To FIX ,or NOT FIX

[russlaferrera]

In the corporate world there are guide lines on when to Rebuild an item. This is called "The one Time Repair Limit."

The considerations for repair/rebuild vs replacement is, it's age, life span, cost of repair (cost is very high, considering benefits), cost of a replacement.

All these factors have a numerical value. When added up . The results are clear.

Here in the hobby/ weekend warrior world thing are not so clear. We call this "Most Bang for the Buck"!

I can't afford a new one, sentimental value, cost of parts, skill level, cost of repair (free most times), sense of satisfaction (we fixed it).

This edit is an attempt to explain WHY SOME OF US do what we do. As Medical Insurance does not cover our illness.

 

[PAToyota]

Yep... My boss is always telling me I should just take my vehicles to a mechanic for whatever repair... I don't quite want to fully explain to him that taking "x" hours out in the shop to do it myself gives me more satisfaction than working "y" hours at the office to earn the money to pay the mechanic to do it for me...



Plus, as in the case of my latest repair job - I'm fixing what the mechanic "fixed" the last time anyway... So doing it myself and I'll know it was done right!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have always said "if you want it done right, do it yourself". Rarely had luck with shops. Once or twice, specific jobs such as the trans shifting problem on my Ply Breeze, was the speed sensors, easy, quick, reasonable priced fix.

Stuff like the timing belt, no way I could pay a shop to do it. Half the fasteners would be missing when I got it back, undercar plastic shields would be flopping loose, and such, more headaches than doing it myself. Also, as noted, personal satisfaction, and not having to part with large sums of money to get it done poorly or wrong............

Charles

 

[Danglerb]

Cars are just the things we buy so we can play with our tools.

I'd wager there isn't one person on this forum who hasn't bought something broken just to fix it.

We may also have all sorts of "practical reasons", but most are only good for shooting the bull.

 

[MarkH]

Cars are just the things we buy so we can play with our tools.

Still it a a productive use. Just made the mistake of bring a car in because of a bad AC clutch bearing. It came back broken. I brought it in since I did not have a AC manifold and vacuum pump at this location.

Long story short, it cost me less to get the tools and parts and fix it myself than it cost me to have it, fixed, oops broken by someone else. It justifies the fun. It would of cost me three times more to get what they broke fixed at a shop.

Thanks for the internet, I was able to get a good compressor driven vacuum pump and not have to pay for a high price one like I had earlier.

 

[Deafautotech]

i can't believe i can fix all chrysler, jeep, and dodge what i can do with DRB-3 and starscan tool with service diagonsic manuals... i can find the problems as fast that i can do but i cant figure out what problem with my Nissan truck with evaporative system that failed many times. i did not test or do smoke test... i tried to look for any hoses crack and tested the sensors and they are working...
it is 1997 nissan Hardbody with 2.4L inline 4 KA24E engine... with 142,580 miles...

 

[KingPerformance]

i can't believe i can fix all chrysler, jeep, and dodge what i can do with DRB-3 and starscan tool with service diagonsic manuals... i can find the problems as fast that i can do but i cant figure out what problem with my Nissan truck with evaporative system that failed many times. i did not test or do smoke test... i tried to look for any hoses crack and tested the sensors and they are working...
it is 1997 nissan Hardbody with 2.4L inline 4 KA24E engine... with 142,580 miles...

This is an easy fix unless you absolutely have to fix it correct. Look up in the diagnostic manual what the resistance value the computer is looking for. Check what the computer is actually reading then soldier in a resistor for the value that gives the computer what it is looking for and remove what ever parts you don't want/need. I do similar work ups when installing engine management in OBD2 vehicles.

 

[Deafautotech]

This is an easy fix unless you absolutely have to fix it correct. Look up in the diagnostic manual what the resistance value the computer is looking for. Check what the computer is actually reading then soldier in a resistor for the value that gives the computer what it is looking for and remove what ever parts you don't want/need. I do similar work ups when installing engine management in OBD2 vehicles.

Thanks. i am planning to use my Chrysler's smoke test to do test to make sure there is no leak before i make a more tests on electrical sensor like Evap purge Solenoid, NVLD monitor....

 

[eschoendorff]

My school district is forever crying poor... if I need something for my band room, I usually end up building it myself or fixing it myself. I just got done making a mobile teaching cart to carry my sound system, class room supplies, guitar amp, etc...

 

[timgr]

Lots of us individuals are capital poor and comparatively labor-rich. Many people live right at the edge of their spending limit, and don't have the means (or inclination) to trade off their "extra" free time for cash, so they use that time on projects that are mostly fun and fill some of their needs.

In general, you can have lots of time and no money, or no time and plenty of money. Plenty of both is the working definition for "rich."

 

[icnsltmfg]

For me, I know my limitations, but I also value my $$. I learned a long time ago the value of a dollar and will not just throw it away. I also enjoy the satisfaction of fixing something myself. The one that kills me are those that don't replace their own brake pads. It's one of the easiest jobs to do, and much much much cheaper then the dealer (Esp since they always want to replace the rotors).

 

[Detroit Diesel Man]

I tend to seek things out that are broken just to fix them..I'm one that would rather have something old and fix it than something new..even if its not repairible their are always parts to steal off it before it goes to scrap.



DDM

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

My favorite fix it story. Years ago, before my uncle retired from Monsanto, he saw one of the guys from the tool shop throwing away a Porter Cable portable bandsaw.

My uncle asked them what was wrong it, they said the power cord was cut off by accident right at rear of the saw and since it was about 15 years old, they were going to throw it away and get a new one.

Well, my uncle took it out of the trash and brought it to us knowing we needed a good portable bandsaw. Heck all that was needed was to open it up and replace the cord.

Worked like new and only cost us about 10 bucks in "repairs"

Fix it every time if you can

 

[jay50]

Ten years ago, I go tired to taking my vehicles to repair shops. Having a degree in EE and a desire to learn, I enrolled in a local community college auto tech program and earned my AAS in Auto Technology going to school part time for 5 years. I have since started my own auto repair business as a side business and have never regretted it. Auto repair is a business that requires a desire to continually learn and read. It has definitely been challenging and rewarding...$$$$$