This document discusses the history and future of DIY (do-it-yourself) automotive repair. It notes that cars have become increasingly complex over time with the addition of computers, precise parts, and other advanced technology, making repairs difficult without proper training and equipment. While people in the past could easily work on simple car designs, today many repairs cannot be done by the average person. The future may see the end of DIY repairs as cars become too sophisticated. However, some auto shops are emerging that provide space and tools for people to work on their own cars with assistance.

1. Austin Bussey
Mrs. Corbett
AP Literature/Composition
11-17-2011
History of DIY Automotive Repair and Future Outlook
What does the future of automotive technology hold for the average American
who enjoys the DIY of automotive repair? As history has progressed it has become
harder for the average person to do their own work. With the increase of computers,
finely tuned transmissions, precisely weighted engine parts, and a plethora of other highly
designed parts and assembly processes have made it difficult for an individual without
proper training and equipment to make any modifications or repairs. In the near future, it
will be impossible for an average person to do their own work. The history of automotive
repair has progressed from the past with ease of repairs, to present with only certain parts
that are easy to work on, and a quick approaching bleak future for DIY automotive.
In the past with the first creation of cars, there were few mechanics. “A mechanic
is defined as someone who provides repairs or maintenance to a machine (Alisimo, 1)”.
The original creators of cars, such as Henry Ford, had very little idea of how cars worked
mainly because they were a new invention. The first mechanics were the same people
who had been working on horse drawn carriages and had no experience or training. The
complexity and difference in the automobile engine made it much harder to work on.
With few mechanics around to repair damages, many had to take matters into their own

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hands and made their own repairs. Granted, there were mechanics around, but many of
them were too expensive and many of them were just common people who had
experience, no serious education on the matter. The spread of the auto mechanic
increased quickly in the early years. As time went on DIY repairs flourished to the
present. Cars were simple, with uncomplicated and simple designs that were easy to
repair and maintain. In the 1950s and 1960s, generations of young men fell in love with
their cars and worked on them at home. Since the home mechanic was so popular during
this time, the rise of the trained auto mechanic was hampered. The simplicity and ease
continued into the 1990s when it was commonplace to have cars with computer
monitored engines. Computers in cars were the first big injury to DIY automotive. The
problem was lessened with aftermarket parts and general knowledge education through
word of mouth. However, complete understanding about the operation of these parts was
still unknown to the common person. American automotive makers in the past have
always been the easiest to work on, do to the fact that they were made with simple parts.
However, European and Asian automotive manufacturers are a different story. Asian
manufacturers are known to have a strong technological influence with computers being
placed into their cars, making it extremely difficult for the common person without
education in computer technologies to repair and modify. The European manufacturers
are known to have finely tuned and very refined engines that because of the degree of
precision in the parts makes them very hard to be worked on by someone who was not
professionally trained. American cars in the past have been the most popular until the
popularity increase in European racing and the release of cheap reliable Asian cars in the
eighties.

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In today’s tough economic times, more people are attempting to work on their
cars in order to save money. However, it is increasingly harder to work on cars. It is a
transitionally time in the history of the home auto mechanic. It has become increasingly
difficult to work on cars without extensive and expensive equipment and knowledge of
the new technology involved in cars today. Computers and electronic elements in
automobiles today have changed what the automobile mechanic knows and what he has
to do in order to work on today’s automobiles. “This is reflected in the fact the term,
Auto Technician, has largely replaced auto mechanic in most shops today (Alisimo, 1).”
The new title for the auto mechanic shows just how far the technology and the expertise
for automobile repairs have come from the time when a wrench and a teenager in the
driveway could work on a car. Now most automobile mechanics or technicians attend
schools in order to learn how to work on today’s complicated automobiles. In today’s
world, the cars have computers and many electronic parts. Without this education,
replacing and modifying parts has become nearly impossible. The main purpose of these
computers was to maintain the engine, and modify little fine tuned intake numbers and
other technical items that will modify how the car runs allowing for longer life, better gas
mileage, and other useful items. The problem with these computers is that, because of the
degree of education required to program and modify these systems, which normally
would not be an issue, however this means that as parts are replaced and modified, it will
cause the computer to error and prevent it from operating correctly. They are equipped
with many emissions parts, as well, so that they pollute the atmosphere less. The
emissions in automobiles are required by federal law. Emission parts add more
complexity to the automobile that cannot just be looked at and figured out what is not

4. Bussey 4
working. Now the home mechanic needs equipment that can read the codes from the
computer in the car that tells him exactly what part is not functioning correctly. The DIY
auto mechanic is still able to do some things on cars. However, he can still change the oil
in most cars, rotate his tires, change the air filter, flush and replace the coolant in the car,
replace the spark plugs for some of today’s cars, fuel filter, brakes if it is just replacing
parts, but for safety issues a professional need do it. The routine maintenance on the
parts above is still able to be done by the DIY auto mechanic. However, it is already not
possible for the DIY auto mechanic to change the oil, spark plugs, or brakes in the more
complex cars. Today’s cars have computers in them that monitor your tire pressure, help
prevent you from going into a skid, and even tell you when it is time for maintenance on
your car. The complexities of the car has also led to more automobile recalls then have
occurred in the past. The hybrid car has also added a layer of complexity to cars. “Any
vehicle that combines two or more sources of power that can directly or indirectly
provide propulsion power is a hybrid.” (Nice, Layton, 1) Most of the hybrids today are
gasoline-electric hybrids. Cars’ complexity with the electric and gasoline engines make
it almost impossible for the DIY auto mechanic to work on them. More makes and
models of the hybrids are coming out every year. A DIY auto mechanic is still able to do
certain things to the car, however, with the increasingly complexity of the automobile, the
role of DIY auto mechanic is changing and may eventually go away.
As the complexity of today’s car increase every year, it is becoming much more
difficult for the DIY auto mechanic to work on a car. Already certain very sophisticated
and complex cars are virtually impossible for the DIY auto mechanic to work on them
without expensive equipment and specialized training. A trend in this country is to

5. Bussey 5
provide a place and equipment for the DIY auto mechanic to work on a car. “Mike
"Huck" Ehrlich's new auto repair business in West Salem gives do-it-yourselfers
everything they need to roll up their sleeves and fix their own cars (Burgess, 1).” The
new type of operation provides a space to work on your car, tools to do it, can get the
parts necessary to fix your car, and even provide a mechanic to teach or assist you in
repairing your car. Mr. Ehrlich had purchased a warehouse and was looking for
something to do with it. After doing some research, he found there was nothing in the
area for a DIY auto mechanic to go to and work on a car with the now specialized
equipment needed to work on a car. With these tough economic times people are keeping
their cars longer and attempting to do the repairs themselves in order to save money.
With people unemployed, it is cheaper to attempt to work on your own car than spend
$80-100 per hour in a professional automobile shop. The new DIY auto shops can fit all
levels of DIY auto mechanics, from the one who just wants to change the oil to the one
who wants to rebuild an engine. The charges to use Ehrlich’s facilities are also much
cheaper than a professional shop. Ehrlich plans to offer classes to DIY auto mechanics.
One way for the DIY auto mechanic to still be able to work on a car without having to
purchase expensive equipment and giving him access to people who already have been
extensively trained on the new technologies in today’s cars is shops like Ehrlich. As
more cars employ complicated computer systems and electronic parts, it is going to
continue to make it harder if not impossible for the DIY auto mechanic to continue to
work on a car. The increase popularity of the hybrid and the need for increased fuel
mileage on cars is also going to make it harder and maybe impossible for the DIY auto
mechanic to be successful.

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In the beginning of auto repairs, cars were simple enough for the DIY auto
mechanic to work on a car in the driveway with just some screwdrivers and wrenches.
As time progressed so has the complexity of automobiles and with the increase of
computers, finely tuned transmissions, precisely weighted engine parts, and a plethora of
other highly designed parts and assembly processes have made it difficult for an
individual without proper training and equipment to make any modifications or repairs.
In the future, it looks like the DIY auto mechanic will no longer be able to work on a car
or do even the simplest repairs to it.

7. Bussey 7
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