View Poll Results: Do you do your own maintenance?
I do all of the maintenance myself.
109
66.87%
I only do oil changes.
27
16.56%
My mechanic takes care of everything.
27
16.56%
Voters: 163. You may not vote on this poll
Do You Do Your Own Maintenance
Do You Do Your Own Maintenance
Just out of curiosity, who out there does their own maintenance? If you do your own, how much do you do, just oil changes, or everything under the hood? I get a lot of satisfaction from working on the car myself, but there's always something that's just easier to let my mechanic do. 
Last edited by Frank D; Jan 14, 2004 at 09:43 AM.
I've done all of my own work on the car except for one trip to the dealer after 2 months with the car (I collided with a curb).
Since then, I've done my own oil changes, tire rotations, alignments, mod installs, etc.
If you want to turn your own wrenches, you probably want a private garage (or access to one). Figure on investing a couple hundred bucks on tools, ramps, jackstands, etc. But you'll save that money in the future in labor costs, and you'll learn a heck of a lot as well.
Since then, I've done my own oil changes, tire rotations, alignments, mod installs, etc.
If you want to turn your own wrenches, you probably want a private garage (or access to one). Figure on investing a couple hundred bucks on tools, ramps, jackstands, etc. But you'll save that money in the future in labor costs, and you'll learn a heck of a lot as well.
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Evolving Member
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From: Mommy buy your car for you?
It's always good to do as much as you can. I've heard so many stories of even basic oil changes getting screwed up ( over filled or underfilled, oil filter not screwed on all the way etc). Besides. I always like to prime a dry oil filter before I put it on a car. No oil change place or dealer does that.
Learned the Hard Way
I used to have a couple private "expert" mechanics do most everything because I thought I might make a major mistake and destroy my car.....come to find out, the major mistake is not doing as much of the work on your car as possible 
My dad used to do all the work on my car prior - he loves wrenching and I trusted him....(moved to cali)
When I bought my EVO they tried to sell me an extended warrantee - I told them they would probably never see me or my car again!
There is a good shop that works on Porsche, Audi & BMW that I will take my cars to for more complecated installs and alignments.
I trust them completely - they charge $95 an hour
They allow you to get right under the car with them and supervise or observe the entire process.....
Munks in Detroit Metro.
BTW - They love the EVO, a crowd always gathers when the car gets up on the lift - It's pretty cool to see Porsche guys asking about the EVO, looking dumbfounded
My dad used to do all the work on my car prior - he loves wrenching and I trusted him....(moved to cali)
When I bought my EVO they tried to sell me an extended warrantee - I told them they would probably never see me or my car again!
There is a good shop that works on Porsche, Audi & BMW that I will take my cars to for more complecated installs and alignments.
I trust them completely - they charge $95 an hour
They allow you to get right under the car with them and supervise or observe the entire process.....
Munks in Detroit Metro.
BTW - They love the EVO, a crowd always gathers when the car gets up on the lift - It's pretty cool to see Porsche guys asking about the EVO, looking dumbfounded
Last edited by Flames-666; Jan 14, 2004 at 01:06 PM.
