I'm kinda like you, OP. Im a nerd, build my own computers, and build them for others, do database design at work, etc...
The first comment is spot on. I'm not a mechanic. I just Google the shit out of anything I want to do and that's pretty much it. Between that and a copy of the service manual, it's pretty hard to mess anything up. On my last car, I always stayed away from serious engine work due to a lack of tools and a need to have a running vehicle, but I used it as a learning tool. Changed a tire. Fixed some interior trim pieces. Then got brave, watched a ton of YouTube videos, and then changed my brake pads. Doing that job, specifically, made me realize how easy it is to do some things that most people think is a complex job, and also made me realize how much shops charge for simple tasks.
After that, I downloaded the Factory Service Manual, and it wasn't long after that I had the car up on jackstands and was replacing all four springs, struts, strut mounts, etc... with the help of a friend, that I had assembled myself. Cars really are just giant LEGO blocks. Once you get your head around the fact that they aren't all magic voodoo, you realize a lot of stuff is easy to do.
Of course there will always be more involved jobs that I take it to the mechanic for, but even doing some work yourself, you learn a lot, save a lot of money, and bond with the car
