Do you still enjoy doing it?

[mattsbeamer]

And by that, I see many of you are mechanics, and some of you are DIY'rs.

Do you guys still enjoy fixing your cars? Or has it become a chore to you?

What do you wish you done instead....?

[Joepublic]

DIYer - modern stuff is so crammed in it drives me insane, 4 hours pfaffing yesterday trying to get the driver side engine mount back on her golf - it fell off without the belt and pump on, with the added complication of the belt and pump / tensioner I ended up with the engine mounts off and crane up / down /side ways / anyways.... Driveshafts off too...........

I hate deadlines, plodding along I'm fine, if the car has to be back together for work the next day it all goes tits up....................

[mbev51]

hi
as an older diyer in my 60s, who is retired, I still like the challenge of doing 99% of jobs on our cars. I like to spend our money on other things so it keeps me from boredom and helps with the pennies. It does stress me up a bit at times, normally win through in the end. Its part of my life, wouldn't change it. I still have a motorbike as well. I'm gratefull for everyone who has helped me sort out my car problems, the internet is invaluable. Wouldn't like to do it professionally, too much time pressure and not a lot of reward.

[mattsbeamer]

Sounds like a nightmare, for a job that is easy on other cars Also a pain with all these computers trying to stop the DIYers doing simple jobs

[mattsbeamer]

I agree, I think if you love doing it as a hobby, u should keep it to that. I love the internet also, does help my confidence seeing someone on videos doing it step by step, or being taught by Rhubarb.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2012 15:21:14 GMT 1 mbev51 said:

hi
as an older diyer in my 60s, who is retired, I still like the challenge of doing 99% of jobs on our cars. I like to spend our money on other things so it keeps me from boredom and helps with the pennies. It does stress me up a bit at times, normally win through in the end. Its part of my life, wouldn't change it. I still have a motorbike as well. I'm gratefull for everyone who has helped me sort out my car problems, the internet is invaluable. Wouldn't like to do it professionally, too much time pressure and not a lot of reward.

Seems I'm like mbev51, except I don't have a motorbike. Found lots of helpful information on the internet that made the job easier, some of the stuff in the Haynes manuals is plain wrong!

[Joepublic]

Probably the scariest job I've ever done, heater matrix on my corrado



AS bought with a bypass fitted

[mattsbeamer]

Nov 24, 2012 15:57:59 GMT 1 Joepublic said:

Probably the scariest job I've ever done, heater matrix on my corrado



AS bought with a bypass fitted

that does look scary. I remember when my first car a 1985 E30 318i, past its MOT after 3 years sitting on my drive. When she came back from MOT, she started pissing bright yellow fluid from under the dash. I ran straight on to the internet years ago, and it turned out to be the heater matrix. They said the whole dash needs to come out. Luckily i didnt need to as i could lay upside down in foot well, pull the panel back enough to change the small o ring, on matrix. I was a very proud happy boy lol

[Karl]

If you didn't have a least some interest,then what's the point?

Mostly enjoy

I find understanding new systems and technics keep me going

[french crap fanatic]

i still enjoy working on cars,trained and worked for citroen dealers for ten years for my sins!!!!
the dealing with customers is becoming a real headache now.
cars are getting more complicated.
parts are getting more expensive.
cant just swap parts about to help id the problem.
even to find out whats wrong can cost hours and therefore lots of money,sometimes this part has to be shipped out to specialists.
all the while manucaturers are restricting tech data and issuing wrong data to companies,eg autodata have wrong info for a lot of cars.
and all this time customers expect we can plug a computer into their car and "fix"it while they wait.
customers dont know how to check oil/water or change the tyre anymore!!!!
i find myself telling more and more people sorry cant do it.
the phone call always starts off with;
"its just a quick question........................................."

[Karl]

Nov 24, 2012 18:10:46 GMT 1 french crap fanatic said:

i still enjoy working on cars,trained and worked for citroen dealers for ten years for my sins!!!!
the dealing with customers is becoming a real headache now.
cars are getting more complicated.
parts are getting more expensive.
cant just swap parts about to help id the problem.
even to find out whats wrong can cost hours and therefore lots of money,sometimes this part has to be shipped out to specialists.
all the while manucaturers are restricting tech data and issuing wrong data to companies,eg autodata have wrong info for a lot of cars.
and all this time customers expect we can plug a computer into their car and "fix"it while they wait.
customers dont know how to check oil/water or change the tyre anymore!!!!
i find myself telling more and more people sorry cant do it.
the phone call always starts off with;
"its just a quick question........................................."

Think you've summed it up well there

[natedog]

Started out working on compaction rollers, but unless I dropped a.nut.down the inlet changing the air filter (did it twice) mostly all I ever had to do was oil changes and vibe tests. Got bored very quickly. After. Spell as a white van man, got a job doing roadside bodgery for a local recovery contractor. Got disillusioned with that after a few years, due to the high number if ignorant, rude and ungrateful idiots that I had to deal with. "What do you mean you can't replace my cracked manifold at 3am on the side of the m4? It's not good enuf, I pay good money for this service and expect you to get me going" or the number of "you came and fitted my spare wheel yesterday, and now my electric windows have stopped working. The main agent charged me £270 to fix it and I want you to pay for it" (someone genuinely made that complaint against.me and the breakdown club just coughed up and passed the bill on to us)

Used to enjoy tinkering with my own motor, but these retards have drummed that out of me. I chuck almost everything I need done to my local garage now.

I came off that job and went onto long distance recovery about 8 months ago, but I still have to deal with these fucktards. The only thing keeping me in the job is I know I'd struggle to earn this money anywhere else, as I've got no useful qualifications. I did apply to green flag as a patrol, and got turned down as they want bits of paper. 5 years in the job for an independant with an 86% fix rate wasn't good enuf

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[Welshy]

Used to enjoy doing minor servicing and repairs, but working in the service department of several dealers, I was able to get a most jobs done for very little

Nowadays, don't have any real spare time, but an old CM forum member does a fantastic job at fixing my motors

[Eddy]

I still enjoy working on the motors... it's the customers that pee me off!

[natedog]

Definitely not enjoying today. Jumpstarts and wheel changes all day in the pissing rain, mostly in bristol. A 34 foot long flatbed is not the right vehicle for this!

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