Why I don't work on my own car at the moment

"Dsscats" (dsscats)
10/04/2014 at 19:43 • Filed to: None

I asked for advice about getting the radiator on my car repaired today and got a ton of pretty cynical responses saying "Why not just do it yourself?" Here's why.

It might be cost effective to get tools and try to do it myself, but when it comes down to it, this is the problem: If I take my car to a mechanic, I know that the repair can be done on Monday.

I have almost no mechanical knowledge or experience. If I do the repair myself, I have no guarantee what so ever that the repair will be done right, done in a timely manor, or done by Tuesday.

I know that Opponauts wish everyone could work on their own car, but getting negative responses about not doing it myself is kind of ridiculous, especially when some were from people who don't even work on their own. I'll learn at some point, but until then, please don't be negative about it.

Anyways, someone requested an E9 earlier, so here it is!

EDIT: Now with MOAR PICS (Stanceworks is kind of awesome)

DISCUSSION (36)

Joel Johnson > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:44

Good gracious. That's a pretty car.

Jayhawk Jake > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:48

I'm the same as you. I've just begun to work on my own car. The downpipe I installed today I actually planned on taking to a shop but ended up tackling myself.

Of course by the time I bought the tools I needed I was halfway towards a shop doing it and it probably took 3 times longer myself

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:49

I agree. I have no mechanical knowledge or experience and having somebody else do it is sometimes just easier.

Your boy, BJR > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:50

Meanwhile, I used to be A MECHANIC FOR A DEALER and I couldn't tell you fuckin' shit these days. Cars be hard.

Jake > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:51

Kinja'd!!!

Not to be that dick that one-ups everyone but....

Dsscats > Jake
10/04/2014 at 19:53

Kinja'd!!!

You were saying?

exizeo - still loving fourza > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:55

Damn. All that dirt and scratches...dare I say, actually looks awesome as fuck.

Jake > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 19:56

A friend's father owns the one I posted. It's breathtaking. Such an epic car.

Dsscats > Jake
10/04/2014 at 19:59

On another note, VELOCITY STACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:01

I understand exactly how you feel. There are certain things that if you dont know what you are doing can make things a hell of a lot worse.

Sometimes its easier to pay someone who can do it the right way quickly.

Even though I am a Jalop I dont like working on my cars all too much. I hope to have the money to be able to just pay to get it fixed.

Jake > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:01

I like your train of thought.

Dsscats > exizeo - still loving fourza
10/04/2014 at 20:01

It's earned patina!!!!!! So much sex.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:02

Not trying to be a dick, your money, your car, your choices. But the only way to get the mechanical knowledge to fix cars it to fix cars. If you ever decide you want to do it yourself then youtube is your best friend, and ask around to see what seems like an easy repair, and what doesn't. From what I gathered today you were doing a radiator replacement. This seems like a daunting repair, but in reality is incredibly simple. I replaced the radiator in my stealth a few weeks ago and it took me about 45 minutes total by myself. But I have tools and the confidence from having done a radiator swap before to just go do that. I hope the repairshop you are using doesn't screw with you and I hope your car is up and running tip top very quickly.

Also holy hell sometime I forget how awesome E9s can be.

Dsscats > Jake
10/04/2014 at 20:04

Kinja'd!!!

On another note, you'll appreciate this.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:07

I agree. I'd love to do my own work but for one I have few tools. Actually my dad has quite a few. But we don't have jack stands which makes any work like brakes, tires and other things hard. That and time. School gets in the way of a lot of things.

Dsscats > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
10/04/2014 at 20:08

We don't even have a jack. We have 3 jack stands though.

ly2v8-Brian > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:08

Maybe a local (to you) Oppo could help you. While at the same time you could learn. I'm sure someone wouldn't mind helping. I know I would but I'm sure your 1000's of miles away. Quality microbrew is good currency.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:14

Those seats are perfect! Also, there is nothing wrong with taking your car to the mechanic, ESPECIALLY when it is your only car.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:25

You shouldn't be ashamed to take your car to a shop or let other people make you feel that way, even here. I work on my own car when I can, but that's mostly when I got to my parents' place for summer. Living by myself, with no proper garage or tools, almost zero free time and having to use my car on a daily basis means I have to take to take it to a shop for more extense jobs, and, in a Fiat where you have to take the whole front down just to get to the radiator, that's quite a few of them....

unpredictable_swerve > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:28

First up, I do sincerely apologize if my post was taken as cynical. It was not meant to, and I wish you nothing but the best, not every oppo can, or even wants to, work on their own car.

That being said, I completely understand your situation, I've been there. I have that T-shirt, it's currently sitting in a pile of shop rags covered in grease, but it's there. I got the same questions when I took my car to a specialist to have a new engine put in. I did not have the time, the energy, the desire, and hell, the tools to swap an entire engine. Same with my A/C, everyone said to do "x" with "x" being about as many different options as there were replies. Both times, a reputable shop took care of it. On the flip side, I've done a few things to one of my cars and in the end, said "Wow, that was actually pretty easy" I learned a ton doing it, and even had fun. That is me however, I am not everyone. I am a monkey with a hammer.

For you, everything you read here is an opinion. As the old saying goes "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink". Opponions are the same way, just from a special kind of person who may or may not value their car over life itself. If you take your car to a mechanic, you pay more, for what amounts to insurance. The fact that your car will (hopefully) be taken care of by competent mechanics who will get it done by a specified date. Many of us on Oppo have our shop horror stories, I didn't get over mine until this year, when I let someone else work on my car without me watching them for the first time in almost 8 years. If a comment came off as cynical, it is probably because of a reason like that, trying to help someone learn from our mistakes. If a shop says it's $1000 to change a simple radiator, they are smoking only the finest of cocaine, from silver spoons held by vegas escorts. $450 with parts is a reasonable number if the radiator requires removal of more than just the radiator. As long as it's a reputable shop, you will be good to go, my the gods of Hoon bless you.

All that being said, learning how to work on your own car can be fun, and Oppo should be full of the kind of people who will help you start. I try to be one of those people, I've pushed a few of my friends to try something themselves, and in the process, saved one over $3000, which really helped him with paying for school and autox runs. Some of my favourite memories are from when me and a buddy were just wrenching in his shop on a weekend. If you want to start, start small. Give the car a tune-up, new plugs, wires, etc... Go from there. If you are happy to take it to a shop, find one you like, that treats you like a human being and not a way to make more money, stick with them for as long as you can. It's no fun paying for mistakes from a shitty mechanic, even less so when the shitty mechanic ain't you.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:30

You can use the jack from your spare tire kit to get a car on stands, just do 1 side at a time.

Dsscats > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/04/2014 at 20:30

Yeah, but that's not really convenient for anything other than changing tires. It's a pain to lift it even a few inches.

TDogg > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:31

First off, dat E9... yiss.

Second, I love working on my cars, but if I didn't have a backup vehicle and needed it finish as quickly as possible, then I'd definitely take it to a mechanic. I definitely recommend starting with smaller repairs and working your way up. I changed the radiator on my fiancee's WJ Grand Cherokee last fall & it was a bitch. There was plenty of documentation online and it was straightforward for the most part, but it took a good while. I definitely learned a lot and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

deekster_caddy > ly2v8-Brian
10/04/2014 at 20:32

This is always good. Save money, learn!

Dsscats > unpredictable_swerve
10/04/2014 at 20:33

Yeah, it's going to come out to around $450. I sourced my own radiator and saved $200. And it's a decent shop, so I have faith that they will do a better job than me.

The problem with the 300ZX is that the engine bay is so tight that it's pretty hard to do anything.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:34

Harbor Freight is your friend. I got an awesome 3-ton Jack there for cheap, like $70 or something, maybe even cheaper don't remember. Some things you shouldn't buy at Harbor Freight, but other things you absolutely should. In the case of a radiator replacement, you really only need to get it up a couple inches so you can get a pan under it to catch the coolant.

unpredictable_swerve > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:36

I feel your pain. The easiest way to change the V-belts on my car is to drop the engine.

deekster_caddy > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:37

I missed the previous dickish conversation, so I'll keep it short. I work on my own cars (as long as they are not under warranty) for primarily two reasons:

1) It's expensive to have somebody else do it. You can always get the part cheaper on your own. Hourly rates are kinda high for me.

2) I've seen too many mechanics who just don't seem to know what they are doing. I can't stand seeing a job be done with careless shortcuts along the way.

3) (I know I said two) If I don't know how to do it, I want to know.

That said, replacing a radiator can be tricky, especially if you are away from home. Not the most difficult job, depending on what kind of car it is, but sometimes there are rusty-bolt surprises along the way too. Last time I went to change a radiator I ended up removing the engine and transmission because I figured I was like halfway there already! (and I wanted to put in the new to me and improved engine and transmission I had sitting on the bench waiting to install!)

No shame in having someone else do it. Is it a shop you know and trust or a remote unknown walk-in kind of place? Have references that they do good work?

ly2v8-Brian > deekster_caddy
10/04/2014 at 20:43

That's what I'm sayin.

The Magic Rev Matching 4Runner > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:45

Eh, just start out doing easy simple stuff. You get more confident and you'll be able to bust out headgaskets in the NAPA parking lot, roadkill style.

Kinja'd!!!

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 20:47

I don't either. I keep wanting to buy one but I need new tires and a battery. Not happening any time soon!

Jake > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 21:04

Part of me wants to think that this is just a table.... its pants tightening

shop-teacher > Dsscats
10/04/2014 at 21:24

I don't do all my own work, sometimes things are best left to the experts. If you want to learn, I suggest buying a project car when time/money/space allows, and then just start digging in. Learning on your daily driver can be done, plenty do, but it can be hairy.

Dsscats > shop-teacher
10/04/2014 at 21:30

I'm still waiting for the money/time parts. I did try to make an offer on a Series II Land Rover that needed work, but the owner would have none of it. He had owned it since new and wouldn't part with it.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dsscats
10/05/2014 at 03:19

Now I know not to post on Oppo just minutes before my family comes over for 4 hours, knowing I wont have time to check the outcome of my posts/comments. Im sorry if I offended you. I hope you eventually get to a place in your life where you can casually work on cars. Its loads of fun. You get a sense of accomplishment thats unrivaled. Until then, it sounds like you are doing what works for you.

Stef Schrader > Dsscats
10/14/2014 at 00:06

Oh, man. That Vasek Polak racecar. I need. NEED.