DIY auto repair

[ZaireinHD]

Tuesday May 23, 2017 - SUV driver side turn signal light bulb blew out. How do I know? when using your turn signals. the light on the dashboard will blink twice as fast. meaning one of the two lights {front or rear} is not working. when I got to work. I turned on my hazard lights and saw the rear driver side was not on. now that my good ol days are over. I have to make this change myself. even though I still have no problem paying a repair shop for the convenience of a shop to do it. NOT the dealership, they charge way too much. but the auto shop I go to I wouldn't mind.

(1) went to an auto store and purchased the replacement bulb. this was the most difficult part. because there appeared to be an over whelming about of choices. but in todays world. I just asked my assistant {cell phone} search mode - what model number for 2008 Ford Edge turn signal? I got my answer right there in the isle. found the model number and purchased the name brand I recognized, which was a bit higher priced than the other two of 3 I could purchase. Funny because that was only $10 for two bulbs! so funny!

(2) auto store is across the street from a strip mall. I drive over across the street to the pizza shop and order a Meatball parm sandwich. go back to the SUV and drive {no not walk, but actually drive - LOL} to the other end of the strip mall to purchase a graduation Hallmark card. get back to the SUV.

(3) open the trunk to expose the two screws holding in the taillight housing unit. use my socket wrench and remove two screws. housing unit didn't move. gave a little tug and it pops off. there are two clips holding on at the other end. of the two lights connected to the housing unit. I see it is the bottom light, and the top light is for reverse. turn left to release the plug {would not release turning the other way}. now the bulb is exposed. pull on the bulb. pops out and it was completely burnt! put the housing unit down for a second and open the 2 replacement bulb pack. register guy said not to touch the bulbs with bear fingers because the bulb make not last as long. so I open the pack and use a face tissue to remove the bulb from the pack. push the bulb into the plug. reverse twist the plug back into the housing unit. push the housing unit back into the 2 clips. replace the two screws.

DONE!

(4) put the extra bulb back in the bag, to bring inside home. place the socket back in the case. yes drive, not walk to the other end of the strip mall to pick up and pay for my sandwich! which was just getting out of the oven.  

(5) the point is this was a very to extremely thing for me to do. back in the good ol days I would have just paid my mechanic the $50 or $60 to make this repair or change the bulb. the dealership! forget about it! would have cost at least $150!! and another savings was my time. took me only less than 20 minutes. the time it took to make the sandwich, purchase a card. so with that said took me I guess 10 minutes to change the bulb? where as both dealership or my mechanic. I would have to wait for hours, or rented a car or got a loaner car from the dealership.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Proud of you. 

[ZaireinHD]

Dec 11, 2016 1:58:46 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Honest repair shops? I will bet that there fewer honest repair shops than dishonest repair shops!

This goes right out to the people that repair other things also, Your heaters or air conditioners repairmen, plumbers and electricians.

Let's not forget the good old appliance repairman,  I know, I deal with them every day.

Here is a car story, I had a 1985 IROC Z Camaro, the trans had low gear and reverse only,     I went to the Chevy dealer, quoted $3600.

I went to a small trans shop, $2200.  contacted a private guy, $600.   Each one I explained the exact conditions.

Next I went to the library, Mitchell's manual, 9 of the 11 thing that would cause the trans to act like that related to the governor in the trans.

It even showed how to access the unit, popped open the cover, the governor dropped into my hand, it had a stripped nylon gear!

I fixed the trans for $5,  Anyone that works on only transmissions would have known what was wrong, 

Each one of these was trying to rip me for lots of money.

I feel that it is not a rip off? exactly?
but you {we or customers} will receive different prices because of the overhead the mechanic has to charge to make a profit. that is why the dealership is the most expensive. the dealership will advertise that are the better choice because all they do is work on that specific brand of car or vehicle. they advertise we know your car best and will fix it right the first time. which is generally true. basically. also they pay their mechanics the highest amount of money. which is why there is a minimum a dealership will charge it's customers. so yes - depending where you go prices of $3,600 to $600 should be expected. because what you {we} are paying for is expert knowledge, part(s), convenience, time and tools.

Do it yourself {DYI} $5 sure - of course. but hope and wish it will stay as a simple change or repair that it only cost $5. usually a simple to very simple DYI can turn into something else.

[empress of self-improvement]

Took me longer to find the correct bulb for my Saturn than to replace it. I finally took the blown bulb out and took it in. Took a minute to replace.

[ZaireinHD]

yes exactly. it took me longer to look up the blub item number while standing in the isle and pay for it. then the actual replacement. also the relief! for taking on this task and not be so lazy about it. sometimes I am simply amazed of how easy something is to take care of myself. but I normally don't find out how easy the task is until I see a professional do it.

for example: imagine your kitchen light blub blows out. but you have no time out of your busy day to replace it. and have always called an electrician to replace the kitchen light bulb. until one day you finally you finally have to figure out. not paying the electrician his $130 per hour charge, and decide to take care it this task yourself. then while grocery shopping you see the different kinds of light bulbs, make a good guess for the right size. bring it home and unscrew the old blown bulb and screw in the new and it works.

LOL - same difference!