The Best Education for DIY Mechanics and Their Toyotas

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A Toyota Master Mechanic tells DIY mechanics this is the best type of education for DIY car repair that good professional mechanics rely on. Plus, invaluable info on how to replace the wheel bearing on a modern Toyota.

If you have ever DIY'd anything in your life, the odds are pretty good that in at least some of your projects you wound up having to pay more for a mistake you made during the DIY than if you had gone to a mechanic or other tradesman in the first place to do the job for you.

Been there, done that. And occasionally…I still do.

The Devil is Always in the Details

One of the truisms every DIY mechanic should have hanging framed on their garage wall right beside "The Right Tool for the Right Job" is the old saw "The Devil is in the Details" ―meaning that "even the grandest project depends on the success of the smallest components."

Fun Fact: According to the Grammarist website (and backed by other sources):

The true origin of the idiom is difficult to pinpoint, but the earliest citation was first recorded in the late 1880s, which strongly supports its use by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, a German philosopher and poet (1844-1900).

He is quoted as saying, "Der Teufel stecktim Detail," or when translated, "The devil is in the details."

His use of the phrase is attributed to a play on the original phrase, "God is in the details," which means a higher power has a hand in the success and truthfulness of the completed work. The "devil is in the details" provides an opposite explanation: when things go wrong, it is due to the devil or the failure to recognize even the minor details with truth and goodness.

An Apt Lesson for DIY Toyota Owners

No truer do those words ring than in a recent Car Care Nut YouTube channel episode, in which the host reveals a $1500 mistake the owner of a 2018 Toyota Highlander made while attempting to DIY replace the wheel bearings on one of his vehicle's front wheels.

Mind you, this is an experienced DIY Toyota owner who has often saved money and took pride in his work by learning how to do his own car repairs.

Related article: Save Thousands Yearly in Scam Car Repairs and Maintenance With This Guide

So, what happened?

In short: Modern vehicle sensors were his undoing. That and using wheel bearing replacement techniques that will not always work on cars today.

Because the DIY owner did not know and/or have the proper instructions for a wheel bearing replacement on his vehicle, the sensor and axle were damaged, resulting in a $1500 loss for a new axle replaced by the host. Hence, the devil really is in the details―especially when it comes to modern cars that require a little more attention when it comes to wheel bearing replacement than many of us have experienced in the past.

When DIY Car Repair Goes Seriously Wrong! A $1500 Mistake!

Follow along with the host, discover what actually went wrong during the DIY repair attempt, and learn how to do the job correctly by following his demonstration and advice.

For other DIYers out there, I appreciate the host's view of why the problem happened and the fact that he added another truism when it comes to DIY repairs:

"…this is the advice that I would like you to take from this…they can happen to anybody. I don't think this should be a reason for this particular gentleman to stop doing the DIY work although he might be discouraged at this point. But you know what? You can go to school, you can work on cars, you can do this, and that, the best way to learn is when things like this happen. It's unfortunate, but that's the truth folks, there is, that any mechanic will tell you is the best education for mechanics."

That, and arming yourself with established and helpful repair manuals, YouTube videos, technical service bulletins related to your car, and even some advice from a friendly mechanic you might know.

Please Note: If you want to skip ahead to the where the mistake was actually made, go to timepoint 9:10 in the video to see the devil'd detail that was this DIY repair's undoing.

 

For additional articles related to DIY repairs, here are a few useful ones for your consideration.

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Can You Trust Your Car's Oil Life Monitor Feature?

Image source: Deposit Photos

Reference: The Devil Is in the Details - Origin & Meaning. https://grammarist.com/words/devil-is-in-the-details-vs-god-is-in-the-detail/