gtferrari
145627
3669
75
Car was damaged in sever storm. That repair was $600 and took a week. Picked up car and not 5 mins later another component exploded (air spring) . Leaving the vehicle undriveable.
Repair shop guaranteed the failure was not a result of their work and wanted 1300 to fix it.
Ordered the part online from rockauto for 300 shipped. Had to walk to and from work (3 miles each way) for a week waiting on part. Weather was great and I'm sure I've lost some weight
Using basic hand tools (2 wrenches a ratchet and 2 sockets) I did the repair in my drive in 45 mins.
furrypotato7
Had this issue with a broken Tail Light Assembly: $400 for parts and labor OR $90 and half an hour with a 10mm and screwdriver. Obvious.
doggobell
Yep, husband was quoted $400 for something he figured out himself and fixed for free, didn't even need a new part.
dirtyward420
gibberishDude
I so wish You would confront them about this... hate how mechanic scam is so normalized.
PhenTsoksar
You pay mechanics and parts dealers for expertise and skill you don't have. I had to change an alternator in -20F weather in the (1/
PhenTsoksar
middle of a parking lot. Well, what was worth more to me the ~$300 i saved doing it myself or freezing my fucking balls off and 20yrs (2/
PhenTsoksar
later remembering each cut I got on my hands as they were in that place between painful cold and too numb to feel
kwkspectre
If you have a basic ability to turn a wrench, and YouTube, you can do almost any repair yourself.
Noksus
10 hours of work for a 45min, maybe less for a professional, seems about right.
stormstereo
Heeey guys, Chrisfix here...
Knave333
Scrolled through looking for this before I posted it.
gtferrari
gives me shivers reading that in his voice
HurricaneShade
I've YouTubed so many fixes. Now I'm starting to make my 23 year old son so he can fix, while I assist.
xVVitch
You're missing a word or two.
HurricaneShade
I see... He do it instead of me do it...lol
IMayNotReplyToYou
You're starting to make your 23 year old son?
HurricaneShade
Yes.. I want him to learn instead of me just doing it for him..
THEfreshestbrew
Yup... I'll be doing some wrenching tomorrow... ugh
VoyagerWasTheBestTrek
Good on you for a successful DIY, but word of warning on air springs, there's a lot of force in those bags. Be careful
PlbMak
Learn the basics, it's not that hard.
binky4me
Quoted $850 to replace leaking power steering pump and hoses. Looked at it myself and saw it was a pinhole in a hose. Fixed myself for $15.
oftenly
It really makes you wonder... where was that extra $835 going to go?
PhenTsoksar
in part, it's a tax on the car owner's inability to diagnose the problem themself.
callmethelizardqueen
What did you do, tape a high pressure hose?
binky4me
Jeep has a piece of tubing in the middle of the high pressure hose. I cut it out and replaced with the same diameter brake line and clamped
Whiteoak789
Never trust shops its a sales job. Told me i needed 3k in repairs and part was a $100 part and twenty minute fix. I know nothing of cars.
NinjaCoder
Ford quoted me 2k to fix F150 moonroof rail, part was $140 and took me an hour. Failure is from bad design to begin with!
wheeledPhoto
Some shops are a real rip off. Asked a shop to remove/reseal my oil pan (no room to DIY). They have to pull exhaust header to do job. 1/3
wheeledPhoto
Mechanic: "your exhaust header is weak". Probably have to replace it. It's a two hour job but I'll only charge you an hour since I'm 2/3
wheeledPhoto
doing the other job." He already had to PULL AND REPLACE the pipe to do the other job. There was no additional work for him. 3/3
GarmBlack
That's generally the best bet. Only time my car goes to the mechanic is when it requires some crazy specialized tool or needs to be fully
GarmBlack
lifted since my driveway/work area makes it difficult.
gtferrari
i dont have a lift as my driveway and garage pad are shit. but i was able to make do with the roadside emergency kit scissor jack and stand
GarmBlack
Nice! I often have to resort to similar jury-rigged methods. since my drive is also pretty inconvenient for it, but it's definitely worth it
rxpx40
Meansumbitchi eclipse. Bad condenser coil. Dealer said $1300. Car sat for a week. I bought the part for $300. Fixed it in an hour.
cnphilli
Most people would have paid the $1300, gotten a rental while it was in the shop, and then complained about how debt is unavoidable.
Wafiii
I hope someone can see this... Advanced Auto always has 25% off coupons, always. You just search on Google. Order in-store pickup, same day
Wafiii
For parts that are already in the store(I've done this while inside and it worked) or even those you gotta order. Saved an assload of money
bubblebreathdragon
Thank you! Started doing my own fixes this year after realizing how easy much of it was with a little YouTube instruction.
viper9087
They sell fucking garbage though. It's almost worse than AutoZone, but somehow more expensive.
Wafiii
Yeahhh this is true, but for small bits here and there it works. Would not get an alternator from either one for sure.
wkearney99
This is the fine line some shops fail to walk. Roll it back in, fix it for a reasonable amount and you've got a customer for life 1/
wkearney99
vs treat them like shit, have them DIY the job and then bad-mouth the shop to anyone that'll listen.
Elroydb
oh this is a dealership they don't give a shit
hurleyman77
TIme is money. Spend a little time, save a little money. Spend a little money, save a little time.
MetricTech
I gotta know, what part? And you did a 10 hour job in 45mins? On your driveway, without any knowledge or experience? Wow. What a story.
lostparrot42
Kinda what I was thinking
XplodingUnicornGlitter
I changed my own alternator watching a YouTube video.
textilelover
The thing is, it wasn't a 10 hr job, his mechanic was ripping him off. Whole point of the story, friend.
romicra88
Air shocks aren't too bad usually. Two bolts and reattach an air line with a nut and done. Shop was bullshitting him.
Pyrannha
Probably it was 3pm and they said it'd take until noon the next day or some such. Order parts from dealer etc
Pyrannha
Unless they only charge 25 an hour for labor there's no way it was 1300 parts labor tax to do 10 hours of work.
kahless01
the labor is on top of the part. they do try to rip you 1300$ for air springs for mb and they fail often.
gtferrari
Rear air spring on a benz
gtferrari
Part manufacturer put out a YouTube vid
tinyfootprints
Nice work OP! Congratulations!
tinyfootprints
In my experience the hardest part of fixing anything is figuring out what I'm doing. Thx to YouTube I do my own plumbing, electrical, etc.
SilentScreamsX
Is that even legal? Last I checked, plumbing and electric work has to be done by certified pros. Maybe that's just a UK law though.
NeoAcario
UK uses 230v... MUCH more lethal than the 120v (for most things) here in the US. That could be why.
tinyfootprints
It's legal in the US to work on your own stuff. I couldn't accept money to fix other people's stuff.
MalcomReynoldsWrap
Learn to wrench for yourself, you'll save a fortune. I've got a few older cars to drive when the others have something wrong.
Kahn33
Great advice if people have a ton of room to store old cars and the cash to buy them
CongratsYouAreHereNow
i hate you people that get your diapers so dirty when someone offers friendly advice but it cant directly help your particular situation
MalcomReynoldsWrap
Well the original poster stated they had a house. Houses have driveways and/or yards.
ChloeRed
or work on them - my cars are parked on the road as that's the only parking available. I'm not working on a car with people driving past me.
TableArizona
it's in my lease that I'm not allowed to work on my car in the driveway
ChloeRed
I own my house *nods* Being built before 1880, car parking wasn't a big need. Neither was electricity, mains water, gas or sewers ;)
SuperRockinMrMagic
Yea but now I have an expensive tool habit that costs as much as a car
MalcomReynoldsWrap
Costs me $75 a month to insure them all and about $60 a year in taxes.
MiniBlop
Are all car insurance that expensive in the us ? In France i'm currently paying 8euros a month and i'm 21/had my license last year
redbikemaster
Same here man. Beaters4lyfe
91maroz
Same here. Bought a work car for 500 bucks because the belt broke. Fixed it in their driveway and drove off. Fixing cars is therapeutic.
BigBeeOhBee
I think it may have to do with the cussing that is sometimes involved.
LloydicusTheGreat
*Always haha
RandomIsotope
I swapped out the crankshaft pulley after the rubber separated. Found Several Youtube videos on how to do it helped me out big time.
DoesItLookLikeIGiveAFuck2756
Man 215 a month for basic on my 2002 Mazda. So annoying that my age group is high risk.
BoopedYourSnoot
Dang, that's crazy. I have an 07 Camry and mine is $90 a month for full coverage on myself and my wife's 07 Odyssey.
Fadeawayaccount
I have an 02 Camry and pay like $220/mo >.>
Jayhatesspidersandshit
Girlfriend just went from 280 a month for one car to 200 a month for two cars with a work discount.
daftbehemoth
Insurance rates for people always shock me... 27 with a '16 FRS and I pay $106/mo for full coverage.
MaxeMan5126
20 with '09 avenger worth less than $2000. Insurance is 190 a month with full coverage. Perfect driving record for 4 years and driver's ed.
whhy
380$/mo 02 Sierra, 12 Cruz, 93 Storm, and 93 ranger.
ChloeRed
Does depend on people situations. I'm not working on a car as it sits on the camber of the road, with traffic going past me.
kctrainmechformallykcbusmech87
At the very least go for some form of basic auto repair course before working on brakes or steering systems all well and good saving 1/2
kctrainmechformallykcbusmech87
A few $ but ending up upside down in a ditch is zero fun
87casc
Yeah,only problem is figuring out what's actually wrong w/car. I changed starter on gf's car before, luckily, that's what was wrong w/it!
EwGrooss
Autozone or most parts stores will run a diagnostic check for you for free, or if you’ve got enough issues, a code reader isn’t too costly
cavymeister
Reddit.com/r/mechanicadvice
covid19dadprincipal
Yeah I've been there. My dad is a master diesel mechanic now. Doesn't understand how not to do it your self. Passed that on to me.
keyserv
I just bleed over everything when I work on cars.
thatiswhyyoushoulddoityourself
Are you imbuing it with arcane energies to make it work? Seems a bit dated, but if it works, it works.
covid19dadprincipal
Clearly laying claim.
Varmintmist
If it doesnt bleed there isnt a need
wkearney99
I joke, the job's not really done right unless someone bleeds on it.
RandomIsotope
you are not bleeding on it, you are applying lubricant.
bobstPlanetKing
I always say, if im not bleeding im not trying hard enough.
Gregbear
Hydrogen Peroxide pulls blood stains out of fabric. Source: I'm a mechanic and serial killer.
imanatheistdebateme
You leave that fucking cereal alone you fucking monster.
isaypoopythingabecausemostofyouannoyme
YouTube every issue you have. A lot are far easier than you think
CatPianist
In Canada the insurance would grape me.
Totallyscrewedinaustin
Great, I need advice on removing a door latch, lol! Can't seem to find all the bits to remove, even after watching YT videos!
flatearthvaxer
Brother!
tiderfish
You’d think. But tool addiction is a real thing.
jumpyandgrumpy10
How do I go about doing that?
rossmartinez73
This. Hell yes this.
maninthedarkness
Some cars teach you in hardmode on that. Especially Dodges, which are about the least self-repair-friendly vehicles.
NeelboBaggins
I'm okay at wrenching, just terrible at diagnosing.
WumboPower
Is wrench just slang for fixing cars? Vehicle work is my handy man Achilles heel.
hungmung
Hell just learning to do my brakes myself saved me hundreds. Never realized how much they upcharge for stuff.
HatinS8N
You could hook. As in. Ass or gas.
AbsolutelyNotTheNSA
And remember. If you want awesome cars. You guys need to wrench... everyday. *Tavarish's theme plays*
Spr4yz
Except on many modern cars you have to unscrew half the car to get to the part that needs fixing. Also you might void the warranty/insurance
Lostchild12
Whats a warranty? Fixer uppers all the way.
Spr4yz
Definitely, but the pool of available cars without electronic fluff and crap is drying up more and more every day. It's a shame because(1/2)
MalcomReynoldsWrap
I get that, but I'd honestly recommend a late 90's-early 00's nissan. It tells you exactly what the issue is. (1/2)
MalcomReynoldsWrap
High beam indicator staying on? Headlight out. Brake light indicator on? Brake light out, etc.
Spr4yz
practical skills are getting lost because of it. DIY and handy work is becoming a lost art. (2/2)
Lostchild12
1/2 Yes, I remember when computers were put in cars. Many a shade tree mechanic let alone small neighborhood repair shops folded due to the
doyouevenrobot
IMO the whole "new cars are hard to fix" thing is highly exaggerated. People just don't wanna learn or get the appropriate tools.
saleenowner
Literally never taken something to a shop. Always did find myself. I had a jeep and it blew the head gaskets in January. I pulled the
saleenowner
Engine apart and cleaned everything, checked the heads, put on new gaskets, and sealed her all back up. Only cost like 300 bucks total
saleenowner
Rather than well over 1k, which it would have been cuz you have to tear the whole engine down. This was all done in an uninsulated garage
saleenowner
In the middle of January, during a week of -20 degree weather (Fahrenheit)
Lostchild12
Garage? Whats that? Got tired of laying on the frozen ground in my late 40's.
IFapToLNI
Yeah I made the mistake to get a Jeep Patriot once and that piece of garbage gave me a speed course in mechanic.
json1123
This! With a basic set of tools and YouTube you can save a ton of cash.
EwGrooss
You can rent most tools from autozone
username55326
The amount of money YouTube repair men have saved me is amazing. Fixed multiple car problems, AC unit, refrigerator, and more
AGorgonMadeMyPenisHard
Only time I ever took my car to a shop was because I was in a time sensitive situation and couldnt be with out, cost me a cool grand for 1/2
AGorgonMadeMyPenisHard
A new radiator and fan that I coulda fixed my self for a quarter of the price
NudesDicksAssesBoobs
Keep walking to work. Better for your health, the environment and your wallet.
TrolleyDolly
Yes!
LegendMasterX
I mean it depends how far you work. Also im lazy so any convenience is appreciated
HisBabes
No sidewalks & I’m not walking on the road with traffic.
redbikemaster
I walk to work most days. Course I live right behind the driver's seat...
snailburrito
Unless it's raining, snowing, or hotter than Satan's taint.
bubblebreathdragon
Thought that said Santa at first.
Tarnfire
Rain and snow is not that bad to walk in. You just ned to dress for it.
iamjaimelannister
Better for your health and wallet, yes. Doesnt matter for the environment. The planet is fine. It's not goin anywhere. The people are fucked
apbadogs
WE ONLY HAVE 12 YEARS LEFT!!!! MAYBE LESS!!!!
amop
I’ll still be alive after breaking my leg, i still don’t want to do it though
test616
Environment =/= Entire planet. Carbon emissions from your car DO affect your environment, so yes, it does matter. You think it disappears?
ChrisMorray
I think in this case "environmen" is less about "that ball we live on" and more about "how habitable that ball is for living things"
NudesDicksAssesBoobs
I'd rather be fucked by a 6" dildo than an 8" dildo.
legofham
So would my wife, but she's used to less
ChloeRed
That depends if you can keep doing it.. I need to carry tools some days, walking even a couple of miles with 40kg of tools isn't going to 1/
ChloeRed
better for my health. I think I'd be dead. ;) 2/2
NudesDicksAssesBoobs
40kg is about the tipping point, yes ;-).
ChloeRed
Yeah, from me being vertical to horizontal on the floor going "f**k it" ;)
RMaybeth
NudesDicksAssesBoobs
Listen, I'm scared as fuck that that Greta Thunberg girl is coming to pay me a visit.
LurkerMcLurkface
If she's visiting you, can you beat up her parents?
NudesDicksAssesBoobs
They're fucking her up alright.. but if I beat them up that's bad for the environment (meds etc). And I do care about climate change etc.
hamooshka
As a mechanic, I applaud people saving money by DIY. My skill aren't used changing oil and filters. I'd rather you came to me to go fast.
FuzzyX
FASTEEEEEEEEER
kraeftig
The location of the filter and drain plug for my car for oil changes is a nightmare compared to my previous cars. Pass on doing it myself.
AmateurCaulkRingEnthusiast
Im in the middle of purchasing a challenger SRT 392 I plan to do about 20k in upgrades to, My mechanic shop is stoked to do the project
darksniperknight
Would you use your skills to teach people how to change their oil and filters?
NapoleonDynOmite
Google
ThisIsThePlaceWhereIBelong
If you want something to be faster just paint it red.
EwGrooss
Don’t forget the white stripes
HenryLongfellowIII
Stick-on flames.
Boblemoju
And the speed holes
Vonya
But... servicing is the bread n butter for any garage. Simple to do, quick and every car needs it yearly (EZ monies)
OtterlyMagnificent
Having driven for Uber for 2 years...The ONLY thing I will go to a shop for anymore is tires and brakes. Everything else I'll do myself. 1/
OtterlyMagnificent
Mostly because I had to replace a chunk of exhaust AND my skid-plate after Jiffy Lube overtorqued and stripped the mounting bolts. The skid2
OtterlyMagnificent
came off on a rough stretch of road and ripped open the pipe when it bounced. And they rotated my tires when I explicitly told them not 3/
OtterlyMagnificent
to, because I had just GOTTEN brand new front tires. 4/4
HenryLongfellowIII
Brakes- really easy. Try it, you'll like it. And if you get rims for your snow tires you can swap them too. And get the f**Y*& torque right
OtterlyMagnificent
Snow...tires...I live in Phoenix. This year was the first snow we've had in a century and a half. Pretty sure my A/Ts can handle a half1/
OtterlyMagnificent
millimeter of already melting crystals. 2/2
HenryLongfellowIII
LOL, okay you probably don't need snow tires then unless you drive to ski resorts or a cabin etc.
Althekingsmen1
Why brakes and tires? They are both easy to do.
OtterlyMagnificent
Shitty jack.
AGrammeIsBetterThanADamn
$40 at Harbor Freight will get you straightened out on that front, and it won't be shitty
polarpurple
...but brakes are *super* easy to do at home.
OtterlyMagnificent
You say that, but that requires me to jack my truck up, and I don't have any jacks tall enough. Oil, wiring, engine work, I can do without1/
OtterlyMagnificent
a jack. But anything with the wheels involved, I get a shop involved because they have the jacks. 2/2
polarpurple
You drive a truck for Uber? Also every vehicle I've ever owned came with a spare tire and a jack you use to install it.
SuperPickle17
inb4 electric cars kill the business.
hamooshka
They'll still have tires, brakes and suspension.
Nuttsy
People actually living on this logic will ensure mechanics get lots of business working on electrics.
Vonya
We work on hybrids, they still need brakes, tyres, suspension parts and coolant.
SuperPickle17
None of that is yearly maintenance, now is it?
sgotham89
You sound like my husband !
hamooshka
Well he sounds like a gem! Buy him a beer for me.
marsgoose
IMO best use of a mechanic is when you are doing something that could potentially blow up an engine, so you want someone with experience who
hamooshka
Correct. At some point, the internet runs out of information. Even as a speed shop, we use machinists and engineers.
marsgoose
already blew up some engines and knows when to stop.
marsgoose
There are other uses of course, but that is my favorite one.
EwGrooss
Or someone to be responsible when the engine blows up
bababa1234
I put my own go fast parts on damnit! ;-) 6.2 Yukon w/long tubes. LSA blower parts are building up slowly.
paul289
Same. This was a bit of a challenge on my old Mustang, but so much fun! https://imgur.com/Bv3rAVD
bababa1234
Amazing work!
paul289
Thanks! Sure, it took, like, 6 months to finish, but it's probably now the best handling car I've driven outside of an FSAE car!
bababa1234
FSAE, are you a fellow mech-e? Well I'm a fraud mech-e. I only code now.
kc913noel
Those Sparkplugs PTSD
bababa1234
F-passenger side near firewall. My prev project was an 04 STi. Subarus are even worse.
DrMephistoFromSouthParkColorado
Did you go back to the repair shop and ask in front of other customers why it would take them 10 hrs when it only took you 45?
gtferrari
no not yet
microcactus
He couldn't because his axel fell off on the way back to the shop.
SammMoney
It once took me four hours to put a hose onto a new radiator... FML that day.
PhenTsoksar
yet, you did it. Hail to you champion!!
Quaxx
As a European - Wait, you just have 3 miles (4,8 km) to work and don't use your bicycle everyday?
kahless01
they like to run down cyclists here. i have a 26 mile commute. i would love to ride a bicycle, settle for my motorcycle.
PaintYourWagon
Not all routes are friendly to bikes
ThrowMamaFromTheTrain
LOL...let me just ride my bike on the expressway, wait that's illegal and I'm dead.
Mithi
Why would you ride a bike for 15-20min when you can stand in a traffic jam for 30min?
CrispyPickle27
There's not many place to put bikes at most workplaces in America. Plus were really lazy.
wheeledPhoto
Mostly the second part. Ever seen that "drive to his girlfriend's house" seen with Steve Martin in LA Story?
UseTheSource
there are no lampposts? Fuck, if I couldn't even park my bike in the street I'd bring my Brompton and put it under my desk.
HenryLongfellowIII
At least the lamppost will still be there when you leave for the day .
UseTheSource
is bicycle theft truly such a huge problem there? With more bicycles than people in NL, theft is hardly a problem if you lock it properly
gtferrari
8min commute vs 1 hr walk
Quaxx
I most cities I lived in, a 10 min bike drive is a 30 min commute by car due to traffic. Nobody would take the car if not necessary.
WhatIsTheMatrix
How about the bus? (or other collective modes of transport)
gtferrari
1 hr bus ride. Have to take 3 busses and wait 20 mins between them
RMaybeth
starter? Waater pump? What was the part.
lamalama13
Brakes i guess
Dongskanker
Per a lower comment from OP - Rear air spring on a Mercedes
mickison
Steering wheel
procrastinatingagain
Don't joke. I've had to replace a steering column and it was $$$.
KrautMick
Front left tire?
XplodingUnicornGlitter
Muffler belt
blackcloudsandrainbows
Flux capacitor
Vonya
Says 'air sprong' so gunna go on a limb and say that is the Shock Absorber for one of the wheels.
Corpmediocre
I'm thinking you're right. Lower down in the comments they said rear air spring on a benz
SeasonedCitizen
Spring and shock absorber are two different things. OP said it was a spring.
Vonya
Coil springs are not air-compressed not loaded. 'Air springs' are a special variant of shock absorber (expensive too)
Z3roCo0l
Flux capacitor?
wheeledPhoto
You don't replace a flux capacitor for $300. Geesh.
DALLASLAVOWNER
Probably the MR Fusion fuel cell and not the actual flux capacitor
itsjustanotherday
At $300 I'm guessing it was some small sensor.
HenryLongfellowIII
You can get a massive amount of stuff from Rock Auto for $300. Aftermarket. From the dealer, umm.. not so much.
Bukulu
A sensor that exploded
SaltyInternetPirate
ABS sensors for my Opel are in front bearings and not sold separately. When it stopped working, I had to buy new bearing.
gtferrari
Sensor repair bill was 600. This was an air spring
Ketheres
Blinker fluid circulator.
cubsfanman22
Those are always a huge PITA to repair
SomeoneShouldPayForThis
While you're at it you should top off the brake coolant and refill the tires with winter air. Gonna be a cold one this year.
Ketheres
And then you still need to refill them. Why is blinker fluid so rare!? I sent my apprentice to buy some last year and he still isn't back...
jackpkmn
It's made from an extract of the tears of humorless auto mechanics.
DeckardB26354
Little inside secret. It's just printer ink. If you use printer ink instead you will save a fortune.
Miller16of16
Blinker fluid reseller hate this one trick!