Car D.I.Y.

[Pinno718]

I think the money's in MOT prep too. But most of it is pretty basic stuff. Most of which can use a good generic OBD2 device.

Brakes, shocks, bushes, gaiters, exhausts are the obvious ones..

Along with servicing, cambelts, clutches?

I wouldn't do much diagnostics as you end up taking lots of money off punters and possibly have nothing to show for it. Point them to a marque specialist or auto electrician.

Not that I know anything except 20 years of bangers!🤣🤣🤣

Yes and no, I mean hand held OBD's have limited use. IT knowledge is handy as you can use a laptop for most models a but Audi's for example have specific software that you cannot get hold of without... Audi equipment.
You need software because engine fault codes, service lights/intervals/warning lights etc often need to be cancelled through the OBD and are potentially MOT failures. Besides, no mechanic is going to comfortably send a customer away with an engine warning light still on
I know a local mechanic. He's good. I do the odd sourcing of rare parts on his behalf - this takes time which he hasn't got and he's not the most IT literate, he's more old school. The amount of times he's cussing over some difficult to diagnose electrical fault is countless, constant and time consuming. It's the thing with modern cars. Nothing wrong with the engine, 'it's the sensor'.
My last BM had 4 recalls -from the EGR to a cooling (software) fault. PITA.
It's fanciful at best on paper but in the real world, there is an infinite array of faults and repairs - you need the experience or you will be turning custom away. Not good. 'oh, I only do bushes, brakes and engine swaps'. If you get into trouble and cannot fix the fault or the customer keeps coming back, bad reputations spread quickly and multiply and it's game over. You must have insurance, it's imperative and it's expensive. Insurers are going to look at your qualifications and experience and run to the big multiplier machine.
Not something anyone with any semblance of realism would get into lightly.

 

[Jameshow]

Yes and no, I mean hand held OBD's have limited use. IT knowledge is handy as you can use a laptop for most models a but Audi's for example have specific software that you cannot get hold of without... Audi equipment.
You need software because engine fault codes, service lights/intervals/warning lights etc often need to be cancelled through the OBD and are potentially MOT failures. Besides, no mechanic is going to comfortably send a customer away with an engine warning light still on
I know a local mechanic. He's good. I do the odd sourcing of rare parts on his behalf - this takes time which he hasn't got and he's not the most IT literate, he's more old school. The amount of times he's cussing over some difficult to diagnose electrical fault is countless, constant and time consuming. It's the thing with modern cars. Nothing wrong with the engine, 'it's the sensor'.
My last BM had 4 recalls -from the EGR to a cooling (software) fault. PITA.
It's fanciful at best on paper but in the real world, there is an infinite array of faults and repairs - you need the experience or you will be turning custom away. Not good. 'oh, I only do bushes, brakes and engine swaps'. If you get into trouble and cannot fix the fault or the customer keeps coming back, bad reputations spread quickly and multiply and it's game over. You must have insurance, it's imperative and it's expensive. Insurers are going to look at your qualifications and experience and run to the big multiplier machine.
Not something anyone with any semblance of realism would get into lightly.

I wasn't talkng about a basic hand held OBD but rather a pro spec model which cost £1000s, but is essential.
Anyone who has an Audi or MB esp high performance models rather than s 2.0 TDI is likely to appreciate the complexity of it's design. My garage had a S6 in peeves and told me never to touch one!

Anyway ICE is old tech now and the money will follow electric cars.

 

[Drago]

Yes and no, I mean hand held OBD's have limited use.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement.

It's true or the £30 rubbish, but the more expensive stuff such as the iCarsoft v3.0, Csrista Pro, etc, are pretty close to the functionality of the dealer computer. Not only can they read every chassis system, not just the engine but transmission, brakes, aircon, SRS, etc, but they can also configure new components, do vehicle setting configurations, and calibrate stuff like SAS's, etc.

If you're running a garage they'd be of little use, but you're a home with a single car, or a number of related cars, they're highly excellent.

 

[Pinno718]

That's a bit of a sweeping statement.

It's true or the £30 rubbish, but the more expensive stuff such as the iCarsoft v3.0, Csrista Pro, etc, are pretty close to the functionality of the dealer computer. Not only can they read every chassis system, not just the engine but transmission, brakes, aircon, SRS, etc, but they can also configure new components, do vehicle wetting configurations, and calibrate stuff like SAS's, etc.

If you're running a garage they'd be of little use, but you're a home with a single car, or a number of related cars, they're highly excellent.

I was responding to the suggestion that fossyants son starts up a garage.

I wasn't talkng about a basic hand held OBD but rather a pro spec model which cost £1000s, but is essential.

Anyway ICE is old tech now and the money will follow electric cars.

Fine, yes indeed. The 'pre. spec model' as you say re-affirms what I said regarding start up costs.

 

[Drago]

I was responding to the suggestion that fossyants son starts up a garage.

And...?

 

[Adam4868]

Sorry off topic but it's got to be the most expensive trade or diy going ! Everytime I pop into a friend's garage he's in the Snap On van 🤣
You don't half need some equipment compared to any other trade...even the updates to some of his readers are eye watering.

 

[Pinno718]

Sorry off topic but it's got to be the most expensive trade or diy going ! Everytime I pop into a friend's garage he's in the Snap On van 🤣
You don't half need some equipment compared to any other trade...even the updates to some of his readers are eye watering.

Precisely.

 

[Pinno718]

And...?

...and they would be fine for home use but no good for a garage and I was responding to the suggestion fossyants son starts up a garage.

 

[fossyant]

My son has a few ODBC systems and one that is dealer level VAG stuff. My Autel unit does some of the important ABS and airbag stuff.

 

[Drago]

My son has a few ODBC systems and one that is dealer level VAG stuff. My Autel unit does some of the important ABS and airbag stuff.

VAGcom, and it's modern equivalent who's name eludes me, can be had fairly inexpensively on cloned form.

 

[fossyant]

The garage my son is at seems to pick up a fair amount of MOT work. Although they don't seem to manage it (the business) too well

 

[CXRAndy]

Fairly decent Launch, Autel or their clone versions which tend to offer lifetime updates will do 99.5% of tasks. On the rare occurrence manufacturer diag is needed just pass the job on.

People these days don't do basic maintenance , so there will be plenty of work for brakes, suspension, exhausts and general servicing if you're fairly priced and do a excellent job. If you are good with electrics and a bit of welding too almost everything if covered

 

[gbb]

Who is actually prepping cars for MOT ? I didn't realise it was such a big thing !

 

[gbb]

Fairly decent Launch, Autel or their clone versions which tend to offer lifetime updates will do 99.5% of tasks. On the rare occurrence manufacturer diag is needed just pass the job on.

People these days don't do basic maintenance , so there will be plenty of work for brakes, suspension, exhausts and general servicing if you're fairly priced and do a excellent job. If you are good with electrics and a bit of welding too almost everything if covered

I know a former maintenance collegue who did / does private work, as above, lots of servicing, brakes and suspension work...he's always busy. Lots of people out these who can't DIY are aching for a reliable someone they can use.

 

[CXRAndy]

Who is actually prepping cars for MOT ? I didn't realise it was such a big thing !

So many minor issues overlooked, tmps, check engine light for poor battery etc.