My car is a 2002 so over the past couple years I've had to replace most the rubber parts. My coolant was leaking from where the heater hose meets the radiator so I thought it was the hose that was the problem. When I removed it I saw that the plastic connector on the radiator was seriously cracked. (Why do they make that plastic?!?)
Anyway, I've done other repairs on my car and have the Haynes manual for it (highly recommend!) So my bf and I decided to replace the radiator ourselves. Took most the day and $180 but we fixed it!
I took my car in the next day for a free AAA inspection and we'd apparently done a good job. I asked how much they would have charged to replace the radiator and it would have been nearly $1k. So I saved $800 doing it myself. I'm super proud!
For context, I've learned to work on my car slowly over the years. A friend taught me how to change the oil. A different friend taught me how to change the brake pads and rotors. I figured out how to replace the spark plugs, ignition coils, brake lines, hoses, and various fluid reservoirs. As I've learned each thing, taking on new repairs have seemed less daunting.
I highly recommend having someone teach you basic car repair so you can build up your skill set and your confidence. Even if you choose not to do some repairs yourself, knowing what's involved can minimize the chance you get taken advantage of at car repair places.
Submitted June 06, 2017 at 11:57AM by Bachata22 http://ift.tt/2rQEGTi
