tommyspark 24 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I basically do all the maintenance on all of my family's vehicles. My dad knows how to replace an air filter and change oil, but that pretty much wraps it up. Outside of that I've always done all the maintenance and repairs on all the vehicles. Currently my parents have a 2000 Silverado (4.7L), a 2008 Torrent, and a 2013 Cruze. We traded our 05 Equinox in on our Spark, and we also have a 2008 G6. Just did full blown tune ups on the Silverado and G6. Doing the Torrents tune up around the 1st of Sept. (Plugs, plug wires, coolant flush, tranny flush, oil change, air filter, replacing belts and cleaning the intake manifold and throttle body) Needless to say, I do my fair share of wrenching on GM's. Not to mention electrical/audio stuff..... The vast majority of warranty work from GM has a $100 deductible. If it's under a $100 repair, I just do it myself.... So who wrenches on YOUR vehicles? Smikster 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bluer101 241 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I do all of mine too. I come from an autobody and mechanic background. Smikster 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Smikster 10 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I like how when i change my oil there are no leaks yet a simple socket and my hand can do the job next time, gerr on how tight they screw on the oil filters tommyspark 1 Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Smitsker that's basically the reason why.I use k&n oil filters. The nut on the bottom.of.em sure is.nice! Link to post Share on other sites
Lovgun7 75 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I do the usual stuff at home too anything that the warranty cAn cover without me paying a dime ill take Smikster 1 Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Good luck with that. 99.9% of warranty work has a $100 deductible. In my experience anyway..... Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Bluer I grew up wrenching on cars. Don't have any auto body experience though..... Im currently a full time student. Major; GM automotive service technologies. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I paid nothing for the $300 compressor and labor to change it. Only aftermarket warranties charge you a deductible. Link to post Share on other sites
Lovgun7 75 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I paid nothing for the $300 compressor and labor to change it. Only aftermarket warranties charge you a deductible. +1 Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Dew 14 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I wrench on all of my cars. From pulling motors and transmissions, dropping sub-frames on a Cooper, to replacing all suspension parts on my Audi, to oil changes, N/A to turbo builds from scratch, axles, wheel bearings...you name it. I don't change oil so much any more since it is becoming cheaper for the dealership to do it. The rest is all me. Link to post Share on other sites
Gossamer 50 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I can do pretty much anything that needs to be done to a car (or motorcycle), but I'm too damn old to work on cars anymore! That's why I buy new cars every 3 to 5 years - that way they are always under warranty. Now with the deal I got on my Spark, I don't even have to change the oil anymore (free oil changes for life). =o) Link to post Share on other sites
Trancer07 30 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 (edited) Good luck with that. 99.9% of warranty work has a $100 deductible. In my experience anyway..... That's a load of bull. Warranty work is warranty work. You shouldn't pay a dime for work covered under the warranty, you're getting scammed. The only thing I do to my car is check the oil level and tire pressure. I don't know a single thing about replacing car parts etc. Edited August 12, 2013 by Trancer07 Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 The G6 broke down once. They fixed it and.I.had a $100 deductible?! Maybe cuz it was around 60k miles and I paid an extra $1200 for the 100,000 powertrain warranty? Not sure but I.definitely paid em $100 Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Trancer, at the end.of the.day its just nuts n bolts Link to post Share on other sites
WaltK 305 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I've always maintained my cars. To me it doesn't pay anymore, it is easier to send the car out for an oil change, than to do it yourself, by time you buy the oil, filter, get all greasy, dispose of the oil, for an extra ten spot, or so, let someone else do it. Outside of fluid changes, what is left? Tune-ups today, consist of plugs, wires, and clean the throttle body, and how often? Too many delicate electronics, in today's cars, let the guys with the computerized analyzers play with them, I'm done. Smikster 1 Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 The way I look at it is if I do it, I know.its.done.right. There's no such thing.as a."10 minute.oil change" Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I also maintain my own vehicles. Remember my post on a dealer not replacing the oil filter on my first change? Does the Spark use a crush washer on the drain plug, or rubber gasket? I have car ramps and a nice carport to work on my car., Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 No plug wires on our cars, it is coil on plug which eliminates one potential problem area. I'll do everything that isn't covered by warranty, but the oil goes so many miles that I might as well have the dealer do it so I know they can't try to get around the engine warranty. Some of the warranties start to prorate after 50,000 so it might cost something on some cars. Its another slimey deceptive bunch of crap that the auto industry seems to get away with that no other industry can pull. Link to post Share on other sites
Smikster 10 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Smitsker that's basically the reason why.I use k&n oil filters. The nut on the bottom.of.em sure is.nice! the small 2 buck thingamagigger at walmart for the filter remover works great to and saves me about ehh 3-5 bucks over that k and n every oil change. Link to post Share on other sites
Smikster 10 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I've always maintained my cars. To me it doesn't pay anymore, it is easier to send the car out for an oil change, than to do it yourself, by time you buy the oil, filter, get all greasy, dispose of the oil, for an extra ten spot, or so, let someone else do it. Outside of fluid changes, what is left? Tune-ups today, consist of plugs, wires, and clean the throttle body, and how often? Too many delicate electronics, in today's cars, let the guys with the computerized analyzers play with them, I'm done. I like to get rid of weeds and such with my used oil, such a nice lawn Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 No plug wires on our cars, it is coil on plug which eliminates one potential problem area. I'll do everything that isn't covered by warranty, but the oil goes so many miles that I might as well have the dealer do it so I know they can't try to get around the engine warranty. Some of the warranties start to prorate after 50,000 so it might cost something on some cars. Its another slimey deceptive bunch of crap that the auto industry seems to get away with that no other industry can pull. I'd personally MUCH rather see plug wires than this new age "computer stuff". If that particular computer goes out, it's gonna cost a LOT more than just replacing wires or coil pack..... My 2000 Z24 was the first "plug wireless" car I'd seen. Luckily I never had an issue with the spark plug computer thingie. That Cavalier turned out to be quite the car! She got totaled with 184,000 miles and ran just as good as she did with 8 miles! Sure do miss her :/ Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 COP is a great thing, you don't have voltage drops from plug wires. Also, replacing spark plugs is super easy. When a coil goes bad, you get the cylinder missfire code, and are easily replaced. Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 COP is a great thing, you don't have voltage drops from plug wires. Also, replacing spark plugs is super easy. When a coil goes bad, you get the cylinder missfire code, and are easily replaced. Exactly! Don't know about the Spark, but one of my instructors has a 2012 Equinox. It has 13 computers in it. True story.... It's getting out of control! Link to post Share on other sites
NoSprak 17 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 COP is a great thing, you don't have voltage drops from plug wires. Also, replacing spark plugs is super easy. When a coil goes bad, you get the cylinder missfire code, and are easily replaced. Except for Fords. For some reason, Fords will NOT set a misfire code if they drop a coil. It's worse too, because Fords blow COP coils a lot. Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Hence why I never have and never will own a Ford Link to post Share on other sites
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