[Solomon_G]

I feel your pain. Here's what's in store for me over the next few days:

2005 Accord
Transmission fluid change
Serpentine belt change
Spark plug change
New front pads/rotors at some point in the near future.
Rotate tires

2010 pathfinder
Pads and rotors for all four wheels
Parking brake shoes/pads in the rear

This is after putting 4 new tires on the pathfinder two weeks ago, changing the oil in both cars, new air filters and new cabin filters for both vehicles.

And oh yeah...emission tests for both vehicles two weeks ago.

Your doing this all yourself right?

Save you lots of cash...all easy stuff to do.

 

[Solomon_G]

People always say that and yet somehow I always screw it up and end up taking it to the shop anyway.

I guess it's like how I always tell people doing basic computer programming is a piece of cake and they can use it automate or streamline their everyday tasks/workflow and they look at me like I'm a crazy person.

It's pretty hard to screw up doing brakes, and if your just replacing rotors and pads\shoes, it's pie...long as you don't open the line your golden.

But i know what your saying...some of the bigger more difficult jobs i thought would be easy ended up in multiple trips to the auto part store.

As for programming, i got in to that many many years ago...but it didn't stick, had too many things going at the same time and had to drop that.
Always always build my own PC though.

 

[Solomon_G]

Sometimes I get amazed at the things that people can screw up though. I've seen too many vehicles towed in after the owner/ neighbor/ cousin/ whoever got finished doing what should have been an easy maintenance repair.

(I don't mean to imply that is the case here. Just pointing out that what seems easy to some can be overwhelming to others. I try not to gauge to the comfort level or ability of others who I don't really know)

You have a point, i guess i should have said, if you have some knowledge of say....doing the brakes, it should be pie.

Normally I do my own stuff, the problem with the fuel pump was it was intermittent and there were other things it could have been.

When it did die it had to be towed. My year of Explorer used 2 different pumps and my truck was built during the split so it could have had either pump so I couldn't buy one until after I got mine out. I also don't have a lift and the tank was full of gas. To be honest I did feel like messing with that job.

I don't blame you on the fuel pump deal....i dropped a tank in my driveway once, an 86 Thunderbird....maybe 89....i wouldn't want to do it again. ug.

 

[Solomon_G]

I had the fuel pump in my 1991 mustang gt(same car as a tbird) go out on the side of I4 coming back from tampa
Had to change it in the side if the road. That sucked at least I got the car to the rest area

The pain in the as* to change it yourself was better than the pain in the wallet having it done though right...lol

That would suck having to do it roadside.....sheesh

 

[Solomon_G]

I am indeed with the exception of the tires. Got tired of paying others to do the regular maintenance crap. I will admit that while they had the car on the rack replacing the tires I had them change the oil.

Heck, doing the brakes myself alone will save me about $500-800

Serpentine belt change at a shop...$150-200. Doing it myself, $20 for the belt and $10 for a new 14mm wrench.

In the long run its gonna save me a ton. Right now, seeing that I am having to buy jacks, jack stands, wrenches, drain pans, funnels, etc, etc...the savings are not as high as they will be when these things come up again.

My accord has 150K miles on it and my goal is for that car to be my daughter's car when she turns 16 in just over 3 yrs. Great little car and plus its a manual so I don't have to worry about too many of her friends driving it and the chances of it getting stolen are reduced as well.

I'll know for sure tomorrow when I pull the plugs and examine things closer, but I am pretty sure the valve cover gasket on my accord is leaking so I may also be replacing that. Hate to replace plugs if theyre just gonna get fouled up by an oil leak. That job is probably the most tedious thing I'll plan on doing (other than parking brake shoes/pads). It is all actually simple work, just time consuming and looks hard if you've never done it before.

Right on man...all the tools i have now are from all the work i learned to do through the years.
Always had to buy the tool for the job.
There are a few things i won't do anymore though.

Hope the car keeps going for your girl to use...that would be a plus not to have to search out and buy one.

Basic maintenance helps a lot.

 

[Solomon_G]

The bad part is I put in an autozone airtek pump...it went out three more time after this each about a month later..pulled that garbage out got a holley (walbro) pump dropped in and never had another problem

I also found out sometimes it's better to spend a few more bucks than to buy the "auto store" brand.

Then again....anymore i ALWAYS research things before i buy...got tired of taking peoples word than finding out later and just that...having to buy a different one...sheesh

 

[Solomon_G]

lol..."research"

my wife is so sick and tired of me "researching" procedures, parts, cost, etc that she is ready for me to just take the car to the mechanic.

seriously...I've developed some what of an addiction to watching youtube videos of car repairs.

Same here brother....i tell my wife and others, if you want to do something yourself, go look at DIYs on youtube!

Now my wife watches ALL the time for house projects and crafts.

LOL

 

[Solomon_G]

Yeah, that's what my ex-brother-in-law told me years ago - pie. Then he opened the lines, forgot to balance them and the car made right turns when you hit the brakes. What a dumbass.

Sheesh...yep, i fixed a few like that.

People have someone do it who tells them easy job....then i fix their jacked up work.

C-clamp is your best friend when doing a brake job. :grin: