I've become a VW DIY'er!!!

[MichelleRoze]

I was flipping through my car manual, looking through all my receipts to find a specific one. I decided to put them in order of date, starting with the most current and on back. I didn't have a single receipt from 2007 when I bought the car. Not sure if I lost them (may not have seen the importance of keeping them at the time) or had nothing done. I can't remember. In 2008 my first receipt was my TB and waterpump work. Then a headlight bulb, then a fuel filter change, then a brake job, then something else. In 2009, it was alignment, new wheels, wheel bearings, and that's it. 2010? Alignment...and an inspection I had the other day cause I THOUGHT something was seriously wrong.

But wait! I've put almost 100K in 3 years....more should have been done than that....you're right. And it was. but I did it (or at least got some help getting it done from people I know, not a shop!) !!! Oil changes, fuel filter changes, air and cabin filter changes, SUSPENSION, tranny fluid replaced, brake fluid flush, brake pads and rotors, 2 pairs of headlight bulbs, etc. I've become a regular DIY'er!!! It's kinda nice, though I need to keep a log of what I do so I remember lol

Thanks to a combination of the .org, TDIclub, and Vortex, I've been able to find people who could help or information that helped me do it myself! It's so nice to know that I don't have to rely on the dealer or a shop to get stuff done. I've been lied to SOOO many times as well as seen my car get handled incorrectly...it makes me feel better to know that when I'm doing it (or someone helping and I'm there supervising...) it'll get done right, carefully and my car will leave with the same amount of scratches and dents that it originally had when I parked it to get worked on.

Matt is begining to learn this as well with his Passat! Shops just aren't good enough anymore. Unless I know the mechanic personally...I don't like to take it to just any 'ole place. I will if I HAVE too...but I don't prefer it and usually the techs hate me cause I'm SUPER picky about leaving it.

Who else has learned this of themselves? VW owners are probably some of the BEST VW techs out there...lol We're crafty people!

[dnyed]

I'm impressed! I could not work on any of MY Volkswagens!

[The NEW Ringo]

Michelle,

I have tinkered with cars all my life, mostly old chevy's Chevelles and Suburbans. I did it because I could not afford to pay the shops to do it. Well till this day, I will try it first if I cant do it by myself or with someone elses help then I will take it to the dealer in pieces and let them fix it. LOL Really it only happened twice..

So now on the beetles i have pretty much been doing it myself with the help of this great forum and its people. The willingness to share knowledge and experiences is awsome. I could have not done some of the work without people here and their threads.. I cant wait to talk to you about the bugs at TOD. You seem to know alot.

Thanks to all your do it yourself thread posters....

[Jewel]

My new lovely husband knows cars and macs. So if I have a computer problem I go to him and he knows what to do. And when I get my beetle if I have a problem he will know mostly likely what to do and if not we will take my car to the shop where we know everyone and they know my family. ANd take care of us when we have car problems.