It's not as clear cut as Automotive Tech in here. Look how we have FS and WTB stickies and selling/advertising of any kind is prohibited there.
The call-outs and trash talk we clamped down on, but it doesn't mean it has to be stoic and dry all the time, and yes, there Is such a thing as a stupid question...or sometimes, not-so-stupid questions asked in profoundly stupid ways. (
ppl are going to be offended by this)
I think the issues are, for one, the apparent lack of interest in terms of modification, be it performance or cosmetic. Some of my mods were just to make my engine bay pretty - polished valve cover, textured black spark plug cover (I think the thread's still here somewhere), some red hoses here and there.
If you wanna make fibreglass eyelids for your 2002 Yaris, then take some pics and post 'em up. If you're upgrading from factory steelies to those 18" Enkeis you had your eye on since Christmas, then let's hear about it and see some pics. If you're dumping VVT for a set of adjustable gears, a wideband and a F.I.C. then let's see some pics and a dyno sheet.
Then there's the repetition - do we REALLY need to make a new thread every time someone buys a used Corolla just to ask what's the best oil/transmission fluid/brake pads/air filter/headlight bulbs/coolant/indicator fluid...? Yeah, we know you love your car and you want the best for it, but unless there's something drastically different of terribly wrong with it, I don't see why your 2006 Fielder doing 125,000km should require a whole new thread for questions we've already answered in 17 similar threads since 2008.
Then there are the questions that you KNOW you wouldn't ask if u gave it some thought - eg. "my engine is burning a little bit of oil, what should I do?"... a bit of thought would make u ask yourself, "how much is a little bit? are there any leaks? what body and brand of oil am I using now? how old is the engine? am I keeping this car for a few years again?" These things would determine if you should switch brands, get a seal job done, or just use a thicker oil while you save for a head&block swap/rebuild or if you should drive it off a cliff...but more importantly, it'll determine just how much you can do for yourself before making a thread about it.
"I'm hearing a clicking noise by my feet. What could it be?"...maybe, maaaaybe, you shouldn't drive with tap shoes on *shrugs* but we won't have a friggin clue what you're talking about unless one of us sits in the car and listens out for it. So what then? Talk you through how to listen for where the noise is coming from? You need us to make your bed and wash behind your ears too?
Looking for bumper clips? So the parts place down the street wouldn't be the first place to ask? And hey, when you get them, let us know where u got them and how much, and, if possible, make a thread showing us how u replaced those broken clips.
I'll continue this another time...but u get what I'm saying. There will be things that some WILL be clueless about, we weren't all born knowing about cars, but there are some questions we could very well answer for ourselves.