Is it bad that nobody can fix their own car these days?

I take my truck into the shop for general tune-ups and oil changes...I do not have the knowledge or skill to do either, nor do I care to learn it. And I do not believe I'm getting ripped off...it is just something I do not do and do not want to do.

I can perform minor maintenance on my computer. I can sew. I know the basics of canning and making jams/jellies. When the drain in my tub quit working because the lever chain broke when the plug was in the up position, I checked on the internet and once I understood the way this worked, I stuck a wire hangar down the overflow part of the tub and was able to put that lever back in the down position. When my garbage disposal wouldn't work, again, I looked on line and did was was suggested and I didn't have to call someone in to fix it.

It all depends on what the problem is if I'll try to tackle it myself.

I do believe that the lack of people caring to learn to sew their own or other's clothing is sad...I still wear some of the clothes my mom sewed for me when I was in high school...and they are made way better than a lot of what is purchased new at stores.

I also believe that the jams & jellies we made growing up were way better (and less expensive) than the ones purchased in the store today.

Wily Fox aka Angela wrote: Joe, I don't think Badger thinks poorly of back yard mechanics, just pointing out the facts when folks attempt to do more than they have skills/knowledge/tools to do. Is that correct, Badger?

Correct Angela, there are plenty of shade tree guys out there with an amazing amount of knowledge and ability... but I will say that isn't the norm and I tend to see many of those of the norm on a regular basis.

BearMtnHIB wrote: Even if I don't have the time to do it myself- my knowledge saves me money by knowing that there is no such thing as a "muffler bearing".

Mazda 929, Mitsubishi 3000gt..... both had actual muffler bearings. No joke, but yes I do understand what you're saying. Just a rule of thumb for those of you wanting to change your own brakes.... please take the rotors someplace to be machine turned. It usually only costs $10 per rotor and gives an ideal surface for proper brake wear.



Badger

Wily Fox aka Angela wrote: Joe, I don't think Badger thinks poorly of back yard mechanics, just pointing out the facts when folks attempt to do more than they have skills/knowledge/tools to do. Is that correct, Badger?

Well I don't know Wily, I just had to respond since I was called out as an example. There is some truth in what Badger posted on diagnostics and equipment, I just come from a different era where all my buds knew how to fix cars (and still do). Today's youth would struggle changing a flat tire or an air filter.

ComputerBreath- Sewing is another skill that is handy, I fix shirts all the time. Simple really. I'm a cheapskate.

BadgerKustoms wrote: Just a rule of thumb for those of you wanting to change your own brakes.... please take the rotors someplace to be machine turned. It usually only costs $10 per rotor and gives an ideal surface for proper brake wear.



Badger

And don't turn or reuse rotors that are thinner than specs allow - You'll wind up with pulsating brakes from warped rotors due to lack of heat tolerance.

Specs are available on-line, a mic is available from Harbor Freight for $10.00.

Or, take the rotor to a reputable shop and listen to them when they say "the rotor's so thin I can see the cooling fins through the disc - you really should replace this one"

BearMtnHIB wrote: If my faucet leaks- I can fix it. If an electrical circuit fails- I can fix it. If my car needs brakes, or a new alternator, or a new radiator, or new roters or even new axles - I can fix it. These skills are mandatory
[ snip ]
Thanks to my father for making me a generalist in life, with specialist skills where I make my living- it really pays off to be both!

I'm going to second this, and to a very large degree. Someone posted on here a few weeks back about kids getting to shop-class in high school, and not knowing how to properly hold a hammer. On top of that, I was talking to a very nice woman from my office who mentioned the other day that her husband had witnessed a medical emergency the other day while in a shop downtown. My immediate response was "Did he help her?"

Her response was: "He's an engineer, how would he know what to do?"

I said "I'm the IT Guy, and I know what to do..."

Honestly, (and with no sexist intent here!) I would love to have the time to write a book called "Where have all the Real Men Gone?"

I have built everything from bookshelves to dog houses, framed rooms for the house... I've wired electrical, phone systems, built computers, and taken apart cars from Jeeps to Volvos, all in the name of self-discovery and the idea that learning things for myself is most-important. Add to that the fact that I went through Boy Scouts, and I've had training in everything from survival to medical assistance... and it makes me wonder... what happened to all the men who had these skills, and how is it possible today that parents let their children (girls and boys) grow up without them? How can anyone not know the basic steps to use a hammer, to support someone in a medical emergency, and to fix things when they break?

As an example, I have (I didn't buy it... I just have it I swear!) a trash can that has a motion-sensor to open the lid when you waive your hand in front of it. A few months ago, it quit opening all the way. The trash can cost something like $30 for a set of the big one and the small one.

I didn't throw it away, though... I took it apart. All it needed was a cleaning and some new grease, and it's opening like nobody's business. Pretty simple, right?

Tell a friend you took something apart and fixed it, see if they're surprised. Many people these days will be.

And on that note, I feel like I should go find a way to donate to the Boy Scouts somehow, maybe I'll be lucky enough to have one nearby some day if I have a medical emergency in public, so I can at least get a pillow under my head and some general medical assistance.

Right on- RCCL.

To me it's just second nature now- if my plumbing pipes quit working I don't even think of calling a plumber- that option is not in my train of thought. If I have an electrical issue, I'm not thinking about an electrician, I'm thinking about if Home Depot will have the parts I need or will I need to make a trip to an electrical supply house.

I have cousins who were never taught how to fix anything- not even how to work a screwdriver. Today they rent instead of owning because they can not help themselves. Their father (my uncle) didn't want them to learn manual labor because he didn't want them to do that for a living. Today they are worthless at fixing anything and rely upon professional services for every little thing. The option of buying a "fixer upper" house is not an option for them because they would have to hire out for every item that needs fixing.

Remember- it's not just the cost of marked up parts and labor- but also the taxes and overhead added onto every service you hire out for. I can repair problems for a fraction of the cost I would have to pay to hire out for. In this economy- the best way to stretch a budget is to do what you can for yourself- without having to call a repair or serviceman.

For me economy means doing as much for myself as possible- and use the money I save for other things. Many times what I do costs much much less- and I get a better quality result.

Installing my own hardwood floors and hardwood trim, moulding and millwork was an example of this. I got better quality - I know it was done right, and I didn't pay an astronomical price. I even transported the rough sawn hardwood from the mill and shaped my own custom patterns. I got custom hardwood for the same price as Home depot pine.

Not everyone can do that I know- but we are all good at different things.

If someone has a heart attack- I can help keep blood moving to their lungs until medics arrive.

Maybe this is why we have more and more people seemingly unwilling to fend for themselves- they never took the time to learn so they rely on everyone else (or on government) for their needs- it's a sorry shape we are in!

I can rely on myself for sure- everyone else, maybe- and on government.... NEVER!!

I just bought a new car and they were trying to sell me on the extended warranty service. I reminded them that modern cars from this manufacturer have always lasted me a very long time with few problems. They were talking down their own cars to sell the service, pretty funny.
I should have torn up my deal and walked to a better car maker right?
But they did warn me, a car 10 years old has maybe 2 computers, modern cars can have 8.

Yeah, we turned down the 100,000 mile extended warranty on my GFs Honda. You should have seen how pi$$ed off the dude was at Planet Honda when I talked my GF out of it. He knew she would have taken it. I said its a HONDA, no worries! It worked ok for us, we never needed it and we are past 100K miles.

For cars, the extended warranty is ok for some people who want the piece of mind. Depends on the quality of the car though and what you can do yourself.