Anyone afraid to work on their car?

[BrumBrum]

'Sup

Is anyone else afraid to do any minor work on their car? I know its a learning process like anything else but I dont want to touch anything on my car out of fear of breaking it.

I can take a pc apart and put it back together easy but when it comes to cars, Nope lol

Didnt know where to post this so I just threw in here

 

[Dominion]

Getting stuck into it is the only way to learn. But safety always has to come first. If you're at all unsure about the safety aspect of working on your own car then I guess you do right by not tinkering with it.

 

[puntomadboy]

Never! i have always tried to work on the car even if i have no clue as to what iam doing, as it's all part of life.. why have a car if your not going to learn a little about it...

any job i can not do i just take it to the garage. but i will at least have a try at it first..

 

[jug]

just get stuck in.

i remember the first time i took my head off. i was 19 and i had never seen so many bits on the garage floor before. i was worried at times, but once you're past the point of no return its too late. it all went back together with help from a haynes manual. a good set of tools and a good manual is all you need to give yourself confidence, oh and a good place to work.

 

[Jamie]

no

 

[puntomadboy]

.

i remember the first time i took my head off.

best thing to mate is just give it a try.. what's the worst you can do....

 

[danhans115]

I never really used to do much work on my car until I owned an Alfa 156. If I had got a garage to do all the work I did I would be still paying it off now lol. Ive always been into computers/electronics and dont think anything of taking stuff apart but cars did used to scare me a bit. ive still got the scars on my arms and hands from working on a mini.

Start off simple, stuff like pads/discs or a minor service then work from there, just always make sure youve got the tools for the job, a guide or faq if there is one, and a cameraphone can be handy if your memory is like mine.

Like simonuk says, give it a go at least and if not then take it to a garage.

Dan

 

[jug]

I never really used to do much work on my car until I owned an Alfa 156. If I had got a garage to do all the work I did I would be still paying it off now lol.

thats part of the attraction. every excuse to get your tools out is a good excuse.

 

[Focus Owner]

not relly im just lazy

 

[Vimto Rolf]

'Sup

Is anyone else afraid to do any minor work on their car? I know its a learning process like anything else but I dont want to touch anything on my car out of fear of breaking it.

I can take a pc apart and put it back together easy but when it comes to cars, Nope lol

Didnt know where to post this so I just threw in here

lol i know the feeling

tbh just give stuff a try and if in doubt ask someone

 

[bulldog5046]

i'm actually terrified of letting anyone else work on my car, but mine does have a touch of indeviduality that most others do not

the first time i picked up a spanner i was 17 and changed an altenator & brake pads on my 999cc uno, a few months later i had stripped & replaced a 20v cylinder head, 2 years on i have rebuilt a 20v Turbo engine and done a full conversion from 20v N/A to 20v Turbo on my Marea, i love learning

 

[Adrian Bravo]

Get stuck in.
Like jug says you need a good place to work, im sick of doing things on the street I need a drive sorting out.

i'm actually terrified of letting anyone else work on my car

Haha me too actually

 

[JFL]

will change a bulb, or anythin that can be done relatively easy

wont touch anything like the brakes etc

 

[Andy Monty]

will change a bulb, or anythin that can be done relatively easy

wont touch anything like the brakes etc

Dont mind discs never dared take a drum apart tho

 

[Dominion]

Dont mind discs never dared take a drum apart tho

I have to admit, I absolutely hate doin drums. B@st@rd bottom springs :bang:

 

[sludgeguts]

My first car had major problems with the gearbox, it was like stirring porridge even in gear, the gearstick was all over the place.
Bought a haynes manual & some cheap tools, chucked a tarp over the car to keep the sun off me. Took me about a week but I had the gearbox out & stripped, replaced a few bushes & pins then put it back & it worked perfectly.
After that, everything else was a doddle.My worst experience was doing a HG on an old Astra. While the head was off I decided to reseat the valves. Just putting the last valve in & the collet wasn't seated quite right. I watched it fly through the air & saw exactly where it landed in the grass but never managed to find it. After 10 minutes I gave up & phoned the garage, their parts dept had just that second closed & no-one was prepared to help me. Spent hours afterwards looking, even borrowed a metal detector.
That was Saturday dinnertime. By Monday teatime I had the new collet - 20p, supplied in a huge bag along with yards of paperwork by way of a receipt.

A major plus point for doing the work yourself is that you can argue the toss with MOT inspectors when they start picking fault.

 

[arc]

just get stuck in.

i remember the first time i took my head off. i was 19 and i had never seen so many bits on the garage floor before. i was worried at times, but once you're past the point of no return its too late. it all went back together with help from a haynes manual. a good set of tools and a good manual is all you need to give yourself confidence, oh and a good place to work.

pretty much what i was gonna say!

 

[CinquePunto]

I do most of the work on my car - I'm not scared of much, anything I am, I just phone ollie... lol

 

[StevenRB45]

Used to do my own servicing on the 8v fires I had and did a bit of work on the 85. Don't know where the plugs even are on current car, I although I can make an edjucated guess and thats how it will stay while its in warranty. Don't like fishing under the bonnet of modern cars tho at least i've not got one those vw 'move along people nothing to see here' covers.

 

[Munkul]

i like working on my car when it all goes smoothly.

when i get stuck... i give up and pay my uncle to do it instead

like the clutch and headgasket on the ol' omega... i spent about an hour by myself on each one, got stuck with some fiddly bits so gave up

anything that is straightforward and i'l do it though. servicing, tracking/cambering, brakes, etc. If the clutch goes in the punto before i sell it, i might even give it a go...