How comfortable are you with working on your car?

[308nato]

Its only because I'm an old fart that I know that.

No Honda tech. Just a farmboy who has worked on everything. Used to be friends with a Honda tech when I did a little SCCA stuff in a '86 CRX si. He won that thing once I think. His boss gave him a bonus every time he did good. They LOVE those wall plaques you know. My best friends pop was the head mechanic at a Mopar dealership from like 1958 to 1980. There is no musclecar I haven't known intimately. I remember stuff like him bringing home a Superbird to scare us in. talk about leaving teethmarks in the seat.

Its just not the same anymore. I just LMFAO at some of the sh!t I see.

 

[Evadman]

Id o everything on my truck, unless the repair is under warranty.

 

[StattlichPassat]

I can change the oil (and all other fluids), bleed the brakes, replace brake pads, change spark plugs and plug wires, headlight bulbs and alignment, rotate the tires, keep meticulous wash/wax/detail jobs tended to on a regular basis and do car stereo stuff. That's about it unfortunately. I can also do a mean 180 in the parking lot with the handbrake!

 

[Evadman]

<< I am a paint and bodyman. I have done it all. And by the time I get home, I don't want to do anything to mine. But when you have a 69 Stang you find the time and energy. All of us can't be good at working on cars, I am not any good at brain surgery. >>



Welcome to ATOT!!

 

[SHoddyCOmp]

O==00==O

Im pretty confident working on my car, im gonna know this dang thing *inside out*, LITERALLY when i get compeltely finished with it. Its a 1971 BMW 2002 (Non fuel injected[Tii]). I love these little cars, im gonna hev to open up my tranny (4spd) and look at first gear, it sounds BAD! But then again my dad taked to the kid who used to own it a while back, he got it when he was 17 and hes liek 25 now or something and used to just rev the crap out of the engine at the stoplights, pop the clutch and peel out. Now im not so curious as to why it sounds bad atleast now. No power steering is harsh and it sorta creaks in the linkages and suspension when steered, thats another thing to look into. His brother also decided that it would be a good idea to try to install a stereo system himself and BUTCHED the wiring! Ive had this car for a LONG time now (im 19) and we're still figuring things out...Got the blinkers working today anyway...that was a huge task. Every wire in the car is either shorted, the wrong color, or just stumped as teh case is with the heater fan. Oh ya and it has no carpet right now or door panels (theyre in my trunk) its definatley a work in progress but its getting there

02's rock!!!

 

[Ronstang]

<< I am a paint and bodyman. I have done it all. And by the time I get home, I don't want to do anything to mine. But when you have a 69 Stang you find the time and energy. All of us can't be good at working on cars, I am not any good at brain surgery. >>



Welcome, and do you realize they are making fun of your nick in another thread??

BTW I will be starting a full restoration on a friend's 69 Mach 1 pretty soon......I get the jolly task of replacing the rusted out A-pillar and some other nasty roof rust gremlins....

 

[Supermercado]

I don't know how to do anything on my car, other than wash it and put gas in it

 

[Mungla]

I don't work on my truck, I leave that for the "professionals". But, I do all of my own work on my motorcycle and various other machines around here.

I actually just found a great deal on an engine for the bike. I think I'm going to get the entire engine (includes the tranny and alternator) for about $150. The great thing is that the engine only has 6k miles on it; these usually last between 40-60k miles between rebuilds. If I get it, I'll have a spare for the time when my current engine blows up. That way, I would always have an engine to run on while I'm rebuilding the other. It's amazing what people won't buy these days; I've seen engines for this bike sell for $50 on Ebay just because it has a bad bearing or burnt valves.

I don't consider myself an expert or anything, but I like doing that type of stuff; I find it a good stress reliever.

 

[lepper boy]

newer cars?
oil, Brakes, regular maintanence... elctrical.......

my 67 scout??

Engince conversion from the gutless 67hp.... to a nice little 250 small block......

 

[Kadarin]

Nowadays on my 2000 Grand Am GT (RamAir, whoopdeedoo), I don't do much of anything besides the local Classic Car Wash and Jiffy Lube, but on my old '83 Mustang during my streetracing days, I did two engine swaps (with help), and numerous carb rebuilds/intake swaps/headgasket replacements, and to top it off, I ported my Dart Windsor 2.02s...

 

[Jerboy]

<< Other then changing the oil, lights, wipers and adding various fluids. No

If it's to technical then I have someone else do it >>



I can only do little things due to lack of facility. I'd be happy to do all major repairs(except body) granted I have all diagnostic, lifting, adjusting equipments and a proper facility to do so.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Just replaced the speed sensor, fuel filter, distributor cap, rotor & PCV valve in my Maxima, why would I pay someone to do something that simple?

Have always been able to visualize an exploded parts diagram in my head when working on a car

 

[Vette73]

I am very comfortable working on my car. But I am a mechanic, so that may have something to do with it

My car I am working on now........

1975 Chevy Monza 2+2 with Factory V-8 and 4-speed, and it weighs less than a HOnda Accord.

I like my Little chevy

 

[toph99]

not very, because i don't have the tools needed(even for an oil change) plus both cars still have a few years of warantee left on them, so we take it to the dealer to fix anything. i wish i had a car that i could work on though

 

[vi edit]

Probably enough to be dangerous...and that's not really a good thing

I can change oil, rotate tires, change out fuel filter, replace certain sensors, ect. Easy things, but for a lot of that, it's just as easy to drop it off at the dealer and let them do it, plus, they keep all that stuff on record for me so that there will not be any issues with a warranty claim.

I do a lot of detail/interior work though. Sometimes I'll spend as long as 4-5 hours just detailing. Wash, polish, wax, leather treatment, vaccuum, take a cuetip to the air vents, ect, ect.

The engines that I have in my two vehicles are not friendly at all to work with, and I lack the tools to really do a good job, so I pretty much leave engine work to a mechanic as well.

 

[Thegonagle]

I do a lot of stuff myself to save money. Given the tools and a lift, I wouldn't be afraid to try anything. Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of tools or a lift, and I don't fully enjoy working on cars, so I end up paying others to do it.

 

[toant103]

i don't have the tools. I want to change my brake pad but don't know how to do it.

 

[RossMAN]

Not at all, I know zilch about working on cars.

 

[fatalbert]

<< Not at all, I know zilch about working on cars. >>

 

[Bignate603]

Fairly comfortable with small stuff, belts and the like.

 

[RossMAN]

<< I wash it ALL ON MY OWN! >>



I like your way of thinking, I am VERY capable of washing and even vacuuming my car.

 

[SilverThief]

Ive gotten down and dirty in most of my vehicles....water pumps, timing belts, brakes, drive-shafts....feel pretty comfortable working on them.

 

[N8Magic]

Like notfred, i'll do pretty much anything that doesn't involve the engine internals. BUT, I just bought a new car and everything but "wearable parts" (brake pads, etc.) is covered for the next 90,000km. So it looks like i'll be limited to oil and filter changes until the warranty runs out. (another 1-2 years)