Do you work on your own cars?

[filmbuff]

If I have the tools for it I do the work myself. I have a 97 Mercedes and if I took it to the shop every time I needed something fixed it would cost thousands a year in maintenance.

 

[puma1552]

I try to keep my Camaro out anyone's hands but my own, but if I must I take it to a specific GM tech at a specific dealership, since he treats the car well and I get genuine GM parts rather than aftermarket crap - there's always that paranoia factor when letting other people work on your car, that they will scratch it or mess it up or whatever.

For my Jetta, since it's new, I let the dealer handle it all, with the same paranoia about it getting messed up. Car guy I am, though I take no interest in laying on my back covered in oil or grease making a boring old repair anymore. I like to spend my time driving the vehicles, not working on them. I also prefer not to have a garage full of tools, I'm a minimalist and would (when I get a house) like to have the garage completely drywalled/painted with a finished ceiling, recessed lighting, and an epoxy floor...and nothing in it whatsoever, except the vehicles themselves.

 

[designs216]

Not beyond the simplest stuff like changing oil and other consumables.

 

[wordoflife]

Of course! I frequently put gas in the tank. Sometimes if the light on my dash comes on, I put air in the tires. And ummm...

Oh wait...you mean like fixing engines and changing oil? Naahhh...I like to stimulate the economy. 😉

Same
Don't really care for doing things like that. Plus I like my car stock, so I don't really do anything to it. Washing it is already a major PITA for me.

Also, why'd you remove your catalytic converter? I'm not an environmentalist nor am i telling you to buy a prius... but is it really worth different exhaust sound? 😕

 

[samiwas]

Also, why'd you remove your catalytic converter?

I didn't even see this in the OP. Wondering the same.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I used to as a kid. Mind you back then I used to have cars that always needed working on!
My first 2 cars were both Mk 3 Ford Escorts. I had to replace the clutch on both (can't think how I got through 2 clutches at 17😀).
Also had to do quite a bit of body work due to rust and accident damage!
Mind you back then I lived with my dad and had a big garage.
The last time I really worked on a car was when I lived on my own and had no garage at all. I bought a new filter and oil and was going to change them. Oil filter got stuck on (as they do) and I didn't have the special pull tool my dad did. He told me over the phone I could just stick a big screwdriver right through it to get it off (which it did) Trouble was, when I went to fit the new one it wouldn't. Someone had put the wrong filter in the box. I then had a 2 bus ride journey to get back to the garage to change it, as I was car less.
Since then it's been either skip working on my car at all (my Mondeo never saw a garage except MOT's). Or pay someone else to do it.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

I love then to death, they don't complain and are actually fun, and they're way cheaper, I have a pretty large garage, a full Snap On Automotive tool set, air compressor with all the air tools I need.

I also have 2 multi point lifts in my garage, so I can easily get any car into the air and work on it fairly easily.

I'd love to see some pics, if possible!

 

[4JNA]

Do you work on your own cars?

na, i just work on other people cars. they pay me to fix stuff, i like doing it, they like getting stuff fixed, everyone wins.

mine i drop off at the shop with a discount coupon and smile. daily driver that i drive daily and stuff.

i might build another of my own to tinker with at some point though, it's always fun to tune and poke and prod on fast shiny things!

 

[Tsuchiya]

Well I clean it weekly, check oil, water and tyre pressure. Other then that there isn't much I can do. Audi make it awkward as hell to just change a light bulb, and my company will cover to cost of mechanical work anyway.

I'd love to be able to work on an engine though. Might have to find a project, maybe take a few classes or something.