Do It Yourself car repair

[sr71blackbird]

Today I changed my own oil.&nbsp; I almost always change it myself.&nbsp; I think I would attempt certain other moderate car repairs to save money, as long as they were within my ability.&nbsp; I can easily change tires, and do oil changes.&nbsp; I dont think Id attempt any body repairs, but I think I could take a hood or trunk lid off or something along those lines.&nbsp; I changed a belt or two in my time.&nbsp; My first car I used to take the valve covers off and replace push rods.&nbsp; I changed transmission fluid once (never again!).&nbsp; I installed a radio once.&nbsp; cars are different these days and I shy away from what I used to do, because some stuff is just too complicated.&nbsp; I have those Hanes manuals etc.<br />How confident are you in your own ability at do it yourself maintenence for your car?&nbsp;

[Fez4PrezN2008]

<p>In the good ole days you could fix anything on one of these babies with a screwdriver, some bobby pins, and duct tape.</p><p><img src="http://www.pelicanparts.com/pelican/toms_bug.jpg" border="0" width="515" height="332" /></p><p>They don't make em like they used to.</p>

[Tenbatsuzen]

<p>I want to learn how to change my own oil, but it's hard to find instructions for my truck online.&nbsp; I know I sound like a naive newbie, but I'm so paranoid that I want to do things right.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[JPMNICK]

<p>i started doing a lot of stuff on my car now that it is older and I do not care if it gets fucked up. Changed oil, changes belts, flushed heater core. It is actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. The hardest part is having all the tools. My uncle has them all at his house, so it is really easy for me</p>

[Arch Stanton]

I do alot of my own stuff. Cars, boats, house stuff.

[FUNKMAN]

<p>oil, bulbs, wiper blades, rotate tires, inspect brakepads, washer fluid, inspect fluids&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that's about it</p><p>in 25 years or so of changing my own oil there was just one time 'last year' where I didn't notice the rubber ring had stuck to the vehicle and i placed the new filter over it. I later took a short 2mile drive to bring my daughter to a friends house and dropped almost all the oil on their driveway. I didn't realize it and drove home with the oil lamp lit and wondering WTF?.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>My daughter's friend's Mom called me and was cool about it and concerned that I was driving around with no oil. The funny/stupid thing is I remembered I did notice the &quot;orange ring&quot; on the car after I pulled the old filter off and I thought it was kind of strange and I even rubbed my finger on it but never thought to look at the top of the old filter.</p>

[Drunky McBetidont]

<p>when i was in high school i made good friends with a kid&nbsp;with a dad that owned a garage.&nbsp; we used to go there after hours and work on our cars (change oil, rotate tires, etc)&nbsp; I learned a lot about auto mechanics and looking back at those nights of beer drinking and wrench turning were as important as any class i took in high school.&nbsp; it was sure handy to have access to torches, impact tools, snap-on toolboxes, etc)</p><p>i dont do much maintenance to my vehiles now because they are new and i can't make heads or tails of them.&nbsp; it seems like the auto manufacturers have crammed more under the hood in less space and it is almost imposible to navigate around in there anymore.</p>

[Snacks]

<p>I just changed a headlight bulb tonight. It would cost around $70-$100 at the jaguar dealership. It only cost me $8 for the bulb.</p><p>As for oil changes I cant see doing it myself b/c they only cost $20 at my local gas station. How much can you save doing it yourself? You need to buy the filter, the oil and dispose of the old oil, plus you get dirty. </p><p>As you can tell I dont know how to do my oil!</p>

[BeerBandit]

<p>It wasn't too bad with older cars.&nbsp; If you wanted to do some engine repairs you could get in there and do it yourself.&nbsp; Sure you had to maybe read some manuals or have somebody teach you, but you could do it.&nbsp; Nowadays, car engines are so complex and computered up that you almost are forced to take them in.&nbsp; I'm afraid to do anything past changing oil or rotating tires now.&nbsp;</p>

[PapaBear]

I always change my own oil. I've changed the spark plugs. Modern engines aren't at all like old ones. It took me forever to find the damn plugs on my Prizm. I've changed the mass air flow sensor (easy as shit). I know how to change my front brakes, but I don't have a C-clamp big enough to hold the caliper piston closed. I guess that's about it for modern cars.