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"I can read, all it takes is time and the guts to do it".
Got that right. But taking the time, reading for detail, and actually doing the work, is becoming rare traits.
I'm going with half right on this one - yes, absolutely true - however, as previously mentioned there are cars that the average mechanic CAN'T repair - whether tools or electronics or complexity or, even time. In one of my (Vauxhall) manuals it says something to the the effect that the average handy person should be able to pull a Vauxhall engine in about 2 hours. It always makes me chuckle.
As far back as the 1990's I remember reading about the top end Bonneville (SSEi?) being so complex that even most mechanics couldn't work on it. Likewise my mechanic already dispairs about who is going to keep the funky modules on Land Rovers etc functioning. He is a smart man and regularly farms out stuff (like changing the clutch on my Mazda 6) because it is too much trouble.
My point being 2 fold. 1. it isn't that we can't - but realistically many (most) modern cars are beyond the reach of shade tree mechanics for anything but "basic" work and, 2. While I love working on cars as a hobby, I don't love working on my daily drivers - they are appliances and need to be back on the road quickly!
That said, coming back to the "when all else fails read the instructions" bit - it does astonish me how little actual reading and learning there is.

Hey Guest!
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 




