I'm a noobie.

Just got a 98 Volvo S70 T5 with over 180k miles.

How did you become a DIY? Did you work in a garage or just loved cars and been working on them? I've never worked on cars and would like to start getting into fixing my new car.

Any tools I should get?

Any youtube video on repairs?

Just minor things I can start doing my self like change the oil, air filter and any other monthly maintence I can start doing on my own.

Currently my drivers side passenger door stay's in lock and I have to reach around the drivers door to unlock the door. Clicker does not work.

 

Well, for me, I'd say a lot of patience and curiosity. Curiosity to want to know why something isn't working as intended, and then patience to research how it's supposed to function, and how people may have fixed (or modified) it in the past. I've ALWAYS been around cars, and have clearly passed the fascination on to my 3-yr old son. Fill out your profile to show location, and buddy up with locals. Seems like every weekend if I'm not working on one of my cars, I'm helping someone else work on theirs.

 

great tip. thanks

 

For me, I have always been passionate about cars. I had a stack of car magazines growing up as a kid. I spend my weekends watching anything car related. I like the feeling of freedom I get while driving my car. I love the sense of accomplishment and independence I get when I fix something with my own hands.

Don't get intimidated. No one was born with the know-how to do this stuff. Some of it you will pick up as you go, ask questions when you get stuck, that sort of thing. You don't need all the fancy tools all at once. You can get them as you need them. You can even borrow specialty tools from many auto parts stores.

Doing regular maintenance yourself is a great way to get started. It will get you acquainted with your car and give you the confidence to do bigger and bigger jobs.

A good starter tool set for oil changes should have either car ramps or a jack and jack stands, ratchet and sockets, an oil filter wrench, a drain pan, and sooner or later you will want to have a torque wrench. Add to that a set of Torx bits and you can replace coil packs and spark plugs. Add some channel locks or a C-clamp, and a big hammer and you should be ready to take on brake pads and rotors yourself. It really doesn't take much else before you can do most things. Nice tools just make the job easier or faster.

Never compromise on safety. Work gloves are cheap and can save your skin. Safety glasses can keep debris out of your eyes. Jack stands or car ramps are not optional. Work smart not hard.

 

In addition to what everyone says. For me, I really hate paying labor charges. Especially when labor charge is a lot more than the part. So I do it myself. That way I know I'm putting the best and the correct part.

 

Thank you 01_fast_ride for your post. Great list of beginner maintence I think I can do.

Good to know that auto shops will allow to borrow tools.

My only worry is that since I'm a beginner, I don't want to screw anything up or not fix properly and have some kinda malfunction or cause a furthur repair down the road.

I think oil change is do able.

Then check out youtube video's on spark plug replacement, etc

 

Another thought, join multiple forums. When we bought our sedan last year, I joined at least 5 Volvo forums, to learn as much as I could about common problems, and to source anything I might need for the car. I got lucky, and actually found an ad for the wagon I have now, built almost exactly how I would've done it. I don't post much on this forum, but Volvospeed is very active on P80 cars, such as your '98 S70. You might also find useful info on Swedespeed, but it seems like they prefer their newer cars. Turbobricks is helpful, but biased towards older, rear-wheel drive cars.

 

Just to clarify, auto parts stores may have a rental program. Auto shops, as in repair shops, are very unlikely to allow you to borrow their tools.

I've actually had a random guy walk into the dealer I work for and ask me to borrow my cam alignment tools. Then when I told him no, he started asking me question after question about replacing his head gasket. And got upset that I didn't want to talk him through it.

 

good to know. i'll be keeping it simple with oil changes for now.

 

Great post, I have NO skin left. LOL

The best thing you could do is read the NEW 850 OWNER thread in the 850 section. The 850 and '98 S70 is the same car with a better look.

There are a ton of DIY threads in the 850 section that can guide you through almost any repair step by step. I have started doing video's which can help, but I like the photo instructions better because they are more like a check list that you can print off and follow closely.

The #1 mistake people make when doing their own repairs is, they try to tighten things TO TIGHT. Don't do that. Also, take your time until you have done it a few times. A lot of mistakes are made by people that are trying to get it done to fast.

 

hood1227; that's actually a great question (how did you become a DIYer), and you've already got lots of great responses so far, so there's not much for me to add.

But I can throw out a few things:

1. Start out slow (sounds like that's your plan..). As you tackle more jobs, your skills and confidence will grow. The best thing would be to learn by working with other folks, hopefully people who have more automotive experience than you; someone to show you the little tricks that will save you from busting your knuckles, snapping off a bolt or stud, or dropping a vehicle on you or someone else.
2. Sign up for an auto shop class at your local community college. Good way to get experience and training. There are (at least) two key components to repairing cars: the R+R part (turning wrenches) and the understanding how something works part. Lots of guys pick up the former just by doing stuff but neglect the latter part. Those guys never progress beyond parts swappers and have difficulty solving (debugging) real problems.
3. The DI part of DIY.

Good luck!

 

Ask everyone questions. If never hurts to ask, even if you already know the answer. You learn more that way.

Took me 8 years to become a professional. Was a "DIYer" in that time. Been pro for over a year now (i'm 22), and I see DIY work all the time. If you begin by seeing things as they are, a part is a part it does the same thing on all other cars, just in a slightly different way, you will have a leg up.

If you take it apart, you can put it back together. Its the in-between that you learn.

Good luck.

 

Great Forum!

Thanks for all the replies all.