I don't want to be a mechanic, but I would like to be able to understand cars and engines more so I can work on my own car. Right now I have a very limited knowledge of cars (I can change oil, rotate wheels, simple stuff like that).

What would be the best place for me to start with this?

Thank you for your time and effort,


Joseph

 

You've found it. The internet, search, read, read, read, read some more, go break something on your car trying to fix it, read read read....not here of course as the technical information is limited and what is here BLOWS. Try finding a forum catering to the type of vehicle you drive.

 

take a class at school, learn from buddies or family, pick up a haynes manual for your car, howstuffworks.com, read the internet!
it has other uses besides porn

 

LIES!!!!!

 

Sign up for night classes at a local vocational school or a community college.

Or just start doing shit. Mechanics are pretty easy if you just think about it. I've learned everything I know from my dad and just going out there and taking stuff apart and hopefully remembering how to put it back together.

 

lol taking things apart is easy... putting them back together correctly is harder... just my .02

 

They are all right. If you can't take classes (my parents would not allow me to do auto-tech in high school) then howstuffworks.com. Then read like crazy. honda-tech, hondaswap, vadriven, i am sure there are more too. Helms manuals rock your socks if you can find a complete one on the net. I started by picking up a stock 90 crx si and when i got hit i learned alot about body work and frame damage (I could not do the fram stuff but I was able to learn about the body on my car). Then when I got it back I decided to do a mini-me head swap which was prolly over my head but i did it and did not have a single problem with it. Just go slow when you are doing stuff, ask questions, and READ as much as you can.

 

oh yea.. be patient... it's easy to get frustrated, but when you half ass something.. it really shows lol

 

take a mechanics course at your local community college, i do its once a week from 5-9

 

fuck all that.... this is what you need to do.

go buy a import tuner magazine along with a small box of dora the explorer band aids.

buy a 120 piece craftsman socket set.

search through import tuner for best deal on some garbage for your unique whip.

order your first cold air intake and pacesetter header (dc is fine too).

break 20% of all the rusted and siezed bolts that hold your car together.

get most of the bolts back in.

wash your hands (and ass if you want).

put a band aid over those chunks skin your knuckles are missing (hint: using the correct socket greatly reduces this).

your done.

now its time for your friends car.

this is how probably 99% of the people started tearing up their first car. you are most certainly no different.

the only one thats gonna make you a good mechanic is you. and you wont do shit unless YOU try. good

luck have fun


BTW didnt your dad teach you anything?