My Little Budget Victory!

[kristenrice]

I drive a 2004 Suburban with 120K miles on it so it is having some minor technical difficulties. With money being tight, I have been overlooking some of them until I have the funds to fix the problem. When the A/C went out, I was told that it would be about a $1600 fix (front and rear) so I waited it out for two , HOT years until I saved enough to get it fixed.

About 4 months ago, the fan started working only on high (level 5). Levels 1-4 didn't work at all so it was an all-or-nothing situation. I casually mentioned it to a guy at work and he told me what he thought the problem was, a blown blower motor resistor. He said that the part costs about $50 so the dealership would probably charge me about $200 to fix it. So I just dealt with it and let it go...until today.

I searched YouTube and found a video that details how to replace the part yourself. To my surprise, it did not look too difficult, even for an-almost-40-year-old mom with no mechanical knowledge at all. I had a coupon for $25 off a $50 purchase at Advance Auto Parts so I started looking for the part. I found one for $55 and it was available for store pickup. I went to the store and told the guy what I was planning. He said, "Good luck!" with a little giggle.

I got home and even my husband thought I was nuts. There I was, out in the driveway, in the 25-degree weather, taking apart the interior of my truck. All I could think about was making sure that I could get it all reassembled when I was done. I got the old part out, popped the new one in, screwed everything back together and then it was time for the test...

I turned on the ignition and ALL FIVE SPEEDS WORK!! I don't know exactly how much money I saved, but I know that the dealership would have cost me a lot more than $30 AND they would have needed my car for at least 2 hours. This took me all of about 15 minutes. I can't believe I did it all by myself, but I am glad I did. I almost feel as good as I did when I completed my 1/2 Marathon.

 

[Southernmiss]

Congrats! I know the feeling.

Last year I YouTubed and diagnosed the bad motor in our dryer. Ordered one online and guided dh in how to install it via another video. An $80 part installed by us saved us from buying a new dryer and it's still going strong.

 

[Brer Shay]

That was a budget victory and a personal victory. I am so thankful for the number of DIY repair videos available on YouTube. I've saved a good bit of money learning to do them myself, and I'm teaching my kids too. Way to go!

 

[Owlpost23]

Great to hear! I hope you went back to the auto repair place and told the clerk about your success,and then gave him a little giggle.

 

[sksjasams]

Way to go! You should be proud of yourself! Congrats on also being brave enough to try it

 

[pryncess527]

Good for you!! I always love that feeling of accomplishment after figuring out how to fix something myself, yay for the internet! Congratulations on your financial AND personal victory!

 

[alryan]

That's awesome, nice work! We have the same problem on our Chevy Trailblazer, but since my husband usually drives it we've just left it as well. Maybe it's time to fix it ourselves!

 

[writermommy6]

Yay you!!!! That is so awesome. Nothing is more empowering than DIY on your car or with power tools.

 

[wiigirl]

Congrats!

 

[mom2rose&john]

You go girl!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Eastern]

Congratulations! DH fixed our automated pool filter by following a YouTube video. Pool guy wanted $400 and he did it for free!

So many good repair videos on YouTube nowadays (we have used others with success as well).

 

[danygirl]

Good for you! We have done the same type thing this week - BUT DH used to be an auto mechanic, so he knew he could do it. You believed you could do it - I think that is a big difference.

Advance auto always has online coupon codes out there, I never buy parts in the store = I always go online and select store pick up. I saved $110 on the last two repairs (two vehicles this month) by using online coupons and going through upromise, and I am very proud of that

 

[eyor44]

Way to go!

 

[akcire]

I've done similar things the last few months.

I spent $7 to repair the dishwasher.

I spent $5 and about 5 hours to get the washing machine going again. It almost broke me. I nearly quit, but I got it done. My husband wanted to buy a new one. No way.

 

[kristenrice]

That's awesome, nice work! We have the same problem on our Chevy Trailblazer, but since my husband usually drives it we've just left it as well. Maybe it's time to fix it ourselves!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7DqaqHTCzw

Here's the video! It should be almost the same thing for a TrailBlazer. I found that they said that you need a 7/16" and a 7/32" socket, but I needed a 9/16" and a 7/32" to get it done.

 

[fofinia]

AWESOME!! Very smart girl!!

 

[LBKB]

WOW your awesome

 

[wenrob]

Awesome, good for you! I'm having this exact problem in my Tahoe. The part is sitting on my DH's desk right now. Until very recently we couldn't find anything about this particular problem (if it works, it's random and then you can't control the fan when it does). Of course there would be people on the Dis with it. Should have looked here first!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

My dh had this problem with his alero and yes dealers/ mechanics charge a lot to fix it but he also got the part from auto zone and used YouTube for instructions and got it done. He did say it took quite a bit of time but was well worth it. So annoying to have only high for the blower.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[kymom99]

We had to replace this in our older Buick. It cost several hundred dollars. Good for you all for doing it yourseives