5 ms·

DIY whenever possible. You wind up paying for the cost of a lot of tools, but the more you do yourself the bigger your toolbox and the cheaper the job gets nex

DIY whenever possible. You wind up paying for the cost of a lot of tools, but the more you do yourself the bigger your toolbox and the cheaper the job gets next time. Quality tools are worth it, but there is a fine line. Snap-On for example, sell great ergonomic tools on credit, but they are insanely expensive. I used to swear by Craftsman and luckily have almost everything I need from them before they changed hands. Harbor freight tools has discount tools that are perfect for occasional or light duty use. You can buy a cheap MIG welder for $150 for example. Perfect for plain steel exhaust and body repair. Or a complete set of drill bits for $10. Many auto parts stores will also rent tools for a deposit that they refund once you return the tool. Sometimes you come across a project where the tooling is incredibly expensive. In those cases I'll go to the parts store, rent the tool for retail price, use it, and return it for the deposit back. Parts stores did this to both encourage and enable DIY repairs and reduce costs associated with fraud. Customers used to buy tools, use them once then return them. By offering these used tools as rentals it obliviates the need for someone else to come along and do the same thing.

2rsf 5y ago
How do you lift your car? usually that's the biggest challenge for DIYing
- zelon88 5y ago
  I have several methods available, and I have them ranked by safest method. I always use ramps whenever possible. Do not exceed the load rating of the ramps. They WILL collapse. I will go to decent lengths to use ramps, including removing the bumper cover if necessary on low cars. Ramps are my preferred method because they are less likely to tip over and the weight of the car is naturally supported by the suspension. Don't forget to chock the wheels and apply the parking brake. In this configuration I will sometimes also place jack stands under the car without extending them all the way. This serves as a fallback in case the ramps collapse. If I can't use the ramps due to vehicle weight or because I need to remove the suspension I will jack the car up with a floor jack. If that doesn't reach I use a bottle jack and some wooden blocks, which is better for taller cars and trucks. If lifting the front I always put the jack on one side of the front crossmember (engine cradle) right near the mounting bushings. This is the most solid universal place on all cars that is strong enough. Position the jack so it contacts the engine cradle in a place where the body or frame of the car is behind the lift point. If the jack is placed on hollow sheet metal; it will collapse. It needs to be placed on thick plate steel. If lifting a vehicle with a solid axle then you lift from the axle directly underneath one of the spring perches. Once the car is off the ground I throw multiple jack stands under the car and raise them as high as they will go. Then I lower the jack so the car is completely supported by the jack stands. If lifting a vehicle with a solid axle you typically lift from the axle but place the jack stands under the frame or chassis. This way the vehicle is "unsprung" while you're working on it. If I'm just changing a tire I'll use the included jack from the trunk and throw the spare tire next to it as a safety. That is strictly for tire changes, though. Quick on and off type deals. The screw type jack included with most vehicles is known as the "widowmaker" in the automotive community, for good reason. These typically fail when used on uneven terrain. What happens is the side load on the jack causes them to kink in the middle and collapse sideways.
- giantg2 5y ago
  If you need the wheel off the ground, use a jack and jack stands. Otherwise best to use ramps. I like using 2x10s to build my own ramp rather than the metal ones you can buy. Be careful about blocking the wheels, and never get under a car that is only on a jack without a jack stand or something else.
giantg2 5y ago
"Harbor freight tools has discount tools that are perfect for occasional or light duty use." I sort of agree. If they are manual tools, then they can work fine. Anything electronic or even pneumatic has a chance at being junk from the start. Warranty can help with that, but you're still going to be screwed if your air compressor fails in the middle of painting your car...
vb6sp6 5y ago
capableweb 5y ago
Hooking on this, for someone like me who'd like to start DIY maintain my car but have just about zero experience with cars (but generally handy), what are some great resources I can trust to give me accurate information about how to go about it? Edit: in case it matters, the car I have is a Audi from 2019.
- giantg2 5y ago
  Search "audi owner forum". There are forums that should show/tell you how to perform a task for your specific model. Not all tasks are covered, like the basics of an oil change. But the basics can be shown on YouTube or ehow or whatever.
- zelon88 5y ago
  I usually start off with a YT video or three. Simply because someone has done the same work and can give you tips to make it easier. Sometimes you need to start disassembling further away than is obvious. Like on 1997 Pathfinder the headlights are tiny but to remove them you have to remove the entire grill and bumper trim assembly first. Or with a timing belt on a Subaru; you can access the timing belt without removing the radiator but you'll probably damage it at the end unless you remove it. These are things that you don't want or need to learn the hard way. Also, dedicated forums (think pre-FB PHPBB message boards) are excellent. They are not as popular as they used to be but the style is more conducive to problem solving conversing than Facebook groups. There are dedicated forums for most brands and models of vehicles and the people on there are usually experts. Like, "I own 7 of these cars, let me send you some parts" kind of experts. They genuinely want to participate in a community. Their car is their hobby. Obviously Facebook groups and subreddits are out there for every topic but I find Reddit to be more for karma whoring and Facebook is more argumentative and punitive. Most basic instruction manuals can be found on parts store websites like Auto Zone and Advanced Auto parts. They usually have basic schematics, walkthroughs, and exploded parts diagrams you need for reference. For example, when bleeding brakes you have to bleed the components in a specific order. A quick call to the parts store can provide you with the proper order, as each vehicle is different. I also avoid buying car parts at non car part stores. Like Wal Mart. Also, cut open the box containing the new part AT THE PART STORE COUNTER before you leave. Countless times you get home and open a used part that someone stole out of the package and returned the old one to the store. It sucks buying new parts, getting home and they are actually used. Returning them in that state is always fun. It happens enough that you should really open the packages before leaving. Alternators and starters, even if brand new should be tested on the tester at the parts store before leaving the store. My buddy bought 3 alternators for a Bronco just to install them and find the first two defective. We wasted a whole day on trips back and forth to the parts store. Even better, starters and alternators can be brought to a rebuild shop instead. Usually you pay about the same as a replacement, but the rebuild shop does a nicer job and gives you a guarantee with a dyno print out proving the part works properly.

2rsf 5y ago

How do you lift your car? usually that's the biggest challenge for DIYing

zelon88 5y ago
I have several methods available, and I have them ranked by safest method. I always use ramps whenever possible. Do not exceed the load rating of the ramps. They WILL collapse. I will go to decent lengths to use ramps, including removing the bumper cover if necessary on low cars. Ramps are my preferred method because they are less likely to tip over and the weight of the car is naturally supported by the suspension. Don't forget to chock the wheels and apply the parking brake. In this configuration I will sometimes also place jack stands under the car without extending them all the way. This serves as a fallback in case the ramps collapse. If I can't use the ramps due to vehicle weight or because I need to remove the suspension I will jack the car up with a floor jack. If that doesn't reach I use a bottle jack and some wooden blocks, which is better for taller cars and trucks. If lifting the front I always put the jack on one side of the front crossmember (engine cradle) right near the mounting bushings. This is the most solid universal place on all cars that is strong enough. Position the jack so it contacts the engine cradle in a place where the body or frame of the car is behind the lift point. If the jack is placed on hollow sheet metal; it will collapse. It needs to be placed on thick plate steel. If lifting a vehicle with a solid axle then you lift from the axle directly underneath one of the spring perches. Once the car is off the ground I throw multiple jack stands under the car and raise them as high as they will go. Then I lower the jack so the car is completely supported by the jack stands. If lifting a vehicle with a solid axle you typically lift from the axle but place the jack stands under the frame or chassis. This way the vehicle is "unsprung" while you're working on it. If I'm just changing a tire I'll use the included jack from the trunk and throw the spare tire next to it as a safety. That is strictly for tire changes, though. Quick on and off type deals. The screw type jack included with most vehicles is known as the "widowmaker" in the automotive community, for good reason. These typically fail when used on uneven terrain. What happens is the side load on the jack causes them to kink in the middle and collapse sideways.
giantg2 5y ago
If you need the wheel off the ground, use a jack and jack stands. Otherwise best to use ramps. I like using 2x10s to build my own ramp rather than the metal ones you can buy. Be careful about blocking the wheels, and never get under a car that is only on a jack without a jack stand or something else.

giantg2 5y ago

"Harbor freight tools has discount tools that are perfect for occasional or light duty use." I sort of agree. If they are manual tools, then they can work fine. Anything electronic or even pneumatic has a chance at being junk from the start. Warranty can help with that, but you're still going to be screwed if your air compressor fails in the middle of painting your car...

vb6sp6 5y ago

capableweb 5y ago

Hooking on this, for someone like me who'd like to start DIY maintain my car but have just about zero experience with cars (but generally handy), what are some great resources I can trust to give me accurate information about how to go about it? Edit: in case it matters, the car I have is a Audi from 2019.

giantg2 5y ago
Search "audi owner forum". There are forums that should show/tell you how to perform a task for your specific model. Not all tasks are covered, like the basics of an oil change. But the basics can be shown on YouTube or ehow or whatever.
zelon88 5y ago
I usually start off with a YT video or three. Simply because someone has done the same work and can give you tips to make it easier. Sometimes you need to start disassembling further away than is obvious. Like on 1997 Pathfinder the headlights are tiny but to remove them you have to remove the entire grill and bumper trim assembly first. Or with a timing belt on a Subaru; you can access the timing belt without removing the radiator but you'll probably damage it at the end unless you remove it. These are things that you don't want or need to learn the hard way. Also, dedicated forums (think pre-FB PHPBB message boards) are excellent. They are not as popular as they used to be but the style is more conducive to problem solving conversing than Facebook groups. There are dedicated forums for most brands and models of vehicles and the people on there are usually experts. Like, "I own 7 of these cars, let me send you some parts" kind of experts. They genuinely want to participate in a community. Their car is their hobby. Obviously Facebook groups and subreddits are out there for every topic but I find Reddit to be more for karma whoring and Facebook is more argumentative and punitive. Most basic instruction manuals can be found on parts store websites like Auto Zone and Advanced Auto parts. They usually have basic schematics, walkthroughs, and exploded parts diagrams you need for reference. For example, when bleeding brakes you have to bleed the components in a specific order. A quick call to the parts store can provide you with the proper order, as each vehicle is different. I also avoid buying car parts at non car part stores. Like Wal Mart. Also, cut open the box containing the new part AT THE PART STORE COUNTER before you leave. Countless times you get home and open a used part that someone stole out of the package and returned the old one to the store. It sucks buying new parts, getting home and they are actually used. Returning them in that state is always fun. It happens enough that you should really open the packages before leaving. Alternators and starters, even if brand new should be tested on the tester at the parts store before leaving the store. My buddy bought 3 alternators for a Bronco just to install them and find the first two defective. We wasted a whole day on trips back and forth to the parts store. Even better, starters and alternators can be brought to a rebuild shop instead. Usually you pay about the same as a replacement, but the rebuild shop does a nicer job and gives you a guarantee with a dyno print out proving the part works properly.