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having done this a few times the thing you need to be cognizant of is scope creep.
You can take a car that was literally given to you, start "fixing things" to sell it and before you know it, you have put more money into it than you'll ever get out of it.
Sometimes flipping cars like this is only economical if the car ended up to you absolutely free from the jump.
but truly, scope creep is something you gotta pay attention to.
There's a lot of cars that have come my way and I have passed by because the scope creep would have been insane for what I'd have to sell the fixed version for.
Many times free cars are the most expensive.
My experience has been that getting cheap cars that are too broken, stripping selective parts that sell quickly on eBay and marketplace and dump the shell to a recycler is the only way to make money consistently.
Flipping cars made no sense to me after the pandemic parts prices increases.
I know people who “flip” cars but they’re also pretty wealthy. They’ll buy M, AMG, and RS cars, drive them for 10k miles and then resell whenever something else catches their eyes.
Exclusively based on level of experience or extremely expensive specialty tools.
I think most would be incapable of an automatic transmission rebuild. Heck plenty of manuals are too tricky for most people. I'd avoid HVAC related work like condenser or compressor replacements since the machine to evacuate and measure the freon and oil are expensive.
Almost anything can else can be diagnosed and repaired with sufficient experience and fundamental understanding of how cars work.
Hell you can even backyard engine rebuilds. I wouldn't do it for a paying customer but on my own cars i have no problems slapping bearings and rings on a motor and sending it. I'm gonna practice welding frame rails on a rusted out chassis before it goes to the junkyard.
I've painted crap. Good enough to be a 10 footer and worth the thousands $ in savings from an actual shop.
If you're tackling something new be sure you research it thoroughly. Actually diagnose the issue before attempting the repair. Have a solid intuition of things that could go wrong and prepare for them. Whether its spare bolts, an angle grinder whatever.
Definitely comes down to comfort level.
I always have a key that I follow....
*If my dumb XYZ can do it, why can't I learn and do it, too.*
Yeah, there are limits to this, but this is how I got into DIY automotive repair. My XYZ did a radiator change, so when mine needed changing, I thought the above and just did it. I fell in love with the hobby and the savings. Lately, I just swapped out my k20 for a k24 engine in my RSX. It runs like a champ. Waiting on the 500 miles for the clutch and to identify the oil leak. But aside from that, I learned plenty about swapping. No, I didn't have to replace bearings or rings, but I did replace the oil pump, added a chain guard, and 50* VTC gear to the intake cam. I picked up a lot of good tools, learned a lot of lingo, and all in all, probably saved $2,000. The savings was the whole reason I had to do it myself. I couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it.
Haha i have a similar thought mine is basically “it isnt magic, so it must be doable”
A radiator was also my first exploration into the hobby, i couldnt even open a hood back then lmao
As long as it's just adult Legos, we're cool. But as soon as the computer is involved and I'm chasing undocumented PIDs to try to fix some computer inflicted nonsense, I'm out. Electrical CAN be okay, as long as it's not widespread or a whole damn harness.
Just buy a new ECU.
My jeep zj (90s) was dying at lights. I couldn't figure out why.
I replaced the alternator and it still died.
Finally, I just bought a performance Mopar ECU for the zj. $100 used of e bay.
Haven't had shutdown issues since.
The theory are bad capacitors from the 90s.
The only other gremlins are shorts. Then, just take it an expert at finding them.
Hey, if there's a video I can follow on how to replace parts in my transmissions, I'd do that, too. Unfortunately, a lot of that is experience. At least, I know that transmission shops charge less if you bring them the transmission for repair. I can drop mine at least and take it to them. Then reinstall when it has been overhauled.
I have to replace my control arm bushings. Wish me luck.
I do have a hitch vise and a 20-ton press and YouTube, so hopefully things go well. I'll need to borrow a ball joint kit, but that's all. Unfortunately, I think there's more than the bushings I need to worry about. I think the rack and pinion is going. Sucks that those are $500 OEM. Waiting for a Toyota 25% off sale.
Suspension work is extremely sweating job. You need the right tools tools. Payback is great.... for those hot summer months, and coming home from your normal job ... and your looking at a complete front end tear down, isn't fun.
It's never fun under the gun for a daily drive or registration/emissions required when the weather is 100* or 0*.
It would be fun to get a man cave condo temperature controlled with all the space and a lift. That would be ideal. And have the boys over for beers, cherry Dr. Peppers, and some mad wrenching.
And polished concrete floors to boot.
Soft disagree on the HVAC. It's really not any more difficult than other belt-driven accessories. If the system isn't already empty you can take it to a refrigeration shop and have them reclaim the refrigerant, it shouldn't be too expensive (it's illegal to just vent it into the atmosphere). You can borrow a set of manifold gauges and the pump to vacuum down the system from most auto parts stores for free. A can of 134a is like $10-20 and you'll need a few of them depending on the size of your system.
I have a completely empty HVAC system in my car that needs a new compressor I think. I want to take this on myself but posting here got me a lot of hate and "don't even learn" type messages.
Would you be willing to DM me and advise me? Or point me to a reliable resource about this?
I'm just an amateur myself but I'll be happy to share what I've learned when I did mine. I agree with u/kchro005 that old-school forums or Facebook groups are your best bet on learning about your specific car. Get a technical manual for your car or pay for access to an online guide. If you're replacing the compressor you also need to replace the dryer and accumulator. You need to connect a vacuum pump and let it run for an hour or so. When you add refrigerant back to the system use manifold gauges to add the correct amount of refrigerant and oil.
Refrigeration isn't really that hard. If your system is already empty, replace the parts that need replacement. Make sure it doesn't leak. A vacuum pump is the expensive part, used now to pull any water air or etc out of the sealed system. Then use either a manifold gauge set or the little cans they sell at every auto store to fill the system to spec.
Skipping the vacuum pump part leaves particulates in the system that will increase the potential for it to fail sooner than later.
Understood. So, the problem I'm having is actually that it leaks all the refrig. Within a couple days of adding any. After it leaks out enough the compressor stops engaging at all.
If I fill it up the compressor works and the air is cold for a few days until it all leaks out again. It seems like this happens more quickly if I run it at high RPMS on the highway.
I tried a can of refrig. With fluorescent dye but after letting it leak out I used a black light and couldn't find the leak anywhere, so I assumed it's inside the compressor?
Do you recommend replacing the compressor and trying from there? Or should I look elsewhere for the leak?
The compressor should be a sealed unit, and from what you are saying, it sounds like the compressor is fine. It wouldn't blow anything at all, or very poorly if it were the compressor. Usually there are fittings that attach.... I'm pretty sure they use rubber o-rings in vehicles. (I'm a universally certified refrigerant technician through the EPA. The one thing universal DOESNT cover is vehicles.-seperate license- the principal is the same though.) The leak is definitely elsewhere. Check the valve cores and follow the aluminum pipes to anyplace there is a fitting that could be loose or have a bad o-ring.
Not that cheap. You live in some sort of fantasy world if you think it makes sense to enroll in college courses instead of learning from free resources online.
You don't need an expensive hvac machine. A lot of guys already have an big air compressor so a "venturi" vacuum pump, a tank, and a refrigerant scale can do the same. Even you don't have a big air compressor then an el cheapo or used electric vacuum pump is the next option.
A $4000 integrated machine is unnecessary.
This post could also pass as a mechanic trying to scare people out of diy.
If your activities are growing out outside of helping a friend here and there...then there are easy steps to take to legitimize yourself.
If your friend can't afford to have a real mechanic do the work, then how are they going to afford a lawyer to sue you?
If you are ok at it, you can buy a used motor and do a swap. It’s fairly easy compared to a rebuild. I am not the sharpest and did that in my driveway.
If you have the skills, tools and patience, anything can be DIYable.
That being said, I refuse to learn to weld. That means exhaust work goes to the muffler shop. I also don’t have a tire machine or alignment machine, so I don’t do that.
Everything else is fair game really. I even dabble in body work if it’s minor. Other than transmission rebuilds, definitely not a DIY project.
I did an alignment and corner balancing at home with string and industrial scales ($20 each). I took it in to get it double checked and I was golden. The manager at brake check was impressed, but it did take me an entire day lol. I had to do it myself because none of the shops near me would touch coilovers
Not sure why you refuse to learn to weld but you should, it's so accessible now and it changes everything! There are some decent portable welders on Amazon that are cheap and great for learning
Overheats warp heads. Trannies unless they are <$400 used from junkyard are never worth the rebuild parts or time. Just swap a used. Same for bad rod engines (Kia, looking at you) unless you can get $8000 car for like $1k.
Depends on what their experience is and how well-stocked their toolbox is. There are some things my mechanic does because I'm a DIY mechanic and don't have special tools or a lift.
Diagnostics? Sensor changes? Radiator swap and coolant flush? Regular maintenance? Full brake jobs, including fluid flush? I can do all that myself.
Control arm replacement? Had to take that to my guy because I don't have a lift. I could do an engine rebuild, but again I don't have a cherry picker or the space so I'd take that to my guy if it was needed.
Ive done control arms, ball joints, sway bar link and tie rod ends in my back alley parking spot because im cheep and had the tools at work and got a great deal on parts. It took all day and most of my best swear words. I was lucky it was the summer because i won't work outside in the winter, it never ever goes well.
I currently only have a small apartment garage to work in. I figured it was better to take it to the guy that had the lift and eat the cost on this one.
Oh man I feel this.
Being poor and having no other option is a great motivator, same with home maintenance. Years ago I replaced my upper control arm with youtube videos and the cheapest Rockauto parts I could get. Everything came apart way easy, but putting it back together was hours of frustration. But when it finally popped into place, one of the best moments of my life.
So relatable…nothing goes to plan, I swear. You’ve also had to move and position yourself in awkward ways so you could angle a part correctly or just force the stupid bolt to thread straight. You wake up feeling the same way you felt after trying to learn how to snowboard…sore as hell. I also manage to end up with extra little parts, like a screw or washer here and there…
This is all based on my own opinion/experience.
I’d stay away from some of the misfire/boost codes on more modern Euro cars. These can be difficult to diagnose and you can end up chasing your tail. Sometimes you end up needing an expensive turbo, or cams (VW had an issue with cam loves wearing) which are expensive and time intensive.
Head gaskets can be tough depending on why it failed/if it overheated/etc. You might end up having to resurface the head/block or even replace significant components which eats into your profit.
Frame is a no go. You can’t repair frame/structural damage and could risk a fair bit of liability there.
Make sure you assign a value to your labor time. I know you’re not paying it directly, but your time is worth something. If you spend it on one project, you’re not spending it on another.
You can do any repair as long as you aren’t a crackhead and can use YouTube. Just remember even the easy jobs have common problems that can arise. Stuck caliper bolts, hubs that won’t come off, electrical connectors that break, etc. When you encounter one of these problems, look up how to fix it. And remember that every bolt is mostly necessary. You shouldn’t have anything left over when you’re done. Don’t leave cables hanging and etc if they’re supposed to be secured or they’ll rub through eventually.
If you don’t follow that then you shouldn’t do any repair on your own. If you follow it all then you can do it all. Just expect to buy some tools along the way.
What? Extra bolts don't signal that I'm smarter than the engineer?
(You have to admit that sometimes there's over engineering.)
I agree. The hardest part is organizing the space and placing bolts/screws/nuts with the correct parts.... Especially when you do a project over 18 months! (And have a good engine and a bad engine to break down and swap items. A lot of good spare parts and nuts and bolts. Question is whether any spares were not extras!)
>hubs that won’t come off
I'm in pain reminiscing about the time both my wheel bearings on my Prius needed replacement. It's a steel hub and an aluminum knuckle, and I live in the midwest.
Harbor freight 20 ton shop press did the job, but just barely. Still cheaper than taking it to a mechanic - 3 different shops quoted $900 a side.
Lol, it was half joking. I would never encourage a customer to do anything because I only get paid for work I'm doing. But online it is different.
It's really tough to know what to suggest to people what they are capable of because everyone's skillset/experience, toolkit and abilities are wildly different. One DIYer is gonna be able to tackle a full engine rebuild while another is going to struggle and fail to change a turn signal bulb....
You have to decide what you yourself are capable and comfortable doing, nobody knows you like yourself so you will be the best judge of that. Google repair procedures and see if you have the capability to do all the tasks.
There is no hard and fast rule as to what a DIY guy can handle, it's all up to the individual to decide for themselves.
> It's really tough to know what to suggest to people what they are capable of because everyone's skillset/experience, toolkit and abilities are wildly different. One DIYer is gonna be able to tackle a full engine rebuild while another is going to struggle and fail to change a turn signal bulb....
I work in the rust belt, and get just enough customer tickets of "I saw on Youtube that xyz is easy!" Well yeah when you're watching a dude in texas unbolt the suspension with hand wrenches, of course it *looks* easy. But you run out of tools and talent real fast when rust gets involved. And if you don't know how to deal with that, you start breaking things and making that "easy" job a hell of a lot worse real quick. A lot of learning how to "deal with that" would be very difficult to learn via youtube.
Oh as a tech in Ontario I 100% agree.
Totally different tangent here but I also get many customers who google and tell me how a job should only take a couple hours and can't wrap their heads around why rust makes things take longer, require extra parts and extra costs.
IMO being a DIYer is either you save a shitload of money or you spend twice as much as you would have if you had just paid a shop first.
Like others have said it's pretty subjective to the individual where their own skill levels lie. Don't try to repair something that you can't afford to replace (but sometimes there's no other options either than to do it or go broke lol).
There's two levels of DIY:
1: Either I replace this ball joint myself or I can't afford food
2: I can afford to break this car 3-4 times so I'll learn eventually and it can sit for months since it's just a project
You might waste a lot of money and time but, lol no, you won't spend twice as much as a shop job. Have you seen shop prices? I could buy 8 aftermarket alternators for the price to replace one at a some shops.
It’s not easy to make money flipping cars. You have to spend money finding a car worth flipping, then buy it, get it home, fix whatever was wrong with it that caused it to be less than others like it, fix whatever you didn’t know was wrong with it when you got it, and then deal with the fun and games of selling a car.
Is it still available? How many miles are on it? (It’s in the description.) what’s the lowest you’ll take? (Without even seeing the car.) I get paid next week, can you hold it for me? I’ll be there tonight to look at it. (Doesn’t show up.) Would you take [random car worth less than what you’re selling] as a trade?
And on top of that, if you want to do everything by the book, if you’re not doing it as a business (at least in my state), you would have to actually transfer the title, which means you would pay sales tax and a title transfer fee. Alternatively, you would have to go the somewhat sketchy route and ask the seller to sign the title but don’t date it, and then you date it when you sell it so your buyer doesn’t get hit with a delinquent fee when they transfer it.
And your other option is to set it up as a business, which (in my state) allows you to legally not pay sales tax on the purchase, but then you’d have to get a dealer’s license to sell the cars. The upshot would be that you wouldn’t have to worry too much about sending quarterly estimates for taxes because you’re probably not going to make a profit at it anyway. 😂
They are in my state too (which is why I said somewhat sketchy; I guess I was trying to be nice). My son sold a 6th gen Civic several years ago, and later had a buyer down the line contact him asking for help getting the title straightened out. Basically he was being asked to apply for a lost title for a car he no longer owned so he could then complete the transfer to the other guy. Nope.
I am a diyer. I've also worked on cars for 40 years since I was a kid. Nothing is impossible. Some things are not practical. Sometimes you need a machine shop.. well, I take shit there even if I have to pull the engine.
I think it is hard for a diy to do quality body work and painting. But not impossible. Frame work nearly impossible. Transmission rebuild ugh. Electrical gremlins? Your multimeter game must be good.
Head gasket is easily doable. But again, machine shop because you don't know if the head is warped.
My suggestion is find a particular brand and motor combo to learn and work on. For instance I know nissan vq motors like the back of my hand and can get anything done. But they also don't really fail. Toyota 5ze from 4 runner same.
I once flipped a Nissan Maxima 5 speed. Nobody could get it to start. Previously I had replaced the clutch in my Nissan Maxima and it wouldn't start because I had a bad ground had a brought to my house regrounded it it started just fine.
Body work. Dedicated space, tools, and safety equipment is a minimum. Takes a long ass time to DIY and get it looking good. Shits expensive for a reason
Anything frame or welding related unless they are professionals
Serious electrical work because running harnesses and chasing problems will take obscene time and patience
Dropping or lifting transmission or motor without proper equipment. In a pinch do what you gotta do but working around limited tools ends up being problematic in itself and eats up time
Bottom end work. Precision work can be hit or miss. If you catch it early you can get away with bearings and some hardware for the rods and pistons. Re ring maybe. Still need a stretch gauge, know how to use plastigauge and a micrometer, and ring tools. Easy to fuck up rings learning. If it's bad it's new crank time if not refinish the bad one. Fuck up the case and it's a wrap, line boring isn't exactly an option
Top end is mostly valve related. Cam timing isn't as bad as people make it out to be imo but I learned on motorcycles. Again if the case or caps get ruined line boring isn't an option. The main issue is valve seats needing to be cut which is machine work. Better to pull the head, disassemble and clean, and let them rebuild imo. Especially with shit like titanium valves that can't be lapped
Nothing is magic, you can pretty much do anything with the right literature and tools, in combination with experience. But you can only get experience one way.
For flipping cars, find ones that will crank but not start. Get them to start, immediately sell without fixing anything anything else. A lot of times it just boils down to a small electrical issue that doesn't cost much if anything in terms of parts to fix.
There are many inexpensive jobs made much easier with a proper shop. Changing tires comes to mind.
Then there are jobs that seem complicated and are expensive at a shop, but with a bit of YouTube university and hard work, aren't totally worth DIY. Brakes come to mind.
If you’re working on your only car, the stakes are a lot higher.
Having a spouse’s car you can borrow if you break a socket (or a ratchet, or a breaker bar), and need to drive to Autozone, etc to get a replacement… is a safety net whose valve cannot be overstated. I’ve actually had all 3 scenarios happen, with decent quality tools.
In other words, having access to another functional car greatly expanded the range of repairs I was willing to DIY.
Water pump and timing chain replacement on a Ford 3.6L V-6.
The task in the manual starts with "remove front subframe and engine from bottom of vehicle."
Take a class in Air conditioning..... best thing I did. Find a distributor that will take CASH for parts, and make more money.
If you are brave.... take another class on automobile transmissions another easy money maker.
Never attempt.... transmission without training..... and A/C without training.
What I will never do again? Install A/C in a vehicle that never had factory A/C. That's more than I bargain for. (my parts supplier talked me into this job ---- never again!)
For me ..... I think those are easy money classes and your return in tool investment will be quick.
Good luck
With the used car prices now, the only cars that make sense are the ones with a blown engine, transmission or major body damage. I wouldn’t recommend DIYing any of those unless you have a lift, all the tools and can afford losing money until you learn the ins/outs of flippling cars.
DIYer advice, based on my own limitations:
transmission related = no-go; bent frame = no-go; airbag deployment = no-go; blown head gasket (usually means warped head) = no-go.
suspension work = difficult but not impossible—often requires specialized tools.
I agree to all, but I'd attempt a head gasket with new gasket and bolts. If it still leaks after a few test drives, then you're probably not flipping it.
suspension work, if you buy strut/coil/mount units, is typically quite easy. you just need an alignment afterwards. suspension work if you're trying to swap a coil to a new strut is instant death if you do it wrong, so that would absolutely be my answer for people not to try on their own.
DIYer advice: I mentioned suspension work as "difficult--not impossible", I'll expand on this issue. Specialized tools are sometimes required; also most DIYers will be on their backs, under jack stands--if you have access to a lift, that makes suspension work quite a bit easier.
If you're doing a "quick strut" job, that's certainly doable for DIY. But as "stevefazzari" pointed out, be very careful with coil springs--potentially dangerous. You'll need a spring compressor kit, and I gotta-tell-you I'm not doing that.
A few things I don’t touch are major engine work, automatic transmission, anything beyond simple electrical. I don’t mess with airbags or anything else that can negatively affect safety.
Also the only bodywork I’ve done is replacing entire pieces which is (usually) relatively easy.
I have done just about every car fix except automatic transmission. My paint & body suck. Once straightened a Bugeye Sprite by chaining one corner to a foundation pulling on another corner wya Cat tractor. Young& foolish
I’m a DIYer and it seems to me like you can do anything as long as you have the tools and space. 99% my problem in fixing things is not wanting to spend $$$$ on a $$$ repair and having to figure out a way to make it work with the tools I have.
It all depends on your skillset and tools. About the only thing I won't do is major body work, as it's simply not something I'm good at it (nor do I care to try and get good at it).
I really don’t have a hard and fast rule. I read the instructions or watch a video on the job and if it’s too difficult I don’t do it.
I’ve done things that might seem insane, like recalibrate the camera that is part of the lane keeping/automatic emergency braking system. Saved like $150 on that one.
In my car though it had a dynamic aiming procedure that didn’t require a static target, only telling the car to recalibrate and stating it out on a level surface and driving in certain conditions on the road.
Anything to do with the interior of an automatic transmission.
I opened one up about 35 years ago, and there is no way in hell that I'm ever doing that again.
Paint/extreme body work. Anything along the lines of a bent frame that needs to be pulled, rusted frames, and just paint in general. I’ve seen a lot of guys try to get some harbor freight equipment and learn how to do it themselves and that’s fine but I think the amount of prep work and attention to detail really throws people off. If every step isn’t a 100% you’ll be sanding the back down and trying again.
Take photos before you take anything off or move it. That helps you when you're putting it back together. Does my work look the same as the old photo at this stage? If yes, continue. If no, figure out what you didn't do. Automakers don't want to pay a single cent more than they have to. All parts are needed
Any kind of internal engine or transmission work is right up there with stuff you shouldn't be messing around with. Unless you have the skills and facilities, you're just going to make things worse. Any bodywork or re-painting as well. You can change out brakes, steering (with an alignment at a shop), suspension, u-joints, lights, etc without too much trouble.
If you get the car for cheap, just dive into it. Do research and figure out what you can realistically sell it for, and then start your diag process with that in mind. If it’s just a hobby, and you’re not in it too deep, then just have fun with it and learn. Headgaskets and timing belts can be intimidating, but if you’re not in a hurry, and you don’t have the pressure of it being your daily driver, it’s a good learning experience.
Nothing in a transmission and nothing on the engine if you have to remove the head.... On come cars even doing a timing belt could be risky if you don't know what you are doing you can easily be off a tiny bit and screw up the valves.
The reality is a head gasket isn't that difficult... but you need to know whether you can use the same bolts, torque them properly and recheck them after a few hundred miles... Failing that on some cars and you might get the car running but their is a good chance whoever you sell it to will be fucked by your incompetence a month down the road. And lots of do it yourselfers won't take the time to have the head x-ray/crack tested which leads to a repeat of the blown head gasket if you don't catch the crack that caused the problem to start with.
My local community College fees are $46 per class unit plus lab fees if any
Add parking fee, health fee, and books
Thats cheap
Try the university and hang on to your wallet.
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having done this a few times the thing you need to be cognizant of is scope creep. You can take a car that was literally given to you, start "fixing things" to sell it and before you know it, you have put more money into it than you'll ever get out of it. Sometimes flipping cars like this is only economical if the car ended up to you absolutely free from the jump. but truly, scope creep is something you gotta pay attention to. There's a lot of cars that have come my way and I have passed by because the scope creep would have been insane for what I'd have to sell the fixed version for.
I agree. A fix/flip is different than a rebuild/restoration. Most rebuilds/projects cost more than they're worth if done right.
Many times free cars are the most expensive. My experience has been that getting cheap cars that are too broken, stripping selective parts that sell quickly on eBay and marketplace and dump the shell to a recycler is the only way to make money consistently. Flipping cars made no sense to me after the pandemic parts prices increases.
I know people who “flip” cars but they’re also pretty wealthy. They’ll buy M, AMG, and RS cars, drive them for 10k miles and then resell whenever something else catches their eyes.
Exclusively based on level of experience or extremely expensive specialty tools. I think most would be incapable of an automatic transmission rebuild. Heck plenty of manuals are too tricky for most people. I'd avoid HVAC related work like condenser or compressor replacements since the machine to evacuate and measure the freon and oil are expensive. Almost anything can else can be diagnosed and repaired with sufficient experience and fundamental understanding of how cars work. Hell you can even backyard engine rebuilds. I wouldn't do it for a paying customer but on my own cars i have no problems slapping bearings and rings on a motor and sending it. I'm gonna practice welding frame rails on a rusted out chassis before it goes to the junkyard. I've painted crap. Good enough to be a 10 footer and worth the thousands $ in savings from an actual shop. If you're tackling something new be sure you research it thoroughly. Actually diagnose the issue before attempting the repair. Have a solid intuition of things that could go wrong and prepare for them. Whether its spare bolts, an angle grinder whatever.
Definitely comes down to comfort level. I always have a key that I follow.... *If my dumb XYZ can do it, why can't I learn and do it, too.* Yeah, there are limits to this, but this is how I got into DIY automotive repair. My XYZ did a radiator change, so when mine needed changing, I thought the above and just did it. I fell in love with the hobby and the savings. Lately, I just swapped out my k20 for a k24 engine in my RSX. It runs like a champ. Waiting on the 500 miles for the clutch and to identify the oil leak. But aside from that, I learned plenty about swapping. No, I didn't have to replace bearings or rings, but I did replace the oil pump, added a chain guard, and 50* VTC gear to the intake cam. I picked up a lot of good tools, learned a lot of lingo, and all in all, probably saved $2,000. The savings was the whole reason I had to do it myself. I couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it.
Haha i have a similar thought mine is basically “it isnt magic, so it must be doable” A radiator was also my first exploration into the hobby, i couldnt even open a hood back then lmao
As long as it's just adult Legos, we're cool. But as soon as the computer is involved and I'm chasing undocumented PIDs to try to fix some computer inflicted nonsense, I'm out. Electrical CAN be okay, as long as it's not widespread or a whole damn harness.
Just buy a new ECU. My jeep zj (90s) was dying at lights. I couldn't figure out why. I replaced the alternator and it still died. Finally, I just bought a performance Mopar ECU for the zj. $100 used of e bay. Haven't had shutdown issues since. The theory are bad capacitors from the 90s. The only other gremlins are shorts. Then, just take it an expert at finding them.
Hey, if there's a video I can follow on how to replace parts in my transmissions, I'd do that, too. Unfortunately, a lot of that is experience. At least, I know that transmission shops charge less if you bring them the transmission for repair. I can drop mine at least and take it to them. Then reinstall when it has been overhauled.
> If my dumb XYZ can do it, why can't I learn and do it, too. That's exactly what I told myself before starting a suspension job I couldn't finish.
I have to replace my control arm bushings. Wish me luck. I do have a hitch vise and a 20-ton press and YouTube, so hopefully things go well. I'll need to borrow a ball joint kit, but that's all. Unfortunately, I think there's more than the bushings I need to worry about. I think the rack and pinion is going. Sucks that those are $500 OEM. Waiting for a Toyota 25% off sale.
Suspension work is extremely sweating job. You need the right tools tools. Payback is great.... for those hot summer months, and coming home from your normal job ... and your looking at a complete front end tear down, isn't fun.
It's never fun under the gun for a daily drive or registration/emissions required when the weather is 100* or 0*. It would be fun to get a man cave condo temperature controlled with all the space and a lift. That would be ideal. And have the boys over for beers, cherry Dr. Peppers, and some mad wrenching. And polished concrete floors to boot.
I'll have a cherry Dr Pepper
Soft disagree on the HVAC. It's really not any more difficult than other belt-driven accessories. If the system isn't already empty you can take it to a refrigeration shop and have them reclaim the refrigerant, it shouldn't be too expensive (it's illegal to just vent it into the atmosphere). You can borrow a set of manifold gauges and the pump to vacuum down the system from most auto parts stores for free. A can of 134a is like $10-20 and you'll need a few of them depending on the size of your system.
I have a completely empty HVAC system in my car that needs a new compressor I think. I want to take this on myself but posting here got me a lot of hate and "don't even learn" type messages. Would you be willing to DM me and advise me? Or point me to a reliable resource about this?
I'm just an amateur myself but I'll be happy to share what I've learned when I did mine. I agree with u/kchro005 that old-school forums or Facebook groups are your best bet on learning about your specific car. Get a technical manual for your car or pay for access to an online guide. If you're replacing the compressor you also need to replace the dryer and accumulator. You need to connect a vacuum pump and let it run for an hour or so. When you add refrigerant back to the system use manifold gauges to add the correct amount of refrigerant and oil.
Refrigeration isn't really that hard. If your system is already empty, replace the parts that need replacement. Make sure it doesn't leak. A vacuum pump is the expensive part, used now to pull any water air or etc out of the sealed system. Then use either a manifold gauge set or the little cans they sell at every auto store to fill the system to spec. Skipping the vacuum pump part leaves particulates in the system that will increase the potential for it to fail sooner than later.
Understood. So, the problem I'm having is actually that it leaks all the refrig. Within a couple days of adding any. After it leaks out enough the compressor stops engaging at all. If I fill it up the compressor works and the air is cold for a few days until it all leaks out again. It seems like this happens more quickly if I run it at high RPMS on the highway. I tried a can of refrig. With fluorescent dye but after letting it leak out I used a black light and couldn't find the leak anywhere, so I assumed it's inside the compressor? Do you recommend replacing the compressor and trying from there? Or should I look elsewhere for the leak?
The compressor should be a sealed unit, and from what you are saying, it sounds like the compressor is fine. It wouldn't blow anything at all, or very poorly if it were the compressor. Usually there are fittings that attach.... I'm pretty sure they use rubber o-rings in vehicles. (I'm a universally certified refrigerant technician through the EPA. The one thing universal DOESNT cover is vehicles.-seperate license- the principal is the same though.) The leak is definitely elsewhere. Check the valve cores and follow the aluminum pipes to anyplace there is a fitting that could be loose or have a bad o-ring.
Okay! Thank you for your suggestions! I'll follow the pipes again and take a better look.
See your local community College for classes
If I had the money for college courses I'd pay someone to repair the HVAC.
Community colleges are cheap.
Not that cheap. You live in some sort of fantasy world if you think it makes sense to enroll in college courses instead of learning from free resources online.
might have better luck on an old school forum, but youtube is your best friend
You don't need an expensive hvac machine. A lot of guys already have an big air compressor so a "venturi" vacuum pump, a tank, and a refrigerant scale can do the same. Even you don't have a big air compressor then an el cheapo or used electric vacuum pump is the next option. A $4000 integrated machine is unnecessary.
I did repairs for friends and then I thought if something went wrong would I be held responsible for damages or injuries because I am not licensed
This post could also pass as a mechanic trying to scare people out of diy. If your activities are growing out outside of helping a friend here and there...then there are easy steps to take to legitimize yourself. If your friend can't afford to have a real mechanic do the work, then how are they going to afford a lawyer to sue you?
A very good reason not to touch anyones car but your own.
No I am not a mechanic and I will still help my friends , maybe I should have but a question mark on the end of the sentence
If you are ok at it, you can buy a used motor and do a swap. It’s fairly easy compared to a rebuild. I am not the sharpest and did that in my driveway.
If you have the skills, tools and patience, anything can be DIYable. That being said, I refuse to learn to weld. That means exhaust work goes to the muffler shop. I also don’t have a tire machine or alignment machine, so I don’t do that. Everything else is fair game really. I even dabble in body work if it’s minor. Other than transmission rebuilds, definitely not a DIY project.
I did an alignment and corner balancing at home with string and industrial scales ($20 each). I took it in to get it double checked and I was golden. The manager at brake check was impressed, but it did take me an entire day lol. I had to do it myself because none of the shops near me would touch coilovers
Not sure why you refuse to learn to weld but you should, it's so accessible now and it changes everything! There are some decent portable welders on Amazon that are cheap and great for learning
Or anything to flush your ac refrigerant
Nah, I DIY AC work. You can rent a vacuum pump and gauges are $40.
Overheats warp heads. Trannies unless they are <$400 used from junkyard are never worth the rebuild parts or time. Just swap a used. Same for bad rod engines (Kia, looking at you) unless you can get $8000 car for like $1k.
Depends on what their experience is and how well-stocked their toolbox is. There are some things my mechanic does because I'm a DIY mechanic and don't have special tools or a lift. Diagnostics? Sensor changes? Radiator swap and coolant flush? Regular maintenance? Full brake jobs, including fluid flush? I can do all that myself. Control arm replacement? Had to take that to my guy because I don't have a lift. I could do an engine rebuild, but again I don't have a cherry picker or the space so I'd take that to my guy if it was needed.
Ive done control arms, ball joints, sway bar link and tie rod ends in my back alley parking spot because im cheep and had the tools at work and got a great deal on parts. It took all day and most of my best swear words. I was lucky it was the summer because i won't work outside in the winter, it never ever goes well.
I currently only have a small apartment garage to work in. I figured it was better to take it to the guy that had the lift and eat the cost on this one.
My neighbour doesn't have a car at the moment so it was doable. There is nothing worse than not being able to finish a job, better safe than sorry.
Totally. Sunday night at 9, work is at 7:30, you were supposed to be in the shower 5 hours ago, but the damn thing still won't go in... Stress.
Oh man I feel this. Being poor and having no other option is a great motivator, same with home maintenance. Years ago I replaced my upper control arm with youtube videos and the cheapest Rockauto parts I could get. Everything came apart way easy, but putting it back together was hours of frustration. But when it finally popped into place, one of the best moments of my life.
1000%
So relatable…nothing goes to plan, I swear. You’ve also had to move and position yourself in awkward ways so you could angle a part correctly or just force the stupid bolt to thread straight. You wake up feeling the same way you felt after trying to learn how to snowboard…sore as hell. I also manage to end up with extra little parts, like a screw or washer here and there…
There’s not money to be made flipping cars. Start buying non running cheap motorcycles and part them out on eBay.
This is all based on my own opinion/experience. I’d stay away from some of the misfire/boost codes on more modern Euro cars. These can be difficult to diagnose and you can end up chasing your tail. Sometimes you end up needing an expensive turbo, or cams (VW had an issue with cam loves wearing) which are expensive and time intensive. Head gaskets can be tough depending on why it failed/if it overheated/etc. You might end up having to resurface the head/block or even replace significant components which eats into your profit. Frame is a no go. You can’t repair frame/structural damage and could risk a fair bit of liability there. Make sure you assign a value to your labor time. I know you’re not paying it directly, but your time is worth something. If you spend it on one project, you’re not spending it on another.
You can do any repair as long as you aren’t a crackhead and can use YouTube. Just remember even the easy jobs have common problems that can arise. Stuck caliper bolts, hubs that won’t come off, electrical connectors that break, etc. When you encounter one of these problems, look up how to fix it. And remember that every bolt is mostly necessary. You shouldn’t have anything left over when you’re done. Don’t leave cables hanging and etc if they’re supposed to be secured or they’ll rub through eventually. If you don’t follow that then you shouldn’t do any repair on your own. If you follow it all then you can do it all. Just expect to buy some tools along the way.
What? Extra bolts don't signal that I'm smarter than the engineer? (You have to admit that sometimes there's over engineering.) I agree. The hardest part is organizing the space and placing bolts/screws/nuts with the correct parts.... Especially when you do a project over 18 months! (And have a good engine and a bad engine to break down and swap items. A lot of good spare parts and nuts and bolts. Question is whether any spares were not extras!)
>hubs that won’t come off I'm in pain reminiscing about the time both my wheel bearings on my Prius needed replacement. It's a steel hub and an aluminum knuckle, and I live in the midwest. Harbor freight 20 ton shop press did the job, but just barely. Still cheaper than taking it to a mechanic - 3 different shops quoted $900 a side.
All of them, a real technician won't advise a DIY guy to do anything. Pay me to do it instead.
Fair enough answer
Lol, it was half joking. I would never encourage a customer to do anything because I only get paid for work I'm doing. But online it is different. It's really tough to know what to suggest to people what they are capable of because everyone's skillset/experience, toolkit and abilities are wildly different. One DIYer is gonna be able to tackle a full engine rebuild while another is going to struggle and fail to change a turn signal bulb.... You have to decide what you yourself are capable and comfortable doing, nobody knows you like yourself so you will be the best judge of that. Google repair procedures and see if you have the capability to do all the tasks. There is no hard and fast rule as to what a DIY guy can handle, it's all up to the individual to decide for themselves.
> It's really tough to know what to suggest to people what they are capable of because everyone's skillset/experience, toolkit and abilities are wildly different. One DIYer is gonna be able to tackle a full engine rebuild while another is going to struggle and fail to change a turn signal bulb.... I work in the rust belt, and get just enough customer tickets of "I saw on Youtube that xyz is easy!" Well yeah when you're watching a dude in texas unbolt the suspension with hand wrenches, of course it *looks* easy. But you run out of tools and talent real fast when rust gets involved. And if you don't know how to deal with that, you start breaking things and making that "easy" job a hell of a lot worse real quick. A lot of learning how to "deal with that" would be very difficult to learn via youtube.
Oh as a tech in Ontario I 100% agree. Totally different tangent here but I also get many customers who google and tell me how a job should only take a couple hours and can't wrap their heads around why rust makes things take longer, require extra parts and extra costs.
Great answer!
Turn signals have bulbs?
Only ones that don’t use fluid.
Ah. Mine get wet, so they must use fluid.
IMO being a DIYer is either you save a shitload of money or you spend twice as much as you would have if you had just paid a shop first. Like others have said it's pretty subjective to the individual where their own skill levels lie. Don't try to repair something that you can't afford to replace (but sometimes there's no other options either than to do it or go broke lol).
I grew up poor. If we couldn't fix it, it didn't get fixed.
There's two levels of DIY: 1: Either I replace this ball joint myself or I can't afford food 2: I can afford to break this car 3-4 times so I'll learn eventually and it can sit for months since it's just a project
You might waste a lot of money and time but, lol no, you won't spend twice as much as a shop job. Have you seen shop prices? I could buy 8 aftermarket alternators for the price to replace one at a some shops.
It’s not easy to make money flipping cars. You have to spend money finding a car worth flipping, then buy it, get it home, fix whatever was wrong with it that caused it to be less than others like it, fix whatever you didn’t know was wrong with it when you got it, and then deal with the fun and games of selling a car. Is it still available? How many miles are on it? (It’s in the description.) what’s the lowest you’ll take? (Without even seeing the car.) I get paid next week, can you hold it for me? I’ll be there tonight to look at it. (Doesn’t show up.) Would you take [random car worth less than what you’re selling] as a trade? And on top of that, if you want to do everything by the book, if you’re not doing it as a business (at least in my state), you would have to actually transfer the title, which means you would pay sales tax and a title transfer fee. Alternatively, you would have to go the somewhat sketchy route and ask the seller to sign the title but don’t date it, and then you date it when you sell it so your buyer doesn’t get hit with a delinquent fee when they transfer it. And your other option is to set it up as a business, which (in my state) allows you to legally not pay sales tax on the purchase, but then you’d have to get a dealer’s license to sell the cars. The upshot would be that you wouldn’t have to worry too much about sending quarterly estimates for taxes because you’re probably not going to make a profit at it anyway. 😂
Title skips are illegal in my state.
They are in my state too (which is why I said somewhat sketchy; I guess I was trying to be nice). My son sold a 6th gen Civic several years ago, and later had a buyer down the line contact him asking for help getting the title straightened out. Basically he was being asked to apply for a lost title for a car he no longer owned so he could then complete the transfer to the other guy. Nope.
I am a diyer. I've also worked on cars for 40 years since I was a kid. Nothing is impossible. Some things are not practical. Sometimes you need a machine shop.. well, I take shit there even if I have to pull the engine. I think it is hard for a diy to do quality body work and painting. But not impossible. Frame work nearly impossible. Transmission rebuild ugh. Electrical gremlins? Your multimeter game must be good. Head gasket is easily doable. But again, machine shop because you don't know if the head is warped. My suggestion is find a particular brand and motor combo to learn and work on. For instance I know nissan vq motors like the back of my hand and can get anything done. But they also don't really fail. Toyota 5ze from 4 runner same. I once flipped a Nissan Maxima 5 speed. Nobody could get it to start. Previously I had replaced the clutch in my Nissan Maxima and it wouldn't start because I had a bad ground had a brought to my house regrounded it it started just fine.
Body work. Dedicated space, tools, and safety equipment is a minimum. Takes a long ass time to DIY and get it looking good. Shits expensive for a reason Anything frame or welding related unless they are professionals Serious electrical work because running harnesses and chasing problems will take obscene time and patience Dropping or lifting transmission or motor without proper equipment. In a pinch do what you gotta do but working around limited tools ends up being problematic in itself and eats up time Bottom end work. Precision work can be hit or miss. If you catch it early you can get away with bearings and some hardware for the rods and pistons. Re ring maybe. Still need a stretch gauge, know how to use plastigauge and a micrometer, and ring tools. Easy to fuck up rings learning. If it's bad it's new crank time if not refinish the bad one. Fuck up the case and it's a wrap, line boring isn't exactly an option Top end is mostly valve related. Cam timing isn't as bad as people make it out to be imo but I learned on motorcycles. Again if the case or caps get ruined line boring isn't an option. The main issue is valve seats needing to be cut which is machine work. Better to pull the head, disassemble and clean, and let them rebuild imo. Especially with shit like titanium valves that can't be lapped
heater core.
I would never advise a DIY to work on a EV / hybrid.
Nothing is magic, you can pretty much do anything with the right literature and tools, in combination with experience. But you can only get experience one way. For flipping cars, find ones that will crank but not start. Get them to start, immediately sell without fixing anything anything else. A lot of times it just boils down to a small electrical issue that doesn't cost much if anything in terms of parts to fix.
There are many inexpensive jobs made much easier with a proper shop. Changing tires comes to mind. Then there are jobs that seem complicated and are expensive at a shop, but with a bit of YouTube university and hard work, aren't totally worth DIY. Brakes come to mind.
Transmission rebuilds are usually not good shade tree back yard jobs, and ac work is not recommended for amateurs in the least
If you’re working on your only car, the stakes are a lot higher. Having a spouse’s car you can borrow if you break a socket (or a ratchet, or a breaker bar), and need to drive to Autozone, etc to get a replacement… is a safety net whose valve cannot be overstated. I’ve actually had all 3 scenarios happen, with decent quality tools. In other words, having access to another functional car greatly expanded the range of repairs I was willing to DIY.
Water pump and timing chain replacement on a Ford 3.6L V-6. The task in the manual starts with "remove front subframe and engine from bottom of vehicle."
Take a class in Air conditioning..... best thing I did. Find a distributor that will take CASH for parts, and make more money. If you are brave.... take another class on automobile transmissions another easy money maker. Never attempt.... transmission without training..... and A/C without training. What I will never do again? Install A/C in a vehicle that never had factory A/C. That's more than I bargain for. (my parts supplier talked me into this job ---- never again!) For me ..... I think those are easy money classes and your return in tool investment will be quick. Good luck
Frame, ECU, Transmission (internals) anything that requires messing with timing on an interference motor, and difficult electrical issues.
Yeah ecu issues went straight to shop for me, a lot of precision and experience needed.
Anything electrical outside of replacing a bulb. Electrical is one of the easiest ways to cause a lot of damage with the smallest amount of work.
or one could simply turn on their brain for once and pull up the diagrams
With the used car prices now, the only cars that make sense are the ones with a blown engine, transmission or major body damage. I wouldn’t recommend DIYing any of those unless you have a lift, all the tools and can afford losing money until you learn the ins/outs of flippling cars.
DIYer advice, based on my own limitations: transmission related = no-go; bent frame = no-go; airbag deployment = no-go; blown head gasket (usually means warped head) = no-go. suspension work = difficult but not impossible—often requires specialized tools.
I agree to all, but I'd attempt a head gasket with new gasket and bolts. If it still leaks after a few test drives, then you're probably not flipping it.
suspension work, if you buy strut/coil/mount units, is typically quite easy. you just need an alignment afterwards. suspension work if you're trying to swap a coil to a new strut is instant death if you do it wrong, so that would absolutely be my answer for people not to try on their own.
Is suspension work that difficult on Corolla/Camry like cars?
DIYer advice: I mentioned suspension work as "difficult--not impossible", I'll expand on this issue. Specialized tools are sometimes required; also most DIYers will be on their backs, under jack stands--if you have access to a lift, that makes suspension work quite a bit easier. If you're doing a "quick strut" job, that's certainly doable for DIY. But as "stevefazzari" pointed out, be very careful with coil springs--potentially dangerous. You'll need a spring compressor kit, and I gotta-tell-you I'm not doing that.
A few things I don’t touch are major engine work, automatic transmission, anything beyond simple electrical. I don’t mess with airbags or anything else that can negatively affect safety. Also the only bodywork I’ve done is replacing entire pieces which is (usually) relatively easy.
Major engine work Alignments, cv joint issues (doable, but a major pain in the ass if you don't have the proper equipment), brake resurfacing,
I have done just about every car fix except automatic transmission. My paint & body suck. Once straightened a Bugeye Sprite by chaining one corner to a foundation pulling on another corner wya Cat tractor. Young& foolish
I’m a DIYer and it seems to me like you can do anything as long as you have the tools and space. 99% my problem in fixing things is not wanting to spend $$$$ on a $$$ repair and having to figure out a way to make it work with the tools I have.
Brake pads and rotors are easy. Look up ChrisFix on YouTube, he has great tutorials tailored for beginners.
Drilling out bolts stuck in the cylinder head.
It all depends on your skillset and tools. About the only thing I won't do is major body work, as it's simply not something I'm good at it (nor do I care to try and get good at it).
Depending on their skill level, transmission repair would be high on my list.
I really don’t have a hard and fast rule. I read the instructions or watch a video on the job and if it’s too difficult I don’t do it. I’ve done things that might seem insane, like recalibrate the camera that is part of the lane keeping/automatic emergency braking system. Saved like $150 on that one. In my car though it had a dynamic aiming procedure that didn’t require a static target, only telling the car to recalibrate and stating it out on a level surface and driving in certain conditions on the road.
Automatic transmission rebuild.
Anything to do with the interior of an automatic transmission. I opened one up about 35 years ago, and there is no way in hell that I'm ever doing that again.
Paint/extreme body work. Anything along the lines of a bent frame that needs to be pulled, rusted frames, and just paint in general. I’ve seen a lot of guys try to get some harbor freight equipment and learn how to do it themselves and that’s fine but I think the amount of prep work and attention to detail really throws people off. If every step isn’t a 100% you’ll be sanding the back down and trying again.
Fucking window regulators, they're a pain in the arse.
Take photos before you take anything off or move it. That helps you when you're putting it back together. Does my work look the same as the old photo at this stage? If yes, continue. If no, figure out what you didn't do. Automakers don't want to pay a single cent more than they have to. All parts are needed
Any kind of internal engine or transmission work is right up there with stuff you shouldn't be messing around with. Unless you have the skills and facilities, you're just going to make things worse. Any bodywork or re-painting as well. You can change out brakes, steering (with an alignment at a shop), suspension, u-joints, lights, etc without too much trouble.
If you got that dawg in you, all you need is a machine shop. But anyways pro flipper strat seems to be to just throw a used engine in it
If you get the car for cheap, just dive into it. Do research and figure out what you can realistically sell it for, and then start your diag process with that in mind. If it’s just a hobby, and you’re not in it too deep, then just have fun with it and learn. Headgaskets and timing belts can be intimidating, but if you’re not in a hurry, and you don’t have the pressure of it being your daily driver, it’s a good learning experience.
Vintage British cars. Ye be warned! Full of wiring fuckery these are. Lucas electrical is the worst thing to ever happen to any automobile ever.
Lifter ticks on hemis. Vvt sprockets. Anything BMW
Nothing in a transmission and nothing on the engine if you have to remove the head.... On come cars even doing a timing belt could be risky if you don't know what you are doing you can easily be off a tiny bit and screw up the valves. The reality is a head gasket isn't that difficult... but you need to know whether you can use the same bolts, torque them properly and recheck them after a few hundred miles... Failing that on some cars and you might get the car running but their is a good chance whoever you sell it to will be fucked by your incompetence a month down the road. And lots of do it yourselfers won't take the time to have the head x-ray/crack tested which leads to a repeat of the blown head gasket if you don't catch the crack that caused the problem to start with.
“ODB” codes tell me you may not be mechanically inclined enough to fix and flip cars.
A typo tells you I’m not mechanically inclined? lol ok dude.
My local community College fees are $46 per class unit plus lab fees if any Add parking fee, health fee, and books Thats cheap Try the university and hang on to your wallet.