I am turning into a car mechanic

kimberlyanne546

kimberlyanne546

Final Approach
Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
7,730
Location
California
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Display name:
Kimberly
Right now I'm almost done with my car repairs and even replaced the front brakes myself to save over $100 in cost.

I bought new tires and now all that is left is the "major" service (the big one, about 500 bucks, every 30,000 miles, many things get replaced or adjusted).

Yes, you read that right, I did them by myself, I made my BF do nothing but drink a beer and instruct me. My hands were black for days. It was fun though.

You should have seen the look on the face of the guys at the tire shop on Saturday (a major chain in the area) when I showed up ALONE in a pick up truck and pink sweater asking for my rotors to be machined.

When I told them I'd downloaded the shop manual to view spec, and measured 800/1000 (which is within spec, I used a micrometer) - they pretty much asked if I was "for real."

Hilarious. Of course the BF had done the download so that was a tiny fib but I don't like stealing stuff through the internet.
 
Highlight of the weekend: I said I had to "love my tires" since you pretty much have to hug them when your car is up on jacks and you have removed all the lug nuts. He did not give me any pointers until days later because he said it was hilarious to watch me remove and replace tires - kind of hard to get them lined up with the bolts when you put them back on.
 
Mounting the tire/rim in the field is one reason I still pack a 4-way lug wrench. It makes a great lever to lift and support the assembly while you line up the lug studs.

Kim, if you ever want to have some fun with auto parts and customers, come visit my world for a day or two. I get the range from the pro's who really know their trade to the the car owners that, when asked what year/make/model they drive, pride a balnk stare and say, "well.... it's blue."

Oh, and the customer who said they needed something for their Civic coupe. I smarted off and asked if that was one of the four door versions. After a pause, they said, "I don't remember. I'll go check and call you back."

And today's winner was the argument that he didn't want the Chevy 350 engine. He wanted to buy a 5.7L and was angry that I was selling him the wrong thing. (hint: 350 cubic inches = 5.7 liters).

Maybe I'll just stick to 710 caps and blinker fluid from now on.
 
Few things are more satisfying than performing your own maintenance. I usually leave the MX up to the dealer when my vehicles are under warranty, then I take over at 36,000 miles. It saves money, plus I enjoy it mostly. Somethings I still leave to the pros.

The satisfaction and the $$$ savings are two reasons I'm pursuing my A&P Certificate. Looking forward to airplane ownership!
 
AggieMike88 said:
Oh, and the customer who said they needed something for their Civic coupe. I smarted off and asked if that was one of the four door versions. After a pause, they said, "I don't remember. I'll go check and call you back."

And today's winner was the argument that he didn't want the Chevy 350 engine. He wanted to buy a 5.7L and was angry that I was selling him the wrong thing. (hint: 350 cubic inches = 5.7 liters).

Maybe I'll just stick to 710 caps and blinker fluid from now on.
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Winning! :rofl:
 
Oh, and 28 ounce water pumps for older Datsuns.
 
Old Geek said:
Boraxo powder works good for cleaning your hands.
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That anti squeaky black stuff (graphite grease?) that you have to rub in behind the brake pads in between the metal clip on plates is the worst. The rest is "normal" dirty. That stuff comes in a tiny package that says "warning may cause irritation".
 
Old Geek said:
Boraxo powder works good for cleaning your hands.
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GoJo scrub (with brush) to start, shampoo yer hair to finish - hands will be clean or the skin itself is stained.
 
When you and Mr. Kimberlyanne (whoever that may eventually be) start looking to buy a "might be here a while" house, think about where to install a lift. Find a serviceable used one. It will pay for itself several times over in the efficiency it brings to auto repair.
 
My old E30 needed lots of tinkering and as such I have a wealth of neat tools. I love working on cars. Although, the E30 got to be a bit of a pain. My new E46 is not so bad but a little harder to work on in some ways.

Brakes and oil changes should be done by the owner. They are super easy.

Also, make sure you bed your brakes in correctly!!
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
That anti squeaky black stuff (graphite grease?) that you have to rub in behind the brake pads in between the metal clip on plates is the worst.
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Then don't use the stuff. It's just one of those nasty little $1.99 packages of mystery crud that really doesn't really do anything except get all over everything.
 
fgcason said:
Then don't use the stuff. It's just one of those nasty little $1.99 packages of mystery crud that really doesn't really do anything except get all over everything.
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Actually, that paste is uslually moly based and it is used to eliminate brake squeal.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
Right now I'm almost done with my car repairs and even replaced the front brakes myself to save over $100 in cost.
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You go!

I do all of the out of warranty service work on our cars, and much of the repair work. I just did the 103kmi serivce on the wife's MB turbo-diesel. Dealer wanted $700, I did it for $180 in parts/fluids and 1.5hr in the garage.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Mounting the tire/rim in the field is one reason I still pack a 4-way lug wrench. It makes a great lever to lift and support the assembly while you line up the lug studs.

Kim, if you ever want to have some fun with auto parts and customers, come visit my world for a day or two. I get the range from the pro's who really know their trade to the the car owners that, when asked what year/make/model they drive, pride a balnk stare and say, "well.... it's blue."

Oh, and the customer who said they needed something for their Civic coupe. I smarted off and asked if that was one of the four door versions. After a pause, they said, "I don't remember. I'll go check and call you back."

And today's winner was the argument that he didn't want the Chevy 350 engine. He wanted to buy a 5.7L and was angry that I was selling him the wrong thing. (hint: 350 cubic inches = 5.7 liters).

Maybe I'll just stick to 710 caps and blinker fluid from now on.
Click to expand...

I contacted Mike a few months ago for some parts for my car.. He is very knowledgable and when I told him what I needed he promptly sold me 3 Flamduzzi Rods, a complete set of muffler bearings and a wide assortment of kinipiling pins.....:redface:.

Unfortunately he forgot to send installation instructions so I put all those parts in a blender and made a protein shake.:eek::rofl::lol:....

Good news is I don't need any iron supplements for the next year.:D
 
That's all well and good, Kim, but have you fixed that damned dome light??? Screw the brakes, that's what needs attention!
 
Teller1900 said:
That's all well and good, Kim, but have you fixed that damned dome light??? Screw the brakes, that's what needs attention!
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How on earth do you remember that???

No, but I haven't had to hit the dome light (smack is a better word) lately. So maybe it is OK. I had asked the mechanic long ago to look at it, but since they could not replicate the problem, we figure it is just a loose connection.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Mounting the tire/rim in the field is one reason I still pack a 4-way lug wrench. It makes a great lever to lift and support the assembly while you line up the lug studs.

Kim, if you ever want to have some fun with auto parts and customers, come visit my world for a day or two. I get the range from the pro's who really know their trade to the the car owners that, when asked what year/make/model they drive, pride a balnk stare and say, "well.... it's blue."

Oh, and the customer who said they needed something for their Civic coupe. I smarted off and asked if that was one of the four door versions. After a pause, they said, "I don't remember. I'll go check and call you back."

And today's winner was the argument that he didn't want the Chevy 350 engine. He wanted to buy a 5.7L and was angry that I was selling him the wrong thing. (hint: 350 cubic inches = 5.7 liters).

Maybe I'll just stick to 710 caps and blinker fluid from now on.
Click to expand...

Another great way to lift tires - for a car as low to the ground as mine - is to use the toes of my shoes, or my shins. My boyfriend showed me this AFTER the fact, of course. I don't have "rims" - just snap on plastic wheel covers - and my tires aren't that big - so even I can lift them with ease.
 
catmandu said:
When you and Mr. Kimberlyanne (whoever that may eventually be) start looking to buy a "might be here a while" house, think about where to install a lift. Find a serviceable used one. It will pay for itself several times over in the efficiency it brings to auto repair.
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LOL he bought a nice house, long ago. He is working on several cars at the moment (I think there are 3 or 4 at the house, plus a boat). I doubt he will ever install a lift. Sorry, not gonna happen!
 
HerrGruyere said:
My old E30 needed lots of tinkering and as such I have a wealth of neat tools. I love working on cars. Although, the E30 got to be a bit of a pain. My new E46 is not so bad but a little harder to work on in some ways.

Brakes and oil changes should be done by the owner. They are super easy.

Also, make sure you bed your brakes in correctly!!
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I probably won't do my oil changes since my car place keeps the cost so low.
 
l8evator said:
Disposable gloves worn during the repairs work even better!
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Gloves are for wusses. I looked down at the dirt under my fingernails at breakfast the next morning and smiled. I showed my boyfriend, but, by the time we were done canoeing down the river it was long gone. Turns out the hands were not stained.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
LOL he bought a nice house, long ago. He is working on several cars at the moment (I think there are 3 or 4 at the house, plus a boat). I doubt he will ever install a lift. Sorry, not gonna happen!
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A 4-post lift in the garage with a high enough ceiling becomes a space doubler.

Project car goes up in the air. Daily driver goes under.
 
AggieMike88 said:
A 4-post lift in the garage with a high enough ceiling becomes a space doubler.

Project car goes up in the air. Daily driver goes under.
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Garage built into house, new roof, can't raise garage any higher. No room for lifting to double the car space. Also, the garage used to have no cars and lots of machines (Mill, Lathe, CNC etc)
 
Oh man, my dream house is a garage with a lift in it. I don't even give a crap what's in the house - it's the garage I'm concerned with.

Alternatively, a hangar with a lift in it. Oh man. Go fly my plane, come back, work on my car, sit on the couch and drink a beer - all in the hangar!!
 
HerrGruyere said:
Oh man, my dream house is a garage with a lift in it. I don't even give a crap what's in the house - it's the garage I'm concerned with.

Alternatively, a hangar with a lift in it. Oh man. Go fly my plane, come back, work on my car, sit on the couch and drink a beer - all in the hangar!!
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I think there was another thread about "show your hangar" and some were really nice.
 
AggieMike88 said:
A 4-post lift in the garage with a high enough ceiling becomes a space doubler.

Project car goes up in the air. Daily driver goes under.
Click to expand...

A guy in my neighbohood did just that. It's pretty cool. I can't really tell what's on the lift though, he keeps it covered and I don't know him well enough to ask.
 
A friend of mine who restores British sports cars, bought an old car maintenance shop to use the lifts to make it easier to restore his cars. Sweet setup.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
I think there was another thread about "show your hangar" and some were really nice.
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A hangar or a sweet garage is like the ultimate man-cave.

My ideal garage has black and white checkered tiles, a lift, a workbench with some needed tools (like a hydraulic press, a vice, etc.), a nice tool setup, a fridge, a couch, TV, the walls are adorned with memorabilia, and it's climate controlled.
 
HerrGruyere said:
A hangar or a sweet garage is like the ultimate man-cave.

My ideal garage has black and white checkered tiles, a lift, a workbench with some needed tools (like a hydraulic press, a vice, etc.), a nice tool setup, a fridge, a couch, TV, the walls are adorned with memorabilia, and it's climate controlled.
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Are you drooking just thinking about it?

I will need to upload some "ultimate hangar photos" from my phone, but I hesitate to do so since I did not get express permission from the pilot. You could literally live in his hangar, it is an emergency shelter for the local authorities including food, water, beds, etc. Even internet, TV, couches, and booze (and of course planes).
 
Good to see you doing your own work. It's good to see when people try and figure out a sharp 12 year old can handle most of it. The diagnostics is the only tricky part, any actual repair only requires knowing how to turn a wrench, some time, and the willingness to be dirty for a while.
 
I think one of the best skills my Dad taught me was the ability to turn a wrench. It's surprising how many people don't work on their cars. It's also kinda neat to see how people are impressed when you tell them you do your own work.

kimberlyanne546 said:
Are you drooking just thinking about it?

I will need to upload some "ultimate hangar photos" from my phone, but I hesitate to do so since I did not get express permission from the pilot. You could literally live in his hangar, it is an emergency shelter for the local authorities including food, water, beds, etc. Even internet, TV, couches, and booze (and of course planes).
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Awesome!!!
 
My daughter is a few years younger than you. She has spent time wrenching on my Jeep in the past. We bought the kids tool boxes when they were in college and she was the "Al Borland" of her sorority. Nobody else could fix anything, but she had no trouble. Good for you. I hope your BF reallizes how special you are.
 
Ghery said:
My daughter is a few years younger than you. She has spent time wrenching on my Jeep in the past. We bought the kids tool boxes when they were in college and she was the "Al Borland" of her sorority. Nobody else could fix anything, but she had no trouble. Good for you. I hope your BF reallizes how special you are.
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That's nice of you to say, but I really can't sit around and watch other people do stuff while I am idle. For example, if people are fixing something I will grab a screwdriver - or if people are painting I will grab a brush - or cooking I will help prep the food - that sort of thing. But when he works on his car with his Dad, that is like a bonding moment, so I often leave or do something else. This was my car, and we were alone, so in a way it was our little moment.
 
I have a compressor and impact wrench which is really nice when it comes time to swap to the Winter Wheels. Especially with all the corroision we get here in the northeast. Plus air tools are sexy. I wish I has a lift!
 
I'm hoping you follow that impact wrench with a good, accurate torque wrench!
 
dell30rb said:
I'm hoping you follow that impact wrench with a good, accurate torque wrench!
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Of course! The impact wrench is for the "untorqueing" process. And it does work wonders at that. On our Ford Ranger it took the impact gun plus a shot with the MAP torch to get the rear lugs off. Tire shops unfortunately *don't* seem to use a torque wrench they just whale on it until it is way over tight, and then a season of road salt on top of that... :mad2:

Makes you wonder what would happen if I actually got a flat tire and had to change the wheel by the side of the road. Anything that doesn't loosen after a few minutes of tough love with an impact gun is going to be a royal pain with the "wrench" they supply with the tire change kit.
 
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