How mad do you get when you work on a car? (or anything for that matter?)

[David]

I'm about an 8. Used to be a 9 but I've cooled off in my old(er) age. Fortunately I usually cool off in about 60 seconds.

Unfortunately this is probably one of the biggest things keeping me from moving farther up the food chain at work. Well that, and my lack of skills and initiative

[Jose_JGC]

I get as high as 7 in the madness scale, I know when it is time to stop and regroup, as most here. When working on a car I constantly control myself to work slowly and meticulously to avoid messing up. Working on the 911 is rewarding if the work is of high standard, done otherwise it results in anxiety.
jose

[BK911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Oh yeah guys, beer if for AFTER the job is done. Enjoy while sweeping up the floor, and putting your tools away . Can also be consumed while cleaning parts, or painting, but not while assembling a motor, replacing your brakes etc...

OK, now you're trying to take all the fun out of it!
I have a 3 beer rule. Once I crack my third, its time to start winding down.
After the third, its clean up time.
Good thing I don't live in WA or CO!!

[Nickshu]

I don't work on my daily drivers. My project cars are something I can walk away from at any time and I don't have to worry about it getting me to work on Monday. I buy/lease newer cars for daily drivers with a warranty. The downside is the incompetence of most dealerships is a maddening exercise sometimes. Fortunately I have kept my daily's new enough that all they need is oil changes.

[Cajundaddy]

I was a fleet mechanic for 8 years at my company and did a lot of brake and clutch work because the field service techs beat the living scheit outa those trucks. That used to make me angry seeing all those burned-out clutches that probably saw 1000 degrees. Getting them apart was always a joy...not. Now I mostly do training and supervising and I always tell them "when you hit a wall, remember you just have to be smarter than that clutch/water pump/caliper".

Fast forward to last week where I was replacing a pump impeller and seals. A job I have done a thousand times but this one was really in tight spot and getting any wrench in there was a pain. Sure enough one of the housing nuts falls off and slips through a worm hole into the 4th dimension never to be found. Thankfully I had a spare in my tool kit. I get her all back together and everything looks great, turn it on and water is leaking everywhere. The housing gasket had slipped out of position while I was trying to get tools into this tiny space. OFFS!!!

Deep breath, you can do this thing, back to square one, be meticulous in your method. Three hours to complete a 1 hr job but it is done and it works. Miller time!

[JavaBrewer]

I don't enjoy working on my cars anymore. I was never very good at mechanical work but simple things like brakes, struts, oil/coolant lines, oil changes, etc...were fine.

Oil changes - last event pretty much took me to level 11. First up was my 996 - super gravy job. Back car onto ramps, drain oil, replace filter, refill oil. 20 minute job tops. Next up my son's 2000 Ford Explorer. No need for ramps, drain oil, replace filter...struggle with the filter for 30 minutes. Break out the useless filter strap I bought at Autozone and still no go. Rest my arms for an hour and try again. Succeed only in bashing my elbow and gashing my hand. Over 2 hours effort and the old filter still mocked me. I end up leaving the filter in place and filling with fresh oil. The following week I take it to a local shop to have them pry it off and finger tighten a new one. Sure I could have put a big screw driver through the old filter but with my luck that day I would torn up the filter and still not removed it = a tow to the shop.

If the job is expected to be hard I rarely get mad. Easy oil change on a Ford Explorer turned nightmare = mad.

I had a college roommate who did a tune on his 5.0 Ford Mustang. Car was running fine but he was bored. Went to replace the spark plugs and ended up snapping 2 off in the head. Talk about mad.

[SiberianDVM]

The only car repairs that make me mad involve places I can't reach because I'm too old and fat, tiny parts that disappear into bad places, and bolts/nuts that won't come loose.

Over the last 4 years I rebuilt my 911 into a track car, only to see it get destroyed when I finally got it "perfect".

I bought a clapped out MkIII Supra and turned it into a Chump Car.

These weren't quite challenging enough, so I just bought back my 1st sports car, a 1970 240Z that I will rebuild into a Bob Sharp IMSA GTU clone, assuming I live long enough.

It's better than sitting in my chair, waiting to die.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don't work on the 356s unless I'm in this mood. It can take months to get a simple job done.

This is key. If you have the luxury to do non critical jobs when you are in the mood, it can be a great way to pass an afternoon.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The fact I am working in my well lit, heated and air conditioned garage with a scissor lift and I have good music playing and cold beer in the refrigerator helps my attitude a lot.

Jealous.

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

The following week I take it to a local shop to have them pry it off and finger tighten a new one. Sure I could have put a big screw driver through the old filter but with my luck that day I would torn up the filter and still not removed it = a tow to the shop.

That is the sound of experience.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Even 911s can make you mad. Parking brake backing plate was fused to the control arm. Thought oxy-mapp would expand it enough to be hammered off. No. Had to make precision cuts with a cutting wheel and chisel the rest enough to pry it off. Fun Monday night.

THIS PICTURE RIGHT HERE!!! I have suffered much agony at the expense of rear porsche banana arms!!!!

Thanks everyone for the comments- I was away from the computer today and EACH of these comments made me laugh out loud. To come back to 3 pages of stuff is awesome.

And the comment about volvo's being easier to work on than 944/951- priceless!

I will now prepare to drive my jack legged 2wd cross country though an impending snow in Monterey Va. tomorrow(Rick V will know this area). Wish me luck!

[Scuba Steve]

I've never had a problem with Volvos (RWD / early '90s) and 944s before. BUT they never had much in the way of stuck or frozen bolts and seemingly had acres of space in the engine bay compared to other stuff I've had the displeasure of working on.

I think a friend's 03 Saab with a 3.0 is the worst. The entire thing is assembled with bolts unique only to that make and there is zero space anywhere. If you're lucky you'll be able to see what you want to get at but you'll be stumped trying to figure out how to get a hand or tool in there. Unrelated to the car, the engine compartment was thick with brown widows last time I had a look.

I'm dreading the upcoming transmission replacement on our '92 Volvo 960. It's RWD, in theory there should be enough room to reach all the bolts, but jacking such a large car up high enough to remove and replace the bad part freaks me out. I'd be a lot happier if the car was on a lift of some kind.

[notfarnow]

Oh man, can I ever identify with this.

I used to do ALL the work on my cars... I couldn't bear to spend $500 to have someone else replace a clutch or redo suspension parts etc.

My approach is different now. Generally, I know what is wrong with my cars, and usually know the scope of the work. I won't take it on myself unless I get a quote first. Depending on how much it is, I usually ask myself if it is really worth the time, effort and frustration to save that money. If they are going to charge me $300 in labour to replace the rear shocks on my wagon, and I'm reasonably sure I can do that on a friday evening in the garage with a couple beer, then maybe. But if it's been a busy couple weeks and I'd rather be on the deck drinking beer, then no.

I've worked really hard to separate the maintenance of my daily drivers, from the HOBBY of working on cars. I get very little satisfaction from changing the ball joints on an '04 Chevy Silverado. I've done it, and it's simply inconcievable that I would do it again. I'd far prefer to pays someone, and use my time sailing, playing with the kids, or laying on the couch reading car magazines. Heck, I'd rather be at work.

On the other hand, working on either of the 911s is an absolute escape and something I look forward to, nomatter what the actual task is. It's time I enjoy, and even if I spent a whole day saving $100 in labour, it wouldn't really matter. I love getting to know the car and their idiosycrasies. I like the idea of getting to know them really well and repeating the same job later, maybe on another one, with ease and aptitude.

I love having a 911 torn apart with a to-do list taped to the window, and plugging away at it at night when everyone is tucked in. Sometimes I do it in the day and take calls and work with a headset on. I very rarely get cranky doing it, because generally I'm not under any pressure to get it done.







Occasionally, I still find it very convenient to be able to work on my "normal" cars in a pinch, even if I don't really want to. Diff cover leaking on my truck, can't get it in the shop for another week... may not WANT to do it, but it sure is convenient to be able to have the truck working that weekend. Rear brakes on the wagon need to be replaced before a roadtrip, and the shop is booked solid? Again, sure is nice to not have to wait. Those would be exceptions.

[Rikao4]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

. At any rate, today was an overwhelming ordeal spent getting the engine to make a sucking sound at the oil filler cap.
!)
Ron

the Ladies Volvo is having this issue/ bad flame trap...
which of course is down there in hell..
and you've confirmed the probable journey and outcome..
I'm going to save myself the grief and anger...
and spend the $$$...

Rika

[futurefun]

Used to be 11 but it takes so much energy often with little payback. With German & Celtic genetics I was wired for raging anger but have worked at changing my responses no just outwardly but feeling less inside. Intense emotions can put on hard miles with undesirable consequences. So, maybe 2-3 now, relatively speaking. Tranquillo hijo.

[john70t]

I've discovered the most difficult/hair-pulling/pacing/swearing jobs were originally the smallest and simplest.
Given that, I'm rarely disappointed by my low expectations these days.

[911boost]

I agree that I used to get a lot more frustrated than I do now. With that being said, I DD my 1992 Mustang, but do have my truck as back up if need be. So I can walk away, and this makes a huge difference like everyone is saying.

Funny story, I put a new radiator in the Mustang and wasn't getting any heat, so I got a new thermostat and went to pull the water neck off. Of course I had to remove the distributor to get a wrench on one of the bolts. It spun and the timing got all hosed. Doh! I called my twelve year old daughter out to the garage to have her crank the key once I got it TDC etc. I showed her how to step on the clutch etc. SO back to the front of the car I'd go and tell her to crank it. It would start and run for a second and then die. For the life of me I couldn't figure it out. I could hear the fuel pump relays going on. Thinking I accidently knocked something I investigated for a while then had her start it again and it did the same thing. Hmmmmm.... Long story short when I would tell her to stop turning the key, she wouldn't just let go of the key, she would turn it back to the off position, thus killing the pumps and ignition, etc. HA! We both had a good laugh at that and I felt like an idiot.

I still enjoy working on everything and will continue to do so, but dang I need to get my garage heated. I miss that from my old house.

Bill

[911 Rod]

I walked away from the demon wagon 2 weeks ago and it is still sitting broken.

[fintstone]

I used to do almost all my work myself and enjoyed it. Now I have lost all interest in working on my cars and they are suffering (especially the Porsches as they are too special for just anyone to work on). I just wish I could find someone local to do it for me at a reasonable price that will not screw it up.

[RANDY P]

Well, the nice thing is once you subject yourself to getting your hands and bank account torn up, you can leave car alone for awhile- it's got it's 2nd life after you fix the bushings, leaks, damage from things the PO screwed up, etc. etc.

What makes it nasty is selling the car after all the $$$ and blood you spilled on because-

YOU GET BORED.

rjp

[911 Rod]

Demon wagon is for sale in the spring (if it doesn't kill me or blow up)

Well, the nice thing is once you subject yourself to getting your hands and bank account torn up, you can leave car alone for awhile- it's got it's 2nd life after you fix the bushings, leaks, damage from things the PO screwed up, etc. etc.



What makes it nasty is selling the car after all the $$$ and blood you spilled on because-



YOU GET BORED.



rjp

[Hugh R]

Working on cars is no longer fun for me, its work.

My 26 y/o Son is taking the Targa to Salinas as I type this (250 miles), he and I fixed the autoheat last night, a problem with the plastic ball and socket that pops off under the black box between the front seats. My first search on PP was on that issue, and it was a simple and great fix. The fix is simple, but at almost 61/y/o with OK eyesight and progressive lenses, its still tough to see what you're doing.

I love my 08 Camry Hybrid with 95K miles. The only things its had are fluids, filters and tires. The plugs are supposed to be changed at 120K miles and I watched a youtube video and it looks pretty easy, everything is on top of the engine.