There is a large segment of society which does it’s own car work out of economic necessity if nothing else. These aren’t the people living in gated communities and shopping at Nordstroms, but they are the people who make up the working backbone of the world.

Some years ago I was at a dinner with other executives from my then employer. The CFO lived in the same neighborhood as I did and commented that he thought he saw me changing the oil on my company provided Cadillac STS that past weekend. I confirmed that he did indeed see me doing just that and he was befuddled. “You know, you can pay people to do that sort of thing.” I told him that I had been changing oil myself since I was 13 years old and wasn’t about to stop because I enjoyed it, and that it took me less time to do myself then it would to drive to the dealer and wait around for them to do the job. Not long after that I pulled the ejection cord on that job. I’m much happier putzing around with my car then I ever was jetting off to meetings here there and everywhere.

Most routine maintenance work on modern cars really isn’t any harder than for the old stuff. Thanks to our fleet and the friends I help out I frequently work on cars ranging from the 1940s up through modern stuff. Recently I tackled CV joint boot replacements on a 2001 Volvo S70 and the job was really no more difficult than is changing out the master cylinder on a 1948 Plymouth.

However, electrical issues on modern stuff can be very hard to sort out!

Answered my own question:

http://www.nasjax.navy.mil/mwr/mwrnasjax/mwrauto.htm

One example.

Google Images has alot of pics of various auto hobby shops.

I’ve been numbed by triple-digit “GM Death Watch” entries, but Sullivan’s advice is like a bucket of ice water to the groin. We are so screwed.

And so are the domestic 2.8 as long as they are being managed ( or should i say mis-managed???) the way they are now!!!!!!!! Ford is being “sorta” run by a man from the aviation industry (who takes his orders from the Ford family and board of directors – who are both mis-management stories in and of themselves…..just look at Ford’s financial loses month after month after month for proof!!!!!), GM has car guys in control but they seem to have their heads either in the sand or up their ass (or my guess: BOTH !!!) and Chrysler is being run by bankers and financial advisers. I say the only hope for the 2.8 is to get someone in the CEO’s office of each company that knows how to run an automobile business in the 21st. century instead of being run like they were in the first 60 years of the last century when they had no worries from the Japanese, Korean and European comptition.

I’m not sure if places like that exist anymore for insurance reasons. When I was in the USAF we had the auto hobby shop on base which provided exactly what you’re asking about. They also had equipment for welding, mounting/balancing tires and a full crib of tools you could use.

I spent a lot of hours in that place putting a 5.0 V8 out of a wrecked cop Mustang into my ‘79 4cyl Mustang.

My impression is that a big factor in growth of DIY auto auto repair and maintenance (and dressing-up) is the burgeoning latino population. Seems to me that stores like Autozone were among the earliest to provide signage in Spanish. Partly it’s a matter of necessity and habit for lower-income folks, but its also a car culture thing: the tradition of building rods & customs thrives among young Latino men.

What is it with people not being able to or wanting to change their light bulbs and other simple items. Are they that lazy that they dont change the burned out bulb in a lamp or clock battery that they just go out and buy a new one. Yes they are that easy to change. I should start charging people $10 a pop to change these idiot proof items.

Parts place stock looks like a smart idea with the coming/already here recession. Does anyone know if the places you could rent a garage and lift for a few hours or a day still exist for us apartment dwellers.

Enthusiast cars aside (I’d pay a body part for a low-mileage ‘95 Z32 TT), used cars just aren’t worth it to me. For those with big families, saving 15K+ on a midsize luxury sedan or minivan, I can see. But for the vast majority who travel with an upwards of a single passenger, we can buy a nice Yaris for 15K, or an xD for 16. Spend 1K more and you get a roomy xB, Matrix, etc. etc.

Of course, this is assuming that your daily ride is 22 years old (nothing like having a car as old as myself) and you need a reliable, economic ride to and from work. I guess a lot of people just instinctively trade in their cars after a year or two, or before the warranty runs dry. That’s the only explination I see as to why there are 5 driveable cars per American citizen.

(Seriously, I think the actual count was 2 or 3, but that’s still too many, considering that our population includes everyone from birth – how many kids need 2 cars each??)

A timing belt is the same now as it was 20 years ago. A wheel bearing is about the same as it was before. Brakes are about the same as before.

Mufflers, wipers, lights, fluids, axles, steering parts, a/c, transmissions and so on are the same now as they were in the 1980s.

Yes, there are things that are more difficult like the ABS mastercylinder, airbags now, seat belts (pretensioners), etc etc etc.

I have done my own vehicle maintenance since I was 14 and started doing oil changes when I was about 8 years old (Dad had to initally loosen the drain plug and check the tightness after I was done).

I think it is a great investment. As the economy slows and the price of everything goes up people may drive less and keep their vehicles longer. While there are certain people who will never maintain their own cars, there maybe a whole new group of people forced to return to maintaining and repairing their own vehicles to save money. I have saved a huge amount of money doing this over the years. I had to because the mechanics made more money than I did. I’d have to work 2-3 hours just to pay his 1 hour of labor.

Buy a decent set of tools, buy a GOOD factory approved repair manual (Bentley, Helms, etc) and get started…

After everyone gets over the shock of my wrench-talk, many take a more active role in their own rides. Its just a matter of time before the Home Depot model gains traction with more vehicle owners.

Here in the North-East US, I’ve seen towns where mechanics make a good living changing wipers and light bulbs because the residents of that area can’t or won’t perform the service themselves.

Now I am to believe these very same people are going to replace a water-pump, timing belt, or alternator – even as cars become more complex and difficult to service?

I HIGHLY doubt it.

-ted

Click on 10y – looks pretty good.