Rate your skills - the official MVS poll

[mecheng]

Some of the basic things, like changing oil cooler lines should rate as 3, but on Volvo's I would rate them as 4 because there is little to no room for anything. What an awful job, just finished.

[paredown]

I put myself at 3, but in reality I'm probably a 2.5.

My father was a great mechanic, and I was the 'gopher'--so I have good reflexes and a general understanding of how stuff works. But I don't have his seemingly infinite reservoirs of patience, and I have proved many times that I have a tendency to think things through to about the 90% level and fly at it--and sometimes pay for my impatience.

The contributors here have saved my bacon many times--and have encouraged me to 'boldly go' where at least I have not gone before, so a big thanks to everyone here.

[scot850]

It depends on the age of the Volvo. After over 40 years wrenching on them I was at one point a 5 on the 120/140/240 ranges, and even stripped and rebuilt a 760 Turbo motor. I'll have a go at most things, but my limitations is the correct tools and facilities to do the work.

On the P80's (850-S/V70) I will tackle most things but this is where tools and facilities become the issue. Do I spend a fortune on tools I may use once every 10 years or just pay someone else to do it.

Overall, maybe a 4 on the scale?

Neil.

[abscate]

It's an automatic 5 for figuring out how to replace the crank pulley correctly

[cuhfs]

C70 Engine top end and replaced a C70 transmission and a V70 clutch once... along with the #3 items listed... so perhaps a 3 or a lightweight 4. Thinking that the test should really be like a road rally... time - speed - distance - and accuracy. Took over a month to do the top end and a long time for the transmission too - so minus points. As with a road rally - good equipment and a co-pilot would be a great help. Never had to re-do job.

[tryingbe]

I've know a lot, and there are a lot more I don't know.

So, abstention for me.

Here's one of the 5s....

Nope. Just someone who can takes things apart and put it back by memory, still use the book for torque specs though. I also happen to be not afraid of the computer side of things.

I am currently working on adjusting the mpg gauge in the M4.3 ECU coding since I've change to blue injectors and my mpg gauge is way off. Will post what I found when I have it all complete.

[matthew1]

Warning: I took a statistics class decades ago in college.

Problem

Why no low-skill 0 or 1 votes? Are we really all universally middle-technical here?

Theory

The bell curve is accurate generally (the shape checks out), but there are problems with the edge distribution of votes.

• all the Level 2 and 3 votes -- it's people most likely to vote*
• low Level votes are people who take their cars to the dealer and Jiffy Lube
• high level votes are low because hey, we're modest, we drive Volvos

* this site draws people like us -- users who are likely to go out on the Web and search for how to DIY

[dosbricks]

I have never messed a job up so badly that I broke something critical or had to do the job again, but the cost is that I work extremely slowly. It takes me days to do work that would take most people hours. I obsess and fret, checking everything repeatedly....

I can completely relate to this. As I've aged it takes me twice as long as it used to to do a brake job. But still proud to associate with the champions on MVS who have walked me through a few tight spots!

[abscate]

I'm taking longer to DIY stuff because I take my Dremel to everything in a job and bring it back up shiny metal, lubricate and restore to Stockholm/Brissels condition.

No shop will do this for you

[98v70dad]

I'm definitely more than a 3 and less than a 4. There's a lot of territory between 3 and 4.