Any advice on repairing my car - where can I do it?

[ivj]

Ok so I've had an oil leak for a while and it hasn't bothered me. Now I have an exhaust leak and I can't even figure out where it is. My car sounds like a rice rocket, and it's a shame.

Now I could go to a shop, pay $100 for them just to look for the problem and another $1000 to have it fixed (I wish I made $200/hour), but instead, I'd much rather try and do it myself (I enjoy learning and fixing, and I also like cars, so it sounds like a nice combination).

Now I don't know anybody who's got a garage or just some sort of a ramp where I can put my car so I can look under it. I don't have any tools, basically I got nothing.

Can someone recommend how would you act in my situation? Call around all your friends and see if they know anyone who's got a garage and let me use it? Register at myspace.com and see if people can help you out? ANy other ideas?

Or would you just cash out to the mechanic?

PS I took of the exhaust manifold cover and there's some sort of a wire hooked up to the manifold (could be an oxygen sensor?) any idea what that's for? Thanks!

[Gary_602Z]

These are all questons that only you will be able to answer! I know what I would do but I know my abilities and learning capablities. If you go the do it yourself route you will probably have to make an investment in tools.

Gary

[ivj]

Better tools than some sleezy mechanic? Or perhaps investment in friends who have tools?

[white3ch0c0late]

Tools aren't that expensive. You can get a good jack and jack stands for about $50 from Pep Boys. A good metric socket wrench set will cost you about $40. A few flathead and phillips head screwdrivers for around $10 and you should have most of what you need. Thats $100. Same price you'd pay to have them look at it. So get the tools, lift it yourself, find the problem, do the fix, and your investment in tools will recoup themselves. Besides, its not like the tools are a 1-time-use thing. There will be problems in the future... so what? Do you plan to run to your friends every time you have a problem?

[Gary_602Z]

Maybe just befriend a "sleezy" mechanic! You may be insulting people you are asking advice from! Many of them have thousands of dollars invested into tools and years of schooling.

Gary

[ivj]

well I have THOSE tools, it's just that I thought I'd need something like a welding torch since it's a borken exhaust... also there's all the liquids and stuff and the 94 camry repair manual that i have lists thousands of different specialty tools and doesn't have much useful info..

[traffic626]

I wouldn't try to weld a busted exhaust part. Find out which piece it is and just get it replaced. My 94 had the flex pipe connecting the cat and the catalytic converter replaced. The muffler and the pipes in the back were original when I sold it 2 weeks ago.

[Dave's]

Sometimes there are clubs or garages which will rent you space/time and this sometimes includes tool use. (you pay for what you break, tho.)

[BakaWill]

hell if you wanna be like gim bob <thats how he spells his name. you could alway just use 2 u bolts and a cut up soup can. if its just a hole in the pipe.
*Note* if you cant figure out how to attach the soup can then go to a reputable mechanic

[Eye8Pussies]

the best way to find where the leak is in the first place it isn't easily visible is to use seafoam

you heard me, seafoam.
seafoam your car through the brake booster, and while your car blows smoke afterwards, it will also start blowing smoke from where the leak is, and voila! I didn't even know I had a leak at the head and y-pipe connection until I seafoamed and I got smoke from under the hood

after that, what you do depends what the problem is
if you can patch it with those self-patcher kits, then good. if you can weld a hole shut, then good. if you have to replace a flexpipe, then it's usually easier to go to a shop

good luck

[Eye8Pussies]

Originally Posted by BakaWill

hell if you wanna be like gim bob <thats how he spells his name. you could alway just use 2 u bolts and a cut up soup can. if its just a hole in the pipe.
*Note* if you cant figure out how to attach the soup can then go to a reputable mechanic

and lol....you're a newbie, so you weren't here a couple years ago.....we had the boro KINGS on here....(boro means like, junk, or something like that) who did every thing with jbweld, pop cans, duct tape and zip ties and then they'd hit the track

if you're looking for some laughs, make a search for "boro" and you'll know what I'm talking about