The 10 Simplest Repairs You Ought to do Yourself

[Xist]

I ran across this. What do you guys think?

It isn’t about the $4 you’ll save by changing your own oil.

$4? I can get oil and filter from Walmart for less than $20. I looked up the first 5 oil change places in my town. The Piece of Chevy dealership says $35 for a regular oil and filter change and tire rotation.

They had high-mileage and synthetic oil changes without tire rotations for more.

Toyota, Jiffy Lube, Future Tire, and Big O either say "Call for Quote" or I can't find a price.

So, I can change my oil for about half of the only price that I can find.

Anyway, Driving Line's list:

1. Replace the battery.
2. Replace spark plugs.
3. Oil and filter (even though you can allegedly have a "Professional" do this for $20).
4. Drive belts. I need to adjust mine again! They specifically exclude the timing belt. I did that!
5. Air Filters.
6. Fluids. Don't you check those when you do other maintenance?
7. Headlight and taillight bulbs.
8. Fuses.
9. Brake pads.
10. Cap and Rotor.

All of those are easy! What additional repairs do you guys think people should do themselves?

https://www.drivingline.com/articles...o-do-yourself/

[redpoint5]

What's this about cap and rotor? Is this an article from the 80's?

Might as well do brake rotors and calipers if one is capable of brake pads. Those things are probably even less difficult, cause pushing pistons back in to the caliper without making a mess is impossible the first time one attempts it.

Wiper refills. Don't know why the whole blade assembly is more common. It's not that difficult to change just the rubber, and I find OEM blades typically perform better.

Tire rotations

Coil packs

Really most things are easily done at home because the internet has instructions. If you might need a new PCV valve then there are simple instructions for testing one, and replacement is simple.

[Stubby79]

Everything you have the tools to do.

Put on the spare tire.
Fuel pump.
Fuel filter.
Alternator. (Delete)
P/S pump. (Delete)
A/C recharge.
A/C rebuild.
O2 sensor.
MAF/MAP sensor.
Exhaust.
Window regulators, motors, etc.
Wiper motor, linkage.
Thermostat. (Put in a higher temp one while you're at it)
Radiator.
Hoses.
Valve cover gasket.
Front/Rear main seals, axle seals.
Clutch.
CV shafts.
Diff swap.
Wheel bearings.
Trans swap/replace.
Engine swap/replace.
Cam swap.
Adjust cam or ignition timing.
Valve seals (without removing head).
Compression test.
Ev conversion.
EGR cleaning.
Big stereo installation.
Cleaning ground connections.
Hack that hybrid.
Electrical diagnostics, wire tracing/repairing.
Cleaning/prepping sealing surface.
Engine rebuild, re-ring, head gasket, bearings, valve lapping, cylinder hone.
Have the phone number of a professional engine rebuilder/machinist handy.
Rust repair.
Dent repair.
Door, window, etc seals.
Replace broken side glass.
Break in to your own vehicle when you've locked the keys inside at work.
Cut your own key from a lock cylinder.
Detail, inside and out, engine and bay too.
"Upgrades".
Shift linkage replacement.
Parking brake cable replacement/adjustment.
Drum brake adjustment.
Wheel stud replacement.
Brake service.
Brake hoses.
Brake bleeding/fluid change.
Shocks & struts.
Ball joints, tie-rods, steering rack.
DIY alignment.
Timing belt, water pump, pulleys.
Timing chain, guides.
Oil pump.
Trans oil changes, filter replacement.
Diff oil change.
Engine mounts.
Intake/exhaust gaskets.
VSS swap/replacement, or speedo gear, cable, etc.
Carb clean, adjustment, rebuild.
Dipstick O-ring.
Washer fluid pump/hoses.
Injector replacement or cleaning.
Idle adjust.
Throttle body & intake manifold cleaning.
Track down leaks.
Diagnosis, period.
CEL "scanning".
Engine & cooling flush.
Dash removal, for whatever reason.
Tire mounting, if you have access to the tools.
Tire puncture plugging/repairing.
Reading tire wear.
Seatbelt replacement.
Seat cover replacement.
Headliner replacement/re-gluing.
Defroster line repair.
HVAC.
Bench to bucket seat swap.
Brake or fuel line replacement.
Gas tank sealing.
Undercoating.
Paint repair or color change.
Install trailer hitch & wiring.
Use a torque wrench, torque your lug nuts properly.
Beat book times.
Find work-arounds.
Extract broken bolts.
Know where your jack points are!!!
Part-out.
Fill out transfer forms.
Buy & sell, preferably for a profit.
Source parts on the cheap, pull your own parts at the junk yard.
Eco mods.
Bite your tongue when people try talking cars.
Do your own research.
Do most jobs with nothing but a list of torque specs.
RTFM.
Buy a Hanes manual, learn the how and why as you learn how to do each job.
Know when you're in over your head and/or to give up.
Keep going anyway. (You can't make it any worse than it already is!)

Probably missed a few.

[redpoint5]

I haven't done tires yet because it seems it would be a pain. Maybe if I had a system down and used self-balancing beads or fluid I'd do it myself.

I changed the tire on my motorcycle and regret having ever tried. Figured I should though since the rear only lasts 3k miles.

[Xist]

I stopped reading at "Engine swap."

If you can replace the head gasket on a Subaru you can replace the engine, but while it is supposed to take less than a day, good luck!

[JSH]

Yes you check fluids on a regular basis. However, they also need to be replaced on a regular schedule.

Brake fluid is generally 2-3 years
Coolant every 100K
Transmission Fluid every 40K

Some other common wear items that are easy DIY:

Brake rotors and calipers as Redpoint said
Thermostat
Radiator hoses - change them when they get stiff or swell (BEFORE they fail)
Shocks - super easy
Struts - not quite as easy as you need a spring compressor to move the springs
Anything in the scheduled maintenance besides timing belts.

Also remember to top off your spare tire every year or each scheduled maintenance

[skyking]

Don't sub out track changes on your excavator. John Deere wanted ~$5000 in labor for this job. I did one track a day.





Don't forget to bring Mjolnir to remove the old sprocket.

[redpoint5]

You have an airplane AND an excavator. I'm green with envy.

One day I will own a mini excavator with rubber tread, and a thumb. Haven't decided if I want to pay extra for an enclosed cab or not.

No idea what I'll do with it yet, but I bet once I have one I'll do everything.

[Stubby79]

Things every driver should be able to do...

1. Pump their own gas.
2. Pop the hood & identify basic areas/parts under it.
3. Check & top up oil(s), coolant, washer fluid.
4. Change wiper blades.
5. Check and adjust tire pressure.
6. Jump-Start a drained battery.
7. Check tires for wear.
8. Install spare tire.
9. Check/Tighten lug nuts.
10. Notice unusual noises/behavior & under what circumstances.

^^ They should make those a mandatory part of getting a license, even if you never use the knowledge.

Most of the jobs you should be able to do yourself were covered in Xist's post...though those things with potentially disastrous results (Oil change, brake work) should not be done by someone truly...incompetent. At least find someone to show you how and check over your work the first few times.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

Most of the jobs you should be able to do yourself were covered in Xist's post...though those things with potentially disastrous results (Oil change, brake work) should not be done by someone truly...incompetent. At least find someone to show you how and check over your work the first few times.

First time I tackled a rusty brake caliper on my quest to get my dad's motorcycle running again (so I could use it), I installed the piston backwards. No front brake as a light turned to red. Sailed into the intersection sideways with the rear brake locked up. Nobody was there, so I just went on my way. Learned what I had done wrong after tearing it back down.