I saved $1,600 in 3 hours yesterday doing car repairs myself! AMA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

12:46 here - That's awesome. A few years ago, our heat pump went out (in summer). We called a service, who quoted us something ridiculous like $2k to fix the problem, or I think $8k for a whole new system. I didn't want to get other quotes because that would take time, and it was 90+ degrees out.

I opened the system up, broke out my multimeter, and quickly diagnosed the problem as a capacitor (can't remember if it was the start capacitor or run capacitor. I think I replaced both.) Bought the part from a local supply house and was back up and running faster than the HVAC service would have gotten me, and for $40. The system still runs great 4 years later.

You want to talk about rackets? HVAC service companies make mechanics look like angels. Imagine if every time your car needed new brakes or tires your mechanic told you he could fix it for $12,000 or you could just buy a whole new car from him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

How do you get past the upper body strength issue? Do you have access to tools and/or a shop? I’m the female PP who does my own brakes. I’ve done other repairs, but the time involved and cost of tools limits my willingness to try.

My job for years was reviewing repair invoices (HVAC, food equip, etc) for chain stores and restaurants. Knowing what questions to ask and basic mechanics has saved me personally thousands in warranty disagreements. Manufacturers are shockingly bad at honoring their warranties, unless you can explain to them why they’re obligated to do it. I can also diagnose HVAC problems. You would be surprised to see how many technicians decided a new compressor was needed when it was simply a bad capacitor or contactor. For readers who aren’t familiar with those, the compressor is usually the most expensive repair you can do on a unit. It also can’t be done legally if you don’t have an EPA license to handle refrigerant, so there aren’t any DIY options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

12:46 here - That's awesome. A few years ago, our heat pump went out (in summer). We called a service, who quoted us something ridiculous like $2k to fix the problem, or I think $8k for a whole new system. I didn't want to get other quotes because that would take time, and it was 90+ degrees out.

I opened the system up, broke out my multimeter, and quickly diagnosed the problem as a capacitor (can't remember if it was the start capacitor or run capacitor. I think I replaced both.) Bought the part from a local supply house and was back up and running faster than the HVAC service would have gotten me, and for $40. The system still runs great 4 years later.

You want to talk about rackets? HVAC service companies make mechanics look like angels. Imagine if every time your car needed new brakes or tires your mechanic told you he could fix it for $12,000 or you could just buy a whole new car from him?

OMG yes. I have yet to meet a good HVAC repair man. They just do not do basic repairs anymore. They see that your system is more than 5 years old and they only will sell you new ones. They aren't that hard to fix either if you're handy. Problem is that you can't handle a lot of the parts and chemicals unless you've taken courses and are certified. DH took all the courses and fixed ours. It wasn't necessarily him being cheap either, he was just interested in learning about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

How do you get past the upper body strength issue? Do you have access to tools and/or a shop? I’m the female PP who does my own brakes. I’ve done other repairs, but the time involved and cost of tools limits my willingness to try.

My job for years was reviewing repair invoices (HVAC, food equip, etc) for chain stores and restaurants. Knowing what questions to ask and basic mechanics has saved me personally thousands in warranty disagreements. Manufacturers are shockingly bad at honoring their warranties, unless you can explain to them why they’re obligated to do it. I can also diagnose HVAC problems. You would be surprised to see how many technicians decided a new compressor was needed when it was simply a bad capacitor or contactor. For readers who aren’t familiar with those, the compressor is usually the most expensive repair you can do on a unit. It also can’t be done legally if you don’t have an EPA license to handle refrigerant, so there aren’t any DIY options.

I just posted this. The course from the EPA to handle refrigerant was extremely simple. DH reviewed manuals online and then took it when it was offered on a Saturday. It was inexpensive too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

12:46 here - That's awesome. A few years ago, our heat pump went out (in summer). We called a service, who quoted us something ridiculous like $2k to fix the problem, or I think $8k for a whole new system. I didn't want to get other quotes because that would take time, and it was 90+ degrees out.

I opened the system up, broke out my multimeter, and quickly diagnosed the problem as a capacitor (can't remember if it was the start capacitor or run capacitor. I think I replaced both.) Bought the part from a local supply house and was back up and running faster than the HVAC service would have gotten me, and for $40. The system still runs great 4 years later.

You want to talk about rackets? HVAC service companies make mechanics look like angels. Imagine if every time your car needed new brakes or tires your mechanic told you he could fix it for $12,000 or you could just buy a whole new car from him?

OMG yes. I have yet to meet a good HVAC repair man. They just do not do basic repairs anymore. They see that your system is more than 5 years old and they only will sell you new ones. They aren't that hard to fix either if you're handy. Problem is that you can't handle a lot of the parts and chemicals unless you've taken courses and are certified. DH took all the courses and fixed ours. It wasn't necessarily him being cheap either, he was just interested in learning about them.

So its not really diy but you have to already be certified to diagnose the problem and fix it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing my own repairs for years, OP. I taught myself when I was a teenager. I'm a woman, have torn down and rebuilt a motor, replaced axles, bearings, head gaskets, intake gaskets, you name it, I've done it. I also do my own? motorcycle repairs. At the moment, I am teaching myself to repair heat pumps. Last night, I diagnosed the problem in ours, and have? to replace a capacitor. If you are able to read and comprehend, you can do anything. Congratulations on being self-sufficient!

12:46 here - That's awesome. A few years ago, our heat pump went out (in summer). We called a service, who quoted us something ridiculous like $2k to fix the problem, or I think $8k for a whole new system. I didn't want to get other quotes because that would take time, and it was 90+ degrees out.

I opened the system up, broke out my multimeter, and quickly diagnosed the problem as a capacitor (can't remember if it was the start capacitor or run capacitor. I think I replaced both.) Bought the part from a local supply house and was back up and running faster than the HVAC service would have gotten me, and for $40. The system still runs great 4 years later.

You want to talk about rackets? HVAC service companies make mechanics look like angels. Imagine if every time your car needed new brakes or tires your mechanic told you he could fix it for $12,000 or you could just buy a whole new car from him?

OMG yes. I have yet to meet a good HVAC repair man. They just do not do basic repairs anymore. They see that your system is more than 5 years old and they only will sell you new ones. They aren't that hard to fix either if you're handy. Problem is that you can't handle a lot of the parts and chemicals unless you've taken courses and are certified. DH took all the courses and fixed ours. It wasn't necessarily him being cheap either, he was just interested in learning about them.

So its not really diy but you have to already be certified to diagnose the problem and fix it

Not the PP, but the answer is not necessarily. There are many things that can be diagnosed, and fixed without opening the refrigerant system. A unit low on refrigerant usually has other signs, like ice building up on one of the coolant line. Given the recovery rules for refrigerant, it isn’t something every homeowner should be doing, IMO. The fines for doing it wrong are steep.

[Anonymous]

please send me and my family $3.000.00 to help with School, injuries, braces, Vehicle repair. please send payments to 559 Bear Creek Rd. Bienville, La 71008 God Bless :( :(

With Love and Shame, Pruitt Family!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH did this too on my car. My car was really difficult to change the CV boot though, but I have a German car with a computer system that everyone whines about.

We save a ton on brakes and brake pads by doing them ourselves too.

Yeah, I save about $600 every time I do brakes. That ends up being twice a year, at least, because we have four vehicles in our family. I've probably saved in state tutuon for a couple semesters at UMCP just in brakes, lol.

My god, you replace the brakes annually? Do you people not know how to drive? I've had my car for four years and never had the brakes done. My old car I had for 14 years and only needed them done twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dealer quoted me $1,800 for replacing the front CV drive axles and a rear wheel bearing hub.

Uh, no thanks! I knew it would be expensive, but that figure is just absurd. Called other places, and it's not absurd, I guess. That's what they all seem to charge. Wow.

So I ordered the parts last week for $200, watched a few videos and read up on what I needed to do, and completed it yesterday in about 3 hours, with basic hand tools. Certainly not the first time I've done my own car maintenance, but this time was the biggest savings, by almost $1,000 dollars.

Drive it and let us know how it goes before we appaud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's amazing. I know minimal about cars except how to drive them so could never do any repairs myself.

Don't sell yourself short. Really.

Start with simple things, and go from there. As you build familiarity and confidence you'll tackle harder stuff. Watch the instructional videos, start with small stuff.

I can't do huge stuff like engines or transmissions, but that's because I lack the specialized tooling and lifting gear and a garage.

But you'd surprise yourself with what you could do, I'd bet.

Dp. Not every person has the ability, time or desire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's amazing. I know minimal about cars except how to drive them so could never do any repairs myself.

Don't sell yourself short. Really.

Start with simple things, and go from there. As you build familiarity and confidence you'll tackle harder stuff. Watch the instructional videos, start with small stuff.

I can't do huge stuff like engines or transmissions, but that's because I lack the specialized tooling and lifting gear and a garage.

But you'd surprise yourself with what you could do, I'd bet.

Dp. Not every person has the ability, time or desire.

Lazy is real reason unless rich

[Anonymous]

My fun do it your self when switched to gas. My oil tank was in basement. Took off part of frame door pushed it out and called scrap yard who took it for free.

Versus $2k.

Also mold remediate full basement for $500 versus 6k

Put new garage door up for $300

Lots of stuff has zero skill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dealer quoted me $1,800 for replacing the front CV drive axles and a rear wheel bearing hub.

Uh, no thanks! I knew it would be expensive, but that figure is just absurd. Called other places, and it's not absurd, I guess. That's what they all seem to charge. Wow.

So I ordered the parts last week for $200, watched a few videos and read up on what I needed to do, and completed it yesterday in about 3 hours, with basic hand tools. Certainly not the first time I've done my own car maintenance, but this time was the biggest savings, by almost $1,000 dollars.

Drive it and let us know how it goes before we appaud.

OP here.


Wow, this thread got resurrected, huh?

Well, it’s been 15 months and 18,000+ miles, and no issues. So I’d indeed say I fixed it.

You can clap for me know, PP