what's the best way to learn about cars??

[basslover1]

I started working on my car because I'll be damned if I was going to pay a grease monkey $85+ an hour to do the work.

I started with simple things then progressed as the car got older and needed more serious work. I started with oil changes and tire rotations. Then it turned into a brake job. Then to motor mounts. A valve cover gasket. Tracking down a damned coolant leak. Gearbox oil change. The most impressive for me was changing the timing belt. I turned what would have been a $1k job into 250 worth of parts and some tools.

Hell, before I had the car I own now, I didn't even know how to change the oil on my last car (friends did it for me), but now I rarely let anyone touch my car. After owning it for 6.5 years I know most everything about it.

 

[JCH13]

I don't think many decide to build a sunday driver to learn this stuff.

Why not? I know several people who have their "fun car" kicking around that they work on, but don't daily drive and don't take to a race track often (if at all). For example, buddy of mine is building an a 325IS out of parts from 3 others just to have something fun to drive around in (aside from his pickup and '69 mustang). He's paid $300-$500 per parts car and will have a nice 325IS and a lot of experience at the end. OP: if you want to learn how to work on a car, build one from a pile of parts :awe: .... please don't try that your first time out...

 

[IcePickFreak]

Getting your hands dirty, bloodying your knuckles and occasionally breaking something is the only way to start figuring things out.

ZV

The truth has been spoken.

You're not really working on a car until:
1. You get oil, grease, or rust in your eye(s)
2. You've drawn blood
3. You've broke something
4. You've lost a hammer, screwdriver, or wrench

And I don't mean once in your lifetime, I mean each time you go to work on a car. Otherwise you're just "messin with it." And to save you time, when you lose that hammer, screwdriver, or wrench don't bother looking for it. It crossed into another dimension.

 

[simonizor]

a running car now a days should be $500 at least.

Depends completely on where you live. It's rather common to see cars around here that look like total shit, but run for ~$100. This is exactly the type of car the OP needs. This way, they can start working on it, and when they fuck something up, they're only out $100.

 

[jlee]

The truth has been spoken.

You're not really working on a car until:
1. You get oil, grease, or rust in your eye(s)
2. You've drawn blood
3. You've broke something
4. You've lost a hammer, screwdriver, or wrench

And I don't mean once in your lifetime, I mean each time you go to work on a car. Otherwise you're just "messin with it." And to save you time, when you lose that hammer, screwdriver, or wrench don't bother looking for it. It crossed into another dimension.

5. You learn to wear safety glasses
6. You have a system to organize tools

Though I seem to have screwdrivers disappear like socks...WTF...

 

[luv2liv]

thanks guys!

i recently learned how to change oil cause i was tired of forkin 140 to the lexus dealer.
im gonna get the FSM or the Haynes book as you suggested.
i will definitely get a crappy car to play with once i have my own place

 

[alkemyst]

I usually don't do my own oil changes. Dealers will rip you off, but there are tons of reliable shops willing to do almost any car for $20 if you are bringing your own filter/fluids. It's their loss leader more or less so they can tell you you need wipers, air filter, pcv, coolant, etc

If I have to have the car up any way I'll do oil myself.

 

[exdeath]

5. You learn to wear safety glasses
6. You have a system to organize tools

Though I seem to have screwdrivers disappear like socks...WTF...

You know how when you have the car on a lift, and you set tools and sets of bolts on the lift arms, etc, and just start sticking shit in places in arms reach of your primary work area?

Don't slide sockets or misc tools into your exhaust collector for "temporary" holding...

 

[IcePickFreak]

You know how when you have the car on a lift, and you set tools and sets of bolts on the lift arms, etc, and just start sticking shit in places in arms reach of your primary work area?

Don't slide sockets or misc tools into your exhaust collector for "temporary" holding...

There's been times where I'm working in an area and set a tool down. I go to pick it up a minute or two later and can't find. Back-up, look around and don't see it. Go and look elsewhere for the possibility I did set it somewhere else and forgot, not find it, go back to the area I was working in and it's right there in plain sight.

My grandfather was a mechanic and who I originally started working on cars with and learning. He was also a big practical joker. He passed away in 93, but sometimes I swear his ghost is in the garage with me and doing this kinda stuff. :awe:

 

[exdeath]

There's been times where I'm working in an area and set a tool down. I go to pick it up a minute or two later and can't find. Back-up, look around and don't see it. Go and look elsewhere for the possibility I did set it somewhere else and forgot, not find it, go back to the area I was working in and it's right there in plain sight.

My grandfather was a mechanic and who I originally started working on cars with and learning. He was also a big practical joker. He passed away in 93, but sometimes I swear his ghost is in the garage with me and doing this kinda stuff. :awe:

My dad once found a 3/8" impact wrench stuck in the coil spring (or somewhere in the,suspension) of a customer's large truck. Looks like it had been there some time. IIRC it must had been resting in the spring, and when the truck was sat back down on the ground, it was enough to keep it there securely for who knows how long.

 

[CFster]

Go peruse the Garage forum. It's filled with people who did the same thing, and now consider themselves experts...

 

[hanoverphist]

And to save you time, when you lose that hammer, screwdriver, or wrench don't bother looking for it. It crossed into another dimension.

when one of my old friends that is a mechanic would help me, it wasnt unheard of to find tools sticking out of the drywall in the garage...

There's been times where I'm working in an area and set a tool down. I go to pick it up a minute or two later and can't find. Back-up, look around and don't see it. Go and look elsewhere for the possibility I did set it somewhere else and forgot, not find it, go back to the area I was working in and it's right there in plain sight.

ive had this happen in my friends shop, weirdest thing ive ever encountered. i also rearrange his installers tools whenever i get the chance, hes very OCD about his tool placement on his cart. i help him deal with it.

 

[skyking]

I installed a two post lift at the neighbor's and promptly became familiar with how many more spots I had to misplace tools
I'm going with the rolling cart from now on. I am too good at hiding shit.

 

[JCH13]

I installed a two post lift at the neighbor's and promptly became familiar with how many more spots I had to misplace tools
I'm going with the rolling cart from now on. I am too good at hiding shit.

Amen to that. I use one of those cloth contractor bucket deals with a ton of pockets. Holds enough tools for a lot of the fiddling I do, and the bucket is great to throw parts into.