How YouTube Has Changed DIY Car Repair

Step-by-step video has been a revolution for some home mechanics.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Apr 9, 2024 | 4 min read

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YouTube isn't just for music videos and fail compilations. The video-sharing platform has revolutionized the way people approach do-it-yourself (DIY) projects of all types, making a previously unimaginable knowledge base readily available to anyone with an unrestricted internet connection.

While the platform has been a boon to all sorts of DIY-ers, it's been especially useful for amateur mechanics, democratizing automotive maintenance and repair by empowering at-home mechanics to tackle projects and repairs previously reserved for professionals.

YouTube Showed DIY-ers They Could Do Some Job Themselves

Before the advent of YouTube, it could be difficult for automotive DIY-ers to assess just how difficult a particular repair job or bit of maintenance might be. Professional mechanics and the shops that employed them weren't always keen to answer questions from amateurs who clearly were looking to do the job themselves rather than pay a pro.

And while having a friend who was handy with a wrench might have been helpful in some situations, few people outside the industry have extensive expertise in a wide range of makes and models, leaving some jobs out of reach.

Enter YouTube. The platform gave those with knowledge and the time to make videos a way to connect not only with their local friends but also with anyone who could access the internet.

Combine this sudden availability of previously arcane information with the ability of viewers to search a massive database of videos spanning various manufacturers, drivetrains, trim levels, and even specific components, and it seems inevitable that YouTube became the online classroom for anyone who wanted to try their hand at home auto repair.

Some of YouTube's automotive channels even went a step further and began offering full curriculums taught by expert mechanics that dived into nearly every aspect of how a car works. These more formal resources are often available free, and they range from classroom-like lectures to in-shop demonstrations.

Step-By-Step Videos Help Amateurs Skip the Shop and Save on Repairs

YouTube offers would-be home mechanics a way to demystify auto-repair jobs. There are some relatively straightforward repair tasks that can feel intimidating to first-time mechanics, such as installing a new cabin air filter, swapping out tires, or changing a vehicle's oil. With videos showing how to break these jobs down step by step, a growing number of car owners may prefer to pay for the parts and install them at home rather than hire a professional.

YouTube has also made it easier to access specialized knowledge. Prior to the video-sharing company's prominence, much of the firsthand experience with complex mechanical repairs and procedures — such as engine rebuilds, drivetrain swaps, and vehicle restorations — was either locked up in the brains of longtime specialists or found online in the form of in-depth message-board write-ups that mixed text and photos to illustrate the job at hand.

One of the main advantages of YouTube is the easy-to-absorb, step-by-step nature of the videos produced to support home mechanics. In effect, they allow amateurs to peer over the shoulders of pros while they tackle repairs both simple and complex.

YouTube Videos Have Taken the Place of Some Traditional Service Manuals

In many ways, YouTube has replaced the automotive service manual for home mechanics. The videos can do more than merely duplicate the information that traditional manuals offer — they can improve and expand upon it.

Like YouTube videos, service manuals — the documentation produced by a manufacturer or a third party that explains how a vehicle functions and how to maintain and repair it — use a step-by-step approach. But the printed page — or the digital version of it — inevitably suffers from limitations when compared with the more dynamic aspects of video instruction.

This truth is especially noticeable when applied to the hands-on nature of auto repair, where real-world experience can result in effective shortcuts or methods that differ from the officially prescribed way of repairing a vehicle. Given the advantages of video, some service-manual publishers have moved to YouTube.

The interactive nature of YouTube is another advantage that static manuals just can't match. Producers can create dedicated channels for their how-to videos, answer viewers' questions in the comments, and even post specialized videos that respond to common questions or concerns about specific repairs.

Augmented Reality Could Be the Next Frontier for YouTube Car-Repair Videos

As YouTube continues to diversify the types of video content it offers, it has the opportunity to become even more useful to home mechanics. Augmented reality — a term used to describe video and other digital aids that are overlaid on top of the real world by way of a screen or headset — is already available in nascent form online.

Whether by making it possible for DIY-ers to interact with a tablet or laptop without getting grease everywhere, or by identifying parts and suggesting a path forward in the midst of a repair, augmented reality may be the next frontier in YouTube car-repair videos.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.