Car maintenance / repairs that you should always do yourself?

[Thump553]

This thread reminds me that I really need to learn how to do my own brakes.

I tried to replace the cabin air filter for my Mazda 3 once. That is a job best left to a professional.

Changing the headlights in that same car is unbelievably tricky as well, but I manage somehow every time. I usually have bloody hands when I am done.

I was thinking of doing a brag thread a few weeks back because I managed to change my driver's side headlight bulb (halogen). My BiL took time out from a tranny rebuild he was doing to give it a try and he had no luck. I finally got it done by buying a pair of real long needle-nose pliers with a 90 degree bent tip. It's amazing how car styling has changed what used to be a three minute job into an exercise in frustration and skinned knuckles.

My late unlamented Passat was a total PIA to get at the oil filter. I really don't know how shops could do an oil change and do it right in less than an hour on that car. Yet one more reason I'll never own another VW.

One of the things I do when car shopping now is browse user forums and youtube videos to see if the manufacturer over-complicated simple jobs like oil changes, cabin air filters, etc.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I changed my front pads and rotors a few weeks back for the first time with youtube as the only help. Worked out pretty well and I saved in the ~$200-300 range. I also did a drain and fill on the CVT fluid which saved me about $100-150. I can still get an oil change and tire rotation for $25 OTD or ~$40 for oil change only if I'm impatient and hit up one the quick stops. At that price it's not worth spending the time changing it, getting oil all over the place, and worrying about disposal.

I also changed my low beam light when it went out. On my car, you can take the old light out and install the new one with zero disassembly (save for taking the watertight gasket out and unplugging the old light) so long as you don't have fat hands and fingers.

 

[OutHouse]

Completely depends on the vehicle.

yup, i will not change the oil in our 2011 sienna. without a lift or pit, its a huge pain in the ass. all my other vehicles its easy and fast and i dont have to drag out the jack and jackstands.

the only way to change oil.

 

[Myg0t]

The only person that ever works on my vehicles is me

 

[Vdubchaos]

The only person that ever works on my vehicles is me

I go by this. I do everything and anything....not just cars either.

The only man I pay to do anything for me is accountant, that's it. Or unless I can't handle it (which has never happened yet)....mind you, there has been failures/lessons learned and even lost money/time.

I don't mind, in the end it was worth it.

Just the fact that I learned and did something is priceless. As I don't get much sense of accomplishment from office job....hehe

 

[nOOky]

I feel the same way. When I was young I'd do all the maintenance myself. Now I'm older, and I'd rather just sip coffee and let them do the work, and tell me what needs doing etc.

I always go in for oil and filter changes, plus nowadays there are instrument cluster updates and all sorts of crap that they can do that I can't. Of course I can just sit in my car and run a vehicle health report sheesh.

I do perform most of the work on our motorcycles myself, I just feel better for some reason knowing I did the work as it's more of a hobby and less about just transportation.

I'll change wiper blades but that's about it.

I have done far more extensive repairs on my cars and bikes over the years I just don't want to anymore.

a) I don't want to.
b) Storing and disposing of old parts/chemicals is a PITA.
c) I don't get that much satisfaction out of it.
d) I'm not poor and can afford it.

 

[OutHouse]

I tried to replace the cabin air filter for my Mazda 3 once. That is a job best left to a professional.
.

the cabin air filter is easy peasy on the mazda, Toyotas have a similar design. 5 minute job. if you want to see a pain in the ass, look at what i have to to change the filter on my benz.

https://youtu.be/_BrVpFx86O8

 

[ControlD]

the cabin air filter is easy peasy on the mazda, Toyotas have a similar design. 5 minute job. if you want to see a pain in the ass, look at what i have to to change the filter on my benz.

https://youtu.be/_BrVpFx86O8

I had to remove the glove box and fuse panel to change my Mazda's cabin air filter. It isn't rocket science, but it ended up being a lot more involved than I expected to simply change an air filter. Maybe that has changed on the newer models though.

 

[exar333]

I had to remove the glove box and fuse panel to change my Mazda's cabin air filter. It isn't rocket science, but it ended up being a lot more involved than I expected to simply change an air filter. Maybe that has changed on the newer models though.

Yeah, the amount of time varies quite a bit for cabin filters from model to model. My wife's previous car (VW Jetta) was a 15min affair. Mostly just removing clips and peeling back some of the interior bits under the glove box. It was easy to swap out and you could get the filter for ~$12. That was worth saving $75 at the dealership and didn't require any tools other than a flat screwdriver.

 

[quikah]

I tried to replace the cabin air filter for my Mazda 3 once. That is a job best left to a professional.

Lol, been there. Totally true, the worst design I have ever seen. I think they made it a bit easier in the later models (after 2008 or so).

On the other hand, replacing the alternator was dead simple.

 

[Squisher]

Replacing the headlamp on a Prius is $400 at the dealer. It takes about an hour and a half, but the bulb is only $40.

 

[Muse]

Yeah I'll go with it depends as well. But generally speaking:

-Oil & filter
-Brake pads and rotors
-Air Filters
-Hi and Low Beam Bulbs (if applicable)
-Battery replacement
-Tire Rotations
-Exterior & Interior Cleaning (Wash and detail by hand)

I've done all those on my car for a few years (1997 Mazda 626LX 4cyl automatic), but since it's still under 30k (had the 30k inspection done last year anyway), the brakes are still good and no known problems with bulbs. Also tire rotations were done by Costco, where I bought the tires. But last time I had them rotate the tires they told me ( in somewhat surly tone ) that it's the last time they'd rotate those tires.

Changing the oil, and filter, battery are real easy on this car. I bought ramps off Amazon, first time I drove up on big stones, not a good idea! The air filter is a little tricky, but not bad.

The toughest things I've done are installing a 3rd party transmission oil cooler (damned tranny on this car is very under-engineered), and a few days ago I reinstalled the weatherstripping in the trunk.

I bought an electric inflator at Costco some years ago and always maintain tire pressure myself, checking once in a while. Change the windshield wiper blades very occasionally, also buy those at Costco along with my synthetic oil. Oil filters can be gotten cheap enough on Amazon. Next time I buy oil I think it will be via Walmart online. I like their deal (free shipping when ordering over $50 merchandise, and I frequently buy nonfat dry milk powder there anyway) but I don't need any now, have enough for at least my next change.

I also change radiator and other fluids.

Had a timing belt break on a car I owned a few years ago. New belt was $60 and it took me something silly like 4 hours to break the damn bolt free from the 24 year old crank pulley, but following a youtube video over the period of an afternoon I saved myself the better part of $1,000.

Youtube is a godsend to DIYers.

 

[Muse]

It really doesn't have anything to do with being poor. Majority of the time when someone works on your car the care is not there. Finding a good mechanic that cares about your car is unicorn rare unless you want to pay 2x what they are asking for even that is not a guarantee. I trusted few mechanics before. I compensated very well and they got very greedy. I paid them their rate. Then after a year I started tipping them for peace of mind. After that they start over charging me. Happens all the time. First they start off with good customer service then overcharging and not doing good work follows.
Automobile is second largest purchase next to home. It's better to take care of the investment personally.

To the OP anything you can access you should do it yourself. Building an engine is not diy.

I guess it's partly because of this stuff that I drive so little. I basically use my car when I have to, which isn't a lot (~1500 miles/year and that's including drives just to give it exercise, maybe 20 miles every two weeks). I didn't have a car for 20 years, depended on walking and bicycle.

Nowadays my favorite way to get from here to there and back is rollerskating on quads. I love it. I bicycle when rollerskating isn't reasonable. Bicycle is to car as rollerskates are to bicycle in terms of maintenance. Skates are really really simple to maintain. Bikes are harder, but still not too hard if you take your time and get a book or go online. Except for one time, I've done 100% of my bicycle maintenance. That time was a top rated solo guy in a shop not far away (over a year ago) and I was happy enough how it worked out. He diagnosed a problem I had I never would have gotten right (I didn't know it but the fork was fucked up, and he got a replacement).

One of the things I do when car shopping now is browse user forums and youtube videos to see if the manufacturer over-complicated simple jobs like oil changes, cabin air filters, etc.

That sounds like one great idea, even if you aren't going to do the work. It will either save you time and trouble or a lot of money if farming the work out.

 

[Muse]

the cabin air filter is easy peasy on the mazda

I have a 1997 Mazda 626LX 4cyl automatic. I didn't even know it has a cabin air filter! Where is it? Should I change it?? I had the 30k inspection done last year, they didn't mention that. I don't remember seeing mention of it in the owner manual. Maybe doesn't have one???