know I could do myself.

I went through Ford factory training and got a free ride to BMW school. I spent most of my career with them.

I also grew up loving fast cars, lived near a dragstrip that I used to race on.

Men in my family were taught at a young age to be proficient in pretty much anything " a man should know."

Home repairs, construction, woodworking, electric, roofing, plumbing, painting/wallpaper, tiling, landscaping you name it.

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MotorcycleCar@reddit

I do.I'm just a shadetree mechanic.The only time I don't do a repair is if it would be prohibitavely time consuming. Case in point ,my S197 mustang gt which after reading forums has a bad rap of breaking oem spark plugs in the head when you go to remove them.Took it to a shop and the tech iirc said 7 of the 8 spark plugs broke in the head,so glad I decided to take it to a shop.He said he's never had so many spark plugs break off on one engine.

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Different_Split_9982@reddit

Yes I have rebuilt engines tons of suspension work. Just did an engine swap 2004 k20a2 into a 1992 Honda civic. Use a torque wrench follow instructions you will be fine.

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ratrodder49@reddit

I started building a rat rod from the ground up in college lol, I do pretty much all my own work save for putting new tires on rims and doing alignments.

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JacksonIsOnline2049@reddit

I’m the same age as you, and I try to fix everything that goes wrong with my car myself, usually with some guidance from my dad because it’s usually cheaper and the only way you can learn is by doing, although it is much harder to do work yourself when you don’t live with someone experienced or have the tools to do the work.

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BryanDaBlaznAzn@reddit

I do basic maintenance and some diy modifications here and there. If I can’t finish a job the same day I’ll either recruit some friends or take it to my mechanic.

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thatvhstapeguy@reddit

I do mainly electrical and light mechanical maintenance, everything else I at least call Dad for advice if not outright assistance.