Another lesson learnt...

[stripped fred]

In addition to my faux pas regarding the low oil level might on the wife's beetle, I think I've learnt something else today which I thought I'd share...

 

I took my 406 in for its mot 2 weeks ago and it failed on the handbrake (which was admittedly very poor) but it was also pointed out that the rear brakes generally needed looking at. Full of confidence I ordered new discs, pads and handbrake shoes and a new set of caliper sliders as I assumed the existing ones could be a bit rusty. I spent a good part of two Sundays on the drive, which slopes making jacking more difficult, and in that time managed to change both discs and the handbrake shoes. Both days I was putting it back together by torchlight at about 4pm because winter, was cold and a bit stressed. The result, it was worse than ever, coming all the way to the top without doing anything. I also couldn't get the new pads in and one of the sliders was well seized. I admitted defeat and it went to the garage today, one I trust and who are always reasonable. They charged me £210, replaced a couple of brake pipes, used a 10 tonne press to get the old slider out, fitted the pads and new pad pins and adjusted the handbrake up. I'm OK at fixing things (the handbrake shoes were tricky hut I managed it) but I must admit defeat as I wouldn't have been able to do the brake pipes and free the slider. I'm now going to stick to simple fixes, oil changes etc and let the garage do anything more involved. I suppose it was worse as it's my main car and i needed it for work. This will mean I can spend time with the family and experience less stress (well a different type!), while not costing me a great deal more compared with most people. Where do others draw the line when it comes to diy mechanics?

[Tamworthbay]

I do everything apart from electronics, but luckily have a mate who is an electronics engineer. But I still use the garage on occasion as there are times when I just can't fit it in or knowing how shit a job it is, I just think stuff it and pay them to do it. Unfortunately this means that my pet MoT place knows that if I ask them to do a job it will be grade A shite from start to finish.

[mercrocker]

Basically I have long stopped doing anything that involves more than rolling up my cardigan sleeves, tucking in my tie and tinkering like the blokes on 1950s Practical Motorist covers.   The only exception is underside protection which I don't trust anyone else to do.     

 

I go to work every day so I no longer have to engineer my own fuck-ups.   Any spare time now is fun time.

[stripped fred]

Basically I have long stopped doing anything that involves more than rolling up my cardigan sleeves, tucking in my tie and tinkering like the blokes on 1950s Practical Motorist covers. The only exception is underside protection which I don't trust anyone else to do.

 

I go to work every day so I no longer have to engineer my own fuck-ups. Any spare time now is fun time.

I would, and have done underbody protection. I actually find that quite satisfying. It also doesn't stop the car from working if you stop half way through!

[gordonbennet]

At one time i used to do everything, clutch changes on me own, engine rebuilds you name it, however that and me normal work hasn't helped me old bones and last thursday by the time i'd whipped the wheels off the new to me Landcruiser, pads out so could give the brakes a proper service, then re-assembled it all, plus slapping a bit more ACF50 about for this winter and checked and topped up the rear diff oil and greased the prop i was about bollocksed, but then it is bloody cold outside.

 

I still service me own, change transmission oils coolants and maintain me own brakes properly about which i have an OCD anyway,  and change me own cambelts when they're not too complicated, ie the Landcruiser Diesel is a piece of piss to change, and i rustproof me own cars because having had my Hilux done professionally i reckon i do a better job pus its cheaper, hopefully i'll be able to still do these jobs for another decade, if i'm spared, in which time i'll be 71, ferkinell.

 

I don't do other peoples cars any more save a bit of oil and brake servicing on the daughters cars, don't change clutches any more, don't whip engines out any more.

Last clutch change the lad and i did his Impreza together on the drive, that box is bloody heavy, not sure as i'd want to do another clutch, definately not on me own anyhow.

 

edit, always wash me own cars.

[scaryoldcortina]

I draw the line at washing and valeting. I'd rather pay someone else to do that.

[theorganist]

I am afraid I am also someone who makes great use of the local garage. I don't mind simple bolt on/off repair work but after that I haven't got the skills of inclination. I like the theory but not the practical side! Also I only have the street or a steep drive so it is not the most pleasant place to be working on a car. If I had a nice warm and dry garage with a pit I would probably make more effort. However I prefer to spend my spare time driving (and my other hobbies) rather than tinkering, although I enjoy the satisfaction of replacing a set of spark plugs for example and noticing the difference. Luckily my local garage are also car enthusiasts and one of the mechanics has two landcrabs, an early MG Metro and a Morris Minor pick-up, so he knows about my kind of cars. I think they are used to me now although I think the first time they saw the Renault 14 was a bit of a shock for them!

[michael1703]

I draw the line at washing and valeting. I'd rather pay someone else to do that.

Me too,I can't see how people wash a car for pleasure, I hate it.

[spike60]

Painting body work is my no go area. Anything else I'll do, though the the old bones are getting a bit achey for clutches on the drive. I probably have an advantage over some on AS as I'm a vehicle fitter by trade but the lack of a garage or hoist becoming more of a chore.

The company I work for regularly and helpfully throw out stuff like tracking gear, mig welders, expensive pipe flarers etc...

[Vantman]

I always used to service and do small repairs to my lorry but when I reached fifty I decided that I no longer wanted to spend weekends rolling about under my lorries and cars and told myself if I wasn't making enough money to pay someone to service my vehicle then I shouldn't be in business. Life became a whole lot easier then. Now twenty years later I can only do above ground stuff to my cars as I couldn't get under a car if I tried. Leave it to the men that want to do it!

[nisfan]

It's all different for everybody, whether age, money, family ties etc. I'm lucky enough to have a shared unit with a few workshop toys and a few cars so if one breaks I have time to fix it. If I didn't have these I'd be buggered lying on ice in the dark trying to change a backbox

[Snipes]

I think the problem is trying to fix something knowing the car is needed the next day and also if I have nowhere indoors to keep the car should it need to be out of action. I'd try anything if I knew I could always use the something something instead if the job doesn't work out.

[Shep Shepherd]

I won't bother with any repairs involving interfering with brake hydraulics, suspension springs or exhaust systems. Everything else is fair game unless the weather's too cold or too wet.

[SiC]

They charged me £210, replaced a couple of brake pipes, used a 10 tonne press to get the old slider out, fitted the pads and new pad pins and adjusted the handbrake up. I'm OK at fixing things (the handbrake shoes were tricky hut I managed it) but I must admit defeat as I wouldn't have been able to do the brake pipes and free the slider. I'm now going to stick to simple fixes, oil changes etc and let the garage do anything more involved.

One thing that I found with my local garage is that the more that I use them, the cheaper they get! I often joke that I come so often, I must be keeping them in business.

 

My general rule is that I'll take it to a garage if:

• It takes more than an couple of hours.
• Requires going under the car for any decent length of period. I have a fear of going under cars
• Probably going to require tools that I do not have or if the cost of the tool is similar in price.
• Large risk of getting seriously hurt. E.g. springs.
• It's too flipping cold outside.
• It's urgent

Which, going by that list, you can see why the above comment about keeping them in business is true.

 

The only exception to this is if its electrical/electronic problem. I almost never take these problems to a garage, because the vast majority of garages struggle with anything electronic (I know the guys on here are a big exception - most don't really understand the concept of forums!) and also being an Electronics Engineer I almost certainly understand things better to them but also actually love fixing these types of problems more than mechanical!

[SiC]

Incidentally I don't envy the job of a professional mechanic. Always when I've been fiddling cars for more than a few hours, I end up sore, aching and cuts+bruised! I'm only 30 too, I dread to think what it becomes like when you're in your 50's and still working away.

 

I really wanted to be a mechanic when I left school. However my dad was a heavy plant mechanic for a couple of years before realising its not as fun as he thought, and he very strongly said to not go that route as its a tough life. So I took a year out, redid my A-Levels that I did badly on, scraped just enough UCAS points to get into Uni and got an education.

 

I'm very thankful for that advice he gave. It means I can now fiddle with cars for pleasure, which is always far more enjoyable to do than having to fix some piece of neglected junk a PIA/rude customer has bought in. The career path I chose also pays pretty well too.

[scaryoldcortina]

Funny that, I took the opposite route. My parents were teachers, I did well at school and was strongly encouraged to go to university despite being much happier taking things apart and then putting them back together again. I did as I was told, got a good degree and went to work in the chemical industry. I hated it so much that after only a couple of years I quit and went back to fixing things, and I'm still doing that.

 

Cars was just the best revenue stream once consumer electronics got too cheap to be worth fixing!

[Jim Bell]

I draw the line at washing and valeting. I'd rather pay someone else to do that.

 

I think I am Scaryoldcortinas reverse doppleganger.  I draw the line at anything other than cleaning.  I've learned my lesson many times.  Get someone that knows what theyre doing in.

[Captain Furious]

In the past I have done anything up to and including engine and gearbox swaps, clutches, drive train, brakes, suspension etc. These days I try and avoid stuff that you need to get right under it to do, especially exhausts as they're usually a total bastard and what takes me 8 hours struggling on my back takes 20 mins for a mechanic with it on a ramp.

[DSdriver]

I learned many years ago the wisdom of giving a blowing exhaust to a professional and get them to replace the whole bloody lot which will save you going back in a few weeks time for the next bit.

[fraser.innes.3]

I will do everything except bodywork. I need to farm out bearing changes that need a press and tyre changes because I don't have the tools. But now I am pushing 50 I seriously need a unit so I can put in a lift. Got the cash for one, but nothing available within 15 miles.

 

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[New POD]

I am about to test out a mobile mechanic in Derby.  (I vaguely know him because he used to work where I am contracting, and decided to go back to being a mechanic) 

 

I suspect that the oil cooler on the Omega 3.2 MV6 is leaking

 

(Based on this Flow Chart http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90466.msg1155255#msg1155255)

 

Now this should take a decent mechanic about 3 hours, so I'll see how it goes. He is picking it up at 9 am, and if I don't get it back by Lunchtime on Thursday, I'll have to get the train home which will take fucking ages compared to the car.

 

If it goes to plan, I'll get him to replace discs and pads all round, and maybe the Front wishbones. 

 

I can't be arsed anymore.

[SiC]

(Based on this Flow Chart http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90466.msg1155255#msg1155255)

Wow, they can certainly shit themselves in many ways!

[Split_Pin]

Both days I was putting it back together by torchlight at about 4pm because winter, was cold and a bit stressed. The result, it was worse than ever, coming all the way to the top without doing anything. I also couldn't get the new pads in and one of the sliders was well seized. I admitted defeat and it went to the garage today, one I trust and who are always reasonable. They charged me £210, replaced a couple of brake pipes, used a 10 tonne press to get the old slider out, fitted the pads and new pad pins and adjusted the handbrake up. I'm OK at fixing things (the handbrake shoes were tricky hut I managed it) but I must admit defeat as I wouldn't have been able to do the brake pipes and free the slider. I'm now going to stick to simple fixes, oil changes etc and let the garage do anything more involved. I suppose it was worse as it's my main car and i needed it for work. This will mean I can spend time with the family and experience less stress (well a different type!), while not costing me a great deal more compared with most people. Where do others draw the line when it comes to diy mechanics?

Totally with you on this one. I used to get stuck in with repairs on my cars but since my son was born 3 years ago it simply does not suit me to be lying on my back, farting around with seized and rusty shit for hours.

 

I would much rather be spending time with my family when I have some spare. When my son gets older I fully intend to going back to tinkering.

 

No shame in taking it to a garage as a result. An oil and coolant change, plus changing out the odd ancillary is as far as I go these days.

[Guest Hooli]

I paid a garage for an oil change for the first time ever with my goona. It was cheaper to get them to do it & reset the light than buy the oil & filter plus paying for the light to be reset. Bonus was it's a goona & I dislike working on french crud, it's not worth it.

[SiC]

I paid a garage for an oil change for the first time ever with my goona. It was cheaper to get them to do it & reset the light than buy the oil & filter plus paying for the light to be reset. Bonus was it's a goona & I dislike working on french crud, it's not worth it.

You only have to go to the oil change section on the in-car computer, push and hold the stalk button in until it stops flashing and then its reset!

[dollywobbler]

There is no shame in paying a garage to do jobs, though it isn't always that much less stressful in the long run. Rattle gunned wheel nuts are a personal hatred after garage time.

 

I probably do more tinkering now than I ever have before, but I do enjoy farming some stuff out when I can afford it. Has to be said, my 2CV usually feels much better for a spot of specialist attention. They do all those annoying little jobs that I say I'll so next weekend. And never do...

[stripped fred]

Having said all the above I still want to have a go at changing the cambelt as never done one before. I will wait until the summer though and book an extra day off work or have my astra on the road. I can then take my time and work through it over a week or two.

[stripped fred]

There is no shame in paying a garage to do jobs, though it isn't always that much less stressful in the long run.

I agree, using the wrong garage can add a lot of stress to the situation and make you wish you'd done the work yourself! I am very happy with my garage, small family run unit where they discuss what they're doing and enjoy their work. They don't treat you like an idiot or use sales talk and the mechanic owner always has a car story for you. They are always fair with the bill and do a good job too. Don't know what I'll do when they retire!

[billyboy406v6]

As I do all my tinkering on the street outside my house, its defo a summer sport now. Being an old git me bones and joints are not what they were !

[vaughant]

It's all different for everybody, whether age, money, family ties etc. I'm lucky enough to have a shared unit with a few workshop toys and a few cars so if one breaks I have time to fix it. If I didn't have these I'd be buggered lying on ice in the dark trying to change a backbox

I'm off to look at shared unit next week as really it comes in so handy that trying anything these days on my gravel driveway is just criminal.

 

Building a garage would cost £££££'s and I live in a conservation area so planning would both take ages and most likely be declined.

Plus I work away so have plenty of time on my hands in the week but not when I'm home so it makes perfect sense.