I'm not a seasoned mechanic, but at the same time, know my way around an engine pretty well.
A couple weeks ago, my 1995 E350 Bus (that's right, I own a 15 passenger bus used for weekend adventuring that has paid for itself, and it's f*cking awesome with a 7.3L turbo diesel) decided it wouldn't start any longer. My friend (a professional mechanic), loaned me his multimeter, gave me some tips, and I traced it to a faulty starter solenoid (mounted to the starter).
I called a local NAPA Auto parts store, and they told me that most companies don't carry the solenoid but rather sell the entire starter assembly as a unit. They'd sell me a remanufactured one for $170+tax. Uh, no thanks. I called the generic Auto Zone store and found the starter solenoid for my motor for $40. I got 10% off because I literally asked, "Do you guys have any sweet deals? Can I get a sweet deal?" And the guy was like, "I can give you 10% off". "Awesome!" It's my signature move, and it never hurts to ask!
Anyhow, a stop at the hardware store to buy new mounting bolts (20yr old ones stripped) and then back to the bus, and I've got the new starter solenoid mounted onto the starter motor. Starter motor goes back on the motor and sure enough, it started right up. SUCCESS! A $40 fix is my kind of project.
Meanwhile my neighbor, a early 50's Romanian immigrant who hates wasting money and would rather buy a part at an auto junk yard than a parts store has discovered that his Volkswagen sedan is leaking coolant. A LOT. I crawled under it with him and together we decided it was coming from "Behind that cover plate". I busted out my ultra fancy Republic Wireless Moto G and downloaded a parts fiche for the motor, then found the plate in question, behind which sat his water pump. I told him, "That's the problem...."
So, while I'm off working in the back yard, and vegging out after work, and diagnosing and then ultimately fixing my "rather easy to work on starter solenoid"; Bogdan the original mustachian is taking the bus to work (close by), and working on his car in the evenings after work. Then all weekend, he proceeds to start the not too easy task of replacing the water pump, requiring setting the engine at top dead center, removing a rather difficult to remove fully, removing the timing belt, and then removing the water pump from a very compact part of the motor. When he got it out, it was clear that it was the culprit. He did buy a brand new one for $60, and then he began the process in reverse, completing it today after work.
By working on my bus myself, I've saved well over $2.5k in labor from a dealership, and the most recent venture saved me a over $150. Meanwhile, my neighbor read a shop manual, did a much more complicated service, and saved over $500. It was awesome.
Side note: I then went inside, wifey mentioned her student loan was still over $11k, I got pissed off, and paid $2400 against the loan. Then we vowed to kill the rest of it in the next 90 days. We've paid $2100 in interest on a $15k loan over the past 3 years. (The opportunity cost of long term travel with limited income). No way I'm giving them a penny more than necessary!
Cheers to saving money!
