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

[necine]

I've wanted to learn how to repair cars for a while. I really just want to be able to work on my own. 1) I want to save money. 2) I like the hands-on aspect of it (I get to put what I want and have it exactly how I want it).

What's the easiest and most efficient way to learn about car repair/maintenance?

 

[Mike2002]

Buy a Haynes repair manual for your car. It'll tell you how to remove and replace the parts on it.

 

[RedArmy]

I got into cars mainly from a friend and now it's a huge obsession of mine. I'd say the easiest way is to just research cars from different websites or buy a manual like Mike2002 said.

It's actually really fun and rewarding the first time you do a big project and it works. You'll make mistakes here and there but you can't have success without failure. I know there's a lot of car buffs on here and I'm sure they can give you some better advice but the easiest thing to do is just pop the hood and poke around.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Mike2002
Buy a Haynes repair manual for your car. It'll tell you how to remove and replace the parts on it.

/thread

1) Hayne's manual - Detailed descriptions and pictures
2) Forums for your car - plenty of DIY guides and just people to ask when you get confused
3) Car manual - some of the basic stuff might be covered there, but not much really.

The Hayne's manual is a must IMO, keep a copy in your car with basic tools, never know when you'll need it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

friends or forums, mostly forums and i just do it myself.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Well I took a 12 month class but friends would work too. The biggest thing is getting over being afraid of screwing things up.

 

[necine]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Well I took a 12 month class but friends would work too. The biggest thing is getting over being afraid of screwing things up.

Kinda like computers... but I was like 10 years old when i had figured them out.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Well I took a 12 month class but friends would work too. The biggest thing is getting over being afraid of screwing things up.

Anyone with half a brain can do it - don't be afraid to mess up and honestly, with most initial thing you do, you probably won't mess it up a lot. If it's something that has to be fixed, try it on your own, and if that doesn't work out, then put it back together, and take it to a mechanic. Have him fix it, but look into what you did wrong or what you need to do differently for the next time. It's not an overnight process like most good things in life.

 

[flyguy214]

I learned by breaking stuff, then asking friends and guys at the car parts store how to fix it.

Hands on is the only way to learn.

 

[jagec]

Hands-on. The manual keeps you from making serious errors. Having the right tools helps, too. Having a garage is not strictly necessary, but *very* nice


<---almost never gets to work on the car in a garage

 

[nweaver]

1. Get a crappy job
2. Get a crappy car
3. wait for said car to break down
4. ????
5. Profit

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
friends or forums, mostly forums and i just do it myself.

 

[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.

 

[ryan256]

Dad.
We've changed oil, plugs, brake pads, fixed radiators, and replaced starters, belts, alternators, ect...
But yes we almost always had a Haynes manual.

 

[zeruty]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
The biggest thing is getting over being afraid of screwing things up.

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... It was fun messing up things on my brothers computer when he was at work, and I wasn't supposed to be touching it. I accidently deleted his partition table on his Mac IIci and had 20 minutes to figure it out and fix it without losing data before he got home from work and kicked my ass! Oh how I miss those days... being 12 in 1995 ftw! warez bbs and porn and all the good stuff 12 year old boys needed!

 

[Insane3D]

Haynes/Chilton manuals are crap.. If you really want to know how to fix your car, you are best served to get the shop manual from the manufacturer...it's pricey but worth it.

 

[hanoverphist]

haynes isnt teh suxxorz, but the mnufacturers manual is the bomb. the library has a ton of bookson basic and heavy repair as well. i use haynes manuals first. but if i cant get enough info i go to different sources.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I take a old broken down car, then systematically take it apart

 

[b0mbrman]

First watching -- then helping -- the old man do it

 

[nakedfrog]

Someone gave me a Super Beetle, it came with a couple Chilton's and then I bought the hippie VW repair book. Great fundamental setup, as it doesn't have all the water-cooling stuff or power stuff in the way, so you really just focus on learning how an engine works.

 

[Skotty]

Some Haynes/Chilton manuals are better than others. I've seen some newer ones that I thought sucked. And some older ones that were pretty good. Maybe it's because there are just too many cars these days and they are too complicated and Haynes/Chilton just can't keep up. Or maybe it's pot luck and it varies from car to car regardless of age.

 

[Podolak]

My father,

He is a mechanic by trade. I'd recommend learning from a friend or friend's parents. I presume neither of your parents do auto repair?

 

[Mxylplyx]

I've only replaced an alternator, replaced rotors and pads, and replaced a rear brake caliper. I've also refilled refrigerant, but thats nothing really. I just learned from researching on the internet, but I probably will pick up Haynes manuals. Like someone said above, dont be afraid to just get in there and get your hands dirty. If worse comes to worse, you can pay $50 to get it towed if you really screw up, but at least you'll have learned something.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: zeruty

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
The biggest thing is getting over being afraid of screwing things up.

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... It was fun messing up things on my brothers computer when he was at work, and I wasn't supposed to be touching it. I accidently deleted his partition table on his Mac IIci and had 20 minutes to figure it out and fix it without losing data before he got home from work and kicked my ass! Oh how I miss those days... being 12 in 1995 ftw! warez bbs and porn and all the good stuff 12 year old boys needed!

After reading that, I cant help but to think you are a nerdy girly man. No disrespect of course

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: jagec
Hands-on. The manual keeps you from making serious errors. Having the right tools helps, too. Having a garage is not strictly necessary, but *very* nice


<---almost never gets to work on the car in a garage

Maybe someday I'll get to work on a car in a garage. First, I probably need a garage
(or help my friend clean his out)