frootiebootie wrote:Honestly, I would much prefer not to get the shop involved whatsoever. I am very much a DIY kind of person. If I knew what parts to replace, I would tear the tranny out tomorrow and get to work, but I don't know, lol. No matter where I go for info, no one seems to know whats going on.
Honestly, that is exactly what I have been trying to do here- highlight how you would use the resources available to you do learn about and do the job yourself, or as much yourself as possible.
To do this, you have to beat past some problems to get to your answer/solution- most notably you have to use communication skills to work past a shop needing to make money, and your need to not spend money unnecessarily. To do this you have to be able to talk to people in such a way that illustrates you are working on a problem and have run into a rare/odd issue that no one seems to be able to pinpoint or know about, and not be coming across like just another potential customer and especially to come across as uneducated on the subject at hand. This way you try to have a different kind of conversation with this person where they are able to focus on a smaller thing and not be looking at your issue as too complicated to deal with verbally, and just another potential job...you do not indicate any need for their services, just information and possibly a direction to go or other person/shop to talk to.
Look at it like wanting to talk to some hot chick- you don't just walk up, gawk at her and make inane comments, you think it over about what you'll say and do, and even some thoughts about what to do if this or that happens. Same deal with your car, have a clue about things and don't waste time with anything that isn't required with your problem- talk straight to your issue and give any and all supporting info and such as possible, including any opinions and such so that person is right where you are and not feeling like they would have to do a lot of their own diagnosis and such to even talk about the problem- in other words, a regular job versus sharing specific info.
Rare and odd problems are just that- rare and odd so generally they stand out for that to guys who do work on things. I myself remember the odd things I've fixed over the years and so sharing that in a conversation is easier and I don't feel a need to make money off that like I would if someone drops their entire problem on me- THAT'S a job, sharing info is not.
Sure I've spent money at shops, but DEFINITELY not as much as the work I have done to my Z's, and really all other cars I have had. I am NOT rich or well-heeled in any way, do not have many tools or places to work, but have ALWAYS gotten anything I need done in similar ways- finding the true and best solutions, copying things that definitely worked and avoiding lesser solutions, and ALWAYS know what the problem is before work and always doing the right work, correctly, if possible.
The ONLY way to do this (and it doesn't always happen easily, or sometimes at all like before my total teardown) is to use all of the resources out there carefully, and generally with good communication and the right approach...and willingness to keep at it until you get it, and not worry about time spent researching/problemsolving or taking shortcuts.