When you have a problem with your car, it can save a lot of money and time if you know when it’s just not worth your time to try and tinker with it yourself, and when it’s better to take it into a mechanic.
Before you start working on a problem, there are some questions you need to ask yourself to determine if this is a good use of your time. After all, many problems wind up being more involved than you thought they’d be, or you suddenly find that you don’t have the right tool. It’s good to have an idea of what you’ll run into first.
Are You Willing to Put in the Time to Do the Job and Clean it Up Later?
Changing your own oil is one thing, and many people can do it alone. However, changing other fluids is a different matter altogether. Flushing the coolant or changing the transmission fluid, for example, are more difficult. They’re also somewhat time-consuming and tend to get messy, which you’ll have to spend time cleaning up later. Luckily, mechanics don’t typically charge that much to do these routine maintenance tasks, and it can be worth it to pay them to do it.
Do You Need to Raise Your Vehicle Up?
Most DIY or hobby mechanics don’t have an automotive lift, which is a good reason to bring your car, truck, or SUV to a shop to make a repair if it requires the automobile to be raised onto a hoist. Even if you use jacks, the height might not be great enough to get the repairs done. It could also make doing the repairs feel cramped and uncomfortable, not to mention a little dangerous if the jacks fall away.
For this reason, you should research exactly how to perform a repair from start to finish before you start buying parts and committing to the job yourself. Being able to walk around beneath the vehicle can make a job much, much easier than trying to squeeze yourself underneath, flashlight clenched between your teeth and arms unable to maneuver properly. The repairs could take longer, the risk of injury goes up, and you could wind up abandoning the DIY job altogether.
For repairs that require extensive work underneath the car or truck, it’s best to bring it to a mechanic or auto repair shop to get the job done faster.
Are You Sure You Know What the Problem Is?
If you spend a lot of time reading articles about your vehicle’s symptoms or just enjoy reading about auto repairs, you may have noticed that many of the symptoms overlap. Many problems don’t have a smoking gun symptom that tells you it’s 100% that a certain part has failed, and what seems to be a simple problem at first can quickly turn into a much more involved job once you open the hood and get to work.
For example, if your engine is sputtering as you drive, you may think the fuel filter is clogged. After all, that’s a common reason for this, so you decide to change it. Unfortunately, the problem could also be the fuel pump, a pressure regulator, or even an electrical issue, which is beyond DIY work.
Unless the problem is obvious or you can readily see the parts that need to be replaced, you might wind up sinking and lot of time and money into buying and replacing parts that don’t need to be changed out. While recognizing symptoms can help you become mentally prepared for what the diagnosis will be, sometimes only a mechanic can give you a timely, definitive diagnosis.
Do You Have Everything You Need for the Job?
Many repairs require specialized tools to perform. Even something as simple as replacing spark plugs requires using a spark plug socket for your wrench.
The nice thing about mechanics and especially dealership services is that they have a wide range of tools available. If a specific manufacturer sponsors a dealership, say Toyota or Ford, specialized tools and other equipment are delivered to each franchise operation by them. Granted, a dealership’s price is usually higher than a mechanic’s or regular garage.
Manufacturers do this because sometimes their engines work differently. Some engines, for example, have the water pump locked right into the cooling jacket via a special socket, so when you decide to replace or reinstall the water pump and its cover, you need specialized wrenches. Buying special tools for repairs you may only make once in the lifetime of the vehicle may not be worth it.
Can You Perform All Basic Maintenance?
The number one benefit of bringing your vehicle to a mechanic, even for basic maintenance, is that the technician can look over the vehicle and spot issues that could develop into bigger problems if left unaddressed. Unless you know how to check your tires, brake pads, and fluids (all of them), and listen for the right sounds, you may want to bring your vehicle in at least some of the time.
Final Thoughts
DIY can be a fun afternoon project but think hard about the scope of what you’re doing before you dive in. Sometimes, especially if you aren’t 100% sure of what’s wrong, a project can wind up much bigger than you anticipated. Other times, it’s just worth bringing your car or truck to a shop to save time. Regardless, it’s your call, but hopefully, by asking these questions, you can determine if this is a job you can do in your driveway or if you need to bring it in.