Working on cars

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

Just a quick post to see how most people on here have learnt all they know about working on cars? I know theres a few that are properly trained as mechanics but what about the rest?

I don't know all that much TBH, but what I do know has just been learnt off of forums like this and pissing about with the car - never really been shown how to do anything, as you might guess, lol. I've always been interested in cars but not really had anyone to teach me about engines etc as my old man knows jack shit about cars. I've got uncles who are mechanics, but they live quite far away from me so apart from occasionaly helping them when on holiday I never did much as a young un.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

I learned the hard way and had to fix my mums car when it broke down then started to help neighbours etc. Its all common sense and any logical person would understand how it all works fairly quickly.

Also working on cars is a terrible job for mugs, thats why i do it.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

I learnt the basics from my dad when he was doing work on carb'd cars. The EFI stuff ive pretty much taught myself, all the suspension set ups i learnt on my apprenticeship(about all i learnt tbh) all the stuff i know about the valvers is either from experience or chris.

I enjoy working on cars, especially the valvers.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

Chris - oh right, I'd presummed you had probably worked in a garage at some point but from what you have said I guess not. Have you ever thought of setting up your own garage, as I can't imagine you working for someone else, lol?

Dan - yeah I like working on cars, don't know why particularly as I tend to get pissed off as I bugger things up. Gives you a sense of satisfaction when you finish it though.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

best thing you can do is just give it a go. Get a haynes manual and start doing some work on the car. Along with help from ppl on the forums, you will get into no problem.

Site Subscriber Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 1575

taught myself by building my own car its the only way......lol Very Happy

oh and a haynes manual....lol Very Happy

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

JB";p="95697 wrote:

best thing you can do is just give it a go. Get a haynes manual and start doing some work on the car. Along with help from ppl on the forums, you will get into no problem.

Yep, it's like anything else - you learn by doing. If you don't know how to do something, just get on and do it and by the time you've finished, you will know. A car is just a collection of metal and plastic bits held together by a load of bolts, no black magic involved.

I also strangely enjoy working on cars... god knows why, as I invariably end up wanting to smash something each time I do a job and have it fight me from start to finish. I think if I was doing it for a living it would get to me though.

Even if I had loads of money and could pay someone else to work on my car, I'd still do it myself. Might just be a macho thing but I HATE getting other people to do things for me when I could do it -or learn to do it- myself.

Level 8 User Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 315

Neal";p="95699 wrote:

Even if I had loads of money and could pay someone else to work on my car, I'd still do it myself. Might just be a macho thing but I HATE getting other people to do things for me when I could do it -or learn to do it- myself.

Likewise, I hate paying to get something done when I could do it myself.

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:15 am

Went to South East Essex College of Arts and Tech to learn Mechanics, only problem was the proximity of the pubs so learnt some......
Used to work on Fords, XR's, Turbos, Cossies the like, then quit it all for a warm cozy indoor jobbie, still keep my hand in, but have many Mechanic mates with ramps and all the equipment and a couple who always seem to be owing me favours which is a bonus!

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

The only way i know a job on my car will be done properly is if i do it myself so even thou i can afford to take the 19 down to renault and say, change the cambelt mate, i'd rather do it myself and know its been done correctly and also have the satisfaction of driving a car that I have put blood (got to be at least several pints worth over the years lol) and sweat into.

It is that point mainly, the satisfaction of not having the damn thing beat me althou like Neal i have been tempted to take a lump hammer to it and demolish it.

i've learnt a lot of stuff myself, had to really having owned vauxhalls and fords for the majority of my driving life and the 19 is not that much different, the basic principles are the same on all cars, however, forums like this are a god send, spesh when you have ppl like neal, chet, JB, stan & chris h who have tackled almost every job done on a 19 to consult when you get stuck Smile

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

All I know has been learnt from either doing it or taking it in from here and other forums. Having a shed which is basically a large tool-box and a dad & step dad as mechanics of god knows how long helps enormously because if im stuck theres always one of them on hand to help and teach.

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Working on cars is something I just can't do for the life of me! Although that's not to say there aren't some things I can't do.....

Sometimes I just plough straight into a job convinced I have it in me to do it but 70% of the time the job is finished by me' old man - highly frustrating!

I think a large part of is because I depend on my car and also because I love it so much (yes I love my 19) so I hate working on it due to the fact that I wont be able to do the job properly or make it worse than it was before!

Site Subscriber Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 207

Big spanner, little spanner Smile

Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 4

donsrno1";p="95672 wrote:

Just a quick post to see how most people on here have learnt all they know about working on cars? I know theres a few that are properly trained as mechanics but what about the rest?

I don't know all that much TBH, but what I do know has just been learnt off of forums like this and pissing about with the car - never really been shown how to do anything, as you might guess, lol. I've always been interested in cars but not really had anyone to teach me about engines etc as my old man knows jack shit about cars. I've got uncles who are mechanics, but they live quite far away from me so apart from occasionaly helping them when on holiday I never did much as a young un.

im the same m8...

dont really kno 2 much but the stuff i do kno iv learnt through forums like this, my m8s, the haynes manual and just gettin stuck in and having a go!