Do It Yourself Fixes Toolbox

I am excited about this blog post because tools for do it yourself repairs makes the fixes more fun. After all, my motto is “Let the tools do the work, not you”. What I mean is this, the tool is what ultimately gets the job done, and you are just a guide. In addition, the right tools can save you a ton of time with do it yourself repairs. Because of the tight spaces and angles needed to make some repairs, you will need a special tool for those repairs. Now let's get started with putting together a do it yourself toolbox. 

Toolbox Basics:

Every mechanic has his or her own toolbox because tools are necessities to be in the auto repair industry. If you want to be a do it yourself person, you will need a basic toolbox to make repairs. Tools can be purchased from manufacturers such as Snap-On or Craftsman. Also, tools can be found online at one of my favorite places to shop Amazon. A basic toolbox should include the following tools: 

1.      A Socket and Ratchet set will be used to remove nuts or bolts from the car.

Socket & Ratchet Set 

2.     Some Wrenches will be needed to take off certain nuts or bolts because the socket and ratchet will not fit into the space. 

Wrenches

3.     A good Hammer is needed because you will have to tap or hit on the part sometimes to remove it or install it. 

Hammer 

4.     Screwdrivers will be needed to remove screws from the vehicle, but Picks are used to help remove hoses like those on the radiator. 

Screwdriver & Pick Set

5.     Pliers are used to squeeze clamps on hoses for removal or to hold a spinning nut.

Pliers

Specialty tools:

In certain cases, you will need a special tool that has been designed for that repair to complete the job. Some common specialty tools with do it yourself repairs are listed below:

·       The brake caliper tool is used to push the caliper piston back into the caliper, so the rear brake pads can be replaced. This caliper differs from the front because the parking brake is connected to it which requires the piston to be twisted back into the caliper.

·       The ball joint tool is used to press a ball joint out of or into the control arm. Usually, this do it yourself repair requires pressing the old ball joint out and pressing the new ball joint back into the control arm.

·      The inner tie rod tool is used to take out the inner tie rods of the car. This tool is designed to fit on the inner tie rod and allow you to loosen it for removal.

Air tools:

Air tools cuts the time needed to do a repair dramatically. In addition, getting some nuts require a lot of turns which will be tiresome. However, when the wrench or ratchet turns for you, the job is a breeze.

ü  Air Impact Wrench is used to remove large nuts or bolts such as lug-nuts on the tire.

ü  Air Ratchet is used to remove smaller nuts on the car which are usually on the engine or inside of the vehicle. 

This is a good YouTube video demonstration by Snap-On of how their air impact wrench works.

As always, all comments, feedback, sharing or questions are welcomed by Do-It-Yourself Fixes.

Do-It-Yourself Fixes How To Information

Here comes the fun part to do it yourself auto repairs. Getting the necessary information to do it yourself is essential to make the repair. However, I say this is the fun part, but sometimes finding how to instructions and videos can be a headache. You might waste a lot of time before you find what you are looking for. In some cases, you will not find the information on Google, Bing, or YouTube. Trust me, I have learned the value of free information or guides that lead to successful do it yourself repairs.

A good place to start your search for information about do it yourself repairs is the vehicle’s repair manual. These are a good source for your car’s repair information because it comes from the manufacturer. However, I find the manuals to be stone age in this information age we live in. This is part of the reason why I am doing Do-It-Yourself Fixes because by sharing information, we can help each other out. In addition, I have looked at some manuals that were not helpful with the repair. For an example of what a repair manual looks like, below I have included this Haynes Repair Manual picture. Up under the picture is a link if you want to click and learn more about them.

                                                               http://bit.ly/2HXuAcz

Services such as AllData and other online auto repair guides can be used for repair information as well. However, these companies charge subscription fees to receive the information. To me, this defeats the purpose of doing it yourself which is saving money to begin with. On a humorous note, I did find this funny commercial on You Tube for AllData that will leave you wondering what new beer just came out.

In addition, car forums are a good place to search for auto repair information. I like the online forums because do it yourself repairs advice is offered by those who own the specific brand, model and year of car that you have. I have found a lot of good tips to doing specific jobs in these car forums. A good thing about the forums is the people commenting be loyal to their car brands and they can give great in-depth instructions.  

My favorite guide to do it yourself repairs is the online videos because you can see how the repair is done. Also, the video host will usually give tips while doing the repair which can save you a lot of time. In addition, you get to see the tools used and how difficult it can be sometimes with simple auto repairs. These difficulties will show you that it takes more patience versus toughness most of the time with do it yourself repairs.

Here are my top four picks, with links in the names, for do it yourself repair videos online that are free:

1.       1A Auto

2.       Scotty Kilmer

3.       Chris Fix

4.       Eric The Car Guy

Eric The Car Guy, Scotty Kilmer, 1A Auto and Chris Fix all publish free online auto repair videos. These videos are high quality and can be used as guides to do it yourself repairs. I have personally used these mechanics for numerous tips with my do it yourself repairs. Also, I like how their personality shows through the video which will interest you more than a manual or pictures.

Regardless of where you get the repair information from, you will want to make sure it is detailed for the specific year, make and model of your car.

As always, any feedback, comments, or sharing is welcomed and appreciated at Do-It-Yourself Fixes.  

Do-It-Yourself Fixes "Safety First"

Overview:

Safety is the most important factor with anything we do, but with do-it-yourself fixes it is more relevant. Since the weight of an automobile can literally crush a person, you will want to use care with DIY fixes. In addition, some people have lost limbs or eyes while working on automobiles. My intention is not to frighten you, but I want you to understand how important safety is for you to be successful with do-it-yourself fixes or any job with risks that can cause injury or death. Fortunately for me, I have not been injured with DIY fixes and I do not plan on it either. This is because I follow the “Golden Rule” with DIY fixes, safety first.

Workplace or area safety:

Whether you are in your driveway or garage, a clean workplace is a safe workplace. You will want to keep your overhead clear. This means nothing should be hanging from the ceiling that can fall and cause an injury. In addition, make sure your floor or pavement is clean and dry. Spills or slippery surfaces can cause falls leading to serious injury. Regardless of the do-it-yourself fix that you are doing, you will always want to keep your workplace clean.

Dress properly:

You must dress properly for do-it-yourself fixes. This cannot be understated because improper clothing creates added risk. I like to wear the Dickies which is traditional mechanic’s clothing. In addition, a good steel toe boot is a great idea because auto parts and tools can be painful if dropped on your toes. Anything hanging from your body such as jewelry or sweater strings should be taken off. Use caution because things hanging from your body can be pulled or snagged in a split-second. Something often overlooked as hanging is long hair. This is dangerous because your hair getting snagged can cause head injury or worse. If you have long hair, it will have to be tied up because it can be pulled or snagged as well.

I will list safety glasses as a part of dress because I like to think I am naked without them. I say naked because this is how I relate to safety glasses as a reminder to wear them. Please note that the importance of eye safety cannot be stressed enough. It can be something simple such as dirt or rust which can fall in your eye causing serious injury. In addition, safety glasses protect from being poked in the eye. Remember, you cannot replace an eye.

Safety tools:

Always use jack stands when working on a car because jacks can fail without warning. In addition, you will need to use wheel chucks to block off the wheels which will prevent the car from rolling while it is jacked up. My rule of thumb is to work on flat ground when the car must be jacked up.

First Aid:

A first aid kit is mandatory with do-it-yourself fixes because accidents are possible. Also, you will want to make sure you have an eye wash in the first aid kit because some kits do not include them. Keep a phone handy and in case of an emergency call 911.

Article:

This blog post by Jalopnik is interesting because it talks about common mistakes that do-it-yourself fixers make. Some of the mistakes I’ve come across with my fixes such as a stripped bolts or torque specifications are listed. The do-it-yourself fixes community will be about avoiding mistakes by sharing information.

Video:

Since you can never be too safe, I am including a safety video that will be helpful. This video link  published by Safety Videos goes in depth about workplace safety that can be used with any job. I like this video because it is like the safety videos shown in my brake class at Oakland Community College.

I will conclude with a reminder to always keep “Safety First”. All comments, feedback, sharing or questions are welcomed by Do-It-Yourself Fixes.

Do-It-Yourself Fixes "Introduction"

Have you ever needed an automobile repair, but you didn’t have the money to cover the costs? If your answer is yes, then you have come to the right blog to assist you with do-it-yourself fixes. It is my intention with this blog to provide information that will inspire and assist you with your do-it-yourself project. I will have links to online material that will help to expand your do-it-yourself knowledge. In addition, I will provide exclusive videos and photos because I have come across some jobs that YouTube, Google or Bing could not help with.

Hello everyone, welcome to do-it-yourself fixes. While I have a few things I am passionate about, being a do-it-yourself mechanic is in my top three. The first steps to do-it-yourself fixes is believing that you can do it and having the willingness to learn how.

Do-it-yourself fixes has some awesome benefits that might interest you.

1.     Saving money by doing-it-yourself will allow you to make other needed purchases. This was appealing since I am a college student, and students can use all the financial breaks as possible.

2.     You can help family and friends when their automobiles break down on them. I have received numerous calls like this and nothing beats the feeling of helping someone in a bind when you are called upon.

3.     Do-it-yourself fixes can lead to an amazing career as an auto technician. Although an auto program will be needed to be certified, you will already have a head start with your do-it-yourself knowledge. 

As a do-it-yourself beginner, I was intimidated about trying to fix a car. Regardless of my intimidation, I knew repairing cars didn’t involve intense labor because I have observed many mechanics while they were working. In addition, I knew mechanics made good money and I figured it would be nice to have the skills to fix my own car, truck, or SUV. So, I took a brake class as an elective at Oakland Community College to get me started with doing auto repairs. However, I noticed that people were calling me about all kinds of auto repair jobs instead of just brakes. This is what made me expand my car knowledge beyond brakes and into other parts.

Over the course of the last four years I have done almost all suspension, engine, brake system, and fuel system repairs. I love to work on cars because it is peaceful and self-fulfilling. Two things I have not taken the time to learn are the electrical system and automobile collision work because I am not planning on being an auto technician, so I didn’t think it was necessary.   

Information, workplace safety and tools will be discussed in the coming weeks, but I will give a brief overview of them to conclude this do-it-yourself fixes blog post.

The first thing with do-it-yourself fixes is having the information to be able to make the repairs. This information can be found in the repair manual for your specific vehicle. In addition, online forums, pictures and videos are valuable tools to assist you with do-it-yourself fixes. I can recall when someone would call me with a job, I would use Google and Bing to find out how to fix it. Quality videos are the obvious winner with regards to instructions because it provides a step by step visual guide. Chis fix, Eric the Car Guy, A1-auto, and Scotty Kilmer all have some good quality videos online that can be used as guides to do-it-yourself fixes. Also, car forums are a source of valuable information pertaining to do-it-yourself fixes. Dealership technicians and experienced mechanics be sharing their experience, pictures and videos.

Next, you will want to learn about safety and first aid while working within your work place. Working on automobiles can be dangerous if proper care is not taken while doing repairs.   

Lastly, purchasing the right tools to do-it-yourself is the last step to making your first or next auto repair. Think about it, the tool is doing the work and you are just a guide.

Any feedback or requests are welcomed as I look forward to engaging with you all. Now that you have been introduced to do-it-yourself fixes, use it! 

Here is a blog by U-Wrench-It that emphasizes more benefits to do-it-yourself fixes.