How do you learn to do your own car repair/maintenance?

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Skotty

Originally posted by: nweaver
1. Get a crappy job
2. Get a crappy car
3. wait for said car to break down
4. ????
5. Profit

:thumbsup:

... and a Haynes manual. Or Chilton. Though I think most prefer Haynes. Older cars, primarily domestic, are much easier to fix (a la 70s or 80s, maybe early 90s), but they break down more too.

Be ready for lots of scrapes and pains and grease that will take multiple showers to wash off your body. It will never come off your clothes, so have 1 or more work-on-your-car sets of clothing.

The factory service manual is by far the best. However, for any job the more books the better as sometimes there are different methods to solve the same problem and one is a lot easier.

Also for jobs you are unfamiliar having more pictures is always better.

As far as learning, it's take your time and make sure you have all the tools you will need. Having the tools is the reason many can't do their own work. More often than not for the first few jobs the cost of your tools will be more than the job itself.

I have 1,000's of tools now. I have been building up a collection since 12-13. Ebay, estate and gargage sales are also an excellent source especially for tools you will not use more than once or twice.

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[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: zeruty
I don't know how to work on cars, but that has nothing to do with it. I just hate getting on the ground under my car... it uncomfortable and I hate the grease and dirt... I've never been afraid of screwing things up, that's why I've never had a problem with computers...

Are you a woman?