DIY a dying breed

[ultrarunner]

Amen... I think it starts with attitude. My 5 year old niece knows more about equipment than many of the high school kids around here. She knows enough that if something breaks to save all of the pieces and nothing makes her happier than to FIX something.

 

[ultrarunner]

Amen... I think it starts with attitude. My 5 year old niece knows more about equipment than many of the high school kids around here. She knows enough that if something breaks to save all of the pieces and nothing makes her happier than to FIX something.

 

[dfkrug]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I would like to disagree on the computerized cars being difficult to diagnosis. You can buy the computer to read these codes from your car for less than $150 dollars. That is less than one trip to the shop. Quite often it is a sensor that can be fairly easy to replace. On the other side of that, I always buy the sevice manual to help find these sensors. They can be another $100 to $200. With the computer it can tell you which spark plug or spark plug wire is bad. A lot easier than the old way to find a miss. This narrows it down quite a bit.
)</font>

You got that right, Bob. All cars sold in the US since 96 have
to use std data connectors and mostly std error code info.
They call it OBD2. I have an Auto XRay 4000 that allows me
to read and reset error codes, as well as monitor how the car
is running. SOME of the codes are manufacturer-specific, but
you can find what they mean with a litte web searching. I
have used my scanner several times, cuz I was foolish enough
to buy a BMW (my first and last). Anyway, repairing cars is
actually easier now, in some ways.

----a dedicated DIYer for everything.

 

[dfkrug]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I would like to disagree on the computerized cars being difficult to diagnosis. You can buy the computer to read these codes from your car for less than $150 dollars. That is less than one trip to the shop. Quite often it is a sensor that can be fairly easy to replace. On the other side of that, I always buy the sevice manual to help find these sensors. They can be another $100 to $200. With the computer it can tell you which spark plug or spark plug wire is bad. A lot easier than the old way to find a miss. This narrows it down quite a bit.
)</font>

You got that right, Bob. All cars sold in the US since 96 have
to use std data connectors and mostly std error code info.
They call it OBD2. I have an Auto XRay 4000 that allows me
to read and reset error codes, as well as monitor how the car
is running. SOME of the codes are manufacturer-specific, but
you can find what they mean with a litte web searching. I
have used my scanner several times, cuz I was foolish enough
to buy a BMW (my first and last). Anyway, repairing cars is
actually easier now, in some ways.

----a dedicated DIYer for everything.

 

[sonofczechgun]

MY daily driver is 86 Jeep, CJ7 for last 8 years. I have to work on it myself, I would go broke if I had to take to the shop. One of the big changes was to replace carburator with fuel injection (TBI) from 4.3 Chevy.

Last week I swapped reman engine in it - the old one had 206 000 miles on it and a bad knock.

Now the family GC Jeep I do just maintenance on it, it is 2004 and doesnt need too much yet. The biggest project was to intall Mopar towing hitch.

 

[sonofczechgun]

MY daily driver is 86 Jeep, CJ7 for last 8 years. I have to work on it myself, I would go broke if I had to take to the shop. One of the big changes was to replace carburator with fuel injection (TBI) from 4.3 Chevy.

Last week I swapped reman engine in it - the old one had 206 000 miles on it and a bad knock.

Now the family GC Jeep I do just maintenance on it, it is 2004 and doesnt need too much yet. The biggest project was to intall Mopar towing hitch.

 

[tlbuser]

I, sir, would have to disagree with you on that part. In my experiences, the manufacturers aren't encouraging DIY repairs. Quite a few times, the parts are either not available (McCulloch for one) or, are so ridiculously priced to entice the customer to "just go buy a new one".

The other scenario: no one showed the person how to fix anything because their parents were too busy socializing and/ or watching the "games" on TV.

Heck, just read the TBN threads where quite a few don't want to buy XX without dealer XX being available for service work.

 

[tlbuser]

I, sir, would have to disagree with you on that part. In my experiences, the manufacturers aren't encouraging DIY repairs. Quite a few times, the parts are either not available (McCulloch for one) or, are so ridiculously priced to entice the customer to "just go buy a new one".

The other scenario: no one showed the person how to fix anything because their parents were too busy socializing and/ or watching the "games" on TV.

Heck, just read the TBN threads where quite a few don't want to buy XX without dealer XX being available for service work.

 

[scott_vt]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

So here I am with all sorts of advanced degrees, the ability to use some of the most advanced enterprise planning software in the world...and I'd give much of it away for the knowledge it takes to rebuild an engine!

Pete )</font>

Mornin Pete,
I believe it depends on what side of the fence your looking from /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Ive worked in the trades my entire life, as a toolmaker/modelmaker and build furniture as a hobby. Restore antique farm tractors amongst other things along with taking care of my residences, and I quite honestly wouldnt mind having some of those advanced degrees that you have !!! My Pop told me many years ago, that I was going to go to college or learn a trade ! I feel I have been fairly succesfull financially, but I feel I could have done better with an advanced education. At 55 Im not in the position nor interested in futhering my education at this point. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I respect you and anyone else that has gone through all schooling and have received advanced degrees!

 

[scott_vt]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

So here I am with all sorts of advanced degrees, the ability to use some of the most advanced enterprise planning software in the world...and I'd give much of it away for the knowledge it takes to rebuild an engine!

Pete )</font>

Mornin Pete,
I believe it depends on what side of the fence your looking from /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Ive worked in the trades my entire life, as a toolmaker/modelmaker and build furniture as a hobby. Restore antique farm tractors amongst other things along with taking care of my residences, and I quite honestly wouldnt mind having some of those advanced degrees that you have !!! My Pop told me many years ago, that I was going to go to college or learn a trade ! I feel I have been fairly succesfull financially, but I feel I could have done better with an advanced education. At 55 Im not in the position nor interested in futhering my education at this point. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I respect you and anyone else that has gone through all schooling and have received advanced degrees!