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azur
God of Fuck



Registered: 04/21/12
Posts: 28,103
Loc: Daid
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21829913 - 06/19/15 08:28 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Detached said: I don't know shit about cars or any sort of mechanical repair. Never really had an opportunity to learn or a father who cared enough to show me.
It's a skill I really wish I had.
I never had a dad period. But i grew up poor and had a desire to go fast. First car was a 65 barracuda i pain $250 for. 2 years later sold it for $8500. It's all simple (except automatic transmissions) Buy quality tools and a chilton manual
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r00tuuu123
Now I'm just really piseed



Registered: 04/20/12
Posts: 8,507
Loc: I'll be there in a minute
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21829935 - 06/19/15 08:33 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Detached said:
How hard are newer models to work on? Is there much of a difference in repair between a manual or automatic?
Yeah in the infinite wisdom of car manufacturers new cars suck to work on. Long gone is setting the idle with a turn of a couple of screws. As to the second part of your question the kind of transmission shouldn't enter into it for basic stuff like oil changes. A few years ago I was rebuilding a DANA 44 rear end and needed a new cover gasket the dumb ass behind the counter asked me if the car had air conditioning and power steering. Not trying to degrade you man but go pick up a used lawnmower from the trash or buy one at a yard sale for 10 or 15 bucks and take it apart then put it back together and see if it will start.
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Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings And all time Champion thread killer.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: azur]
#21829938 - 06/19/15 08:34 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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something is to be said about the right tools for the job.. ive seen guys waste days of their lives trying to make something work that just inst possible. makes learning/wrenching much easier.
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Detached
You know where...


Registered: 02/27/15
Posts: 2,942
Last seen: 10 months, 15 days
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: rackem]
#21829961 - 06/19/15 08:41 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks for the responses, fellas.
I really need to change my brakes so I'll see about starting there. I have debated on getting it into a local shop (guy has a good reputation and charges $65/hour for labor which doesn't seem to bad compared to other shops in my area) but I really don't have the money to throw around for that either.
It's very embarrassing when the women I work with have more knowledge of mechanical repair than I do. Very emasculating
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21829972 - 06/19/15 08:43 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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dude, brakes are a great place to start. if you need help let me know..
just remember when wrenching on a car.. touch what you touch.
meaning make sure everything is tight once you are done with it. if you need to use a grease pen and mark everything you have tightened. you never know the life you save may be your own.
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azur
God of Fuck



Registered: 04/21/12
Posts: 28,103
Loc: Daid
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21829978 - 06/19/15 08:45 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Breaks are super easy. Especially if it's just pads. But if your rotors need replaced, put new bearings in too. To do just the pads, you'll need a wrench (idk what size obviously), a c clamp and brake fluid. And of course a jack and a jack stand. Seems to be knowledgeable group here. We can walk you through it.
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r00tuuu123
Now I'm just really piseed



Registered: 04/20/12
Posts: 8,507
Loc: I'll be there in a minute
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: rackem]
#21829981 - 06/19/15 08:46 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
rackem said: something is to be said about the right tools for the job.. ive seen guys waste days of their lives trying to make something work that just inst possible. makes learning/wrenching much easier.
Sometimes you even gotta make your own tools One time I spent 80 dollars on 3 wrenches then cut the box end open and cut them in half just to get at a split steel hydraulic line on the main hydraulic valve on a cat d5. Good times man.
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Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings And all time Champion thread killer.
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Shroomslip
Architekt



Registered: 11/25/12
Posts: 23,651
Last seen: 33 minutes, 22 seconds
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21829999 - 06/19/15 08:49 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Detached said: I don't know shit about cars or any sort of mechanical repair. Never really had an opportunity to learn or a father who cared enough to show me.
It's a skill I really wish I had.
Never had a father or anyone show me either. I got an old junker car and the Haynes repair manual and set to work. Never did get it fixed right but trying to fix it taught me a lot about cars. From that point on anytime we got a new car, we got the Haynes manual to go with it and when there was a problem I'd try to fix it myself first and if I couldn't, then we'd put it in the shop. Over the years I've learned a lot.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


Registered: 02/11/04
Posts: 81,741
Loc: Fractallife's gym
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomslip]
#21830018 - 06/19/15 08:54 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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My cars are so far out of my league, and all of yours, to work on. I used to do that shit when I was a kid in 1974 but no more. It makes more sense for me to work more hours doing what I'm an expert at and outsourcing car maintenance and repair.
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ballsalsa
Universally Loathed and Reviled



Registered: 03/11/15
Posts: 20,855
Loc: Foreign Lands
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
#21830060 - 06/19/15 09:04 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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yes zappa, we know, your time is extremely valuable and 5 million isn't enough for you to retire on.
the rest of us broke fools have to wrench on our shitty cars. (i actually love my truck. it has 250,000 miles and i rarely have to fix anything. it even passed smog with a vacuum leak )
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


Registered: 02/11/04
Posts: 81,741
Loc: Fractallife's gym
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: ballsalsa]
#21830079 - 06/19/15 09:09 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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The cars today are not the cars of my youth that I could fix with a paperclip. Unless you can hook them up to a computer you can't do shit. Maybe change the brake pads and oil but are you really saving money? An oil/filter change is about 30 bucks. In and out and nothing falls in your face. A brake job is doable and more comfortable if you have a fucking lift! If you don't it sucks.
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azur
God of Fuck



Registered: 04/21/12
Posts: 28,103
Loc: Daid
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
#21830096 - 06/19/15 09:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I used mobil 1. $10/quart. $30 oil change will guarantee shit oil. Agreed a brand new car is nit like working on a car from the 70's. But my 01 excursion and 04 f250 aren't all that complicated.
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21830098 - 06/19/15 09:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
r00tuuu123 said:
Quote:
Detached said:
How hard are newer models to work on? Is there much of a difference in repair between a manual or automatic?
Yeah in the infinite wisdom of car manufacturers new cars suck to work on. Long gone is setting the idle with a turn of a couple of screws. As to the second part of your question the kind of transmission shouldn't enter into it for basic stuff like oil changes. A few years ago I was rebuilding a DANA 44 rear end and needed a new cover gasket the dumb ass behind the counter asked me if the car had air conditioning and power steering. Not trying to degrade you man but go pick up a used lawnmower from the trash or buy one at a yard sale for 10 or 15 bucks and take it apart then put it back together and see if it will start.
Yep.. new cars are a FUCK a lot more complex than older cars. Many things will require specialized equipment or tools and specialized knowledge to handle. Of course you can still do the basics... but some things are just completely out of the hands of the average backyard mechanics or DIYer. Unless you are down to spend thousands on specialized equipment.. and even then you need the knowledge to use it. There's just a fuckload more complexity in modern cars... and a LOT more electronics and computers. Old cars had one computer.. the ECU. Now newer cars may have 5-20 different chips to control or monitor different things.
That's why I bought a $300 VAG-COM cable. You can't even begin to diagnose shit on a newer car without first hooking it up to a computer and seeing exactly what codes it's throwing and whatnot. Cars are not nearly as simple as they used to be. Well.. that's not the main reason I bought it. Being able to check and clear my own codes was just a side benefit. I mainly got it so I can do ECU tweaks... things like roll up/down my windows with the remote.. change brake intensity.. adjust torque steer compensation... staging on the gauge cluster when I start up.. etc etc.. Just tiny little tweaks that if you took it to a shop they would charge you $100 or something just to change.
Quote:
Detached said: Thanks for the responses, fellas.
I really need to change my brakes so I'll see about starting there. I have debated on getting it into a local shop (guy has a good reputation and charges $65/hour for labor which doesn't seem to bad compared to other shops in my area) but I really don't have the money to throw around for that either.
It's very embarrassing when the women I work with have more knowledge of mechanical repair than I do. Very emasculating 
Like other said.. brakes are a good thing to DIY. If it's just brake pads, that's pretty easy. Just make sure you do everything 100% by the book. Brakes are quite important... that's your life there.
Honestly the best way to learn about cars is to just start doing stuff yourself. Start trying to do your own maintenance.. get some basic tools (wrenches, sockets, jack, jack stands).. and do whatever you can when you can. Also make sure you read up on everything. Get a Haynes or similar manual for your car. Join car groups and learn from other people. I'm part of a VW enthusiast group on facebook and tons of very helpful and knowledgeable people on there. Just start absorbing as much info as you can. Read and study and watch DIY videos... and start wrenching on shit yourself to gain first hand experience.
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r00tuuu123
Now I'm just really piseed



Registered: 04/20/12
Posts: 8,507
Loc: I'll be there in a minute
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
#21830108 - 06/19/15 09:15 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Detached said: Thanks for the responses, fellas.
I really need to change my brakes First and foremost other than a foor jack go spend 12 13$ on a big C clamp makes life alot easier.
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Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings And all time Champion thread killer.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
#21830129 - 06/19/15 09:19 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm with Zappa and r00tuuu123. Call me when its done. My time is too valuable and frankly, I don't know shit about cars, nor do I really want to.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
#21830142 - 06/19/15 09:22 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
zappaisgod said: The cars today are not the cars of my youth that I could fix with a paperclip. Unless you can hook them up to a computer you can't do shit. Maybe change the brake pads and oil but are you really saving money? An oil/filter change is about 30 bucks. In and out and nothing falls in your face. A brake job is doable and more comfortable if you have a fucking lift! If you don't it sucks.
I agree. Lift makes life a fuckton easier for most jobs..
What's cool is around here, we have a DIY shop, you can go and rent a space. They have all the tools you could possibly need, and you rent a workstation and lift.. for $25/hour. I go there when I want to do something myself but need a lift.
Installed my coilovers that way. I don't need to spend $400 on labor when I did it myself in 2-3 hours. I don't make 100/hour on average, so yeah... worth it for me.
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Detached
You know where...


Registered: 02/27/15
Posts: 2,942
Last seen: 10 months, 15 days
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
#21830161 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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That's a brilliant idea! A DIY garage spot for rent. I have never come across something like that in my area before.
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: badchad]
#21830162 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: I'm with Zappa and r00tuuu123. Call me when its done. My time is too valuable and frankly, I don't know shit about cars, nor do I really want to.
Can understand this sentiment. I am however a car enthusiast and love modding and working on my own car. So if I can save some money in the process and learn more, on something I know I won't fuck up.. I'm gonna do it.
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azur
God of Fuck



Registered: 04/21/12
Posts: 28,103
Loc: Daid
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
#21830164 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Like i said, i recently met a great guy that is a mechanic. And i will use him because my time is too valuable nowadays. But I'm glad i have the know how. Hell, i swapped out a rear end on a 66 new Yorker on the side of I-95 back in the 90's. And if you happen to be in bumfuck, it's nice to be able to fix it yourself than to be at the mercy of some mechanic like billy bob thorton in the movie U-turn
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ballsalsa
Universally Loathed and Reviled



Registered: 03/11/15
Posts: 20,855
Loc: Foreign Lands
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
#21830168 - 06/19/15 09:27 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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wanna hear a funny story about stupid shit not to do to your car?
i hooked my battery terminal up backwards. now i know, your thinking to yourself, "how do you even do that? the terminals are different sizes..." but i somehow managed it. blew up my main fuse. luckily didn't fry the ECU.
my master cylinder seal failed and all the brake fluid leaked out. My GF was furiously stomping the brake in a panic before she realized she could downshift and use the parking brake. so i go to replace the master cylinder and once its off i see that the push rod is bent coming out of the brake booster. so i'm like "FUCK!" especially when i find out the booster is gonna cost about 400 for the part. so i put the new master cylinder on the old brake booster, and cross my fingers because i don't have 400 bucks. that was about 6 months ago. the brakes work fine, no power loss, but i can hear the whistle of a vacuum leak. it started as soon as i did the job. but its not enough to make the check engine light turn on. then again, brakes are pretty important...maybe i'd better save up a few hundo for a new brake booster
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Like cannabis topics? Read my cannabis blog here
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