So, those of you who do major car repairs yourselves...
Discussion
Just curious. How did you get into it.
In my case (as per my last thread), I simply can't find anyone to work on my car for money, and even when I do, they seem to f**k it up worse than I ever could, even with my best effort and no tools.
So slowly, with an old car that I don't really care if it needs scrapping (although financially it would be a bit of an arse), I am gradually working my way up to deep engine repairs. I haven't quite had the guts to do a head gasket yet, but judging by the way this car is going, it won't be long
So, did you have someone show you (father?), or did you just grab a spanner and give it a go!
Also interested to hear if you managed to totally feck anything up along the way
In my case (as per my last thread), I simply can't find anyone to work on my car for money, and even when I do, they seem to f**k it up worse than I ever could, even with my best effort and no tools.
So slowly, with an old car that I don't really care if it needs scrapping (although financially it would be a bit of an arse), I am gradually working my way up to deep engine repairs. I haven't quite had the guts to do a head gasket yet, but judging by the way this car is going, it won't be long
So, did you have someone show you (father?), or did you just grab a spanner and give it a go!
Also interested to hear if you managed to totally feck anything up along the way
Mainly learnt by doing, everything 'should' go back the way you took it out!
The Internet is always around to help if you get stuck, mainly it's just having the right tools for the job!
Oh and I took it a step too far and tried an engine conversion on my own with not much experience, £3500 worth of bits are still sitting inside the undrivable car on my drive
It works though! All by myself! That's the main thing 
The Internet is always around to help if you get stuck, mainly it's just having the right tools for the job!
Oh and I took it a step too far and tried an engine conversion on my own with not much experience, £3500 worth of bits are still sitting inside the undrivable car on my drive
It works though! All by myself! That's the main thing Haynes manual and a quick scout on the net is my method. No expert and I must stress that there have been a fair few f
k ups over the years, but it's all part of the learning process.
I'm happy enough to tackle anything thats needed doing so far, though lacking a garage and heavy duty lifting gear means that anything involving the engine coming out may be beyond me.
k ups over the years, but it's all part of the learning process.I'm happy enough to tackle anything thats needed doing so far, though lacking a garage and heavy duty lifting gear means that anything involving the engine coming out may be beyond me.
Probably stemmed from the fact that when I was growing up I watched my Dad do his own oil changes and small jobs. Also I always had an interest in how things worked, model making etc, basic electronics and generally dismantling of things! I had a small kit of tools from an early age, once I had a car to play with, the tool kit grew and as it was a an old mini, boy did it need a fair amount of work!
Started off helping my Dad servicing his cars from about aged 10.
Helping mates with their cars before I had mine.
Dad / Mates / Mate's Dads helping with work on my cars / bikes.
Basically by working with someone who has a clue, and building up experience, knowledge and confidence.
Start with checking and changing wheels, and general service stuff, and eventually you move onto rebuilding engines etc.
Never did get on with welding though... Sometimes, it's best to know your limits.
Helping mates with their cars before I had mine.
Dad / Mates / Mate's Dads helping with work on my cars / bikes.
Basically by working with someone who has a clue, and building up experience, knowledge and confidence.
Start with checking and changing wheels, and general service stuff, and eventually you move onto rebuilding engines etc.
Never did get on with welding though... Sometimes, it's best to know your limits.
I bought a clapped out Fiesta RS Turbo with my paper round money when I was 14 and set about restoring it with my Dad. He was equally inexperienced having always owned new cars but with the help of a Haynes Manual and the internet (and a little bit from my engineering extraordinaire Grandad) I ended up with a very strong 1900cc car running 190-ish bhp.
Since then I've only really had to do minor repairs, which suits me fine as I need my car every day for work etc. Although I'd like another project when I have more of a garage.
Where are you now, H42 EBH?
Since then I've only really had to do minor repairs, which suits me fine as I need my car every day for work etc. Although I'd like another project when I have more of a garage.
Where are you now, H42 EBH?
picked up the basics from my dad , then start with smaller jobs and a haynes
compared to before the internet you have it easy , chances are there will be step by step instructions online and maybe youtube vids too
join up some owners clubs forums and read up and ask if you need help , theres a good chance someone local will help you out too
compared to before the internet you have it easy , chances are there will be step by step instructions online and maybe youtube vids too
join up some owners clubs forums and read up and ask if you need help , theres a good chance someone local will help you out too
It helps to have an interest in cars and their mechanical bits. I can't imagine anything worse than working on a car because you had to, not because you enjoy it. Many of my repair projects also stemmed from curiosity "what broke and why did it break?" rather than necessarily wanting to get oily or not having the money to pay someone to sort it. This extends beyond car and motorcycles though, as I never think that those "qualified personnel only" warnings on the backs of fridges or central heating boilers ever applies to me.
Having a petrolhead father was a massive incentive also. He did every thing from engine conversions (Rover V8 engined Vauxhall Victors were his fave), to body panel beating and full body resprays in our back garden. From the age of 7 or 8 I was helping, be it handing tools or wet sanding panels. I also have clear memories of hanging from a steering wheel so I could reach the brake pedal to "pump, pump, hold, release" while he was under the car bleeding lines.
Being a car enthusiast in a country that didn't have a ready supply of parts for his various creations also meant a fair bit of fabrication to make things fit where they were not meant to.
Having a petrolhead father was a massive incentive also. He did every thing from engine conversions (Rover V8 engined Vauxhall Victors were his fave), to body panel beating and full body resprays in our back garden. From the age of 7 or 8 I was helping, be it handing tools or wet sanding panels. I also have clear memories of hanging from a steering wheel so I could reach the brake pedal to "pump, pump, hold, release" while he was under the car bleeding lines.
Being a car enthusiast in a country that didn't have a ready supply of parts for his various creations also meant a fair bit of fabrication to make things fit where they were not meant to.
I have a certain Mazda dealer to thank for me getting into car repairs/ maintenance / tuning. If they were not so fking useless I'd probably still use dealers / garages, however thanks to them forgetting to replace a brake caliper bolt and forgetting to tighten a suspension arm, quoting 10litres of paint plus 10litres of primer and 10 litres of lacquer to repaint a rear bumper, I lost all faith in 'trained professionals' and I have probably saved thousands by carrying out the work myself.
Thanks Mazda
Although let's face it, car maintenance and repairs are nothing more than knowing what nut loosen, what to tighten and where and how to do it safely, it's not exactly difficult and I get the feeling that it's one of those areas where the populace have become scared to do anything believing that a spanner is the tool of Satan and something that should not be touched
king useless I'd probably still use dealers / garages, however thanks to them forgetting to replace a brake caliper bolt and forgetting to tighten a suspension arm, quoting 10litres of paint plus 10litres of primer and 10 litres of lacquer to repaint a rear bumper, I lost all faith in 'trained professionals' and I have probably saved thousands by carrying out the work myself.Thanks Mazda
Although let's face it, car maintenance and repairs are nothing more than knowing what nut loosen, what to tighten and where and how to do it safely, it's not exactly difficult and I get the feeling that it's one of those areas where the populace have become scared to do anything believing that a spanner is the tool of Satan and something that should not be touched
interloper said:
Probably stemmed from the fact that when I was growing up I watched my Dad do his own oil changes and small jobs. Also I always had an interest in how things worked, model making etc, basic electronics and generally dismantling of things! I had a small kit of tools from an early age, once I had a car to play with, the tool kit grew and as it was a an old mini, boy did it need a fair amount of work!
Pretty much exactly the same for me...Lego Technic and my dads old skool mechanno sets.
Internet guides have proved invaluable - I'm a visual and hands-on learner so I really need to see a pictorial guide, but after that I'm fine. I've done a complete suspension rebuild so far, loads of brake swaps and all my own servicing but I'm still a bit scared of that mythical beast 'the engine'. Lack of a garage is what's really holding me back now, and that my drive is steeply sloped so I can jack up one side or other but no end to end, a real pain for suspension work.
I'd love a double garage with a 2 or 4 post lift, I could get almost anything done then.
Internet guides have proved invaluable - I'm a visual and hands-on learner so I really need to see a pictorial guide, but after that I'm fine. I've done a complete suspension rebuild so far, loads of brake swaps and all my own servicing but I'm still a bit scared of that mythical beast 'the engine'. Lack of a garage is what's really holding me back now, and that my drive is steeply sloped so I can jack up one side or other but no end to end, a real pain for suspension work.
I'd love a double garage with a 2 or 4 post lift, I could get almost anything done then.
Started by doing my own oil change, which for someone who has ZERO mechanical ability was a big stretch. Never had a dad around growing up, so missed all that stuff (although I'm told it should be in my blood as he was permanently tinkering).
I enjoyed the satisfaction of my first service so much I did a basic vehicle maintenance evening course for 1 year. I now will happily do routine servicing, brakes, suspension etc. Even did a cambelt on my old landy, with a little help from someone knowledgable.
Still scared of electrics though!!
I enjoyed the satisfaction of my first service so much I did a basic vehicle maintenance evening course for 1 year. I now will happily do routine servicing, brakes, suspension etc. Even did a cambelt on my old landy, with a little help from someone knowledgable.
Still scared of electrics though!!
Tsippy said:
Thanks Mazda
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Totally agree with you there. I have a mixture of Ford, N****nwide A*********s, and Kwik Fit (not removed because they are, just, terrible
) to kick me into doing it.I first serviced my Mondeo when it was out of warranty, got a haynes and a set of spanners and the parts from a factors. Parts inc oil cost me around £25. Service cost, £225. It took me an hour and a half because I was taking my time, working from Ford's own spec service sheets (from etis ford).
When I was first shown how to do brake discs and pads from a mechanic mate of mine, at first I didn't actually believe how easy it was, and was sure he had missed something big out - as the s
t fit supply chains seem to take 3 hours, and charge £300 for something that takes an hour and costs £35 in parts on my car.The thought money I have lost before I started doing this (About 5 years ago) almost brings a tear to my eye...
I've always loved taking things apart and seeing how they work. Cars started with a massive AA book of the car, which told you everything. I also got a lego technics model when I was younger, with a primitive replica engine.
When I got my first car, I had a poke around on the internet, and just set about doing comfort or visual modifications. I also had a go at doing basic servicing.
When my application to work for Agusta Westland didn't succeed, the company who trains their staff offered me a chance to do an apprenticeship for car maintenence. It wasn't my plan, but I had a year to do nothing, and I'm not very good at doing nothing. Still doing that now.
From doing that, I've learnt that haynes manuals on the whole, are a waste of time, only useful for torque figures. Also, cars are just nuts and bolts. Undo whats attached to it or in your way, and then unbolt it.
And a lot of it stems down to confidence. 2 years ago I wouldn't dream of doing a cambelt, but it's just as simple as changing a set of brake disc and pads to me now. Some of them are quite hard, but some of the 8v engines from the 90's (peugeot tu and Vauxhall ones in particular) are so easy to it on. Same with head gaskets really.
One big thing I've learnt though, is don't turn a hobby into a job. Before I became a mechanic, it was fun just getting a bit grubby and seeing how the car worked and what I could do. Now it's "I've worked all week on cars, can't be bothered with my own."
When I got my first car, I had a poke around on the internet, and just set about doing comfort or visual modifications. I also had a go at doing basic servicing.
When my application to work for Agusta Westland didn't succeed, the company who trains their staff offered me a chance to do an apprenticeship for car maintenence. It wasn't my plan, but I had a year to do nothing, and I'm not very good at doing nothing. Still doing that now.
From doing that, I've learnt that haynes manuals on the whole, are a waste of time, only useful for torque figures. Also, cars are just nuts and bolts. Undo whats attached to it or in your way, and then unbolt it.
And a lot of it stems down to confidence. 2 years ago I wouldn't dream of doing a cambelt, but it's just as simple as changing a set of brake disc and pads to me now. Some of them are quite hard, but some of the 8v engines from the 90's (peugeot tu and Vauxhall ones in particular) are so easy to it on. Same with head gaskets really.
One big thing I've learnt though, is don't turn a hobby into a job. Before I became a mechanic, it was fun just getting a bit grubby and seeing how the car worked and what I could do. Now it's "I've worked all week on cars, can't be bothered with my own."
As a child, I used to help my brother fix his cars - but when it eventually came to me needing his help with mine, he'd usually remember an urgent appointment somewhere else. 
So - I've worked most of it out myself by reading and doing.
Of the two of us I'm probably the better mechanic and certainly the better electrician, but my brother is a superb welder and fabricator because that's what interests him more - and also because he gets such a lot of practice due to driving a rusty POS of a 1950s car in all weathers.
So - I've worked most of it out myself by reading and doing. Of the two of us I'm probably the better mechanic and certainly the better electrician, but my brother is a superb welder and fabricator because that's what interests him more - and also because he gets such a lot of practice due to driving a rusty POS of a 1950s car in all weathers.
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