Level of expertise doing auto repairs

[Dust]

I'm a tech at a Dodge dealership, and have been for almost eight years. Before that I did all my own auto repair, or paid to have my screw ups fixed.

While I was in college I did my own engine rebuilds, including block and head machining and blueprinting. The college had a fully stocked machine shop, including Rottler CNC boring bars and hones, of which I fully availed myself.

I don't do body, paint, or upholstery. I lack the patience to deal with those.

 

[RedRabbit]

I mainly work in performance. I guess that will fall under high. Technically professional since I work at a shop, but I do it for fun, not for a living. I don't ask to get paid much, I don't need it, someone else could use it.

 

[gearhead1]

High for sure. Don't do it for a living, but have fixed cars for friends after they've had it to the dealer twice. When all else fails, they come to me. I'll tackle about anything mechanical. Only thing I don't do on my own cars is alignments and tire balancing. I do everything else....

 

[speed bump]

High, I can't recall any automotive task that I have turned down. Wouldn't want to do it professionally for very long though; the statement about doing something you love becomes less true when you no longer have a hobby.

 

[Nick Danger]

Medium. I can bolt on stuff and do a good job of it, but when the transmission failed I took the car to a pro.

 

[Thumper68]

I voted medium only because I don't enjoy working on engines or transmissions, I have done them but why bother if I don't like it and can afford to have someone who has more diagnosis equipment and knowledge.

I have done and will do just about anything else on a vehicle though.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I voted Professional. I quit the trade on the automotive side a few years back to join the Military but still am a ********* hobbiest. I won't replace windshields but can do anything from diagnostic old or new, wiring, engine overhauls to body work/painting (dad was in the field) and fabrication. I have a few friends that own shops so I still have access to lifts, high dollar machines, and dealership connections. I am also currently working on my electrical engineering degree in mechatronics..

 

[slip knot]

Voted high because I've done pretty much all of it over time. Nowdays I pick and choose what I want to do. I dont mind farming something out if I dont like doing it. lifes too short to tackle **** jobs.

 

[iScream]

I voted medium as it seemed to be the closest fit for what I've actually done recently. But I replaced the water pump on the 2007 Rav4 my wife used to have then the alternator later.

I used to do auto body and paint work professionally but it was so long ago that I don't think it counts now. I swapped engines and transmissions in old muscle cars back then too. Never actually did a rebuild beyond swapping heads, intakes, distributors and such.

I still remember the firing order for a small block chevy even though I haven't needed that bit of info for many years now.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I answered high, but in reality, I feel like I'm in between medium and high. I guess the best way to put it is this; I'm high in terms of DOING the repair and medium in terms of mechanical knowledge.

I don't have hardly any diagnostic ability in terms of no start/ no crank/ electrical.

That being said, I haven't taken a vehicle to a shop for a repair (other than a windshield) in about 5 years, and my family of 5 has 7 vehicles to maintain.

Wheel bearings, bushings, timing belts/chains, radiators, blown head gaskets and the list goes on. Since jumping in with both feet not long after I joined the GJ, I haven't found anything yet I couldn't fix myself.

I'm not trying to brag, but I'm definitely loving having a shop and a pretty doggone selection of tools to work with. I try and be careful with the money I earn, but I'm still able to spend $3-4k a year in tools and equipment. I'll never go pro for health reasons, but my goal is to have the "Biggest Little Shop" around haha.

Next year will be less about general tools and more about equipment. Crazy as it sounds, I've got a lift but no engine hoist, leveler, or stand. I do have an old Blackhawk transmission jack, but it's suited for floor work and not under lift work.

 

[Jarhead0408]

High, I can't recall any automotive task that I have turned down. Wouldn't want to do it professionally for very long though; the statement about doing something you love becomes less true when you no longer have a hobby.

That's why I haven't turned to it as a career. I wanted to go to UTI at one point, but with an already bad back at the age of 21 it would have been a bad choice.

 

[63mothership]

I fall between medium and high as I do all the work on my own vehicle, also on other peoples. I wouldn't really try to rebuild a engine with out some help as I have never rebuilt a engine

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I put professional as I've certainly made a few bucks fixing cars as a Master Tech at BMW. However, I've since picked up a Mechanical Engineering degree and am a semester away from an MBA. On my own junk, I'll take on any repair, just don't need to do it for a living any more.

 

[PugetDude]

Went from doing it all to doing nothing at all in 40 years.

 

[four.cycle]

Went from doing it all to doing nothing at all in 40 years.

^ yes. this.

'cause as soon as you let it out that you know how to fix stuff, you'll have people calling on the phone asking you to come fix their stuff.
best to just play dumb, pretend you don't know how, and avoid the additional work load and consequent headaches.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I rated my self as medium, I have helped with several rebuilds and feel that I could do them on my own. But any more I don't even change my own oil. Too many back injuries. Plus know too many people that are in the business that take very good care of me. A good friend of mine owns a oil change company, Will not let me pay for my oil changes, so I go and buy his crew pizza for my oil changes. Plus another friend has his own profession shop and again will not let me pay labor and most of the time has me pick up my own parts on his shop discount. I have been very good to people all my life and now they are taking very good care of me in my later life. R.D. Cranium...

 

[Roberts210]

I've rebuilt stick transmissions and old Chevy engines. 40 years ago when I had VW's I rebuilt those engines... always do my own brakes... etc. etc. etc.

 

[Buster21]

I can do everything on my cars except three things. Tires: mount, balance, alignments, etc.
Windshields
Exhaust work
It kills me when I have to pay for someone else to do things to my cars. I take a lot of pride in doing it myself.

 

[BigNuge]

I can do everything on my cars except three things. Tires: mount, balance, alignments, etc.

Windshields

Exhaust work

It kills me when I have to pay for someone else to do things to my cars. I take a lot of pride in doing it myself.

Just about exactly the same....

I don't have the tooling for tires/windshield stuff. On top of that, how often do we need to do tires & windshields??

Now that I have the lift I will take on a lot more of my own work.


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[OccupantRJ]

High. Built street rods and motorcycles from the ground up. I do all mechanics and steer clear of alignment and paint. Diagnosis until I am trapped by needing high dollar scanners or dealer specialty equipment.

 

[gml1998]

I gave myself a medium, although I am capable to do most auto work. I don't have the time or space do do the heavy duty stuff.

 

[Farmall Cub]

I clicked on high, not that I always know what I am doing but I try.
I have done everything to older (pre computer) cars, trucks, tractors, equipment withoout any formal training other than working with folks who knew their stuff.
I let the whole computer thing slow me down a bit till I got a tune on an 04 Silverado I had. Then when I bought a 2010 4.8L 4WD Extended Cab rolling brick, I thought, why not?
So I put a turbo charger on it. I didn't know anything about turbo's but wanted to learn. I hammered an air box out of some aluminum deckplate from TSC and piped in the intercooler, rerouted some harness wiring, made a catch can then eventually an exhaust evac system. Had some custom tunes and a handheld for programming. Did it all myself start to finish and it was a fun project.

That was my last project, put 120k miles on the truck and sold it last year.
Bought a Jeep, I hear they make a supercharger for them......

 

[volunteers]

I voted super low. Only worked on oil change, brake pad, thermostat.
I am surprised there are so many professionals here


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[d.mcfarland]

I think the scale is off. There isn't much of a clear designation. Someone who changes oil isn't anywhere near the same as someone who fits and welds new exhausts. Then the high end, someone who rebuilds their own engines is practically professional. If not paid to do it professionally, their skill level is the same.

That all said, most of us are here because we tinker or do this **** professionally. If we didn't half enjoy it we wouldn't spend our spare time talking about it.

 

[jimgood]

Medium. I can replace stuff; oil, brake pads, rotors. But I don't open engines and I don't diagnose things for ****. Couple weeks ago, my mower started making a godawful racket that sounded for all the world like it might be rod knock. That was the extent of my diagnosis. I called a service shop and had them haul it in. Turned out to be a bad idler pulley which I could have easily replaced myself.

 

[bczygan]

Clumsy ignorant novice.

Willing and able to break parts and booger up threads wherever I find them.

Known to work way beyond my capabilities.

Used to using the wrong tools (Mostly sledge hammer and screwdriver used as a pry bar).

Happy when the cost of the original needed parts is NOT exceeded by the cost of parts I break during the repair.

Bill

 

[GTA Matt]

I always thought everyone on the internet was an expert???

 

[OccupantRJ]

I always thought everyone on the internet was an expert???

There must still be a few honest people in the world.

 

[dlcwent]

Clumsy ignorant novice.

Willing and able to break parts and booger up threads wherever I find them.

Known to work way beyond my capabilities.

Used to using the wrong tools (Mostly sledge hammer and screwdriver used as a pry bar).

Happy when the cost of the original needed parts is NOT exceeded by the cost of parts I break during the repair.

Bill

A few more people ought to feel that way Bill. Because there isn't anything worse than having to undo what someone else has done before you start to fix the original issue.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I do it for a living.... And a hobby.

 

[sberry]

It isn't a hobby for me. I try to take as much pain out of routine work by fixing the shop for it. I can make that harder than it needs to be.

 

[Ramblin Man]

I've been in the automotive field professionally since 1982. I have owned my own shop since May of 1993.

 

[valentine]

I voted medium but I'm probably closer to high. There isn't much that I won't take on...if I have the time. Not ashamed to go to others for help but ,usually by the time that happens, I've already diagnosed the problem and have the replacement parts in hand. I do get satisfaction out of fixing things that the pros say can't be fixed.

-Valentine

 

[deter]

theres not a level listed for me. I'm like the JEDI level. LOL

 

[Nick Danger]

I always thought everyone on the internet was an expert???

I joined Garage Journal because every time I did an internet search when I had a question, someone had posted the answer here.

So everyone else here is an expert.

 

[nikerret]

Medium

I have done brakes one several different vehicles (no brake lines, though), changed out bolt-on exhausts, fluid changes, tire rotations, bulbs, upgraded stereos, installed bolt-on performance parts, changed radiators, etc. What I can't do, alone, a friend helps with.

When I had my 2003 Triumph Bonneville America, I learned a lot about tuning with carburetors. I changed out/adjusted the jets, several times and ended up with a 790 cc cycle that could keep up with most modded 1,100-1,200 cc cycles. I also did most of the work on it, toward the end. In the beginning, I watched a lot and asked a lot of questions. Loved that machine

 

[gs8212]

I'd have to rate myself fair to middling. Most agressive I've done was recently on my 02 Prizm. New shocks and struts all the way around; new exaust and sensors from exhaust manifold through tailpipe; and sway bar linkages. Other things like starters and water pumps, etc. over the years.

If it involves removing that thingie covering those gasket/cylinder thingies I freeze up and bail.

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[ToolRoom]

I restore cars as a Hobby - usually full bare metal rebuilds and modifications. Everything from engine and transmission rebuilds, brakes, suspension, body and paintwork, electrics, etc.

I enjoy modifying and re-engineering but have grown to hate routine maintenance on rusty runabouts. I also spend far too much time on trivial things nobody will ever see/care about. I could never do it professionally - I'd starve.

 

[disston]

High, for an ameture. I have rebuilt engines, auto transmissions and manuals. I made a starter once for a 1972 Mec from 3 other Ford starters. I will do some body work. paid to have a windshield installed a couple days ago, I would have lost money on that one. I do all my own AC work, have all the needed tools. Not much I can't do but I don't have a garage, time or money.

 

[K-Dog]

I am somewhere between HIGH and Professional.
I am not a mechanic but a collision repair technician. I can't rebuild a motor. Well maybe I could with some coaching, but it is WELL out of my comfort zone. Most normal mechanical repair stuff I am comfortable with though. There is more that I am confidant about than not. I will put it that way.