How much work do you do on your car

obi_waynne

obi_waynne

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How many of us do all of the work on our cars ourselves?

How much work do you do and what sort of jobs would you go to a professional with?

I just don't have the space, time or tools unfortunately. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
 
Body, only chips scratches and small dents. On Skyline the servicing myself. On engine all that doesn't include splitting the head from the block.
 
None apart from basic stuff: swapping out lamps (bulbs as they more commonly and incorrectly called); wiper blades; check tyres; fill washer tank and fuel tank etc.

Anything involving tools I give to the pros nowadays, though I used to do much more years ago I can't be bothered now.

I used to be happy to swap brake pads etc. but it's hardly worth the effort when there's a good indy round the corner.
 
only the basic stuff or what my tools will allow me to do really but i think i would give most things a try apart from head gasket and cam belt
 
HDi fun said:
None apart from basic stuff: swapping out lamps (bulbs as they more commonly and incorrectly called); wiper blades; check tyres; fill washer tank and fuel tank etc.

Anything involving tools I give to the pros nowadays, though I used to do much more years ago I can't be bothered now.

I used to be happy to swap brake pads etc. but it's hardly worth the effort when there's a good indy round the corner.
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My sentiments exactly! Back in the day, I use to think nothing of swapping a gearbox or an engine, changing diffs and halfshafts for a bit more zing from the lights in my old Cortina :embarrest:

These days for the price of a good Cognac I can get somebody else to do my mechanical work for me while I chill out and read a newspaper with a decent coffee and a croissant ;)
 
I
waynne said:
How many of us do all of the work on our cars ourselves?

How much work do you do and what sort of jobs would you go to a professional with?

I just don't have the space, time or tools unfortunately. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
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I do all my work on my car myself
 
when I was flush I paid for others to do the work cause I couldn't be arsed! But being on the breadline has made me have to do things for myself again:-(
 
The Volvo - Changed the Turbo, bulbs, oil, oil filter, brakes (front and back), back brake callipar, brake disks. More or less everything. The only think I have taken her to the shop for was alternator. Didn't want to mess about with that.

The Evo - Everything is done in the shop. :bigsmile:
 
I do whatever I can myself, alot depends these days on how good my back is and if I have the right tools for that particular job. Sometimes it is cheaper for a garage to do the work once you have totted up the cost of the tools to do the job. Example the camblet and water pump change on the MG, over £400 for the tools and that does not include the cost of the parts or a specialist to do it for £350 all in, hmmm :blink1:

Other than that will do most things, engine swaps, engine rebuilds, clutches, brakes. The only thing I don't do is bodywork and spraying, best left to the pro's.
 
I would like to be able to do all the work myself but I'm no mechanic so unfortunately I have to fork out for others to do most of it
 
Try to do as much as i can!!,if i cant i have 2 sons who are mechanics/mot inspectors,no they dont do my mots!!,mind you i had to call in an auto sparky the other day to sort out a charging system fault,bodywork i would get done profesionally,i can weld,rebuild engines etc,brakes,do most things which can save a lot of money.
 
Curd said:
I would like to be able to do all the work myself but I'm no mechanic so unfortunately I have to fork out for others to do most of it
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You never know until you give it a go. Start of light, swapping brake bads and disks, then move it up to oil change and sparks and self servicing. Then get others to diognose your problems for you, explain to the garage you are after quotes and they will tell you what is wrong. If its easy, have a go. Worst case you can always take it back to the garage and blame your son/mate/your wife and get them to fix it!:cheesy:
 
bigbadjoe said:
You never know until you give it a go. Start of light, swapping brake bads and disks, then move it up to oil change and sparks and self servicing. Then get others to diognose your problems for you, explain to the garage you are after quotes and they will tell you what is wrong. If its easy, have a go. Worst case you can always take it back to the garage and blame your son/mate/your wife and get them to fix it!:cheesy:
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Yeah I'm learning a bit from owning this car...at first I didn't even want to touch the engine but I'm getting more comfortable with having a little mess with things and trying do a few things myself. Also these forums are helpful and good for getting advice
 
i swapped my seat, doorcards, fascia, steering wheel, headlights (the actual headlights, not bulbs) including separating the lens on headlight and front fogs), front bumper, wheels. check and top up fluids, change bulbs/fuses but thats about it. anything mechanical goes to a mechanic and i now have a new one. he has an EVO, his brother has an EVO and his dad has an EVO so he should be pretty good on my car
 
I'm happy doing what I've been showed how to do... anything else... then no. The safety and reliability of our DD is just too important to stuff around with. My wife knows that secretly 'if it ain't dirty, then I ain't interested!' so I'm always happy to learn!
 
Just gone to put me hornet 600 on the road the day. Got her started but was peeing fuel all over the place. Think the pipe to the carbs has corroded. Have to strip her back the morrow before my late shift. Engine off, side pannels off, battery out, air feed to Carbs off, carbs off, all to get to the hose's.

Much fun.
 
this is the list of what has been done to the car
Head Gasket
Wheel bearing
Trackrod end
Radiator
SS Coolant pipes
52mm Throttle Body
Quad SS Exhaust
K&N Cone filter
Vinyl stripe
Roll Hoops
11 spokes
New rear calipers
AP Calipers+Disks
AP Pins and spring clips
Ebc ultimax pads
Red leather interior
Clear indicators
k&h front splitter
Side Scoops
Quad rear lights
TF air box
Cubby hole box
Blue seatbelt webbing
Leather arm rest
Blue speedo dials
Red gearknob
MK2 centre console

top three on the list i got a mechanic to do the rest i did by myself
 
I try not to as I'm useless. Just re-fitted a dump valve and haven't done it properly as it is. Don't think it's attached to the front pipe enough so need to go buy (yes buy) a screwdriver at lunch (as opposed to using a borrowed one) and try and loosen and fit it better and re-tighten it. It's too stressful. I'd rather let someone who knows what they're doing, do it for me.
 
Rudders666 said:
I try not to as I'm useless. Just re-fitted a dump valve and haven't done it properly as it is. Don't think it's attached to the front pipe enough so need to go buy (yes buy) a screwdriver at lunch (as opposed to using a borrowed one) and try and loosen and fit it better and re-tighten it. It's too stressful. I'd rather let someone who knows what they're doing, do it for me.
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You have to buy a scredriver! :amazed:

I felt bad when I had to buy a 8mm square sump socket for my volvo. I did try and improvise with key metal, but bent it. I wouldn't imangine not having a took kit.
 
Seems to be fine now. Screwdrivers bought you'll be pleased to know. lol. I did have screwdrivers just the short-end ones with a load of different tips which weren't long enough to be of use. I need to buy a Haynes and get to know my vehicle a bit better I think before I do any tinkering of my own :p
 
Just a tip, for light duty work the cheapy tools are fine, but for anything more serious you need propper stuf, the cheapies will break on you, been there done that. Worth spending more on the good stuf.
 
Ai, but I find that the cheepy tools can often come in handy. I have a couple good sets of spanners and ratchet spanners and I find I still use the cheepo ones from time to time as they fit on rusted or corroded nuts better, and sometimes in tight spaces, because they are usually thinner than the good ones, they fit in the spaces better!

Plus, If you have a fully rusted up 13mm, you can hammer a 14mm on and if you wreck it you don't mind because they only cost a few quid.
 
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