Most vehicle owners today prefer to DIY and do car repair at home, and there’s a good reason for that.
Auto parts replacements that would have required a visit to the technician 30 years ago can now be fixed by anyone, thanks to 21st-century technologies available on the internet, such as how-to videos on YouTube.
You can solve most of your car repair problems using a smartphone, a little technical know-how, the right set of tools, quality car parts, and a G-R-E-A-T deal of persistence.
While the DIY approach makes sense in many circumstances, there are car repairs you should not do yourself. These repairs are too challenging, exhausting, and unsafe for amateurs to engage in.
Before you go all gung-ho on your vehicle and start pulling it apart, it's best to recognize car problems that take a long time to fix and require the skills of a car mechanic or other auto specialists.
5 Most Challenging Car Repairs You Should Not Do Yourself
Here is a list of 5 of the most challenging car repairs you shouldn't DIY. You may want to keep them in mind the next time you attempt a car repair at home.
1. Transmission
Technology has changed a lot over the past ten years. This is particularly true for the transmission systems of vehicles. The transmission is one of the trickiest components of an automobile, and thanks to advanced computerisation, car transmissions have become even more complicated.
While many transmission repairs still look pretty minor since they can be sorted out without removing the transmission from the vehicle, you should know that things aren't always as they seem.
Take the problem of a computerised transmission that is not shifting properly. The problem here could be that a defective sensor is causing the system to send incorrect signals. Or it could be that the transmission is not reacting to the command due to a faulty connection.
Is that something you think you want to sort out yourself? Professionals use special machinery and computers to determine and perform such repair. At that point alone, it already requires a special skillset.
A common fault to the transmission is the transmission fluid leak. In this case, your transmission requires a reseal job where most of the external seals would be replaced while the transmission remains in the vehicle. It is only removed from the vehicle when you also need to replace the front seal.
If that's the case, there's no other way to gain access to the seal. This process definitely is no job for a newbie. That's why we encourage you to seek help on any transmission jobs.
2. Straightening a Vehicle Frame
Here’s an obvious one. Frame damage is almost an everyday thing happening on the roads, what with a large percentage of vehicles figuring in smashups.
If you figure in any one of these unfortunate traffic incidents, you’ll need the help of an experienced auto body mechanic with the proper tools and equipment to put your vehicle back in shape.
Straightening a damaged frame and restoring auto body panels to their exact shape is an intricate task, requiring skill, as you don’t want to miss any measurement or angles.
You cannot fully straighten out a crushed soda can to its original shape by merely pulling it from end-to-end. Similarly, a car may still need further repairs to restore it to its original position after the initial straightening.
There could be a need for welding, replacement of some parts, and recoating of the frame. You are likely going to be better off leaving this one to the pros. You can Google-search 'car repair near me' or check from our directory at Carpart.com.au.
3. Replacing an Engine
Replacing an engine is, perhaps, the most challenging car repair of all and one that car owners should never attempt, unless you're a pro.
'Dropping' in a new engine into the chassis is in itself is a difficult procedure, and there's a lot more to an engine replacement than that. Whether or not you will need to replace some connecting parts depends on the car's mileage and the expertise of the repairer.
4. Rebuilding a Gear Differential
Gear differential rebuilds are one of the least common repairs there is. The need for the rebuild scarcely arises. Most times, you'll need a differential rebuild when the vehicle gets in a major accident. When that happens, the repair needs to be done urgently.
A complete rear differential repair includes replacing housing, gears, seals, and bearings. The average time taken for this process is usually three to five hours for someone with technical knowledge and experience.
5. Clutch
As a wear-and-tear frequently-affected car part, the clutch may need replacement as often as every 30,000 km, depending on your use. An ill-fitting clutch will result in oil spillage and is another possible reason for clutch repair. Repairing the clutch involves removing completely the transmission, which makes the car repair more tasking.
The extent of difficulty depends on how well-equipped you are, both in skills and tools. If you have all the right tools and repair equipment (high jacks or a lift and a tranny jack), then you will find the process so much easier to execute.
Takeaway
And that's it!
Professional mechanics find these repairs challenging, but more so for regular car users. You should know which repairs are safe for you to do and which are best left to your trusted mechanic. For replacement auto parts, you will find the Find-a-Part tool highly useful. Carpart.com.au will get you the right auto part in no time – get a quote now!
By Damilare Olasinde