Say hello to the Black Mamba!

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

I had time yesterday afternoon to do the front brakes and change the oil on the minivan. Labor would have been about $130, but I had the time and my 5 year old was thrilled to watch/pretend he's helping. It's nice not to spend the money for just swapping parts, and it's nice to just tinker.

Oh, and the "I didn't break the car!" feeling when you get everything back together and it works is pretty good too.

Yea but I'm not willing to mess up on the timing belt and barbecue my engine

[Daox]

If you're mechanically inclined, and have a shop manual or a DIY write up, you'll be able to do it just fine. Its just a matter of making sure the cams and crankshaft are lined up right. Its not that difficult. Plus, you sound a little paranoid about it, so you'll triple check everything! (I did the first time)

[Fat Charlie]

The "I didn't break the car!" feeling does always have an undercurrent of surprise and relief. But that's half the fun.

[user removed]

California has a law called contingent liability, which means (as I understand it) that if the mechanic makes a mistake, like leaving your oil drain plug loose, he must pay for the engine damage.

In Virginia the law is he has to replace the oil and tighten the drain plug so it does not come loose again.

Both scenarios have their rationale, and can be argued add-stupidium, but part of the cost of labor in Cali is "insurance" against a 15 dollar labor job costing the shop thousands in repairs-replacement of damaged parts.

Bottom line is probably a 33-50% bump in labor to cover the contingent liability.

I think the previously mentioned bad back precludes much home mechanicing.

regards
Mech

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

California has a law called contingent liability, which means (as I understand it) that if the mechanic makes a mistake, like leaving your oil drain plug loose, he must pay for the engine damage.

In Virginia the law is he has to replace the oil and tighten the drain plug so it does not come loose again.

Both scenarios have their rationale, and can be argued add-stupidium, but part of the cost of labor in Cali is "insurance" against a 15 dollar labor job costing the shop thousands in repairs-replacement of damaged parts.

Bottom line is probably a 33-50% bump in labor to cover the contingent liability.

I think the previously mentioned bad back precludes much home mechanicing.

regards
Mech

This is also a major factor in me not doing it myself. Before I was willing to work on my Camry myself, and I did a little bit, but now I'm not going to risk further injury when I can just pay someone else to do it, knowing if they screw up they replace it.

[Edit]: I could get my little brother to help like I do when I need minor stuff done, such as climbing under the car and unscrewing the oil filter, bolt and stuff like that when I need him to.

[user removed]

Of course the customer could just break loose the drain plug and try to blame the shop to get a free engine. I wonder if you supplying the parts means no contingent liability.

regards
Mech

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Of course the customer could just break loose the drain plug and try to blame the shop to get a free engine. I wonder if you supplying the parts means no contingent liability.

regards
Mech

I have no idea...

[tvbd56]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Of course the customer could just break loose the drain plug and try to blame the shop to get a free engine. I wonder if you supplying the parts means no contingent liability.

regards
Mech

I've tried multiple times to bring my own parts to a shop and have them put them on but nobody has allowed me to do so. I took my old civic to a firestone and they ground down the drain plug into a square because it was stuck and I wasn't able to get it off, and I had a new drain plug, oil filter, and oil ready to go. But they wouldn't touch it because they told my I had to use their parts. I'm pretty sure it was just so I would spend more money there but they weren't backing down. Now I have a new drain plug that I'm sure I'll use one of these days.

[Baltothewolf]

Oh wow, I didn't realize this but according the carfax, this car is actually a 49 state car, it was originally sold in Tuscan, AZ and brought into and registered in CA in '99. I wonder if I have the FED ECU. I'll have to look but I still like knowing it's the 49 state car.

[Joggernot]

Excellent find! I'll have to try to look at Carfax before I buy the next car.