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Re: Do you trust your own work on your car? Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email]  (#32) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Fri, 29 Mar 2002 23:35:54
In Reply to: Do you trust your own work on your car?, Rob 85 Turbo, Fri, 29 Mar 2002 22:32:13 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I think your dad is worrying a little much. Your average mechanic probably has less information on your car than you do. If you've ever had a long talk with the folks at, say, a Midas or a Meineke you'll know that you've got at least as much knowledge about your car as they do, probably a lot more. And these are people who play with *brakes*.
All cars break down, all cars have problems. It's as much related to mileage and maintenance as the moon and the stars. My '88 9kt crossed 250k and still has never left me stranded; my '90 SPG has 56k and has left me "stranded" twice (though I was able to fix it both times). My friend's brand-new '01 Jetta died on the freeway with no warning and no obvious cause - the Check Engine light went on and the car went off. These things happen to *all* cars ('cept maybe Lexuses :) eventually, often at the worst possible time. The key is to do your very best to ensure things are right each time before you get in the car, keep up on inspections and maintenance, keep reasonable tools and spares in the car, and do your best not to put yourself in dangerous situations where a random failure can result in a random accident.
FWIW, my personal rule is to keep the car near home for 50 or so miles after major work. Thrash it about a bit, make sure it's all good. Give it a final inspection and assuming all is well there's no reason not to have full confidence in it.
My first mechanicking experiment was on an '85 900T - very much like yours. I'd done little stuff, but never anything major. Then my '90 900T got wrecked and I spent a couple months dismantling it and becoming very familiar with all the discrete systems. I bought the '85 and put everything I could from the '90 into it, including its engine. I drove that revived '85 *hard* for many months. None of my work ever came undone though I will readily admit I was quite nervous for several weeks that it would. Finally, the transmission gave up the ghost and I had to retire the poor '85. My advice: Do everything by the book, don't take shortcuts, and have a knowledgable friend go over the car with you when it's done. Then, have fun - and be safe.
-Justin
posted by 216.175.12...
, Sun, 31 Mar 2002 02:08:34, Fri, 29 Mar 2002 23:35:54 <-- Viewing This Message
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