Anyone know of any lists of DIY friendly cars?
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Jeep 4.0
The plugs in the 2.5L V6 Contour are very easy.
Every transverse v6 is a pain to change out plugs on the rear bank. That's just part of it.
Want something easy to work on? Find a vehicle with an optional v6, buy the one with the i4. I think I could close the hood with me inside on the Highlander.
Want something easy to work on? Find a vehicle with an optional v6, buy the one with the i4. I think I could close the hood with me inside on the Highlander.
My '66 Nova and my '79 Ford Fairmont were pretty DIY friendly 
Silverado with the 4.8/5.3l V8, Toyota Corolla are pretty easy to change plugs.
Less then 20 mins on either vehicle.
The 99 Taurus was not too bad for a FWD V6.
Hard to do? PT Cruiser, Honda Powered Vue (I have not done them yet in 90+k but they look to be not easy)
Bill
Less then 20 mins on either vehicle.
The 99 Taurus was not too bad for a FWD V6.
Hard to do? PT Cruiser, Honda Powered Vue (I have not done them yet in 90+k but they look to be not easy)
Bill
G35, Mercedes benz 300D , VW jetta diesel 82-92
Originally Posted By: bepperb
Every transverse v6 is a pain to change out plugs on the rear bank. That's just part of it.
Not always- the DOHC Chrysler engines (3.5, 4.0) are pretty easy even in transverse applications like Minivans and the Pacifica. Plugs right in the top of the valve covers, just like a Hemi.
By contrast the I4 in the PT Cruiser is considerably harder. Gotta pull the upper intake plenum. Granted that is a simple job (just a few bolts and an allegedly reusable gasket), but its a pain only made necessary by the screwy engine bay shape of the PT.
Every transverse v6 is a pain to change out plugs on the rear bank. That's just part of it.
Not always- the DOHC Chrysler engines (3.5, 4.0) are pretty easy even in transverse applications like Minivans and the Pacifica. Plugs right in the top of the valve covers, just like a Hemi.
By contrast the I4 in the PT Cruiser is considerably harder. Gotta pull the upper intake plenum. Granted that is a simple job (just a few bolts and an allegedly reusable gasket), but its a pain only made necessary by the screwy engine bay shape of the PT.
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Any diesel
Spark plugs are a breeze
Spark plugs are a breeze
Hyundai accent is pretty nice. They put the oil drain plug in the front of the pan and filter right under the front bumper!
Some of the transverse V6s aren't so bad if one pulls a dogbone mount then rolls the whole engine forward. Though the heat tends to bake ignition wires to the plugs.
My cutlass ciera 3300 would have been more likeable if they didn't have a razor edged aluminum heat shield on the firewall in the zone near the rear plugs.
My judging criteria involves special tool purchases. Most GM FWD stuff is pretty low key. Axles that just yank out, no fancy clip tools needed. Exception is ABS system that needs a Tech II equivalent scan tool to bleed.
Cars where one can just fill the cooling system and have them self-burp are pretty nice. My saturn s-series do this. Said S-series also have an AT drain plug and spin on filter.
Some of the transverse V6s aren't so bad if one pulls a dogbone mount then rolls the whole engine forward. Though the heat tends to bake ignition wires to the plugs.
My judging criteria involves special tool purchases. Most GM FWD stuff is pretty low key. Axles that just yank out, no fancy clip tools needed. Exception is ABS system that needs a Tech II equivalent scan tool to bleed.
Cars where one can just fill the cooling system and have them self-burp are pretty nice. My saturn s-series do this. Said S-series also have an AT drain plug and spin on filter.
I never had that much trouble with the plugs in the 81 Phoenix V-6 I had. You could hardly see the back bank, but you could easily get a socket on them and plenty of room to swing a ratchet.
But forget sparkplugs. With the modern 100K plugs, most owners will only change them once or maybe twice. How about oil filters?
More important yet, is there anything out there that hasn't gone down the more and more useless features and ever more complicated electronics route? I am extremely disappointed with my Cavalier when I have to trouble shoot even simple things like the trunk light. How about the Smart car? Better yet, something with a little more room.
But forget sparkplugs. With the modern 100K plugs, most owners will only change them once or maybe twice. How about oil filters?
More important yet, is there anything out there that hasn't gone down the more and more useless features and ever more complicated electronics route? I am extremely disappointed with my Cavalier when I have to trouble shoot even simple things like the trunk light. How about the Smart car? Better yet, something with a little more room.
Originally Posted By: sangyup81
Trying to change spark plugs in the Tribute V6 was a shock since I was used to cars with I4 engines. Are all V6 cars like this? So what's some examples of DIY friendly cars?
I'd almost say any car with a popular internet forum, you can atleast research what a particular job entails and decide if you want to do it.
I am debating getting a VW TDI and wondered a big a PITA is the timing belt job, TDI forum has a 200pg pdf with instructions on how to do it... Looked like a PITA to me and more than I'm comfortable with.
In general though, anything rwd with an inline engine is easiest to work on, then V engines in a rwd, then transverse 4's, transverse V6's, then transverse V8's. RWD, then FWD, then AWD.
Simplest "modern" vehicle is a 4 cyl Ranger with a 5spd I'd think.
Trying to change spark plugs in the Tribute V6 was a shock since I was used to cars with I4 engines. Are all V6 cars like this? So what's some examples of DIY friendly cars?
I'd almost say any car with a popular internet forum, you can atleast research what a particular job entails and decide if you want to do it.
I am debating getting a VW TDI and wondered a big a PITA is the timing belt job, TDI forum has a 200pg pdf with instructions on how to do it... Looked like a PITA to me and more than I'm comfortable with.
In general though, anything rwd with an inline engine is easiest to work on, then V engines in a rwd, then transverse 4's, transverse V6's, then transverse V8's. RWD, then FWD, then AWD.
Simplest "modern" vehicle is a 4 cyl Ranger with a 5spd I'd think.
I think the whole DIY friendly thing is relative to your skill level and your investment in tools.
If you want to cut corners and do a hack job, then yes, it's easier to get away with that on certain cars than others. However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
If you want to cut corners and do a hack job, then yes, it's easier to get away with that on certain cars than others. However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
I think the whole DIY friendly thing is relative to your skill level and your investment in tools.
If you want to cut corners and do a hack job, then yes, it's easier to get away with that on certain cars than others. However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
Right, we're talking serious tools here - not the $39.99 Craftsman 42 piece tool set, but the $199.99 Craftsman Gold Titanium Professional 217-piece Flat-Rate Mechanic's tool set. The kind that professional master mechanics use, and have to spend a premium to get, because they're so premium and proper. And this doesn't even include grease for the brake pad abutment points
I think the whole DIY friendly thing is relative to your skill level and your investment in tools.
If you want to cut corners and do a hack job, then yes, it's easier to get away with that on certain cars than others. However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
Right, we're talking serious tools here - not the $39.99 Craftsman 42 piece tool set, but the $199.99 Craftsman Gold Titanium Professional 217-piece Flat-Rate Mechanic's tool set. The kind that professional master mechanics use, and have to spend a premium to get, because they're so premium and proper. And this doesn't even include grease for the brake pad abutment points
Professional mechanics don't use Craftsman anything.
Saturn S-series. That is a DIY friendly car, with an awesome online resource for help... Saturnfans.com
It would take a fair amount of research. The only thing friendly is that the vehicles are becoming more & more maintenance free. Doing tune-ups is a thing of the past when you have spark plugs that will go 100,000 miles and longer OCI's ect... Air filters & oil will still get dirty. The manufacturer wants you back to there dealerships for that 100,000 mi big ticket tune up. I have always gauged the ease of working on the vehicle by the number of "special tools" needed to do the work. Basic tasks that simply can't be accomplished with out buying a costly tool that is good for only one task, and has no chance of becoming a common implement. This is hostile to the DIY'r. Electronics can be a nightmare to acquire.
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Originally Posted By: The Critic
However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
Right, we're talking serious tools here - not the $39.99 Craftsman 42 piece tool set, but the $199.99 Craftsman Gold Titanium Professional 217-piece Flat-Rate Mechanic's tool set... And this doesn't even include grease for the brake pad abutment points.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
However, if you're like me and invest serious $$$ into tools and equipment for any car you or your immediate family owns, then it's a non-issue.
Right, we're talking serious tools here - not the $39.99 Craftsman 42 piece tool set, but the $199.99 Craftsman Gold Titanium Professional 217-piece Flat-Rate Mechanic's tool set... And this doesn't even include grease for the brake pad abutment points.
My Ranger is very easy to do most maintenance tasks on. Oil changes were difficult at first, but once I figured out a method that worked for me (going through wheel well), it became easy. Same with the stupid PCV valve. The fuel filter is messy because of its location, but it only takes a couple minutes and a flat screwdriver to change it. Really all of the fluids are very easy to change. Spark plugs take maybe 30 minutes tops.
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