Mayor111

Taking a poll to see how many of actually work on our cars or have the work done for us!

Sconn

I think you need one more choice: I can do anything that won't potentially void my warranty.

JMII

Option #3 here - I'll try anything that uses common tools and appears straight forward with plenty of documentation (videos, photos, write ups, etc). Since I became a track guy a few years ago I was basically forced into doing complete brake jobs. From there I gained the confidence (and tools) to tackle other projects. Years ago a check engine light would have sent me running to the dealership in fear and throwing my wallet at them begging for help. Many fixes are actually pretty easy and not worth paying someone else for. For example I had a misfire in my Nissan that was due to a sensor, it took 10 minutes and all of $20 to make it perfect again.

vader86

Most stuff I figure out eventually, with or without the Helm. I have built an engine before, but I won't touch the transmission or diff aside from fluid changes.

But if theres a YT I'll find it and watch it.

z06inVB

ImpliedConsent

I can do anything top side and some things on jacks.

george vee

You Tube and the tools and I will do it.

Skid Row Joe

The most work beyond oil and filter changes I ever did on my personal car was my 1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD. Water pumps, alternators, belts, hoses, transmission service, fuel tank filter screen, brake jobs. I hired out AC compressor changes. 305K miles in total when sold.

.. The C7? Oil and filter changes, battery. That's all I intend to do myself.

mcoomer

I've done various levels of repair in my life. Helped dad swap a motor in his old '66 Chevy truck. Learned to drive in that, with the three on the tree shifter. Tore apart the motor in my old Ford Ranger, heads off to the machine shop for cleaning and new seals/gaskets, new pistons and rings, bottle brushed the cylinder walls, and put it all back together. Wife insisted on a manual in her Jetta for gas mileage then proceeded to burn out three clutches. Got pretty good at changing those, and did the timing belt and water pump when the plastic impeller went to crap (who really thinks plastic impellers in a water pump is a good idea?). I've done all the day to day maintenance on the wife's Audi now that Audi Care is over. Plan on doing the same for the Vette. As long as I've got the tools, I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

Mike

dvilin

Really for me not a question of what I can do but what I want to do repair wise. The answer is nothing, I prefer to pay to have someone do the work while I sip a coffee and wolf down a donut.

Flame Red

LoL - Yeah, I'll try anything with good videos and the right tool. However, I will admit that I had to have the car towed to a shop to finish the work on a couple of occasions where I got over my head! I never have been able to figure out how to successfully set engine valve lash. And I cannot weld!

devnull

Avanti

What I CAN do and what I WILL do are sometimes different, especially as I've gotten older.

ojm

I can do many basic repairs but the problem is having the equipment and space to do the work. Brakes, fluids, electrics most basic repairs does not need a mechanic just someone mechanical.

dbirdhouse1

once got a VW bug to run backwards.....that was 1974....aaaaaaaand that was the end of my career
as a mechanic....I did help my son drop a high performance Honda engine (the nomenclature escapes me) into
a CRX he was building as a track car but that was strictly as grunt labor and no touching without direct instructions,
still a cool way to spend a day with your son.

Vetteman Jack

Jeff V.

It's more like what can't I do.

Alignments
Mounting and balancing tires (mostly because I don't have space for the machine)
Structural welding and/or frame straightening
Body work

I can do basically anything mechanical or electrical. I fear no car.

Jack605

I will attempt almost anything does not always go as planned but I always learn something.

In the words of my Father in law

It's already broke what's the worse that can happen.

Someone dumber than you put it together.

Jack

bgoose99

I have two motivating factors driving my desire to do my own work on my cars:
1) I like working on cars
2) I fear other people touching my stuff

The order those things go in differs depending on the job...

speed4tu

I can do lots of stuff on cars and motorcycles. Occasionally i'll pay someone else to do it. Just depends on the mood at the time. Have lots of tools to tackle most things.