How many of you guys actually enjoy working on/fixing your 100?

[FxFormat]

I enjoy working on all my trucks, I don't enjoy working on other people's trucks very much. I do enjoy helping other people learn to work on their own trucks.

Sounds like you got a bit of a lemon. I took over a month to find my 100, traveled nearly 1,000 miles to get it. Fixed it up and built it up over the next six months. I am sitting right now next to the sea here in Panama where I drove it 7,000 miles from the USA over 4 months and it has given me zero problems.

Cheers

Post pics!

I don't think I got a lemon, I knew what I got myself into, I bought this from a family friend so I got a really good deal on it and the owner was a middle aged Asian lady, I doubt she had ever taken it up pass 60mph lol. The engine and transmission drives like new, which was what I was looking for. I just have to get through replacing all the suspension parts and bushing and I'm home free. Timing belt/WP was done, all baseline fluids were flushed and done. I just need to do the belt now and the suspension stuff. Hoping that this is the last of the repairs then I can start enjoying her. I've been working on cars for the past 10 years and this truck has been a treat, there's so much room to do everything! Got me excited until I can't get the bolt out lol. I have air tools too.

 

[SNLC]

Ya rust sucks! That is why it took me more than a month to find mine, I wanted a SoCal truck for a rust free chassis.

Some pics over here, I am on a tin can and shoe string for internet so uploading is a no go most of the time.
For Sale - 2000 UZJ100 heavily built to the max for Overlanding

Cheers

 

[nissanh]

I started wrenching cars since I am 13. Started with changing drive belts. My first car is a 92 toyota sprinter (aka "Geo Prizm"). I did everything on it. It still drives like new. In fact, it is the most reliable car and peace of mind car on this planet.
Then I got a 97 4runner in 2010 and enjoyed fixing it. In 2016 I bought the cruiser and it was very complicated compared to my other two cars. With the help of all of you, I am now almost an expert in the cruiser. I do everything on the 3 cars I own. Enjoy it to max.
Some days my wife and daughters find me sleeping under the runner! That's how much I love to spend time with cars.

I got 2 daughters and still, I do my wrenching when they go to bed. My elder daughter is helping me to bleed the brakes and give me tools when I am under the truck. I keep family and cars as part of my family. "Treat it nice, it will treat you nice" Never stranded on a road.

 

[SWUtah]

I enjoy eating the cookies at the Lexus dealer. Always have everything done ahead of schedule plus my LX is a Las Vegas / Austin Texas vehicle and is rust free. Even with a 2" lift it's hard for me to fit under the beast so I leave that to the professionals

 

[Visceral]

My name is Chris. I am a greasaholic. (Hi Chris)

I changed out the alternator and the steering pump last week... proactively. Nothing other than 140k miles of use was wrong with them. Ran a new wire from the alternator to the battery.

I'm going to replace that airbox next. It's just taking up WAY more room than it needs to. Now to surf the internet for a week to find all the debates about 100-series airboxes...

 

[Hokie LX]

I enjoy having something to work on. I had a BMW 335i that I built from stock and was heavily modified. I loved working on it and then when I moved up north I got a 2011 Tahoe Z71 and then a 2013 Audi S4, neither of which I worked on because they were too low mile to really need anything other than normal oil changes. I ended up buying my LX because I wanted something cheaper to drive up here (along with a separate sports car) while also having something to work on and keep me busy. I have enjoyed troubleshooting and fixing the truck myself so far and look forward to the upcoming projects (timing belt and steering rack). At times it's annoying if something fails at an inopportune moment but overall I enjoy tearing it apart as it's very satisfying to fix a vehicle yourself.

 

[FxFormat]

I enjoy having something to work on. I had a BMW 335i that I built from stock and was heavily modified. I loved working on it and then when I moved up north I got a 2011 Tahoe Z71 and then a 2013 Audi S4, neither of which I worked on because they were too low mile to really need anything other than normal oil changes. I ended up buying my LX because I wanted something cheaper to drive up here (along with a separate sports car) while also having something to work on and keep me busy. I have enjoyed troubleshooting and fixing the truck myself so far and look forward to the upcoming projects (timing belt and steering rack). At times it's annoying if something fails at an inopportune moment but overall I enjoy tearing it apart as it's very satisfying to fix a vehicle yourself.

Sweet! I had a 335i also, with DP and intake/exhaust i was almost at 500 crank HP...quick little thing i did all the work myself

Then i got my hands on a 97 6sp Supra with 40K miles and that made the 335i feel like a civic after i had it to almost 1000hp

My days of speed toys are over, one more ticket and they might throw me in jail. Went off roading and got hooked, i'm currently learning how to weld, as this will be a good skill to have. Off roading, stuff is gonna break, so learning how to weld is essential to the hobby.

 

[ewrk1989]

I'm pretty new to doing serious work on my own vehicles. I've always done oil changes, air filters, spark plugs--easy stuff. Ok, not all spark plugs are as easy as they should be , but you get my drift.

Part of the bargain with myself was that if I got a 100, I would have to do as much of my own work as possible. This was mostly budget-minded, offsetting the cost of gasoline and the upkeep of an older vehicle.

Well, last weekend I replaced my CV axles, wheel bearings, and front rotors/pads. That was my first time doing anything like that, much less on a 100. Not saying that to toot my own horn, but instead to underscore how these forums, YouTube, and the FSM are incredibly helpful. This community is especially awesome for how supportive and informative the contributors are. Lots of "I've been there, you can do it" attitudes.

I write that coming off of a power steering flush yesterday where I discovered that my DS inboard CV boot is slinging grease (no idea why...but we shall see what the supplier says). I had a moment of cussing. But then after I got that out of my system, I remembered how much better I understand the whole system than I did a week ago. Being careful, I could probably swap a CV axle after work and still have sunlight left. My point there is just that even though it's frustrating, gathering the knowledge is really valuable to me.

Hopefully that's not too rosy a view...we'll see how I feel in a year or two

 

[jemsec]

It's one of my hobbies along with a couple of other things. Love thinking about what I'm not paying a dealer to do. I work for free and enjoy the heck out of the time spent working on my favorite vehicle. My grandson works with me on occasion. Sometimes it's a challenge and that makes it more fun. Have saved thousands and have a very well cared for Land Cruiser most would love to have. No abuse at all and maintained perfectly. Not for sale!

 

[MattSEG]

I had a WRX I did a lot to, I could do the basic stuff, I'd enlist help for slightly more complicated stuff like turbo swap (turbo, injectors, fuel pump), same with my sti. For super critical stuff, or very complicated stuff I'd have a shop do it, like transmission rebuild (WRX).

I'm just not a great wrench, mainly because I get frustrated and I can get ham fisted when that happens. Same reason I'm not a great welder, I get impatient, and welding really comes down to being patient and doing it right.

That said, what's the most cost effective way to get my hands on the cable and software for tech stream?

 

[FxFormat]

A lot of us came from sports car here i noticed, comes with age i guess This truck is very easy to work on, everything is wide open, and i'm skinny enough to just crawl underneath without jacking it up. I just ordered the front way bar bushings and shocks, the control arm bushings will be done next, taking it day by day, if i cram it in one session i'll get lazy and not do it.

 

[Hokie LX]

A lot of us came from sports car here i noticed, comes with age i guess This truck is very easy to work on, everything is wide open, and i'm skinny enough to just crawl underneath without jacking it up.

I've run into quite a few previous 335i owners here. Don't know about you but I'm only 25 and I think I'm growing into faster cars now than I was in college. I had to get rid of my 335 because I got rear ended by an SUV at 45mph when I was standing still . I'm currently shopping for another sports car but can't decide between another 335 and going single turbo or getting a muscle car (coyote, C6Z) and boosting it...

These trucks are relatively easy to work on compared to my german sports cars where everything is crammed in there. I'm sure you know by having downpipes on your 335i, those were always a contortionist act to get them installed.

 

[MattSEG]

...can't decide between another 335 and going single turbo or getting a muscle car (coyote, C6Z) and boosting it...
.

The coyote takes boost very well, I know of two folks here that make turbo kits for them and are running in excess of 1000hp. (Urist/hellion and Armageddon turbo systems).

I sold my sti to get an engagement ring and house. Sold my Miata because I wasn't driving it but twice every six months since I had a kid.


Also, buddy of mine has a 2014 Audi s6, and a 100 with 188k miles. Guess which is in the shop with cooling issues.

 

[El Cid]

I've been sitting in front of a computer eight hours a day for almost 30 years. I will make any excuse to grab a physical tool and fix something non-virtual.

I'm in this boat. I need something that involves a mental break from certain types of people and work and the LC does it perfectly.
There is a certain piece of mind knowing I have control and these vehicles will last me longer than market index.

I can proudly say I am that creepy person that stares at a mall-driven LX470 at a stoplight knowing I could manage it better than whomever is currently driving.

 

[TheForger]

Like @jemsec stated it's just one of my hobbies too and I do enjoy working on my car. What started my wrenching obsession was when I was 18, I partially submerged my truck in a river (I know I know, young and stupid). I somehow managed to not hydrolock the engine despite how deep it was and when I pulled the intake hose from the engine block oily water poured out. So I sent it to the dealership and they flushed transmission, engine, radiator, transfer case & diffs 4-5 times each and of course repacked grease in my CV boots among other misc. items. I got it back and they told me the interior is my problem to deal with. For 8 days I parked it in my temp. & humidity controlled garage and ripped apart every bit of the interior except for the front seats (I pulled the cargo & second row carpet back and bungee corded it to the front seat headrests to keep it in place). I spent approx 800hrs. making sure to properly dry and restore the interior, and along the way I learned a lot about my LC. The fact that it has only been owned by members of my family (uncle>father>me), I had a lot of motivation to bring her back to life and make her even better along the way with the addition of a few things This also encouraged my decision to study mechanical engineering and I am starting my junior year in Aug. I consider my LC part of my family so yes, I do enjoy wrenching on it.

 

[bluesquirrel]

I love it.
Wouldn't trade working on it, for a new vehicle

 

[cwmoser]

I'm an old dude (68) in a young mans hobby.
In my youth I worked on 1960's era vehicles - Cameros, 442's, Buick GS.
In my mid life, 1970s through 1990s, I didn't do crap because I was working
so much and paid shops and dealers for about everything including oil changes.
Now that I've retired, I've made wrenching a reborn hobby focusing on 4 vehicles. Primarily wrenching on
two 1980's era Mercedes SL's, Isuzu Troopers, and this new to me LX470.
I've parted out a Mercedes and an Isuzu Trooper -- parting out is a good way to learn about these cars
and a very good way to piss off the wifey
These vehicles are much more complicated and compact than 1960's era vehicles - but also much more
reliable, expensive, and quality built. In the "old days" we didn't have the Internet
and had to figure out things on our on. Local Tech schools back them offered night courses on auto repair and other than going to
the library for reading material that was all we had.

 

[nnnnnate]

I'm a bolt on guy with about that much skill. I can do bolt on mods or replacements when its clear what the issue is. When I have to diagnose I start to grasp at straws and that is a lot harder for me. Battery won't charge but it tests okay? Easy, thats the alternator. Find a few pics to make sure I'm unbolting the right part and I'm good to go. Same with installing a lift or putting on a bumper (not this rig.)

I got in too deep last Thanksgiving and tried to do my timing belt and water pump. There were too many bolts and too many systems. I over tightened the first water pump and broke an ear off (its aluminum) which cost me an extra $120 plus the coolant I dumped on the ground. Then when I was taking it apart I realized a pinched the crank and cam sensor wires in half. That took about an hour to solder those back together. When it apart and then back together it would crank but not fire. I fiddled for a LONG time with it and had a mechanic friend come help try and sort it out but everything checked out okay. I finally threw in the towel and took it to an independent mechanic who found that I had installed the crank shaft position ring in backwards. After paying the mechanic to fix it and replace the broken WP I was about double what it would have cost to have a friend of a friend do it from the beginning. That and I wasted a ton of time and energy messing with it on a holiday weekend when I could have been relaxing and enjoying my time off with family.

Through my TB experience I've learned to draw the line. I need to be realistic with my abilities and not listen to what others tell me I ought to be able to handle quiet so much. When I have issues or get hung up on something I get pretty anxious and become irritable. So it comes back to the simple bolt on stuff. I really do get satisfaction from working on my stuff but it can sour pretty quick when the plan gets away from me. I'll continue to fiddle with brakes and alternators and bumpers and lifts and stuff like that but probably won't dive really deep into the engine again.

 

[04gto]

I have always maintained my own vehicles (LC100 is my 25th) and generally love working on them. I will do anything that I have the proper tools/space/time to perform. I have rebuilt engines (1965 VW Beetle 1835cc), transmissions (335i) and most other major items at one point or another. My three favorite to work on would be: 1. LC100 2. Jeep Commander 3. 335i. At the risk of turning this into a BMW 335i tuning thread, I also have a tuned BMW 335i with the N54 powerplant. My last dyno was 488 wheel horspower 505 wheel torque. Total sleeper though, no real visible mods. If you are paying attention the exhaust does give it away. For me it is all about confidence. The more I learn about a certain task the better I feel (Hello, Captain Obvious) and then after I make the repair I feel more confident in the repair then I ever would at the stealership, especially after they screwed up my Jeep.

 

[m3fan]

I'm starting to cherry pick repairs and really evaluate what my time is worth after doing tons of DIY over the years. For you BMW guys, I have an E39 M5. That is a car you simply cannot own without heavy DIY ability. I've done everything on that car (it's never failed me, it's all preventative maint and proactive repacement, the car is reliable as an Accord no joke). That car is generally fun to work on. I even did the AC Evap coil on that car which required disassembling the entire interior down to the firewall, and yet it really was kinda fun and incredibly satisfying even at 40 hours of labor. Also did the clutch, all suspension, bushings everywhere, you name it over the years. Just refresh stuff you have to do to a 18 year old car that would cause a non-DIY to just move it on.

I just paid someone to do the spark plugs and torque/check the front bearing nuts as well as some other basic stuff on the 100. Time is getting precious so I'm starting to do this more and more. Same with the wife's car, I'm having the dealer do more and more. I'm starting to ask myself how much a weekend is really worth under the car or with my family and the family always wins!