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OfflineMilkdudTitties
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Do you do all the work on your car?
    #21828935 - 06/19/15 04:57 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I just finished changing out the fuel filter on my car. The parts cost around 30$ but i know that if i had taken it to a shop for the same job it would have easily been triple that amount.

I always do all the maintenance and repairs on my car. Its just the way my dad taught me as i was growing up. Always do things yourself when you can, so you know that its done the right way.

Everytime i have taken my car to a shop to have work done, they never do it quite satisfactory. They don't really care, its not their car anyways.

I once took an older car i had to the shop to have the radiator changed out. They called me and said it was ready. When i get to the shop i inspect what they did. I look under the hood and pop open the radiator cap. Its fucking bone dry. They said my car was ready to be driven off, and it didn't even have fluid.

:thisisterrible:

After that happened, i decided it was better to just do all the work myself. Its a lot cheaper and the i know the work is done the correct way when i do it.

So how many of you guys throw money at the repair man when something breaks, and how many of you do it yourself when its possible?


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Invisiblewildernessjunkie
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: MilkdudTitties]
    #21829008 - 06/19/15 05:11 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

There's another side to this story too though.

I used to wrench at a dealership. And I have multiple stories like the one below.

A guy comes in with a coolant leak. I perform the diagnosis and find a leaking intake manifold gasket. I do the repair and send it out the door. The next day the giy comes back furious. He had "Double Checked" my work and found out that ALL of the bolts on the intake weren't even tight! He had to go through and give each one at least a full turn to tighten them up. And on top of that, now it was leaking again.

We then had to explain the concept of torque sequence and the concept of torque angle measurments on that model of vehicle. His warranty on the work was then void. Which made him even more angry.

In the end. He had screwed up the job while trying to  make sure the job was done right. He didn't know he was ruining the work performed.

I guess it all depends on what kind if repair needs to be done.


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OfflineShroomslip
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: MilkdudTitties]
    #21829012 - 06/19/15 05:11 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Sometimes there are things that are just out of my league. If I have the ability to do the work myself, I will. Sometimes though you need equipment that I just don't have and not gonna spend several hundred dollars (or more) on some piece of equipment I'll use maybe once or twice and will just take up space being unused for 99.9% of it's life. The auto parts stores around here don't loan out or rent tools (I've asked).

I hate doing it though. In theory I love it, becuase I've always liked taking things apart and putting them back together, been doing it since I was old enough to use a screw driver.. But working on a car is just a pain in the ass most of the time. Especially on new cars where everything is just crammed in there. Last time I had to take the alternator out of my car it took me 45 minutes. On my grandpa's old truck or something it would've taken me about 5.


--------------------
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OfflineSpiritualWarrior
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomslip]
    #21829037 - 06/19/15 05:20 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I don't like mechanics either they charge soooo much and sometimes don't even do it right or fix the issue you're having. I started out small working on my car and now I do things as large as pulling the engine out and putting it back in. I literally saved this car I had it had 2 burnt exhaust valves causing it to run like shit. Took the the engine out, took it apart, seen the damage. Decided to just do a engine overhaul/rebuild. New pistons, rings, took the head to the machinist and the block to get worked on. Put everything back together, new gaskets, pistons, rings. Engine ran fine for the first 25,000 miles... Only thing was it was leaking or burning oil. Took that engine apart again, found that the pistons weren't quite installed correctly... Bought a used low miles JDM engine block, swapped the cylinder head I had before on there, now it runs excellent and doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil. I also put a DOHC cylinder head on it instead of a SOHC...


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OfflineBlazeGlassDabs
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: SpiritualWarrior]
    #21829191 - 06/19/15 06:08 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

i went to a tech school to work on cars and trucks and just about anything else with a motor that wasnt a plane and i do all my own maintence on everything but i cant fix everything sometimes and i have to take it to a shop but it is an amazing trait to have
i dont let anyone touch my Harley
unless the change the tires and they just get the rims at that point


--------------------
Cherish yesterday, Dream tomorrow, Live today

So if you now number yourself among the disenchanted, then you have no choice but to accept things as they are, or to seriously seek something else. But beware of looking for goals: look for a way of life. Decide how you want to live and then see what you can do to make a living WITHIN that way of life.
- Hunter S. Thompson


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InvisibleShroomismM
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: MilkdudTitties]
    #21829408 - 06/19/15 06:44 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I do all the possible work and DIY stuff I can do on my car by myself.

For example on my current car I've done:
- Changed to aftermarket air intake (super easy..)
- Took out my stock springs/struts and installed coilovers (needed to rent a lift)
- Replaced my rear sway bar and endlinks with aftermarket ones
- Replaced my downpipe
- Change spark plugs/coilpacks
- Do my own oil changes
- Check/Clear engine codes (bought a $300 canbus cable that hooks to my laptop so I can do diagnostics / ECU tweaks / clear codes by myself)
- Installed a P3 boost vent gauge
- Installed aftermarket head unit
- Installed dash cam, hid wiring under interior and hard wired to fuse box with a battery backup so it doesn't drain my car battery when the car is off.
- Probably a bunch of other things I'm forgetting

The work I do do.... I make sure to research everything 1000% beforehand, make sure I have all the proper tools and torque everything to OEM specs etc.

However, there are some things I simply cannot do myself (lack of tools/equipment) or lack of knowledge/expertise.
I have a new (2013.5) Euro car, which to do some things requires super high end equipment, a dedicated german mechanic who has the knowledge and expertise, etc. There's some things I simply cannot do on my own. Like I wouldn't trust myself to install an aftermarket turbo and do everything right.
Also my car has something like 15 computers in it and multitudes of sensors.
If something goes wrong, I have the ability to diagnose it myself... but I wouldn't know where to begin on fixing half that stuff.

And oil changes. I take it to my VW/Audi guy for that. I used to do my own oil changes... but it's a pain in the ass and I only save like 20 bucks.
Costs me $50 to get the oil and replacement filter. I do it myself.. takes me a good hour, get dirty and then have to deal with properly disposing 5.5 liters of used oil.
Or I can pay $25 more.. take it to my guy and have it done in a half an hour while I drink a soda in the A/C. For the convenience factor, I'll pay the extra.

If it's something I CAN do, (like upgrading to coilovers)... and I'll save a ton of money by doing it myself... then I will do it. Save $400 on labor charges? Fuck yes.

But if it's something that's out of my league... I'll have a professional do it. I have two shops that I trust 100% with my car, they are both dedicated performance VW/Audi shops and ONLY do work on VWs and Audis. I trust them with my car because they are enthusiasts themselves and they treat my car like it's their own.

And another example... alignment.. I can't do that myself.


Older cars you can get away with doing virtually all the maintenance yourself. Provided you have the tools.
New cars... good luck. You can do a lot of it yourself... but some things just require a specialist and/or special and expensive equipment. They are a hundred times more complex than older cars.


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Offliner00tuuu123
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomslip]
    #21829472 - 06/19/15 06:56 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

Shroomslip said:
Sometimes there are things that are just out of my league. If I have the ability to do the work myself, I will. Sometimes though you need equipment that I just don't have and not gonna spend several hundred dollars (or more) on some piece of equipment I'll use maybe once or twice and will just take up space being unused for 99.9% of it's life. The auto parts stores around here don't loan out or rent tools (I've asked).

I hate doing it though. In theory I love it, becuase I've always liked taking things apart and putting them back together, been doing it since I was old enough to use a screw driver.. But working on a car is just a pain in the ass most of the time. Especially on new cars where everything is just crammed in there. Last time I had to take the alternator out of my car it took me 45 minutes. On my grandpa's old truck or something it would've taken me about 5.



:whathesaid: About the only things I touch myself anymore is brakes and rotors and this is coming from a guy that can and has torn down numerous pieces of heavy equipment in the field. Changing the sparkplugs anymore is so fucking time consuming that it's worth droping the car at the shop and saying call me when it's done.


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:kingcrankey: Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings :flipthebird: And all time Champion thread killer.:thatsayes:


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21829517 - 06/19/15 07:08 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Yes. The only thing I pay someone to do on a vehicle is body work.

My first experiences working on cars was helping my friend and his dad completely rebuild an 89 Camaro when I was 14.
It became something I fell in love with during high school.

I ended up graduating from a tech college roughly 8 years ago where I studied "automotive technology."
Absolutely loved it there, especially the hands on shop days.

I got really into modifying and tuning cars during that time but kind of lost my passion over the years due to working in the auto industry (retail) from the time I graduated until January of this year when I was able to find the job of my dreams, although it pays absolute shit until I work my way up.

Nowadays I use what I learned in school to maintain my car which is great from a financial standpoint but I'm looking forward to buying a new (used) car soon that's fun to work on as well as drive.

My 2002 Mazda 626 sedan just isn't cutting it in the fun sector.
I'm looking to buy one of the following:

-Mk2 or Mk3 VW GTI
-M30 or M36 BMW M3
-Honda S2000
-3rd Gen "FD" Mazda RX-7

These are all cheap cars, just incredibly hard to find ones that aren't falling apart.


--------------------

“[...]the only people for me are the mad ones,
the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk,
mad to be saved,
desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”



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InvisibleShroomismM
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: kr0nik0]
    #21829613 - 06/19/15 07:32 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Yeah... body work is a whole different story/field.
I do my own washing / detailing too. I don't trust most places to wash my car.. the places I do trust are too expensive to justify letting them do it every week or two.
I have a DA polisher and all the products so I do all my detailing by myself.. it's a pain in the ASS though.
Takes me like almost 8 full hours to do a full detail on my car.. which is vaccum/clean interior... wash, clay bar, wash again, polish and wax.
I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my paint. I do everything the proper way, with the two bucket method.. having separate washmitts for the paint and the wheels, etc. Wheel washmitt ONLY touches the wheels and NEVER touches the paint and vica versa.
But every once in a while, I can't be fucked to spend all day detailing so if I have the cash I will take it to one of my places and have them do it. They do an even better job than me, and faster... but it costs me a good 150-200 to have a high quality place do it that I trust. So it's just a matter of if that money is worth my time... which.. usually it's not so I just do it myself.

But then once I got a big gash in my rear bumper.. I tried buffing/polishing it out with compound but it wasn't buffing out.
Ended up finding some guy on craigslist who said he was a professional.. paid him $150 and he sanded it down and repainted. 
I was trying to save some money, but fuck.. I should have just taken it to a real professional shop, it looked a ton better.. but wasn't a perfect job by any means... in the light you can see how it's uneven where he was sanding it. It's not a glaring issue but I can definitely notice it when looking at it and it bothers me.
Lesson learned.. I should have just spent the extra $150 and taken it to a professional body shop and had them do it.. then it would have looked perfect... instead of "close enough". Had a shop quote me 300 and "would make it look like it was brand new/never there".
I'm just going to end up replacing the rear bumper with a brand new one eventually. It bothers me that much, even though it's not even really noticeable unless you are up close.

But yeah I won't trust myself with the majority of body work, especially when it comes to anything to do with paint/clearcoat.
Remove swirls and scratches with polisher, and keep the paint in prime condition... that's about as far as I go personally.



As for car... go with the MK3 GTI! Or the M36!
But like you said.. can be hard to find in good condition.. just keep looking you'll find something.


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Invisibleazur
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21829690 - 06/19/15 07:43 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I've done everything myself from the simplest tasks to rebuilding engines. I recently met an honest mechanic (hard to believe i know) who charges a fair price. I haven't had to use him yet, but i think i will. At this point, my time is more valuable than my money


--------------------


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FALL IN LOVE WITH LC
FOTTSE!!!
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InvisibleballsalsaMDiscord
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: azur]
    #21829729 - 06/19/15 07:51 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

i do anything that doesn't require me to hoist the engine out. (mostly because i'm poor though)

simple body work isn't that hard as long as you already have the painting tools and you can build yourself a temporary spray booth (the paint is the hard part)


--------------------


Like cannabis topics? Read my cannabis blog here


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Offliner00tuuu123
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: azur]
    #21829759 - 06/19/15 07:56 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

azur said:
I've done everything myself from the simplest tasks to rebuilding engines. I recently met an honest mechanic (hard to believe i know) who charges a fair price. I haven't had to use him yet, but i think i will. At this point, my time is more valuable than my money



A good mechanic is worth their weight in gold. I refer all my friends to my guys. :thatsayes:  they know they can't bullshit me for one and for 2 they treat my friends right. None of this trying to squeeze 1000.00 out of a 200.00 repair.


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:kingcrankey: Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings :flipthebird: And all time Champion thread killer.:thatsayes:


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InvisibleShroomismM
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: azur]
    #21829770 - 06/19/15 07:59 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

azur said:
I've done everything myself from the simplest tasks to rebuilding engines. I recently met an honest mechanic (hard to believe i know) who charges a fair price. I haven't had to use him yet, but i think i will. At this point, my time is more valuable than my money




I feel like the dishonest mechanic thing is so overblown.. I dunno maybe it's just me and the places I go.. but most of the mechanics I know are very honest and straightforward... or maybe it's just because I know a thing or five about cars and they can't take advantage of me.

I dunno.. I feel like if you take your car to Jiffy Lube, or some no name service center, then you should expect to have a dumbass working on your car and/or fuck something up and/or rip you off and lie to you.

But all the places I go are specialists.. they only deal with a couple makes of cars, so they are exclusive and experts at their fields. I'll pay a little bit more for quality work because I know the guys will do a top notch job.. they are very well respected shops in the area and highly recommended by others.

I think it's like most things.. you get what you pay for (most of the time), and it's all in who you know. Yeah there's a lot of shady ass mechanics out there... and they are ~usually~ holed up in some shitty shop. I don't take my car anywhere I don't completely trust. And now that we have things like Yelp... it's even easier to prescreen then ever before.

Maybe it's different in smaller towns. But here I have 100s of shops to choose from, I got a handful that I trust. The other places don't even get a glance.


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Invisiblerackem
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21829796 - 06/19/15 08:05 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

i had to take my jeep in for a new tcase last week cause the doctor said if i did it i would be risking surgery (fucking cunt doctor) that is the first time anybody has worked on one of my vehicles in a very very very long time..


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OfflineDetached
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21829802 - 06/19/15 08:06 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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.


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Invisiblerackem
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21829809 - 06/19/15 08:08 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

you can pick it up man.... just a willingness to learn/make mistakes and a friend that can get you out of jams all it takes.


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OfflineDetached
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: rackem]
    #21829828 - 06/19/15 08:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I'm sure it's not as difficult as it initially appears. I avoid any sort of repair since I can't afford it and then I'm shit outta luck when something finally breaks.

How hard are newer models to work on? Is there much of a difference in repair between a manual or automatic?


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Offliner00tuuu123
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21829830 - 06/19/15 08:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Start by doing simple shit like changing your oil and your air filter If you can turn a wrench and use Google you can do most of the basics .


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:kingcrankey: Please report me to a Mod for hurting your punk ass hippie feelings :flipthebird: And all time Champion thread killer.:thatsayes:


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Invisiblekr0nik0
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21829864 - 06/19/15 08:19 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

Shroomism said:
As for car... go with the MK3 GTI! Or the M36!
But like you said.. can be hard to find in good condition.. just keep looking you'll find something.




For sure. Those are my top 2 choices.
I missed out on a garage stored M36 with 67k miles a couple years ago that I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not buying.

The guy was only asking $5300 for it but by the time I got the money together (2 weeks) it was gone. The car was just pristine. Looked like it belonged in a showroom.

As far as what you mentioned about detailing, yea it takes a good 8+ hours for me to fully detail a car properly.
When I was still working in the auto industry I had a guy that would do a hell of a job detailing for only $80, but now that I can't send him a lot of business anymore the price shot back up to what he charges regularly ($150).


--------------------

“[...]the only people for me are the mad ones,
the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk,
mad to be saved,
desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”



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Offlineenjoi-more
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21829882 - 06/19/15 08:23 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Tomorrow in fact ill be replacing the front down pipe with mah dad. Also had to replace the radiator, headlight, and hood last year due to an accident (Someone in front of you slams on there breaks quite unnecessary hard :thumbdown:) Would totally be cool to know as much as some of you guys about cars


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Invisibleazur
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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)

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


--------------------


A cube is NOT a cube.

FALL IN LOVE WITH LC
FOTTSE!!!
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Offliner00tuuu123
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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)

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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Invisiblerackem
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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)

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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OfflineDetached
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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)

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 :rolleyes:


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Invisiblerackem
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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)

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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Invisibleazur
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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)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: rackem]
    #21829981 - 06/19/15 08:46 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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.



:lolsy: 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. :lol: Good times man.


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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)

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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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.


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Offlinezappaisgod
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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)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
    #21830060 - 06/19/15 09:04 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Offlinezappaisgod
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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)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
    #21830096 - 06/19/15 09:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21830098 - 06/19/15 09:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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 :rolleyes:




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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21830108 - 06/19/15 09:15 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Invisiblebadchad
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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)

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.

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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)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21830161 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: badchad]
    #21830162 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21830164 - 06/19/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21830168 - 06/19/15 09:27 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Detached]
    #21830175 - 06/19/15 09:29 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

Detached said:
That's a brilliant idea! A DIY garage spot for rent. I have never come across something like that in my area before.




It is a great idea.. and I'd never seen anything like it before either. But it's pretty pro. Lots of guys love working on their own cars (car scene is fucking huge around here).. but not a lot of people have access to a lift and air tools. It makes doing a lot of your own work very accessible for the average gearhead. See people doing all kinds of shit in there.. one guy did an entire engine rebuild.. I guess it's a fuck of a lot cheaper than a shop even if you are in there for a couple days. They sell bulk time too, if you don't want to go by the hour. But yeah.. brilliant idea.. but I bet they had to get a big insurance policy..they also have you sign like 5 pages of disclaimers heh


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: ballsalsa]
    #21830206 - 06/19/15 09:35 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Few hundred now or the cost of a new car when you find out you can't stop at the worst possible time.. Not a hard choice to make. I dunno if what you did would last indefinitely, if you've just been lucky that it's worked but I wouldn't risk it.

Brakes are probably one of the things you should worry about "being right" the most. Most other stuff done wrong that breaks, either the car doesn't start/go or it dies while you're driving and you can just pull over. Brakes go out at the wrong time and it can be pretty serious.


--------------------
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


Edited by Shroomslip (06/19/15 09:38 PM)


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: badchad]
    #21830208 - 06/19/15 09:35 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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.



Smart man by the time you drag out dozens of tools your car can be done in a few hours. Though having a heavy equipment sevice truck at your disposll is pretty sweet.


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: azur] * 1
    #21830210 - 06/19/15 09:35 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

azur said:
Breaks are super easy. Especially if it's just pads





if you cant spell brakes then you shouldnt be changing the fuckers


:Trollface:


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #21830232 - 06/19/15 09:39 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

:lol:


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: MilkdudTitties]
    #21830239 - 06/19/15 09:41 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I never did, till I didnt have money anymore.  I couldn't pay for the labor so I had to learn to do the shit myself.  Im better for it and can fix/repair my own vehicles now.  A lot of things, not all things


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #21830241 - 06/19/15 09:41 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Shut up Pris havn't you figured out  knowbody on hear can spell?


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: r00tuuu123]
    #21830324 - 06/19/15 10:02 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

you know how much insurance you would have to have to open up a lift for rent place.

its astronomical, i looked it up about 5-6 years ago in california.


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: zappaisgod]
    #21830371 - 06/19/15 10:16 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

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.




Without a doubt.
Everything I learned in 2005-2007 in trade school is so far outdated by now.

Every little thing in cars now down to damn cupholders have sensors and whatnot linked to one of the ECU's.

To put it in perspective for everyone posting here that don't really know much about cars, the most advanced cars while I was studying auto technology was a Mercedes S class which had 67 sensors in total being controlled by the onboard computer. Those cars were incredibly difficult to work on at the time because of this.

Nowadays any entry level, $15,000 car has over 300 sensors and multiple onboard computers. Add in hybrid technology which was just becoming popular when I was in school (thus not taught as no one knew if it would catch on), and just about every new car is out of my league to work on.

Oil changes, brake jobs, coolant flushes, wheel balancing and a few other basic things I'm still comfortable doing.


--------------------

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the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk,
mad to be saved,
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: rackem]
    #21830386 - 06/19/15 10:21 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

rackem said:
you know how much insurance you would have to have to open up a lift for rent place.

its astronomical, i looked it up about 5-6 years ago in california.




How much? The place I'm talking about is in CA.
http://www.urdreamgarage.com/

I figured they were probably paying a shitload for insurance.
But they do also have you sign a bunch of disclaimer papers basically saying you can't hold them responsible for any injuries/etc.


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Prisoner#1]
    #21830463 - 06/19/15 10:40 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:

azur said:
Breaks are super easy. Especially if it's just pads





if you cant spell brakes then you shouldnt be changing the fuckers


:Trollface:



Ha ha. I knew someone would see that. You get a car running yet?


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Offliner00tuuu123
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: kr0nik0] * 1
    #21830469 - 06/19/15 10:41 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

kr0nik0 said:
Nowadays any entry level, $15,000 car has over 300 sensors and multiple onboard computers. Add in hybrid technology which was just becoming popular when I was in school (thus not taught as no one knew if it would catch on), and just about every new car is out of my league to work on.

Oil changes, brake jobs, coolant flushes, wheel balancing and a few other basic things I'm still comfortable doing.


I feel ya man I grew up with rochester carbs and mechanical fuel pumps put me under the hood of a newer car and I might as well be looking at a nuclear reactor. :feelsbadman:


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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: r00tuuu123]
    #21830522 - 06/19/15 10:58 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

r00tuuu123 said:
Quote:

kr0nik0 said:
Nowadays any entry level, $15,000 car has over 300 sensors and multiple onboard computers. Add in hybrid technology which was just becoming popular when I was in school (thus not taught as no one knew if it would catch on), and just about every new car is out of my league to work on.

Oil changes, brake jobs, coolant flushes, wheel balancing and a few other basic things I'm still comfortable doing.


I feel ya man I grew up with rochester carbs and mechanical fuel pumps put me under the hood of a newer car and I might as well be looking at a nuclear reactor. :feelsbadman:




I honesty don't know how a mechanic that works on new cars enjoy their jobs in any way. I walked into a Chevy dealership the other day to check out their garage and just about everyone is diagnosing & fixing vehicles by using all sorts of crazy computers I've never seen in my life. It looks like the cars are in a hospital bed with all the diagnostic wires coming out of them. What tripped me out the most was their 3D alignment computers, that was pretty cool actually.

I'll always have a passion for working on carburated internal combustion engines that have absolutely no computers... Even simple engine management computers for fuel injection is all good and am very familiar with them. Straight up ratchets, sockets, sweat, and a bit of blood. That's all you need to have fun. :smile:


--------------------

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the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk,
mad to be saved,
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Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: kr0nik0]
    #21830554 - 06/19/15 11:08 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I change my own oil, most of the time. My car requires synthetic so it's a bit cheaper that way, and still pretty easy, only takes 10 minutes or so.

When I had an old 4x4 toyota pickup I did everything myself, or at least tried. Pulled off valve cover and adjusted valve clearances, replaced rear third member, replaced water pump, timing chain/cover, etc. It was a lot of work and I got my hands all cut up and greasy, and got very very frustrated, and spent long hours into the early morning trying to figure it out when I inevitably got stuck somewhere - some rusted bolt that just would not come free or whatever. These days, I'd just pay someone else to do it. It's not worth it to me, the money saved, versus the time and frustration. But it's good to know that I could do it if I had to (and had the haynes manual and the tools/parts)

Now that I'm driving a newer car, I have no interest in dealing with all of that. I know it's a lot more complicated than it was on my old toyota. I'd rather just drop the money and get it done right, and not get dirty. I'm not a mechanic, it's not a passion to me. I could see getting into it if I had a much more simple carb'd classic car/truck.


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OfflineManianFHS
living in perverty
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Registered: 07/06/04
Posts: 14,741
Last seen: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: MilkdudTitties]
    #21830565 - 06/19/15 11:11 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

ill do everything i can. anything i cant it goes to the shop, which is almost like never.

i will probably take it in to get the AC fixed. i think there is a leak somewhere and just dont have the tools or experience to diagnose it. my dad and i recharged the coolant but the ac was dead in 2 weeks, there has to be a leak...


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notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... "

ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."


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Invisiblerackem
Male User Gallery


Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Shroomism]
    #21830577 - 06/19/15 11:14 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

it was enough to make me not do it. i cant remember the figure i had. once i found out that it was going to be a ridiculous figure/month i figured nobody would want to pay that much to work on their own car. i didnt talk lawyer to see if any of those sign your life away forms would make a difference as i am sure they do BIG TIME


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OfflineLuSiD enthusiast
Stranger

Registered: 03/14/13
Posts: 4,325
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: ManianFH] * 1
    #21830581 - 06/19/15 11:15 PM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I think it's kinda funny my one friend who does all the work on his car himself, is CONSTANTLY fixing something on his car, as in he ain't fixing shit cause its broke all the time. Id rather just pay someone else to do it cause I'm lazy lile that.

I wish fixing cars were as simple as holding a welding torch up to any part of my car for a minute until a circle with a wrench icon filled up. Just like in battlefield.:lol:


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I'm addicted to coke, weed, booze, ludes and speed.
Not LSD, you can't get addicted to LSD, it was built by scientists.

I ain't got no demons that gonna get woke.


In erowid we trust.

Just take your damn pills and don't ask any questions, you'll be fine.


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OfflineSpiritualWarrior
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Registered: 09/15/13
Posts: 437
Last seen: 1 year, 5 days
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: LuSiD enthusiast]
    #21831103 - 06/20/15 02:13 AM (8 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

LuSiD enthusiast said:
I think it's kinda funny my one friend who does all the work on his car himself, is CONSTANTLY fixing something on his car, as in he ain't fixing shit cause its broke all the time. Id rather just pay someone else to do it cause I'm lazy lile that.

I wish fixing cars were as simple as holding a welding torch up to any part of my car for a minute until a circle with a wrench icon filled up. Just like in battlefield.:lol:




It is kinda like battlefield where you turn a wrench... That's why they call it "wrenching". I fix stuff I don't let someone else do it, most of the time anyways. I've had not only cars break down but also home appliances and I've troubleshooted and fixed them right up. Had the dryer got bad one year... New ignition coil fixed it right up... Just had my fridge go bad... It was the condensor fan, new one ~ 40 bucks and she's good as new... This shit's not brain surgery its very simple like lego's or building blocks... but with wiring and moving parts. Get on your ass, get some tools, and get to fixing that broken shit!!

Edit:

One more thing. I am indebted to youtube and channels such as eric the car guy, he and others helped me get the courage to get into auto mechanics and fixing up my own car. Videos help a lot but nothing will help as much as hands on doing the shit yourself with a manual if necessary. There are car forums with write ups about how to go about doing many maintenance procedures, from the fuel filter to swapping the whole engine. Google is all you need...


Edited by SpiritualWarrior (06/20/15 02:16 AM)


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OfflineBlack_Sunset
Amateur Anesthesiologist
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Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 2,451
Loc: Somewhere California
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: SpiritualWarrior]
    #21831117 - 06/20/15 02:22 AM (8 years, 7 months ago)

I had a 92 civic that had a cracked head gasket and they talked me into timing belt and WP. I had no idea what was going on back then. Took 2 weeks and the day i got it I drove it 200miles to my parents house. It broke down in the drive way, and I couldn't tow it back to the shop to have them fix it.

Flash forward 4-5 years I own a car and a motorcycle. I've done sound, brakes, timing belt. On the bike I've fixed and replaced everything on the bike except the crankcase . Fuck bad mechanics they only want to make you do a little more work. I'm really satisfied with how far I've come and my ability to love and care for my vehicles like never before. It was always a dream for me to do this and now it's coming true


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Offlinezappaisgod
horrid asshole


Registered: 02/11/04
Posts: 81,741
Loc: Fractallife's gym
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
Re: Do you do all the work on your car? [Re: Black_Sunset]
    #21831666 - 06/20/15 08:34 AM (8 years, 7 months ago)

True story

I was driving a 71 Buick LeSabre from Lexington KY to Tarrytown NY.  The water pump shit the bed on the highway and she started overheating.  I pulled over, waited until it cooled down and took the next exit which was in Bumfuck West Virginia.  Holy of holies there was a gas station right next to a parts store.  I asked the guys if they could fix my pump and they said, essentially, fuck you we're too busy.  So I asked them if it would be alright for me to do it in their lot.  They said fine.  I'd done it before so I went next door and got a new pump and went to work.  I'm a carpenter and I had my tools in the trunk which included a full set of SAE sockets from Sears and a power drill and cord.  The car was about 10 years old so of course half the fucking bolts snapped off.  So off I go to the parts store for an extractor.  I finally get the fucker on and get back on the highway thinking I am good to go. 

What I didn't know and nobody suggested is that you need to change the thermostat too.  Overheats again.  Pull over at a rest area and open the hood what the fuck.  Some guy walks over and asks what's up.  I tell him the story and he says the thermostat failed because of the sudden flood of coolant.  He said just throw it out.  Well the cover has two bolts and I fucking dropped one.  It's starting to get dark and I looked for a fucking hour and never found it.  Now I'm leaking shit all over because there is only one bolt.  Next exit get off, park and start to hitchhike.  Found a shop with some good old boys working late and they had a bolt that was the right size.  They gave me a ride back to my car and some water and I got that fucker back on and was on my way. 

Driving the long way across Pennsylvania in the middle of the night with only semis and me on the road I tucked in between a couple of them blasting along at 70.  Damn near hallucinating by now and finally got to NJ and slightly lost trying to go North to Tarrytown.  23 hours straight.  Good night wake me in the evening.


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