When to DIY and when to trust Mr. Goodwrench?

[Bruce Nunnally]

Okay, I have some mechanical abilities. I can certainly do simple things like oil changes, battery changes, etc. I have at times done more complicated things, such as fuel injector changes, but they were certainly not simple exercises to me, nor was I perhaps wise to do them rather then have a professional mechanic do them. For real mechanics like Dave Logan, who has a shop and all the right tools, fixing his Cadillac himself for almost any repair makes sense. For the rest of us, how do you decide what is within your mechanical abilities and what is too hard and you need to take it to a mechanic?

To me, the issue is complicated because when you try harder and harder things, you also expand your abilities. I generally look at if I would have to buy tools that are more expensive than the cost of having the work done, and the level of risk if the repair does not go well. How do you decide?

[KHE]

Except for the fuel rail recall, my cars have not seen Mr. Goodwrench since the warranty ran out. I am aways able to buy any tool(s) I need to complete a repair job and still be cheaper off than taking the car to the dealer.

[BodybyFisher]

With the FSM and this board, I would tackle any job, within reason. I don't think I would time-sert a NS, I don't have the facility/space.

I don't tackle things like windshields, window tinting, painting, or tops, as I think those types of jobs require specific experience/skill/talent.

[lothos]

I had my back heater core lines rust through and burst, and I had the car repaired at a shop for that one. I also had my transmission solenoids replaced at a transmission shop. I'm still a beginner, and I've been doing progressively more difficult jobs as I've been learning. The money saved allows me to buy tools and build up my tool collection. I'd rather save money and learn new skills and get new tools than pay someone to do it.

When it comes to deciding what to do, if it's a really hard job like a head gasket, or something inside the transmission, or anything along those lines I'll take it to a shop. The rest of the repairs I'll attempt to do myself.

[Cadillac Jim]

To me, the criteria is simple:

• If I have done the job before and am comfortable with doing it again, I do it.
• If it's simple to me and I can reach it, I just do it.
• If the physical demands are beyond what I am comfortable with at my age now, I have it done.
• If I don't have time and I need the car, I have it done.
• If I want the job done by someone who does it several times a week and not someone who is checking with the FSM at each step (like me), I have it done by a pro that I vet carefully.

[Texas Jim]

Up until a few years ago... when my physical condition started going away... I could and would do almost anything on a car except transmissions and exhaust systems.

I knew a GOOD transmission guy and a good exhaust guy.

I have done ring gear and pinion setups, motor rebuilds, and just about everything in-between.

One qualifier... none of it was on Nortstars.

I have owned and driven drag cars and circle track cars.

I have never been overloaded with money, so most of the mechanic work, I did myself.

My Dad was a good mechanic, as was my Grandfather.

I learned a lot from them.

I learned from them, how to do it RIGHT... time and money permitting.

I also learned from them, how to improvise when necessary.

Like being in the middle of west Texas...in the Summer time... not close to ANY TOWN... and the water pump belt breaks on the 49 Mercury.

You stand there with the hood up... looking at it... using up your cussing vocabulary... then try to figure out how to get to town to get a water pump belt.

You take the rawhide laces from your hightop combat boots... tie them together... put a loop in one end...put them around the pulleys..pull it tight...then drive at very low rpm till you get to town.

Sounds goofy... but it worked.

Built a sleeper street car for my son. 1981 Crown Vic TWO DOOR. 302 with Eldelbrock intake, crane cam, Hooker headers etc etc. did it all in my garage. He drove it several years till he got married. She wanted a new Nissan Sentra... for BETTER GAS MILEAGE. He traded it and has told me several times... he wished he had traded HER instead of the Crown Vic. He really liked that car.

If I COULD do it, I would probably tackle just about anything excpt TimeSerts and I might be tempted to do THAT, just because IT IS technical and exacting work.

To answer you original question...I am getting old and pretty stove up. Can't do what I used to do... DARN IT.

Now I keep it under warranty or else. I can no longer do anything except routine maint on one.

I have to take it to the dealer for anything else and that just irritates the dickens out of me... having someone ELSE do what I KNOW how to do... I just can't DO IT anymore.

[winterset]

ditto Jims_97_etc

I would tackle an exhaust - god knows I have replaced enough of those on my previous car/wife's car. I am thankfull for stainless steel exhausts. At this rate, I will never have to do one again. I remember a post a while back where it mentioned we have clean exhaust systems, and dirty intakes. I don't mind keeping things running clean, but once things start to rust and rot, I can't keep up with it. I never understood why exhausts weren't stainless to begin with!!

[Ranger]

I'll tackle most anything that is not under warranty. Not auto tranies (except shift solenoid and MAYBE TCC solenoid). I would Timesert a Northstar if someone else dropped the drivetrain. I've done head gaskets before, but don't look forward to doing one again.

[BodybyFisher]

I'll tackle most anything that is not under warranty. Not auto tranies (except shift solenoid and MAYBE TCC solenoid). I would Timesert a Northstar if someone else dropped the drivetrain. I've done head gaskets before, but don't look forward to doing one again.

I hear you with dropping the carriage, that is not fun at all. I have visually played the drill in my head over and over and have come to the conclusion that lifting the body would be the way to go while the carriage is supported.

I have been thinking about designing a carriage support "table" with wheels that has the ability to be raised/lowered and leveled either hydraulically or with large screws (the type found in bottle jacks). If you got the car up, put a 'table' under it, to support the carriage, the body could be lifted and the carriage rolled out. The problem with this thought is that it requires a lot of room.

Physically this work is hard on my legs. I would think that once you did this job a few times, you would get better at it. I really have an urge to buy an STS/ETC with a bad head gasket and repairing it. It would be a big project for me, as I tend to replace so much when I do a job, so it becomes time consuming for me.

This week I am replacing my engine mounts, I say MOUNTS because, it has gotten really bad lately, and its definately more than one mount that is out now. I am not looking forward to this and will start a thread on it..

As someone mentioned, the physical demands to do it yourself definately becomes a factor at some point, when I changed my ISS, TCC and Pressure solenoids it took a toll on my legs.