How to learn to work on cars?
Discussion
Hello,
I recently passed my driving test and have been enjoying driving immensely, however it has also made me realise that although I know quite a bit about cars I know next to nothing about how to fix them. I was wondering what would be the cheapest method of learning to repair cars as a sort of personal hobby in my spare time? I am not looking to do anything crazy (yet
... ), and I'd rather not practice on my own car until I'm confident but was thinking along the lines of changing spark plugs, refurbing wheels, oil changes etc and progressing from there. My initial idea was to buy the cheapest running car I could find ( doesn't need to be road worthy) and just buying a haynes manual and utilising youtube and just leaving it in my garage and fiddling about with it. Any ideas would be appreciated, especially cheap ones!
Thanks.
I recently passed my driving test and have been enjoying driving immensely, however it has also made me realise that although I know quite a bit about cars I know next to nothing about how to fix them. I was wondering what would be the cheapest method of learning to repair cars as a sort of personal hobby in my spare time? I am not looking to do anything crazy (yet
... ), and I'd rather not practice on my own car until I'm confident but was thinking along the lines of changing spark plugs, refurbing wheels, oil changes etc and progressing from there. My initial idea was to buy the cheapest running car I could find ( doesn't need to be road worthy) and just buying a haynes manual and utilising youtube and just leaving it in my garage and fiddling about with it. Any ideas would be appreciated, especially cheap ones!Thanks.
RizzoTheRat said:
Definitely this, a pair of wheel ramps don't cost a fortune and can be useful too.
I know it doesn't appeal to everyone, but another option is to start with a motorbike rather than a car. A lot of the principals are the same, but the components are a lot lighter, on a lot of small bikes you can lift the engine by hand for example.
Wheel ramps look a lot sturdier than a jack, thanks!I know it doesn't appeal to everyone, but another option is to start with a motorbike rather than a car. A lot of the principals are the same, but the components are a lot lighter, on a lot of small bikes you can lift the engine by hand for example.
Asterix said:
While I was mostly joking about the Army etc... when I did the VM trade course, yes it was working on cool stuff sometimes, but the fundamentals were always the same. What saves time, and usually money, is becoming very good at mechanical and electrical diagnostics, and I don't mean plugging a car into a machine as 'fitters' in garages nowadays do.
Also, fabrication was another vital skill we were trained and later put into practice. Obviously in certain situations we'd have to come up with the Mother of all bodges to get a vehicle working again as lives could depend on it, but it made you focus and you became very good at engineering your way out of problems rather than just sat there saying 'the part hasn't arrived yet, Boss'.
I think that's where the Night School suggestion might help if they cover that sort of thing.
I should have a lot of time to kill in the coming months so I think I'm going to start looking for some courses, see if any decent ones are available nearby.Also, fabrication was another vital skill we were trained and later put into practice. Obviously in certain situations we'd have to come up with the Mother of all bodges to get a vehicle working again as lives could depend on it, but it made you focus and you became very good at engineering your way out of problems rather than just sat there saying 'the part hasn't arrived yet, Boss'.
I think that's where the Night School suggestion might help if they cover that sort of thing.
Sump said:
6 years ago at the ripe age of 18 I couldn't change some brake pads.
A couple of months ago I did the bottom end bearings on the M5.
Everything I learnt was from youtube videos and hands on work on my own cars. Some expensive mistakes but just remember, if it came apart it will go back together. Usually if you have a knack for this type of thing, your brain automatically leaves breadcrumbs on putting everything back together. Also forums a huge amounts of help, chances are whatever you're doing someone has done already and remember to give back to the community with your own DIYs
My tool box when I was 20 ish:
My man cave now :
A couple of months ago I did the bottom end bearings on the M5.
Everything I learnt was from youtube videos and hands on work on my own cars. Some expensive mistakes but just remember, if it came apart it will go back together. Usually if you have a knack for this type of thing, your brain automatically leaves breadcrumbs on putting everything back together. Also forums a huge amounts of help, chances are whatever you're doing someone has done already and remember to give back to the community with your own DIYs
My tool box when I was 20 ish:
My man cave now :
well that is quite an improvement
I have a large garage space which can be used but being 17 I have barely any money ( thank you insurance 
) Hopefully with some patience and a lot of practice Ill be able to start doing the more challenging stuff eventuallyNezquick said:
I started off at 17 just simply by buying an old Mini (not a BMW one). It cost me a few hundred quid and I went from there. By the end of it, a few years later, I'd basically rebuilt it from the ground up.
I actually went down to my local Mini garage and asked if I could work there on Saturdays. I got paid next to nothing but I learnt absolutely loads and got all my parts cheap, as well as having a great laugh!
hrmm I never thought about trying to get a part time job in a garage. Even if it doesn't pay well (or at all) that would be a good way to start to learn the basicsI actually went down to my local Mini garage and asked if I could work there on Saturdays. I got paid next to nothing but I learnt absolutely loads and got all my parts cheap, as well as having a great laugh!
robinessex said:
Build a kit car. Then you'll have something nice at the end to drive. Pick a simple one that just need painting, and bolting together, u can do it easily in your garage then. Buy a cheap engine of e-bay, strip and rebuld it.
I think I'll eventually get to a kit car but I just don't have the money at the moment.Edited by robinessex on Tuesday 21st April 10:17
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