Any handy tips when working on your own car?

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>>16865634

Here's a list of shit I wish I knew when I started working on cars

>Invest in a good floor jack. Fuck barrel jacks
>Invest in at least 4 good stands
>Buy a breaker bar. You'd be surprised how often you can make a job significantly easier with the addition of 6-12 inches of leverage.
>Don't buy into the hype of tools.
I'm looking at you Snap-On / Craftsman
>If you replace a part that isn't totally worn out. Dont throw it away. Spare parts will save your ass more times than you can count.
>BUY.
>A.
>MANUAL.
>It is a million times easier to do a job slowly but correctly once than hammer through it quickly 5 times.

>>16865705
Basically just this.

Also always make sure you have a way to get to your parts centre when your car is disassembled.
>Don't over torque
>Lots of penetrating lube

>>16865705

Everything they said I strongly agree with, except the tool brand part. I'm not recommending you get a second mortgage to buy tools, but there's a big difference between a 30 year old well built ratchet and a brand new chineseum POS.

Also, when I was in college, my financial situation was... precarious. I would go to the yard every once in a while and grab expensive parts for my car on the cheap (alternator, fuel pump, ignition switch, fuses, bulbs, wiper motor, etc...). Just anything cheap that would financially wreck me if I had to replace it new. Plus, OEM is without question better than the shit you can get at vatozone.

>>16865705
>crapsman
>hype

The fuck? They've been horrible fright tier for ages

>>16866888
Truth on the OEM. I replaced a few things on my SL with used OEM and new aftermarket. Didn't know much about AM stuff but it was cheap, chink shit. Everything that I put in my car that wasn't Mercedes OEM, crapped out and broke within weeks.

>>16866888
This, one of my main tools is an early 70's craftsman 1/4" drive ratchet w/ a thumbwheel that my grandfather bought, and it's the best. I don't see myself needing to replace it for a long time.

>>16866908
Yeah, when I was young I never would have thought I'd be one of those "only OEM for me" guys, but after I studied mechanical engineering...

I wouldn't put an aftermarket flasher on a car, let alone an ignition component.

dish soap works good for getting oil and grease off your hands, or just invest in some gloves

>>16865634
Keep associated hardware (bolts, nuts) with the part you took off. It's easy to mix up random bolts if you just throw them all together. If you're really lost, take pics of shit before you undo it so you can reference later.

Lights. Headlamps or other lights are great for working under a vehicle.

>>16865705
>not a 30 inch breaker bar

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>obese cockposter who obviously doesn't even know anything about cars (the questions give it away) makes opens another shit thread as excuse to post some more of his turd burds

>>16865634
I find screwing blots and nuts back on where they came from helps in not loosing that one bolt/nut that'd bite you in the arse on a big job

Rags and a clean surface helps
A old rug if you're working under a car stands
Shade cloth if you're working in the open, sunburn is a cunt
Lots of lube, penetrating, cleaning sprays/fluids
No one said it yet, but safety glasses
Have someone you can contact if something isn't clear in a workshop manual for the car you're working on