A person willing to learn and perform scheduled maintenance or simple repairs on their own vehicle rather than being completely reliant on technicians who may be dishonest, careless, or ignorant.
Many automakers have realized that dealer service is profitable and have designed vehicles to be irreparable by independent or shade tree mechanics.
Basically, someone who works on their car by themselves, as a "do-it-yourself" project. He/She often employs jerry-rig techniques to fix his/her automobile. Could also apply to anyone who is a "do-it-yourselfer" in any aspect of life.
"It used to be that under every shadetree there was a mechanic working on their car."
A term used in the African American community to describe bootleg workers or people who are underhanded and make/do shady deals under the table. This term could also refer to lazy bootleg workers.
Casual mechanics who fix or modify cars using tools and techniques that are frequently improper or not "by the book".
Tool boxes include zip ties, they use chrome sockets on an impact driver, don't own a torque wrench, and probably learned how to fix cars from a buddy, youtube, forum posts, or by doing.
How many foot lbs of torque? Just twist it until its "goodandtight". We're shade tree mechanics, not Ford technicians
Literally the Shade Tree that everyone sits under to rest. A guy that stupidly supports and provides wealth for a whore, her family and her bastard children.