The DIY spirit is all about looking at a problem, seeing what the solution is, and thinking, “Hey, that seems simple enough. I can do that.” Some of the time, this sentiment is true, particularly if you have the right equipment and some practice with tackling repairs or performing maintenance on vehicles. There are plenty of starting projects that are perfect for anyone even remotely handy, like putting on new windshield wipers, checking your tire air pressure, and checking and adding oil to your engine between oil changes. But there are also certain types of repairs or work on your vehicle that you shouldn’t try, even if you think it seems easy enough after watching a video online. Let’s take a look at a number of car DIY projects best left to professionals.
Before we get into any specific types of repairs, I wanted to address one thing. Know your limits. Just about any kind of auto repair or maintenance can be dangerous to you or your vehicle if you are unsure how to handle it or you lack the proper equipment. Even experienced folks can still make mistakes and damage their vehicle when working on it. Always make sure you know what you’re doing and have the right equipment for any task you are trying to do. This is doubly important when it comes to things like jacks and other equipment that supports all or any of the weight of your vehicle. A mistake there can cost you your life.
Brake Repair and Replacement
I can’t think of a better place to start when it comes to dangerous vehicle repairs than the brakes on your car, truck, or SUV. Not only do you need to get to your brakes, which involves lifting up your vehicle, but you’re working on one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Any mistake in repairing, installing, or otherwise working on your brakes can have catastrophic consequences. Your brakes keep you safe when everything else goes wrong. Don’t mess with them unless you really know what you’re doing.
Fuel System Work
Your car’s fuel system is a fairly complicated network of different components that includes gasoline, a very hazardous chemical. Making a mistake when working on your vehicle’s fuel system creates the threat of a fire, either while you’re doing the repairs or later when you’re driving your vehicle. Not only that, but any issues with the fuel system, including the gas line, gas tank, fuel injectors, and sensors, can negatively impact the performance of your vehicle. The wrong mistake can cause serious damage to other parts of your ride and lead to much bigger problems down the road.
Major Engine Repair and Service
Arguably the single worst part of your vehicle you could mess up by making a mistake while working on it, the engine is the heart of everything else. If your engine doesn’t run properly, nothing else will work, and your vehicle will be officially bricked. Minor service like an oil change is one thing, but even that can be messed up. Ask anyone who accidentally drained the wrong fluid, added oil to the wrong place, or forgot to put the drain plug back on. When something goes wrong with more complicated repairs, you have a perfect recipe for disaster. Watching a video online doesn’t make you an automotive engineer or skilled technician, so skip working on your engine if you don’t have proper training.
Timing Belt/Chain Replacement
There may have been a day when timing belts and chains weren’t all that complicated and could be replaced fairly easily with a bit of know-how. Today, however, things are precisely tuned and engineered, including the timing belt. One mistake with this can cause your engine to misfire or result in serious, disastrous damage to your car’s engine. It can be annoying to go to a shop just for a new timing belt, but that’s much better than needing to rebuild your engine or buying an entirely new vehicle.
Transmission Replacement and Repair
The transmission on your vehicle seems simple enough. It sends power from the engine to the wheels. Look up a simple schematic, and you will find examples that showcase a pretty basic concept of what the transmission does and how it does it. In reality, however, there are hundreds of parts in automatic transmissions, all of which fit together perfectly to operate smoothly while dealing with massive amounts of power and stress upon them. Trying to work on a transmission is an incredible mistake. Even replacing one can be far more work than you might expect and is best left to the pros.
Airbag Replacement
In the event of a collision, your airbags inflate with explosive force to create a barrier to prevent your body from slamming into other parts of your vehicle. Imagine that happening to you while you try to remove your airbag or replace it with a new one. It’s surprisingly easy for something to go wrong and trigger an airbag to be deployed while working on it if you don’t know what you’re doing. Even worse, however, is the risk of installing an airbag incorrectly and it not deploying in a collision, when you need it most.
Suspension Change and Repair
The suspension on your vehicle is quite complicated, and the last thing you want to do is mess it up in any way. An incorrectly installed or adjusted suspension can result in an incredibly uncomfortable driving experience, a poor alignment, and cause your tires to wear more quickly or unevenly. You could also damage your vehicle’s frame or body by messing up your suspension, so don’t do it.
Wheel Balancing and Adjustment
Often confused with alignment, wheel balance actually refers to adding small weights to your wheels to ensure they roll smoothly down the road without vibrating or bouncing. Improper wheel balance can have a similar effect as poor alignment in that it can throw off your entire driving experience. (I didn’t mention adjusting your alignment, so just go ahead and include it here as a free extra one to avoid). Wheel balancing requires the right equipment to both measure and properly set it. Unless you have that equipment in your garage, give this one a pass.
HVAC System Repair
This one can come as a surprise since it seems simple enough. There are even A/C recharge kits sold at auto parts stores. Those are generally not something you should buy, and messing with the heating and cooling of your vehicle is a mistake. The HVAC should be a closed system, which means you can’t just add to it or change it without compromising the whole thing. That’s why you should leave it to a shop and professionals. Also, refrigerants for A/C systems are incredibly toxic, so you don’t want to mess with that.
Always Know When to Call In a Professional
Car repairs can be expensive, and it’s annoying to give up a good chunk of the day sitting around waiting for work to get done on your car. But spending three hours looking at your phone while waiting for a professional to take care of your vehicle is infinitely better than trying to replace a fuel pump and having your car light itself on fire or trying to replace your timing belt and turning your car’s impressive engine into a very large and even-more-impressive paperweight. If you’re into DIY, the most important thing is to know your limits and take things one step at a time. Start with the easy stuff and go from there. Make sure you have the know-how and the right equipment before you take on bigger projects. Always know when you’re about to be in over your head and leave things to the professionals instead.