Working on your own vehicle

[goodoleboy]

How many memebers actually perform their own service on there vehicles besides oil changes?
By service I am talking about changing timing belt, adjusting valves,water pumps, replacing seals,fuel injection, emmison systems, cv joints, ball joints,cluthes, replacing belts, running a/c recharges and leak tests, replacing brake calipers and disc..Things of that nature.

Myself, I replace belts and parts related compressors,alternator. I have done disc replacment and resurfacing. I have replaced thermostats, valve covers gaskets, oil sending units, oil tube seals and radiators.Removed a few gas tanks, driveshafts then the u joints.
On the body side, Ive Taken a few door apart to fix broken window motors and track issue. Took out a sunroof and replaced and painted a fender.Patched up a couple of bullet holes(long story) and did lots of bondo work.
Probaly a few more things but thats about it.
Have not taken on a timing belt or clutch but, when I have kids i will have no choice.

[ August 25, 2004, 05:31 AM: Message edited by: goodoleboy ]

 

[JTK]

I try to do whatever I can myself. It's usually limited to brake work, suspension work, All fluid & lube changeouts, light tune up stuff (spark plugs/filters). I've done a bunch of aftermarket radio & lighting installations + a remote starter install (PITA). Like you, I've yet to tackle a T-belt, clutch or tranny, but probably will when the kids are old enough to drive!!
G/luck
Joel

 

[pooter WS6]

Matter of fact I will finish up a timing belt install and balancer belt install on a 91 honda accord. I will do anything my car needs as long as I have the equipment to do so. If I can take it apart, usually I can put it back together. The trick is never to be afraid of doing it, just do it and learn as you go. Good luck in the future

 

[John D]

Funny you should mention this... Last night, the fuel pump gave out on my Caravan. Looks like I will be having a fun weekend!

I usually do everything on my van. I cannot do accurate wheel alignments or change tires onto rims, so I leave that for the garage. Sometime soon, I will attempt to adjust the tie-rod ends to try and get both wheels pointed the same direction. A couple of years ago, I had to replace the motor because it spun a camshaft bearing and dropped a valve.

I have a 13 year old van and usually carry a toolbox, socket set, hydraulic jack around all the time in case something breaks on-route. Last summer, for example, I had one of the rear half-shafts (AWD van) come apart on the road and had to remove it in the rain with four of my friends watching in amazement! They thought for sure that we would have to get the van towed home (~200 miles or so). Twenty minutes later, we were on the road again! I rebuilt the half-shaft and put it back in a couple of weeks later.

 

[T-Keith]

I have never brought a vehicle in for repair, except for tires. Now I dismount the tires and just bring the rims in.

-T

 

[MikeR]

quote:

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Originally posted by T-Keith:
I have never brought a vehicle in for repair, except for tires. Now I dismount the tires and just bring the rims in.

-T

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T-Keith, this is interesting. What kind of mounting machine do you have? How do you do balancing? Static?


thx,
MR

 

[radiometer]

Although I've never 'mechaniced' for a living I was born mechanically inclined and started on my cars early. I've done most of it except for major engine or transmission rebuilds, although I have removed and replaced engines. Today's more complicated cars require tools for diagnostics and work that most of us don't have and I now use either the dealer or a competent mechanic for jobs that fall into such categories. I've always come away with a feeling of 'accomplishment' when I've successfully done a job that is considered a bit beyond the do-it-yourselfer. I've done a lot of those. However, I won't hesitate to ask for input on a job from those who know more about it than I do. This is a great board for such.

 

[Jimbo]

About the only things I havent done are automatic transmission or transaxle overhauls. I do everything I can myself. Air conditioners I leave to professionals because of the special tools involved with evacuating/recahrging the system.

 

[Virtuoso]

Before I bought my SHOs (or had kids); the most I would usually do is plugs, oil and filter changes. I guess I did an O2 sensor and a fan clutch once.

Since I realized how much I was paying for shop labor (MUCH more than I make an hour); I've done as much of the work myself as I can. I've done waterpumps, radiators, timing belt, valve adjustment, sensors, completely dismantled and cleaned the intake manifold (PITA on the SHO), PS pump changes, all my brake work, crank seal replacements, tranny fluid changes, ect ect.

I've had too many experiences paying a shop gooood money to have them **** it up. Might take me a little longer to do, but I do it right, and a lot cheaper, too.

 

[vvk]

I do everything but tires. Sometimes I go to get alignment done but usually have to fine-tune it myself later. Oh, and I don't do body work.

I would actually pay a fair price to someone if I could find a person I could trust. I don't think I have ever been satisfied with another person's work on my car. Money is not an issue at all. I have not been able to find quality at any price.

 

[rpn453]

I do everything myself, other than wheel alignments and tire mounting. I take the wheels off the car and take them in with a different vehicle when I get tires installed or balanced. I hate the thought of someone I don't even know working on my car!
I haven't had to do any major engine or tranny work yet though, or A/C service. I might have to get someone else to do those things if necessary.

 

[T-Keith]

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeR:

quote:

---

Originally posted by T-Keith:
I have never brought a vehicle in for repair, except for tires. Now I dismount the tires and just bring the rims in.

-T

---

T-Keith, this is interesting. What kind of mounting machine do you have? How do you do balancing? Static?


thx,
MR

---

I bring the rims in for mounting and balancing, I just don't bring the car in anymore. If I had tire mounting and balancing machine I would do it at home.

-T

 

[eljefino]

I used to be afraid of doing ball joints, tie rods, disc brakes, etc. because of the security (safety) I felt by having a mechanic do it.

Then I had a caliper sieze in the middle of nowhere; a tow would have been expensive on top of the labor. Time for a trial by fire.

Turns out disc brakes are insanely easy... just had to clear that mental hurdle. What one feels they can do really grows exponentially; it usually starts with changing to snow tires or doing one's oil.

 

[K-Man]

Some things I'll try to do myself. These are procedures that involve relatively simple tools and reasonable periods of time. I don't have a garage or real help, nor can I afford expensive or tools, so the heavy, serious stuff is out. Let's face it, too: major work on front-drive cars is a royal pain. There's no practical way I could change a CV joint or a clutch at home on my Escort.

Things I can do: oil and filters (of course), spark plug changes, O2 sensors, transaxle fluid changes (this car has a stickshift), installing new headlight assemblies (which involves removing the front bumper cover), installing a custom intake (which involved redoing the MAF sensor and later involved fabricating a bracket after the one that came with the kit fatigued), changing timing belt, installing new stereo with adapter and new speakers, incuding modifying door panels. If the radiator required replacement, I think I could handle that. But I know I have limitations and I respect those limitations.

Things I have paid for: rear main oil seal/clutch replacement, halfshaft replacement, head gasket replacement.

Mainly, I try to drive sensibly and maintain my vehicles such that much major work never becomes necessary.

 

[Matt_S]

For me, it's fluid & filter changes of any sort; spark plugs, cap & rotor; brakes (disk or drum) and brake lines; belts; alternators; power steering pumps; radiators; valve cover gaskets; U joints and probably several other things I can't remember right now.

I haven't set timing, although with proper instruction I'm sure I could. That's becoming a non-issue, anyway. I also wouldn't touch a timing belt. There's too much to lose if you screw that up. I would also be inclined to pay for suspension work, although I've replaced shocks.

 

[K-Man]

Forgot to mention: I also replace my own brakes.

 

[Dan4510]

Replace and rebuild engines
setup distributor
setup/rebuild carb
replace water pump
degree in a cam
replace timing chain
upgrade brakes to larger rotors
rebuild transmission
replace rear end
setup rear end gears
head replace
blueprint engine

Dan

 

[Matt89]

I think the key to fixing stuff is being willing to break it in the learning process. I have done this

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt89:
I think the key to fixing stuff is being willing to break it in the learning process. I have done this

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A survey showed that 89% of home mechanics have done the same. The other 11% were lying.


75.27% of statistics are made up.

 

[michaelc80]

I try to do the majority of it myself. I did have a clutch replaced in my 1992 300ZX because I didn't want to mess with it (PITA to work on). A lot depends on the amount of time that I have.