Feeling satisfaction from DIY

Yes, when I did the spark plugs, timing belt and water pump on the Pilot. Took me two days, bruised my arms from bending the A/C lines back and forth, and I was filthy, but when it was all done it was a good feeling since I'd never done a TB before and I'd heard horror stories of doing it on a Honda J35. Was a little nervous turning the key when it was all back together, but it started right up with no surprises.
Even the pros, if you watch YouTube, sorta cross their fingers...meaning using logic, there's no reason the engine won't start, but they too have some anticipation at that moment...
 
I have never been to a quickie lube for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the cost.
I like the car stuff, on the other hand I have been mowing lawns for hundreds of years. If I never see another lawn mower again...

Nowadays the cars I work on are newer so there's nothing difficult, excep the rear mounted Honda oil filters.
 
I did everything I was capable of (home + autos) until age (65) caught up with me. It was extremely hard to accept that I had to start to pay folks to do all this work I know how to do. You get used to it but it does take time. About the only things I can still do are some small electrical inside the house repairs and plumbing. So I hire everything else out.
 
'Doing it myself' was always my first choice for many jobs and projects from a young age.
LOL, I'll consider that a compliment!!!!!!

Satisfaction is one element I enjoy from being more self sufficient, jack of many trades, master of none. In my older years, I also get a bit of satisfaction when I can choose to let someone else do a job I don't feel like doing. As mentioned in the post directly above, it will be difficult when I am forced to hire work out because I can no longer physically do it. Life moves on......

EDIT: There is also a difference (satisfaction wise) when you can choose to DIY vs. forced to do it due to budgetary constraints. Now a days, I rather enjoy managing a thermostat in winter vs. getting up at 3a.m every winter morning to stoke the wood stove - somehow the romanticism of a wood stove portrayed in Mother Earth News magazine didn't quite live up to expectations. In truth, I wouldn't give up those memories for anything.
 
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Not at all. I just installed a catalytic converter shield which should've taken 10 mins except for one bolt that was nearly impossible to get to which required a trip to the hardware store and now that I'm done after 2 hours, I just want my 2 hours back.
 
Not at all. I just installed a catalytic converter shield which should've taken 10 mins except for one bolt that was nearly impossible to get to which required a trip to the hardware store and now that I'm done after 2 hours, I just want my 2 hours back.
YES, there are some times when you work on something that you simply want to murder the one who designed this thing like this!!! Ugh.
I have come up against some really tough spark plugs to get a socket on a time or two. Could not get over , my next door neighbor who was a lot older than I (so I did a lot of work for him) had a Chevy from the 80s that we had to remove the front tire to change his battery a time or two. I was happy when he traded it in for a normal pick up truck.
 
I broke 2 vertebrae on June 30th, had surgery 2 weeks ago and have a bunch of restrictions on what I can do, but my Infiniti QX60 still needed the front brakes done. I had ordered all the Raybestos parts back in early June, they sat patiently waiting exit from the plastic and cardboard.

So I convinced my wife we would do this together !! Yes it was a low point in my DIY history, but we did it and it went really well. I had her watch a YT video first so she could better understand the process, and while this was going along, I tried to use analogies to her cake decorating skills to help her relate. The driver side took 2 hours, the passenger side 1.5. It all would have been faster if she didn't do so many selfies for her friends. How many BITOG members have their wife taking selfies of themselves next to a freshly copper antisieze coated hub?

Dianne did all the heavy lifting, all the torqueing, all the photos, but I enjoyed that we didn't fight and she gained a real positive experience in doing something she never ever expected would be something she could do. And yes, she test drove the car after and confirmed all to sound fine and stop just great.
 
Never a wrencher. Always made sure i made enough to pay others to do the work for me. Those trips into Manhattan paid for a lot of work that I didn’t have the expertise or desire to do myself. It all evens out.
 
Did feel good to make a cut slope retaining wall and backfill to tame a slope. Something hurky and stout.

Building all the raised beds was a real hassle. Moving all the yards of soil, sand and compost was killer. Dripping sweat at times. But better than feels is all the produce and flowers. Giving away some helps feelings as well.
 
I wish I had the skills that some of guys have but when you don’t you still have to find a way to get things done. I managed to do that but I still enjoy watching you tube mechanic videos. Admiration tinged with envy I guess.
 
Absolutely, gives me a bigger endorphin high than running when the job is done. Used to like to schedule the jobs in the afternoon while listening to El Rushbo on the radio. His commentary got me over and around lots of cussing 'n fussing at parts that didn't fit or were rusted on and wouldn't come off or just because of my ineptitude.

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+1 the old Maha Rushie made every weekday afternoon more enjoyable, back in the day I got today show online tomorrow or listened later at night on AFN.
 
DIY of any sort is much easier to accomplish after the advent of youtube videos. One doesnt have to take shop class in school or apprentice at a repair shop to learn from some old man how to do things. I havent tackled DIY projects until i got older and watched youtube vids on a subject
 
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Sometimes. I don't enjoy working on vehicles as much as I used to and usually a job that should not take very long ends up taking way too long because something always seems to go wrong. Then I'm just irritated and wish I had just paid someone else to do it.
 
I wish I had the skills that some of guys have but when you don’t you still have to find a way to get things done. I managed to do that but I still enjoy watching you tube mechanic videos. Admiration tinged with envy I guess.
It is great these days that for just about any job you need to do or pay someone there are youtube videos. The best thing is you can watch them and decide if you can do it yourself or.... especially if you paying someone, you have a good idea what you are paying them to do. That can make you feel a lot better when you see just what kind of hard work is involved and why things cost so much.
 
It is great these days that for just about any job you need to do or pay someone there are youtube videos. The best thing is you can watch them and decide if you can do it yourself or.... especially if you paying someone, you have a good idea what you are paying them to do. That can make you feel a lot better when you see just what kind of hard work is involved and why things cost so much.
I agree. You tube a game changer in all regards.
 
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