DIY car repair
    17 years
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I've become like most everyone I've known, don't like to fix my own cars anymore, despite having been very interested in cars since age 5.
2024/25 was the year of the car failures for us!
2024 broken Y pipe on 2006 Lexus
2025 cat flange leak on 2011 Buick
2025 Buick total loss
2025 Lexus radiator failure
This is not unexpected when one owns 2006, 2007, and 2011 vehicles.
The 2007 had to step up 3X and become a daily driver.
Unexpectedly and luckily, the Lexus radiator failed at age 20. It happens, where the plastic meets the metal. I happened to notice fluid on the driveway, which I would have ignored if it were summer, assuming it's AC condensate.
I went online and the OE radiator was $431.58 list, and sold for $259.46. I think I got lucky free shipping and no sales tax. Apparently in AZ the business is not required to collect sales tax (surprising with the Wayfair scotus decision). But good thing PA provides us a line item on PA-40 to declare it 
.
Toyota coolant is $30+ per gallon which I refuse to pay, so I got Aisin equivalent (ACT-002) on rock auto for $13.20. I bought 3 but it only used 1 1/4.
It took about 2 hours with some plastic breaking and a bolt shearing because the car is literally 20 y.o. A good portion was getting the auto transmission lines off, I was for a moment unsure they would come off. I don't like automatics, which is another pet peeve in itself. Cars should have 3 pedals, not two lol
Was it worth it? This job is about $1100 at a dealer. I don't think it was worth it, but I also don't think I have a choice. I won't spend $1000+ at any dealer, or any auto repair shop, for anything, period. Old fashioned thinking, I know, as $1000 today is not $1000 from when I was in college. But that is my threshold where I have to DIY. Like the BMW ABS was $4,200 in 2016. No way I would pay anything near that, so again, DIY for about $500. But my car was off the road for 4 months while I took my time (I did have a Takata loaner though).
Yes, I do think my time is worth more, but, I also had no choice. So luckily I went to mass at 7:30, and did the job in the driveway, and still watched the Eagles win, and then took my son to hockey at 6:45 PM.
If I could change things, our lives would be simpler. We are always trying to do so many things in a limited amount of time. But yes, first world problems... lol
p.s. imagine if the 100% tariffs applied as new OE radiator is made in China, whereas original OE was Japan. $860+ for the part would have meant game over (people online said aftermarket leaks in 2 years or so then redo the job, still gonna be a tariff)
retiring my ramps
I've changed my oil many a time since about 1976. Back then my driveway had nicely curved transitions to the sidewalk, and I could just drive my 2002 front wheel up on one and get at the filter.
After I moved to Albuquerque, no more sidewalk or curb transitions, so I bought metal ramps. I was always a bit uneasy that I might not stop at just the right place on climing the ramps. The metal one failed, so I bought sort of plastic ones that lasted. But getting to the oil filter was a pain in the neck on my 2002 Audi A4, and I never did my wife's cars.
Now I've got a car for which there is no oil to change, and I'm moving to a retirement community. So the ramps will be in the estate sale we'll use to help downsize our possessions to fit.
Mind you, I understand my oil change, strut change, and such does not count compared to the DIY jobs mentioned above, but I'll just add my case to the count of people cutting back on working on their cars at home above the maintaining tire pressure, wiper fluid, etc. stage.
personal GPS user since 1992
don't like to
call myself old, but I think it's an older mentality who refuses to pay. My dad had zero interest in cars, but he worked on them to save money. I've seen on a forum where a woman got the tiniest of cracks on her headlamp (2025 vehicle like ours), and was saying is there any alternative to paying almost $2000 to the dealer to replace it (ordering online there's a core charge--this is a red flag--that dealer part is remanuf). I'm thinking yes--file a claim with insurance, or, live with it. Maybe it was my parents, my dad specifically, who caused me to not want to pay someone else. If I think my time is that valuable, then why not? lol
LEDs are really going to bite us one day. My 2006 had a tiny section dim, and it's $176 discount. A far cry from a $4 bulb on the other car.
Congrats on your move to a retirement community. One day, I'll get there lol
10-20 years ago there was a compelling argument to not change one's own oil. My boss asked me why should I, when I can pay a local garage $27 to do it? My time is worth way more. Well, oddly, today even a Chevy dealer can get between $75 and $120 for an oil change, and meanwhile, all those 5 qt jugs at Walmart are still $24-$26....
A Decade Ago..
I spent almost $3K for a service lift to make it easier for these old bones to do vehicle maintenance. Now, it's used mostly for storage to free up floor space in the garage.
I gave up doing my own vehicle maintenance for a variety of reasons.
1 - I don't keep my vehicles long enough for things to break or wear out. The extended warranty takes care of most repairs.
2 - I won't invest in all the special tools and test equipment necessary to work on newer cars.
3 - Disposing of used oil, anti freeze, etc is very difficult where I live, so I don't even do my own oil changes.
4 - At my age, time is more precious that it once was and to me anyway, I'd rather spend it doing something I enjoy instead of working on cars.
5 - Doing automotive work comes with some risk and I don't heal as quickly as I did a decade ago.
Obviously, these reasons are particular to me though, and may not apply to others YMMV.
at 83
I still do most of my auto work - Toy HL and Camry Hybrid - but with mfg continually making it harder, I may have to revert to my ebike.
all of these
I spent almost $3K for a service lift to make it easier for these old bones to do vehicle maintenance. Now, it's used mostly for storage to free up floor space in the garage.
I gave up doing my own vehicle maintenance for a variety of reasons.
1 - I don't keep my vehicles long enough for things to break or wear out. The extended warranty takes care of most repairs.
2 - I won't invest in all the special tools and test equipment necessary to work on newer cars.
3 - Disposing of used oil, anti freeze, etc is very difficult where I live, so I don't even do my own oil changes.
4 - At my age, time is more precious that it once was and to me anyway, I'd rather spend it doing something I enjoy instead of working on cars.
5 - Doing automotive work comes with some risk and I don't heal as quickly as I did a decade ago.
Obviously, these reasons are particular to me though, and may not apply to others YMMV.
Everything you have listed make total sense. I'm stubborn and see the delta between "rock auto" or discount OE online, and the price a shop/dealer charges. Dealers are outrageous in 2025--buddy paid a Chevy dealer $120 for a 5 qt oil change and $128 for a PA state inspection near the airport. RIP OFF. But I now have seen BOTH dealers and indie garages charge over list for parts. Sad.
It's time that really is valuable as we get older. There was actually a time in life when I wished I were older--unreal. Briefly, for months I think it was, I could legally drink at age 18, then it all went to 21. Boy I'd go back to that time in an instant.
Having an 11 yo, I still gotta think about saving the money lol
Sure wish I had a lift. My garage height being a 1952 home isn't high enough even for the small Bend Pak
seems
I still do most of my auto work - Toy HL and Camry Hybrid - but with mfg continually making it harder, I may have to revert to my ebike.
The 2005, 2006, and former 2011, were all still DIY.
Our 2025, at least the engine is still a traditional pushrod V8, I did an oil change which is super simple. Didn't even have to jack it, just set the air suspension to max height.
But maybe everything on the inside is no longer DIY as it is driven by screens and menus...