How can I get into fixing cars (or repairing them)?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anti C
  • Start date Start date
A

Anti C

Guest
Doesn't really matter. I would just like to know more about cars and how they work and such.

Any advice is highly appreciated, thanks for reading.
 
Hi

By far the best way to learn is to tag along with someone (friend, family, etc) whilst they're repairng a vehicle and ask them to explain what they're doing, and why as they're doing it.

Most mechanics I know, including myself, learned from experience on their own vehicles and from asking questions (LOTS of questions!), and carried on to where they are today. I also had the added bonus of both my father and my step father being motor mechanics.

You should also buy yourself a general automotive repair manual or subscribe to a magazine.

Do a few easy jobs yourself under supervision from someone with experience, such as changing oil, filters, and spark plugs. You could probably find an old banger for a small outlay on which to practice, and it wouldn't matter if you did any damage to it.

You could probably, if you really wanted to, find a college course or night class in automotive repair.

All the very best with whatever you decide, and I hope it all goes well for you.

Very best regards

Geordie
 
pick up a repair manual for the type of car your driving many repairs are easy to do at home just knowing which part or finding what s wrong is the hard part here is a couple helpful sites
 
try asking at your local garage for volunteer work unpaid taining,or your local college for cources
 
well to begin ,you must have willingness to get dirty and greasy, to not be afraid to use your imagination, because in fact that's how we have the cars and trucks now, and to be able to work on your own car or truck to start. or go to the library and pick up some chilton or haynes repair manuals and read them. or get involved in a car club .its all good
 
Honestly, I could not disagree more than what the other answerers have given. Sure, you will get dirty, but do not start out by getting a repair manual if you don't have a car to work on or have the knowledge. A repair manual can say: Torque cylinder head bolts to 65-70 ft. lbs. in the sequence given if figure 63. If they said that, would that mean you would do that without knowing why? My advice, get the knowledge of how they work first and then get deeper into what parts do what for the car. A good website is to go to howstuffworks.com and they have a whole section dedicated to under the hood of a vehicle and how it works. Everything from oil pump, camshaft, crankshaft, thermostat, cooling system, lubricating system, pistons, rods, bearing, valves, gas, and so on and so fourth. There is so much stuff going on under the hood of every vehicle. But learn about basics first and then go off and start doing minor repair on your car. Minor being, changing battery, adding coolant/water to your radiator if needed, changing oil if you feel comfortable. Don't start with hard things. That's what I did, I started off small and worked my way up. I still learn new things about a car everyday but I do have many knowledge about vehicles and it's great. A good first step, start with the basics of how a car starts and then go on from there. It's awesome... once you stop, you will love it. You will make many mistakes, you will get really mad but that happens to us all. Good luck!

Also, get involved with some classes they teach. Take it slow. And if you can, get some car friends or mechanics and talk to them. Just don't feel stupid asking questions. And when you have a car to work on, always follow your repair manual. You may think you know how, but I couldn't tell you how much times a simple job I thought it was turned out to be such a problem without the manual's help.
 
Back
Top