I'm Tooting My Own Horn! I Saved $55.00

[Deleted]

Both of my head lights went out during a big storm recently. I tried getting the housing off but couldn't. SO, I went to NTB to see what they would charge... $60.00 + $25.00 to install an air filter! Are you kidding me! HELL NO.. Marched my butt to Advanced Auto bought bulbs and an air filter $35.00 pulled out the manual and did it myself! Took me little over an hour, but I saved $55.00!

[Jake 48]

CC, good for you!

[merryheart]

Yay, CC! A lot of small auto repairs are just that - small and easy to do if you have access to a manual. I just can't afford to have someone replace burned out bulbs or filters if I can get to them.

[Frugal Nurse]

Isn't it crazy what auto places try to charge? Every time I get my oil changed, they try to talk me into $30.00 wiper blades. I'm like, for $30.00 I can buy 3 or 4 sets of wipers!

Good job on the Savings!

[redwagon]

DH and I are trying to do this but the manual isn't too helpful so far. But we're determined to do it ourselves!! Way to go!

[debtheaven]

Yay for you! How incredibly empowering!

I had to laugh because one of my late dad's favorite expressions was "Well if I don't toot my horn, who will!?" My sis and I both did, because he was a great dad, but your post reminded me of him.

[merryheart]

Redwagon, if the manual doesn't have enough info for you to figure it out, trying using a search engine to see if you can find more detail. There are lots of blogs and answer sites that should be able to get you more information.

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2011 16:11:41 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

Isn't it crazy what auto places try to charge? Every time I get my oil changed, they try to talk me into $30.00 wiper blades. I'm like, for $30.00 I can buy 3 or 4 sets of wipers!

Good job on the Savings!

If you have an NTB in your area, look up thier web site. They have internet coupons ! Also places like Walmart are inexpensive for oil changes!


ntb.com/

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2011 18:25:50 GMT -5 @debtheaven said:

Yay for you! How incredibly empowering!

I had to laugh because one of my late dad's favorite expressions was "Well if I don't toot my horn, who will!?" My sis and I both did, because he was a great dad, but your post reminded me of him.

Now if I can only figure out how to install a Serpentine belt. NTB wants $79 + labor. So it will be about $200.00. Advanced Auto has the belt for $25.00! UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[cathysmom]

Serpentine belts aren't too bad, but you'll need the right size socket and a type of wrench handle called a breaker bar (it doesn't rachet). My DH can do it with a regular socket wrench, but I need the extra leverage of the longer bar/handle. It also really helps to have a second person so that one of you can line up the belt on the pulleys while the other one uses the wrench to keep the tension pulley back. Again, my DH can hold it with one hand and adjust the belt with the other, but I'm not that strong. Good Luck!

[suziq38]

Good for you. I did something similar with my car when I was young. I used to even change my own oil, but it got kinda messy underneath the car once I started making real money after college.

My Story, LOL:
The gasket needed to be changed on my Datsun and it would have cost a lot in labor to have it done. It was easy to get to, so I just bought the gasket alone,
borrowed a socket screwdriver thingamajig and removes the 8 or so screws, pulled off the big metal cap, removed the old gasket, replaced it with a new one and put everything back together.....in the auto shop's parking lot.

It wasn't "rocket science." I saved almost $200.00. I think they gave me the high quote because I was female and still am, I might add, LOL.

Something similar happened to me with my refrigerator and the repairman, and the washing machine motor.

I got a lot of information on how to fix large appliances from YOU TUBE.

[mizbear]

It's a shame that you can't just go to the library and pull a good ol Chilton Manual off the shelf anymore...
You can look it up and they have it online!!!! Yay me! Diagrams, vids and everything! Enter Chilton Manual into your search engine, then select the online chilton manual, click do it yourself and follow the instructions

[mizbear]

Suziq- I had a guy at a dealer try to sell me a stick with a bad camshaft once- I let him drive me around the block and then asked him if he thought I was stupid because I was a woman, a blonde (at the time) or a DD. I then let him know that I came from a line of mechanics- I knew that sound- I went somewhere else and bought the same make and model truck.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2011 15:19:23 GMT -5 cathysmom said:

Serpentine belts aren't too bad, but you'll need the right size socket and a type of wrench handle called a breaker bar (it doesn't rachet). My DH can do it with a regular socket wrench, but I need the extra leverage of the longer bar/handle. It also really helps to have a second person so that one of you can line up the belt on the pulleys while the other one uses the wrench to keep the tension pulley back. Again, my DH can hold it with one hand and adjust the belt with the other, but I'm not that strong. Good Luck!

I'm hoping my brother will be able to install it!

[mizbear]

cropchick- How's the serpentine belt project coming? Did the chilton thing help?