by B. L. Babb

Created on: July 03, 2008

A common decision many of us must make, particularly in today's economical downturn, is who should we have perform work on our vehicles. Should we attempt repairs ourselves or should we allow a shop to perform the work at a greater expense?

Before making this decision, several factors need to be considered. Is the work within the capability of the DIY mechanic? Are necessary parts available for local purchase or are there "special" parts that cannot be obtained except through the dealer or a junkyard? If the part is available only through a junk yard, is this a part you are willing to purchase from that environment?

Once you have considered those items, the next item is time. Do you have the time to complete the repairs properly? If you have the parts but your time is not available, maybe you need someone else to do the work for you.

Are there special tools and/or other equipment you do not possess that may be needed to complete the work correctly? Sometimes repairs need special equipment to ensure safety in the work completed.

My general rule of thumb is I allow others to work on my car for the following reasons: replacing tires on the rims and balancing I don't have the equipment to do this properly, air conditioning repairs on a vehicle using the older Freon systems such as R-22 for the obvious reason I don't have the proper training and I cannot get the Freon without the certification, bodywork I am just not any good at sheet metal repairs.

I can replace car glass, even in the doors as well as a variety of other repairs from clutch replacement to overhauling the engine.

I have found that in today's world, finding a trust worthy mechanic is a more valuable asset to have then many other things. A trusty mechanic does not sell unnecessary repairs, does not troubleshoot using the hunt-and-peck method of replacing things at random until something corrects the problem but instead using a systematic troubleshooting technique that find the problem in the fewest steps saving money from reducing purchasing of parts not needed to resolve the issue.

Also pushing my decision is the fact that not being a man exposes me to even more risk of attempts to sell unneeded repairs and overcharging for completed repairs.

Each time you sit behind the wheel of the car, you trust the auto maker built a good car, you trust the tire manufacturer has made a quality product that the automaker installed correctly, you trust the components of the car are all up to standards that minimize risks to you.

You also are placing your life and the lives of any passengers on the assumption that whoever worked on your car was experienced enough to perform the job correctly resulting in a safe car to drive.

When making your decision as to who will perform the work on your vehicle consider if you trust that work, even if it is your own work. If you are hesitant to trust your own work, then may I suggest you strongly consider the mechanic? If you are comfortable with your repair abilities, time is not an issue, parts are available, and either no special tools will be needed or you can get access to what you need; then I say you may be better off doing the repairs.

If you hold your breath each time you turn the key after you have worked on it and do not loan your car out because you aren't quite sure of the repair performed, then I suggest investing some time to finding a quality mechanic to perform this work for you.

In the end, there are many factors to consider when making the choice between paid mechanic and your own mechanical skills.

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