Increase in DIY mechanics putting drivers in danger

A shocking number of Australians are ditching the mechanic, putting themselves and others at risk.

Exclusive: Australians are ditching the annual car service in favour of dodgy DIY repairs, with some motorists driving with bald tyres, jump starting dead car batteries and even servicing their own brakes amid a cost of living crisis.

In a survey of more than 1000 NRMA members, over a quarter of respondents said cost of living pressures have affected their ability to pay for car servicing.

More than half said they had either delayed servicing until they could afford it or didn’t service their car at all.

More than 10 per cent of respondents said they got a friend or family member to service their car or did it themselves.

Brookvale Mechanic Paul Pendleton is concerned about the safety of people doing DIY fixes on their cars. Picture: Thomas Lisson

NRMA roadside assistance workers have noticed a disturbing rise in the number of drivers admitting to cutting corners when it comes to their car, attempting to service or fix their cars themselves.

According to NRMA patrol reports, numerous drivers confess they are attempting a backyard service job, with some going as far as servicing their own brakes.

As a result of the DIY jobs, roadside patrols are reporting an increase in call-outs that could have been avoided if a trained mechanic had done maintenance work at the correct time.

In a sign of the increased cost of living pressures, more motorists are asking NRMA patrols to jump-start their cars with a flat battery instead of replacing the battery with a new one on the spot.

NRMA roadside assistance said drivers are “risking death” by either skipping services or attempting to service their cars themselves.

As a result of the DIY jobs, roadside patrols are reporting an increase in call-outs that could have been avoided if a trained mechanic had done maintenance work at the correct time.

In a sign of the increased cost of living pressures, more motorists are asking NRMA patrols to jump-start their cars with a flat battery instead of replacing the battery with a new one on the spot.

Roadside CEO Carolyn Darke leads Australia’s largest team of roadside patrols.
“We are very aware that the cost of living is impacting our members (in recent years),” Ms Darke said.

“What our patrols are finding is when they are turning up to jobs on the side of the road, many people are thousands of kilometres over when they should have had their car serviced,” Ms Darke said.

It’s an issue Sydney mechanic Paul Pendleton, 72, has come to see all too often.

Mr Pendleton has had customers reference using YouTube videos and Google before coming in to request his services.

“Everyone’s a mechanic. They think they know what goes on and think they know cars,” he said.

“What people don’t understand is that your bills and everything else can escalate by just not doing the right thing when your car needs repairs,” he said.

NRMA roadside assistance mechanic Tony Tamine said drivers are “risking death” by doing services themselves.

“So much can go wrong, particularly with steering and brakes and suspension,” he said.

“This is something I have been seeing over the years. Under-serviced vehicles is a common thing I see, many times I will come out to a job and a member has tried to carry out their own repair and gotten stuck,” Mr Tamine said.

“The worst thing I see is brakes getting down to metal on metal. One of the most dangerous things I see is when steering parts have snapped.

“During a service these things are checked. But when you don’t get the vehicle serviced and you don’t check it yourself, I see steering components just snap,” he said.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Increase in DIY mechanics putting drivers in danger