Lately, I've been working on handling all my vehicle's challenges/maintenance at home, on my driveway, by myself.

The reason is simple: I'm tired of the Kazeem mess and shakara.

Plus the trial and error.

And, of course, the grass ignorance of the basic working principles of an automobile!

Last weekend, I did an over haul of my brake and suspension system: changed linkages, serviced calipers/rebuilt some and did a lot of lubing.

While there, I also changed a broken lug stud.

While still there, I adjusted the parking brake in a manner no one has ever been able to, prior to this time!

In the coming weeks, I'll run an oil change, change the PCV valve, clean up the MAF/throttle body, flush the power steering fluid, flush the brake lines and get to fill up a lot of reservoirs!!

I've also changed the AC suction line (complete, with some help though) and charged things up, myself.

After the charging, two vents were cold while the other two were warm.

I troubleshot it myself and fixed things up, getting Canada level cold via all the vents without any physical help around.

I'm beyond happy; everything worked better than ANY Kazeem could have managed!

They are, as a matter of fact, as good as new now!!

I intend to work to more complex tasks like the engine and transmission if the need occurs (in the future).

The grand aim is to fix the vehicle, 100% when the need occurs without calling for ANY external help.

This is however a tall order and can be a lonely journey.

If you can swing a wrench and are interested in fixing your car in a DIY manner, buzz me up; we can be of help to each other.

Very Important:

Please, only reach out if YOU CAN SWING A WRENCH!

I'm not looking to tell you what a 15mm socket is or help your mechanic fix your vehicle!

I'm looking to help you with a challenge I've mastered with the full expectation that I'll likely get the same help when my time comes.

Where do you reside bro? I'm a DIYer also, though not as good as you 😂

I stay in Ibadan

theadeola:
Where do you reside bro? I'm a DIYer also, though not as good as you 😂

I stay in Ibadan

I'm thinking virtual sharing...not necessarily physical meetings.

BTW, me good? I'm an unrepentant and stubborn learner. Don't think I'll ever 'graduate'.

TerTheFirst:


In the coming weeks ,I'll run an oil change , change the PCV valve, clean up the MAF/throttle body, flush the power steering fluid, flush the brake lines and get to fill up a lot of reservoirs!!

For you to have attempted all the prior fixes by yourself without first learning to change your engine oil and filter speaks volumes of your diy prowess.

You’re doing very well. Your vehicle will be grateful. In the meantime try to purchase a good scanner

Conner44:


For you to have attempted all the prior fixes by yourself without first learning to change your engine oil and filter speaks volumes of your diy prowess.

You’re doing very well. Your vehicle will be grateful. In the meantime try to purchase a good scanner

Oil/filter changes are a walk in the park. I was simply too lazy to do it myself/plus I always bundled it with other preventive maintenance such as throttle body/MAF cleaning, tire rotation etc. and paid for them at once so never bothered doing it myself, directly.

After deciding to go DIY and fire the Kazeems in my motoring life, I discovered that I still have about a month and some days on the OCI I run (M1EP paired with Fram US, good for a year or 20k miles, whichever is first).

This explains the 'learning jump'

About the scanner: I already have a mid-range option now (have always had it as far as memory serves).

Looking to upgrade to a high end bi-directional model in the days to come (I hope the days are kind).

Thanks for weighing in. I'm curious: are you a DIY person too?

TerTheFirst:


Oil/filter changes are a walk in the park. I was simply too lazy to do it myself/plus I always bundled it with other preventive maintenance such as throttle body/MAF cleaning, tire rotation etc. and paid for them at once so never bothered doing it myself, directly.

After deciding to go DIY and fire the Kazeems in my motoring life, I discovered that I still have about a month and some days on the OCI I run (M1EP paired with Fram US, good for a year or 20k miles, whichever is first).

This explains the 'learning jump'

About the scanner: I already have a mid-range option now (have always had it as far as memory serves).

Looking to upgrade to a high end bi-directional model in the days to come (I hope the days are kind).

Thanks for weighing in. I'm curious: are you a DIY person too?

I’m a staunch DIYer oh (when the time and strength permits)

I had to learn the hard way when I was living in a remote village and had no good mechanics around me for years until I was transferred out of that location.

I have all the tools I need to work on my vehicles suspension and engine (except a few specialized tools like that contraption mechanics use to compress shock absorber springs, giant breaker bar etc)

I need a scanner. I have never had one for myself. I’m eying this Autel AP200 Bluetooth scanner since I love its functionality and reviews so far.

Conner44:


I’m a staunch DIYer oh (when the time and strength permits)

I had to learn the hard way when I was living in a remote village and had no good mechanics around me for years until I was transferred out of that location.

I have all the tools I need to work on my vehicles suspension and engine (except a few specialized tools like that contraption mechanics use to compress shock absorber springs, giant breaker bar etc)

I need a scanner. I have never had one for myself. I’m eying this Autel AP200 Bluetooth scanner since I love its functionality and reviews so far.

Sweet.

However, I'd lean away from basic Bluetooth scanners; bi-directional options take off the more than 95% of the guesswork and ensure more certainty in diagnostics.

Though very expensive, they are, IMO, worth their price.

You should take a look.

TerTheFirst:


Sweet.

However, I'd lean away from basic Bluetooth scanners; bi-directional options take off the more than 95% of the guesswork and ensure more certainty in diagnostics.

Though very expensive, they are, IMO, worth their price.

You should take a look.

I understand the need for the bidirectional scanner but for the vehicle I currently drive I can comfortably forgo it at the moment hence my settling for the AP200.

It has everything I need for regular DIY maintenance like scanning the transmission, coding new keys etc but the only thing it lacks is a bidirectional testing functionality which I can live without for now. That bidirectional scan function can add another N50k to my budget for a scanner if I decide to get one with such a feature.

TerTheFirst:


I'm thinking virtual sharing...not necessarily physical meetings.

BTW, me good? I'm an unrepentant and stubborn learner. Don't think I'll ever 'graduate'.

Okay, virtual meetings are good. Whatsapp or nairaland?

What car do you use currently? Mine is a 2003 matrix, tough girl.

Pls and pls, you're good. All these repairs you've done, i haven't done half of them.

theadeola:


Okay, virtual meetings are good. Whatsapp or nairaland?

What car do you use currently? Mine is a 2003 matrix, tough girl.

Pls and pls, you're good. All these repairs you've done, i haven't done half of them.

I initially had WhatsApp in mind. Unfortunately, the response here (and elsewhere where I shared the same lines) isn't encouraging. It appears folks here don't fancy the DIY culture as I had hitherto imagined.

It will be a long and lonely road for me, I'm afraid (at least, in the coming months).

To cushion the loneliness on the chosen path, I've started working on a YouTube channel and will later on host a website where the journey will be documented and hopefully, will build a community of kindred spirits from there.

That audience base/target, unfortunately, will not be Nigerians (at least, a large chunk of it).

If you're however still interested (and comfortable with the adjusted plan), kindly reach out to me privately and I'll be happy to share notes provided you're also willing to occasionally help me during challenging auto DIY times.

Thanks for your time; it is appreciated.