How's your car knowledge?

S

Sepeng

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And I don't mean knowing that the Ambiente spec has electric windows.

How technical are you when it comes to cars? On a scale of 1 - 10 where 1 is you get in, drive, leave everything else to the experts, 10 is you built your car up yourself from scratch, Tim the tool man Taylor style, you can rebuild your engine using a little grease and some sticks.

I'm say a 4 - could service my own car and have the tools to do so, but beyond that, like something goes wrong, I'd open the bonnet and pretend to know what's happening. I love cars, and one day would love to have the tools and expertise to do like a project car, but my real goal is simply to become rich enough to buy fancy ones (maybe 80 years from that and getting further by the day sadly).
 
6

Have done head gaskets and turbo replacements before
 
3, can read a manual and follow some basic troubleshooting,
and can google around for answers, and ask for advice.

but even people who are 10, in my mind are so completely and totally worthless,
they cant diagnose and fix a simple electrical issue.
 
I can change oil, spark plugs, air filters, brake discs and pads. I've replaced an alternator. I've taken my throttle body apart to clean it. I successfully stripped my front bumper to replace a headlight (excellent car design, btw).

So 3, 4?

Biggest limitation in my opinion for the average Joe is not having the right tools and equipment. If you have the facilities, with a bit of research (manuals, Youtube, etc) you could get quite a bit done.
 
I would say 5-6, I can do all the basics, brakes, shocks and normal servicing. I am also a keen DIYer so I have over the years learnt the more involved stuff, changing a clutch, CV joints water pumps, thermostats and prety much all the external components around the engine. I also have a pretty good grasp of the cars electronics.

Myself and a friend also successfully tackled a manual gearbox last yeay so I would love to expand my knowledge on that.
 
I'll say around an 8.
Have rebuilt motors & built an AC Cobra replica.
Swopped out motors & gearboxes.
Rebuilt 2-stroke bike motors.
Rebuilt tractor engine, gearbox & hydraulic PTO systems.
Did a complete refurb on an F350 including dropping in a Chev 454cu motor after rebuilding & modifying the motor. Rewired the entire truck & fitted an additional 200 litre tank with auto electric pump to feed into the original tank.
Do all my own servicing & maintenance once vehicle is out of warranty/service plan.
 
Olden days 9.

I know cars from the days when they still had carbs and distributors.

Have completely rebuilt engines and gearboxes but never a diff. Have ground valves, skimmed heads, replaced mains, big-ends, conrods and small-ends, piston rings, synced timing gear and cam, pulled and replaced wheel bearings, drive shafts, clutches, hydraulics, rebuilt aircon compressor, rewired twice, welded in new engine mounts, etc, etc. On cars and motorcycles (2 stroke and 4 stroke), but never a diesel and never a truck.
 
eg2505 said:
3, can read a manual and follow some basic troubleshooting,
and can google around for answers, and ask for advice.

but even people who are 10, in my mind are so completely and totally worthless,
they cant diagnose and fix a simple electrical issue.
Click to expand...

/Gasps

You've fixed the picture!
 
10, expert enough to leave it to the experts.
 
Arthur said:
Olden days 9.

I know cars from the days when they still had carbs and distributors.

Have completely rebuilt engines and gearboxes but never a diff. Have ground valves, skimmed heads, replaced mains, big-ends, conrods and small-ends, piston rings, synced timing gear and cam, pulled and replaced wheel bearings, drive shafts, clutches, hydraulics, rebuilt aircon compressor, rewired twice, welded in new engine mounts, etc, etc. On cars and motorcycles (2 stroke and 4 stroke), but never a diesel and never a truck.
Click to expand...
This. I can sort out most carburetor cars. On fuel injected cars I can wiggle cables and hum.

When I see guys with flashy, new, German cars on the side of the road with their head under the bonnet I chuckle. Ja right, boet.
 
Nick333 said:
This. I can sort out most carburetor cars. On fuel injected cars I can wiggle cables and hum.

When I see guys with flashy, new, German cars on the side of the road with their head under the bonnet I chuckle. Ja right, boet.
Click to expand...
Hehe. Ditto.

These days someone else can replace a fuse. But I do look over his shoulder.
 
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