Do you do your own car maintance or just take it to Jiffy Lube or a place like that?

Question

I do it myself and save alot of money. I do almost everything from a tune up to changing brake pads, and even my alternator. The only thing i take into the mecahnic for is if i need to change something like shocks or struts.

Answer 1

My late Dad used to have a hoist and gobs of tools and I did all of my cars there. Now hes gone and so's the hoist but I have the gobs of snap on tools and jacks and stands so...I can do allot. The really major stuff I save for professionals and I need a bit of advice from Mr. good wrench from time time but, I don't trust anyone torquing my lugs, I do it with Dads old snap-on torque wrench.....because these are things I have had drilled into my head by my Dad. He was a Chevy service manager/owner for 45 years in his own shop. That man could really diagnose a car if he knew all the detail, he would have loved this site. He taught me many many "tricks" of the trade that really make jobs easier...Now I really find a lot of good knowledge at this site and it kind of replaces calling up Dad for advice......but I feel his spirit when I use his tools...thanks

Answer 2

Always do it myself, even though sometimes it's a pain the the a**!
My brother took his car to Jiffy Lube and they put the wrong oil filter on. He paid, backed out of the garage but noticed a huge pool of oil on the ground.
The mistaken filter allowed all the oil to leak out of the engine right away. If he would have just driven off, the engine would have burnt up completely.
Several friends of mine have had Jiffy places forget to tighten the oil plug. After a few days the plug falls off, completely draining the engine of oil in a few seconds, burning it up.
The guys in jiffy places are paid minimum wage and are not mechanics. If they do something wrong and you drive off without noticing, it's extremely hard to prove it was them that ruined your engine.

Answer 3

I do all the work on my truck myself for two reasons:

1) I don't trust other people working on my truck. I don't know their qualifications, and what they do or don't do to fix my truck.

2) I'm a college student. I can't afford to take my truck to the shop for repairs.

It saves a ton of money, and you can usually get the work done in less amount of time anyways. When it's in the shop, it's not like you'll be going anywhere anyways.

Plus, it helps when your own personal garage has more tools than many of the service shops.

Answer 4

i do almost all my own work i dont do any major engine repair on my own car because i dont like to or trans work but i will swap out struts shock plugs wires belts hoses batteries and i also do most of hte work on my sisters and mothers cars and do a lot of work on the side i am a mechanic and i know what i am doing

Answer 5

I used to do it all myself (including shocks, struts, and exhaust system). Eventually I realized that my time in doing little things was worth more than I would pay a mechanic.

Answer 6

I'd like to do that, but I drive a Vokswagon and they make them more difficult for just anyone to work on for some reason.
I also live in an apartment complex and I don't feel safe crawling under a car in my parking lot

Answer 7

I do most of it if I have the time. I find the time for small jobs like oil changes.brakes,tuneups etc. Changing out the intake or putting different gears in the rear, that I will let my mechanic take care of it.Or if I need special tools.

Answer 8

I do everything myself. But, then again, that's what I do for a living. Shocks are easy, leave struts to a shop.

Answer 9

I take it to a local shop. I'm not mechanically inclined. The place I go does a good job, but they don't charge a ton of money.

Answer 10

let me ask you this.who do you trust?most places like that offer fast servicebut is it to fast to do a good job?I work at one that had 1 pit man for 4 bays.each bays 10 mins tops.it's to easy for mistakes.we bought a 1000 dollar rearend because one pit man left the plug out of it when checking it.they arepayed to sell product and do it fast.think about it.....