This DIY enthusiast tackles automotive repairs in their driveway or backyard rather than a professional shop. While some are highly skilled hobbyists, the term often implies a reliance on improvised fixes, cheap tools, and questionable workarounds rather than factory service procedures.
Heard on the job
Whoever worked on this before was a real shade-tree mechanic; they used zip ties to hold the radiator fan in place.
Insider tip
Professional technicians usually dread working on cars previously owned by a shade-tree mechanic due to stripped bolts and bypassed wiring.
Also heard as
- backyard mechanic
- driveway mechanic