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This is my amateur do-it-yourself and mechanics arent that necessary page.

The first thing anyone should do when they think they have a problem or want to give some maitnenence to their car is to
buy a HAYNES or CHILTON car repair manual for their car. They cost $20 at an autoparts store. The tell you exaclty what you need
for a job and a troubleshooting guide.

Here are some prices of things that have been easy for me to do (on a 97 small Japanese car). I have only done routine maintenence.
For major stuff, I have saved many hundreds of dollars by going to Mexico to get stuff done. Not all cars are created equal. Japanese
ones are better for example. Dodge + other domestic makes overall are worse in the long run.

As always the right tool for the job makes life much better. My favorite tool is my new hyrdaulic jack, just 6 quick cranks.

The times here reflect me taking my time the first time and clean up, the prices are honda parts which are always more expensive, but I
learned my lesson after having a bad brake experience (raybestos brake pads on honda rotors).

Good things to do before a smog check if you are worried you wont pass:
Make sure you car is good and hot when you get it checked. Drive on the highway for 15 minutes.

Oil change: $14 40 minutes

Air filter replacement: $15 3 minutes

    Spark plug change: plugs=$2 apiece + can of compressed air   1 hour    (this is one of the best/easy things you can do to help with your smog check)
         If you can see where all of your spark plugs are (there will be a rubber coated wire going to each of them) then this is a cinch. Older camaros for
         example are a pain to get at the plugs, Japanese cars tend to be easy.

Fuel filter replacement: $26 1.5 hours (next time will be much quicker)

Go to google. I promise there is a web page somewhere out there by a person who has the same car you do.

Other stuff that I have done:

Rotate tires: Free 15 minutes

Cleaning battery corrosion: water+bakingsoda 15 minues

Brake pad replacement: $56 for honda pads, $25 for raybestos which suck for hondas 2 hours

Bleeding+flushing brakes: $6 2 hours (need a friend to pump brakes while you do this)

Flush cooling system: $10 + disposal container 1 hour

Distributor cap and rotor replacement: $20+$18 1 hour

Clean drum brakes (usually what is on the rear of non sports/luxury/SUV cars): $6 1 hour

Change manual transmission fluid: $12 + 40 min

Replace PVC: $18 (this is my next thing, I predict 1 hour)

Avoid fram filters. They are ones in the radioactive orange color boxes.

Final tip: use the internet. Chances are there is plenty of stuff on it by people who have done what you want to do.