DIY Posts - An idea for all to consider
 

I had this amazing thought today....
Well not so amazing but here goes. As you all know when doing a search sometimes it returns many, many more posts than you need to get the info you want. Although reading all of them can be fun but time consuming.
I thought that as a way around this if we posted with DIY in the subject line or the start of the post (which does the search function look for?) whenever someone is posting instructions on how to do something that they have accomplished this may make the search a little better as you could then search for "DIY AND (your subject of interest)"
The original poster could also edit their message and paste it to a new one with this identifier if folks feel it would be of value!

actually since "DIY" is used so much perhaps a slight variation on this would be better i.e. reversing it to "YID". The main problem I would see is that someone will have to moderate to some extent or perhaps it would be self moderating if several folks post the way they did it under the original post if there are variations.
In fact I think there is a general list of topics that would be of real value to everyone, e.g. IP timing...
Input anyone?
Personally I like it! ;)

I stuck this one to keep it at the top for a few days. I thought it was a pretty good idea. Opinions/thoughts are appreciated.

Great idea!

Sounds good fisherman. Reading through all the posts concerning your problem can be fun but if your car is broken down getting to the answers as fast as possable would be good.:)

Second!!!
 

I agree. I'd probably quit posting stupid questions if it was easier to find the info.

Munsey

when I got my first 240d and discovered this forum I read through all the posts in the archives concerning 240Ds from way back when. Theres a wealth of info out there but it took days to get through it. :) seems that if you have some sort of problem there is someone out there thats dealt with the same thing one way or another.

I agree that it's a good idea...I've posted many questions simply because I didn't want to take the time to wade through everything that a search would bring up. Another thought would be a webpage with basic write-ups on how to do everything, along with common symptoms for needing to do each :) I've actually been thinking about putting something like that together for my truck on my page; maybe I could also do some for M-B diesels? I don't have much in the way of pictures, though. :)

But then I would no longer need to use my superior searching skills.

Seriously it sounds like a good idea.

What would be the qualifications of puting a YID on your subject line?

Qualifications?
 

I was thinking in terms of a step by step. If someone wants to take the time to do a step by step explanation of a procedure that they have performed (not a recitation from the manual) then that would be the qualifier.
I would also think that if everyone understood that their way may not be the only way, then others could also post their experiences in the same thread so you could get more than one opinion or way to do a project too.

I have to defer to our moderators to see if they would like this extra burden though since if someone were to post a significantly errored procedure or unsafe procedure we would need to defer to the experts who chime in here to make a decision not to leave a post intake that could casue harm to either the engines or ourselves...

Jim & Jim are you guys okay with this?

Personally I think I would love to see the "YID - 1980 300D Valve Adjustment" as a title example, or "YID - 126 Dash Removal"

Has anyone noticed if the search takes into account the title also or is it just the body fo the message? If just the body then we need to modify slightly or replicate the title as the first message line perhaps.

YID search works!
 

I just did a quick test and the title is part of the search, that's good.

Looks like a winner Fisherman!

I was wondering, though. This site currently has a DIY section (check out the DIY link at the top of the web page). Would it be possible for any DIY's that are determined to be worthy to be included under that link? Why not just expand what has already been started?

Munsey

Not sure what YID stands for.
Putting a DIY post in the DIY section requires that write up to be saved to a server. Some of us may not have that ability and would rather just post it on here with DIY in the title.

Perhaps using brackets to filter out unwanted DIY's would help -
[DIY] - Heater Monovalve

YID
 

I was just proposing the we use YID (the reverse of DIY) since DIY has been used in many posts in the past without reference to actual instructions in many posts.
The actual term used could be anything and I would agree with Engatwork that KISS is a great principle. There are many great posts int he past by some of the very knowledgable folks here that would qualify but they are sometimes very hard to find when searching on a particular subject.

The issue is not what acronym is used but that it be consistant if possible such that a "newbie" or seasoned wrencher can search for these threads.

heck maybe some of the old hands can even go back and find their original posts and repost them with this acronym. I know that some questions keep coming up on a fairly reguilar basis and I think some of the folks kind of get tired of answering the same question so this could be a way around that...:)

Jim, Should we do a poll on the term to use and give it a shot?

Anyone with an idea for the titles (I think acronym prefered) throw them out and we can try a poll to see if anything sticks.

Standart Operating Procedure (SOP)
 

Perhaps use SOP instead of DIY/YID?
For example...

SOP: Replace Rear Axels

Having a standard designation of some kind is a great idea.

AT

As a newbie, I would find it helpful if the topic titles were just informative. Not to pick on anyone, but topics like, " What is this?", "I found it", "I need help" or similar expressions do not help me to find information. Perhaps a little more thought on that end would yield benefits, too.
Thanks to all who share their experience!

If I were just a dumb ol red neck country boy and stumbled upon this site looking for information on my '82 240D;) it would never cross my mind to put YID in the heading to pin down do it yourselfer stuff:). I kinda like Erikir's idea using the [DIY] thing but instructions would have to be posted somewhere.

Maybe make that a sticky post? "[DIY] Search Instructions", for example...just a thought :)

Also, who would decide what "qualifies" as such? The moderators? It might be a good idea to keep an eye on them; otherwise, people could go posting that to anything...

Just a thought :)

UH, GUYs ..... NO Short Term Memory ?
 

:D Doesn't this sound a lot like the " FAQ Pages" which were being put together by TxBill and his sister ?

Maybe we should harrass Bill a little to get them back on track...I know there have been some health issue delays from his sister's perspective... but others should be able to help out .....

It is already started... just needs to be continued... flushed out...
but from the first I suggested that the final instructions be " vetted" by a committee.....of old timers....so muddy concepts and stuff not physically true does get entered to mess up new people's minds....

DIY Pages
 

I wasn't around during that discussion I guess. Otherwise I'd have leaned on you to lean on Bill to lean on his sister to ... oh I guess you get the idea...
I'm thinking that the toughest sell willbethe review by the senior folks (involvement not age) on the site.

Heck, I'm good with anything that helps out.

I'm gonna unstick this one and suggest that, whenever someone does put up a diy'er type write up to put DIY in the title. Now if I can just remember to put that with it:) when I do a search.

Why don't we just create a new sub-forum for actual DIY repairs?

That way, when someone has replaced their timing chain, or differential mounts, or brake pads and rotors, or whatever, they can post it, or have a moderator move it to the DIY sub-forum.

I'm sure you all have checked out Thomaspin's website:

www.pindelski.com

He has created the best explanations of DIY projects that I've ever seen. He also has very detailed pictures.

I wish he owned some 123's.....:D