DIY Auto Mechanics Can Save You BIG Money

Hey My Tacoma Brothers and Sisters,

My buddy Sean and I have something a bit different for you this time. There's no wrenching in this one. It's basically a discussion of why it's good to become a DIY Auto Mechanic but it also discusses other things like how I got my start turning wrenches. I'm kind of curious what you guys think. I know not everyone on this forum turns wrenches but a lot of you do. It would be cool to hear about your stories of how you got into auto mechanics. Hoping this starts a good discussion where we sort of get to know each other a little better.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RB-BVp8BbPo

 

In the 80's my Dad worked in a custom race shop as a painter and after preschool he would pick me up at noon and I'd hang out with all the guys in the shop. I loved seeing different cars come and go and the midget race cars that the owner raced. Anyways my dad always had everything in our garage for DIY repairs and that's how I always thought it was. So naturally I try and avoid paying to do work as much as my old man did.

 

2nd and 3rd gen oil changes are easy. Takes like 20 minutes tops if you move slow

 

3.4l v6, remove drivers side mud guard by pinching the clips in the engine bay enough to access the oil filter thru the wheel well, FYI stuff a whole lotta rags under the filter before cracking it off, or lots of oil will get on the engine and drip drip drip all over the place

 

I have an access door for the filter. 4 bolts

the drain plug exposed

 

I got into doing more DIY repairs from being on TW and connecting with other memebers with a lot of knowledge @tacobell007 @LivinLoud .
I much more prefer to do my own stuff than having someone else do it. I do use a couple shops that I trust for the stuff I don't feel capable to do.

 

does that require removal of the tire?
i have no lift on my truck its pure stock, can barely stick my large head into the wheel well to see and clean stuffs

 

no you wont have to remove the tire, or the skid plate to get the filter out thru the wheel well, if you have long arms it makes the job easier

 

Idk man.... I feel like DIY has cost me a load of money... But like all things ... Moderation..

 

I grew up poor. If the car broke you fixed it.

I'm now cheap and hate paying big bucks to fix little shit. I also hate having to fix shit.

Clutch is coming up. Steering rack drips. Oh so slowly.

Getting the itch for something new and fun

 

I think ultimately my Dad inspired me to do my own wrenching.

Stemmed from when I was a kid and he would do (and still does) some fairly involved home renovations or work on our small farm tractor

Would always ask "Why not pay someone else to do it..."

He would respond "Because then I have to give them my money. I like my money!"

My brother also has a hand in this - as he's constantly restoring his '87 pickup. Gets me itchin' to do some work of my own!

 

I wanted to be a mechanic when I was a kid. My first car me and my dad replaced a steering rack, and basic tune up together. I learned how to change my oil and have changed it ever since.

When I got my first 1st gen I started having issues cutting out and hesitation on the highway, that’s when I first found TW and read about the TPS sensor which solved my problem.

My second 1st gen had leaking VC gaskets when I bought it and I ended up having a shop replace those but they actually did good work!

My first big job was installing 5100s and add a leafs with my step dads help.

Next job my throw out bearing was making alot noise so I went in and replaced the clutch with my step dad and that was a pretty difficult one.

Next I was wanting to have my timing belt done and at the time had a crazy work schedule. I won’t go into detail too much but I paid $950 and got fucked. It Started leaking a ton of oil a week after so I took the truck back, it ended up sitting 2 weeks at the shop and was diagnosed a loose oil filter. 6 months later I was still leaking oil and I was tired of it so I cleaned the motor and found it leaking at the bottom near the crankshaft. I then pull the timing cover back and see a huge laceration on the timing belt itself.

I then took matters into my own hands. I watched yalls timing belt video twice, collected the tools/parts I needed and was able to do the job solo on a weekend!

Turns out I was leaking oil from a cam seal they replaced and also found out OEM parts that I requested weren’t used and after looking at the invoice found that he had charged me $400 for a “timing belt kit” and then a extra $140 for cam seals, drive belts and thermostat.

Soon because of y’alls videos I’ll be doing the ecgs bushing, lca bushings, valve covers, and steering rack!

 

Started wrenching with my dad when I was a kid, first the 96 taco, then the 01 taco and the 06 corolla. Here we are years later and I actually work on them for a living

Massive savings doing work yourself.

 

Cool backstory video Tim & Sean!

Learned oil changes and basic maintenance in high school (oh and I do remember woodshop!). Applied that knowledge to my first car senior year. 67 Firebird. Loved that car. Later on in life just kind of let it all go and just paid to have work done. Was easier that way - no dealing with old oil, just pull into the service department and out in 30 mins.

With the Tacoma, started dusting off the tools after joining TW. Not much at first but certainly have progressed. The video you put out on steering rack bushings was my first real wrench job with the truck aside from oil changes. After that, soon came installing the full OME kit and so on. After that rear axle seal repair which I didn't think I could do (even after watching your vid), after that nice huge bill from the service dept - nope. Happens again, I'll tackle the job. Hell, you even tried to tell me to just buy the press and do it myself if i recall.

Valve cover gaskets are in the queue and probably knock out timing belt as well since I'll be right there even though its not due for a bit.

Your videos and this forum/members have been awesome! Keep cranking out the videos! Need to make it down to your next MOD Day.

 

I never knew the Sperm Donor !

Growing up in Farm Country every thing was worked on .

I was working at 12 it seemed I had good aptitude for mechanical things lots of on the job training .

I was lucky I was a great reader and sucked up things like a sponge.

Turned 18 as the last troops were going to south east Asia .

I took every bit of schooling I was offered through work and that I could afford on my own.

I had some great teachers and learned a lot.

 

One of the reasons people wrench less on their own vehicles now i think is because of the complexity of cars now compared to back 30 years ago, everything is aluminum and hardly no space to work. We’re not able to sit in the engine bays while we work on them haha.

 

Just did this yesterday I use paper towels.

 

I went to a technical school and wanted to get into mechanics but it was all booked up with the teachers kids so I got into auto body. I wasn’t interested in it all that much but always had a knack to learn. I had a fuel pump go out in an old 95 Taurus I had and mechanic wanted $900. I figured people do this everyday, you fear what you don’t know. So I bought a Chiltons book on Ford Taurus’s and $150 it was done!
I’ve installed a pair of TRD headers on my 03 Tacoma, done two tune ups, replaced both my CV axles and changed all the fluids on a couple of occasions. Then sometimes it’s easier to just pay the money to have someone else do it...my buddies a master mechanic at Toyota and only charges me $500 for a Timing belt replacement.

 

i am trying to do the math and account for savings on the leaky upper radiator hose i changed out myself because the dealer refused warranty for work they did, said they did not remove the hose or even check it with a complete coolant service

they wanted $280 to change it with a new hose and refill the coolant lost they had just completely changed out.
i balked at that price because its not terribly complicated nor special tools and/or equipment needed... nor was it strenuous on my early onset of rigor mortis
it still took me nearly 3 hours, which included the hour engine cool down period (i had dinner during the wait) to safely remove the hose and clean and scrape around the areas it was apparently leaking from
bot the new oem hose wholesale so I saved probably 50 per cent on parts from the dealer markUp

 

Just add in the cost of poisoning your liver as you break three bolts off in the knuckle which will be flush BTW. As you go inside to drowned the pain in Bud Light as you yell at your wife Rachel who happens to be a sassy woman, but she won't have any of it and find yourself sleeping on the couch, but not before putting up a want ad on TW for a knuckle from another truck. You tried easy outs, but the first one broke. There will be a primal rage stewing that will result in a library quietness in the house. Then the new knuckle arrives and all is well again.

She keep trying to get you to trade it in on a 3rd gen, but you want to keep your masculinity as you've seen what a shit show it is in the 3rd gen section. You'll need a prescription for low-t