5 DIY car maintenance items you can do - and some you shouldn’t

[@JunkBondTrader]

Mechanics will always advise you to not do your own repairs. If you are even a bit mechanically inclined, learn to do your repairs yourself. Most are a lot easier than you might think and way cheaper. Brakes for example, for most vehicles, is simple. Guess how much it costs me to replace just the front pads? $25 for the pads, and that's it. Initial tool investment was maybe $50-$75. With rotors it's about $90, for the pads and rotors.

[@mrcarterfx885]

And the mechanic charging $400-$500 to do it lol

[@ms.informed]

True for most parts. But there are cases where it's theoretically simple and straightforward, but gets finicky/dodgy/messy when you do it yourself. I was gonna do my own brakes on an old Ford but the bolt heads holding the caliper were so old and rusted from the previous owner (never replaced or taken apart is my guess), that I feared I might snap the bolt head off or turn the hex shape into a circle. That simple 100€ DIY project turned into a few hundred euros because I didn't want to buy additional tools to remove those bolts and then never use them again. Same with oil change. I could just buy a ramp, a bin, and some cheap motor oil and filter online for under 100€ total and do it every time myself. But the thought of having no where to dump the oil made me not want to bother. Instead I pay 120€ each time to let the shop do it. Things may change if I had my own garage where I can work on things in peace instead of on the street, fearing neighborhood cats.

[@uhhTabby]

Coolant drain and fills are very easy to do as well and helps prolong so many expensive parts

[@jammymimmelman890]

More great content like this please CBC, especially in this economy, and for people like me in my generation who want to be able to do this kind of maintenance but was NEVER encouraged to learn about these subject!

[@wirerat]

Ive saved thousands doing my own maintenance at home.

[@VictorMaxol]

Ive saved thousands by never leaving home.

[@bobchan1666]

Wiper blade, seasonal wheel swaps and battery replacement are very diy friendly

[@Francois_Dupont]

nice, overtorque and snap them sucka! ive seen ppl on the side of the road with the wheel in the ditch. 🤣👍

[@bobchan1666]

@@Francois_Dupont There is a spare tire kit in most cars. PS solution is a torque wrench.

[@loveobviously]

It’s also really easy to replace a replace the thermostat housing. 400$ at a shop, part is 23$ at Napa or Auto zone, takes 15mins to do. I know nothing about cars, found a legit mechanic who post professional how to videos and it saved myself 400$.

[@mrcarterfx885]

So what if you’re a mechanic do you still gotta take your car to a mechanic? 😂😂

[@Euro882]

😂😂😂 nice one man😂

[@dailydad6335]

Problem with 2000s generation is they want instant service. How do you think people before get around without a fkin gps. Take your time and learn new things

[@johnnymindorff4885]

I disagree. With the right amount fo research and PERSISTENCE being the key, you can complete almost any auto repair job in your driveway with basic hand tools. You don't need an impact gun when you have ratchets, you don't need a hydraulic lift when you have a curb to park on. I have rebuilt my suspension, replaced a STEERING RACK (something they mentioned), driveshaft and brakes all in my driveway. I learned this all on KZbin and yes I made tons of mistakes. But I was careful and I did enough research to understand the concept of the system I was working on. Never cut corners, and never give in to this shameless money grab attempt. You can do it.

[@holocene2164]

It's not shameless cash grabs, it's just common sense. If you were able to change your breaks by yourself, good for you, but most people shouldn't attempt it due to the evident danger coming with the possibility of getting it wrong.

[@hamzashaher]

I came here to say this. No one in my family knows anything about cars, but as a kid i would watch chrisfix videos and at the age of 13 i did my first oil change. After that I did my own brakes, seasonal tire swaps, suspension rebuild, steering rack replacement, etc etc. This was all before I graduated high school by the way so it is not the end of the world. That being said, I did work as an apprentice at my local Chrysler dealership which taught me a lot as well. Bottom line is, nothing is impossible and to this day (im 20 now) I do everything on my own with the tools I have gathered over the past 7 years. Enough research and determination (and lack of money) will teach you how to work on your own vehicle.

[@werta5000]

The internet is the collective knowledge of all us fools whom throw something at it, we were all ignorant at one point. There are absolutely people online shilling to make a buck. There is a notable youtuber that endorses the use of compression fitting for brake line repair, notably illegal in most places, and unsafe. Brake lines need the right flare for the application. I, a red seal mechanic, do not have an issue with people doing repairs to their own vehicles. Pay me now or pay me later because you don't have an alignment machine. The issues I see are not just limited to amateur repair persons but an issue from sloppy work. In almost all cases, if the part being replaced is the same as the part going in, it should go in as it came out. I see so many camber caster adjusters on GM pickup trucks installed wrong. It's easier to install them backwards, but you don't have an alignment machine, so I end up with it. All the power to you if you want to do your own work, it's its own kind of reward to fix your own stuff. But I implore all to recognize when you are over your head. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way.

[@robocop581]

Why don't you just earn more and pay someone more qualified to do it

[@jptrainor]

It's doable. I do my own. I have lots of tools, space, and, aptitude. The reality, however, is that it's not for most people and professional mechanics don't have to worry at all about their job security.

[@vpnvpn4705]

besides being visibly dirty, when should i change cabin, and air filters? thank you!

[@ansaralnuaimi5747]

Air filter every 20k km Cabin filter every six months if they are cheap better to change them earlier

[@werta5000]

its on the oil cap, except Nissan where they hide it on a sticker somewhere on the bottom side of the hood, it is also in the manual.

[@Lancelot0311]

I can agree about the safety thing. For some things safety related, I’d trust a professional.

[@michaelvillanueva240]

changing air filters wiper blades batteries brake pads rotors and tires are doable but its not reccommended to do all other projects cuz its easy to break things

[@sennsir]

1:15 if your car is that rusty then you’ll always have problems 🤣

[@devbandy9004]

It is easy for someone and difficult for others. So don't judge the general. I am a software engineer , I know it is easy to program and built computers that's what I have been doing for 3 decades. It is foolishness to ask general that why to pay for the app on phone just learn and build your own, which is very simple for me , I can write within a week using objective C and create an executable . I can't do many complicated service in CAR. However I change filters, get oil/lubes change timely by just paying the labor , which worked out a lot economical for me. However in my opinion everyone who is driving car should have basic knowledge of car and get service done timely. You can't be jack of all trades. So don't feel bad.

[@Francois_Dupont]

lololol, telling people to change their own sparkplugs. nothing will go wrong. -break a clip -break a wire -strip the head -cross-thread the head .... good luck.

[@JunkBondTrader]

Changing your spark plugs is generally a very easy repair. If someone knows they aren't mechanically inclined then maybe they should avoid... Also, break a wire? Usually you replace the wires with the spark plugs. Definitely this is a job anyone who can handle a tool should do themselves. If a mechanic is telling you to do a job yourself than you can bet it's a safe job you can do yourself. These mofos usually tell people to bring their car in for windshield fluid topoff

[@sausages6135]

Do not attempt any of these if you aren't the type to do it. Replacing an air filter and installing it incorrectly can be detrimental to your engine as it would allow sand inside your engine (not good). I've watched my 50+ year old neighbor attempt to do an oil change. He drained the transmission and added extra oil to the engine. (Not good). If you value your vehicle and are not experienced, at least get a second opinion from someone who is.

[@JunkBondTrader]

Replacing your air filter is extremely simple. Just about anyone can do it. the vast majority of people will have zero problem. Unscrew the cover, take old filter out and put new one in the same way. Screw cover back on. It doesn't get simpler.

[@jptrainor]

Follow the service manual. Forget about KZbin videos other than to get a feel for what's involved. Never for detailed information.

[@JunkBondTrader]

Hard disagree. There are many channels on KZbin that provide good, solid information. Just make sure the video is specific to your car model and year. KZbin videos are a much better resource than service manuals IMO. Just make sure you know how to find quality sources which really isn't hard. For more complicated jobs check a couple videos at least to compare.