I’ve always thought basic stuff should be learned how to DIY. Tires, oil, any fluids. Not everyone is great at it, and if they learn how to and later decide to still take it to the mechanic, that’s fine. At least they know what is being done, and what to look for and not be taken for a ride. My kids know that I’m a text away if they have a question or get in too deep and need help, but part of learning is figuring it out on your own.
I hate working on my car but I move often so I don’t have the benefit of knowing a trustworthy mechanic. Half of the times I’ve paid someone to do a basic maintenance that I could have done myself I found out after that the job hadn’t been done properly. I don’t trust anyone else to critical, yet relatively easy jobs like changing my engine oil or bleeding my brake lines now. I can’t even fathom people going through life without learning those basic skills.
I trust, but verify before I take the car after work being done. The last time I assumed things were great was at the dealer of all places for recall work. Drove away, car felt like crap once I got on a main road at speed, did the first U-turn I found and took it right back. They forgot to re-plug in one of the injectors. At a damn dealer for the car.
I’ve always thought basic stuff should be learned how to DIY. Tires, oil, any fluids. Not everyone is great at it, and if they learn how to and later decide to still take it to the mechanic, that’s fine. At least they know what is being done, and what to look for and not be taken for a ride. My kids know that I’m a text away if they have a question or get in too deep and need help, but part of learning is figuring it out on your own.
I hate working on my car but I move often so I don’t have the benefit of knowing a trustworthy mechanic. Half of the times I’ve paid someone to do a basic maintenance that I could have done myself I found out after that the job hadn’t been done properly. I don’t trust anyone else to critical, yet relatively easy jobs like changing my engine oil or bleeding my brake lines now. I can’t even fathom people going through life without learning those basic skills.
I trust, but verify before I take the car after work being done. The last time I assumed things were great was at the dealer of all places for recall work. Drove away, car felt like crap once I got on a main road at speed, did the first U-turn I found and took it right back. They forgot to re-plug in one of the injectors. At a damn dealer for the car.