I dont know if I should admit this on Pistonheads...but...

[Morningside]

I am mechanically useless. I could rewire a car without thinking about it and electrics are no problem. (I did rewire my TR7 from scratch including the damn pop-up lights).

Simple things like plugs, airfilters I can do but what I call major jobs like engine, brakes or anything else I have no idea at all!
Biggest jobs I have ever done are replace the exhaust and propshaft.

But I suppose I do get extra man points for replacing the bypass hose on a mini stuck by the A12 with an oversided spanner, pliers and a old screwdriver.

Am I the only one or should I hand in my notice now?

[Rotary Madness]

You dont sound that useless to me. Oh and I despise car electrics, theyre a black art.

[vixen1700]

I'm pretty useless at everything to be honest.

The odd fibre-glass repair on the TVR has been achieved with a satisfactory result though, like doing those.

Mechanics, electrics, I just don't have a clue.

[PaulB81]

Im completely useless. I can do things like bulbs, and top up the oil but thats about it! I would love to learn but I dont have the time at the moment. Got a few cars, would really like a proper shed to take to bits and learn but not got the room. Maybe I should attack my Pajero with a spanner, that cant be too hard to work on can it?

[Panda76]

Depends on how much you value your knuckles.

[g3org3y]

To be fair, given the tasks you've listed that's not too shabby.

In a similar boat. Servicing no probs, done exhausts and brakes and some other bits and pieces but I'll admit big tasks like cambelts I'll leave to the local specialist.

[Vilhelm]

I'm more mechanically inclined, though I don't have much experience. Electrics are lost on me, just looks like spaghetti.

[kambites]

I'm not too bad at mechanical and electrics/electronics, but I can't do bodywork at all - my welding is appalling and I've never even tried working with fibreglass.

[B'stard Child]

Morningside said:

I am mechanically useless. I could rewire a car without thinking about it and electrics are no problem. (I did rewire my TR7 from scratch including the damn pop-up lights).

Simple things like plugs, airfilters I can do but what I call major jobs like engine, brakes or anything else I have no idea at all!
Biggest jobs I have ever done are replace the exhaust and propshaft.

But I suppose I do get extra man points for replacing the bypass hose on a mini stuck by the A12 with an oversided spanner, pliers and a old screwdriver.

Am I the only one or should I hand in my notice now?

I'm uselss with electrickery and I'd happily trade and engine rebuild for a new car loom

Barter/trading is always better

There is a group of us in EA some on PH others in another car club and we can pretty much cover most car related tasks between us

Sometimes I try to write something on here but as an earlier post stated it seems to be more driving forum than mechanical but to me a little of both can't be bad

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by B'stard Child on Friday 13th April 11:41

[Snowboy]

I thought this was more of a drivers forum than a mechanics forum.
I played the mechanic when I was younger on my first few cars, but these day I just take them into a garage who have all the right tools and knowledge.


Even for a simple oil change I'd prefer to pay a bloke to do it in half an hour on a ramp while I play Angry Birds rather the spending over an hour stuck under a car getting covered in oil, trying to find the filter wrench and stabbing the filter with a screwdriver instead, taking the old oil down the tip and cleaning the spillage off myself and my driveway.

[thinfourth2]

The things that make me throw the toys out of the pram

1 Car electrics
2 Those fecking push fit connectors on fuel lines
3 Exhausts i fking hate exhausts, y rusty awkward bd things wich can only be fixed by lying on your back with bugger all room and getting st in your eyes

[Boydie88]

Useless with a spanner....

Yet I'm a mechanical engineer that designs the manufacturing tooling for cars.

[Byard]

I'm more mechanically minded.

I know feck all about car/general electrics. Op what would you suggest for a complete beginner to begin learning with?

[SSCooperS]

My mechanical knowledge pretty much consists of contacting the dealer, and lobbing money in their direction. Short of checking fluid levels and tyre wear, I really don't have a clue.

[Bill]

kambites said:

I'm not too bad at mechanical and electrics/electronics, but I can't do bodywork at all - my welding is appalling and I've never even tried working with fibreglass.

Likewise, altho I've never tried welding I repaired a Caterham wing that ended up weighing twice what it originally had, and wasn't straight or smooth

[RDMcG]

I know where the tool kit is on my cars. Interesting looking thing. Apart from changing a wheel and knowing where the tiedown points are on the car I never bother to do anything including cleaning and waxing. Admittedly I have no useful garage space,cars on street or in highrise parking.

[Bayerischer]

I am completely useless, and even if I could do some stuff myself, I would rather pay someone to do it properly.

I watch Wheeler Dealers in awe of ED's handiness.

[nigelpugh7]

Morningside said:

I am mechanically useless. I could rewire a car without thinking about it and electrics are no problem. (I did rewire my TR7 from scratch including the damn pop-up lights).

Simple things like plugs, airfilters I can do but what I call major jobs like engine, brakes or anything else I have no idea at all!
Biggest jobs I have ever done are replace the exhaust and propshaft.

But I suppose I do get extra man points for replacing the bypass hose on a mini stuck by the A12 with an oversided spanner, pliers and a old screwdriver.

Am I the only one or should I hand in my notice now?

Anyone who can do electrics without a Genie appearing is a Pistonheads kind of guy!

I would say that as I am an Electrical Engineer by profession, but that did not stop me building four Caterhams from Kits, which are actually pretty easy.

So just get out there with a socket set!!

You know it makes sense!!

[B Huey]

A lot of stuff is fairly straightforward if you have a Haynes manual and a decent set of tools. Diagnosing faults can be difficult though.

I've changed big ends, turbos, head gaskets etc in the past.

[scotty_d]

I guess what you do as a day job will reflect on your DIY skill level to some degree. I am a Engineer to trade so find it the norm to work on cars. My father being a mechanical engineer forced me in it to taking taking things to bits and re-building them from a young age ( child slave )

On the other hand I can not spell to save my life and after reading back some of my own post's on here my grammar is awful. But i will never be a office worker or be in that environment, Horse's for courses and all that i guess.