How did you learn about cars?
its probobly been said, but reading and experience, especially the latter. you wont learn anything taking it to a shop, just get under your car and figure it out your self, an fsm helps alot too. my high school has an auto shop and my teacher was a dealer tech for 10 years. oh yeah, im 16 tooif youve got any questions, feel free to hit me up on aim
oh yeah, and this is gonna sound really weird...but one day I realized there is no magic.if that makes sense. Everyone thinks that a car's engine is a sealed component. don't beleive me? talk to a girl. "what happened?" "oh, the engine blew." "what part?" "the engine."I didn't know much about cars, and I just thought there was some magic involved. bolting on a turbo? jesus I didn't have any clue what you would have to do to make that work. But I read a lot, and started taking things apart... and I realized I could put them back together, and even fix them in between!so yeah, there is no magic. Everything in a car is mechanical or electrical. I understood electricity since I was a child... my father is an industrial electrician and I used to read lots of his books. I'm still working on the mechanical aspects.
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StrangeLove
- Posts: 2502
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:35 am
- Car: 1995 Nissan 240sx
The best way to build a basic knowledge base is http://www.howstuffworks.com
READ READ READ READ READ
However, there is a draw back... once you know about cars don't even try to talk to someone that is clueless about them...
READ READ READ READ READ
However, there is a draw back... once you know about cars don't even try to talk to someone that is clueless about them...
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[Zero-S]
- Posts: 5295
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:56 am
- Car: Tell me whats wrong with this picture. 3 240's, only one runs.
Yes...they're like crank what...?
Tricks:Cuss, a whole lot. Apparently older cars like being called *****.Breaker bars are your friends. Use them.Gear wrenches are absolutely necessary on some parts of the 240 if you don't want to take everything around that one specific part off.Don't pressure wash rust....
Tricks:Cuss, a whole lot. Apparently older cars like being called *****.Breaker bars are your friends. Use them.Gear wrenches are absolutely necessary on some parts of the 240 if you don't want to take everything around that one specific part off.Don't pressure wash rust....
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NoStickers
- Posts: 840
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:00 pm
- Car: 1991 240sx w/ sr (RIP)
1989 240sx w/ ka
1996 240sx donor car (coming soon) - Location: Ft. Bragg
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nametakennow
- Posts: 10024
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 4:14 pm
- Car: '06 MINI Cooper S
pills wrote:However, there is a draw back... once you know about cars don't even try to talk to someone that is clueless about them...
Very true. I wouldn't say I know much about cars, but I talk to most of my friends and they say, for instance (in reference to my current mod dilemma) "whichever one is cheaper." Wow... and that's a lesson in and of itself. Cheaper is not better. Cheaper is often more likely to break. In other words, if you're going to get the part, get the right part the first time.
nametakennow wrote:"whichever one is cheaper." Wow... and that's a lesson in and of itself. Cheaper is not better. Cheaper is often more likely to break. In other words, if you're going to get the part, get the right part the first time.
True but....!
Don't get caught up in brand names. Many parts you can fab yourself that are equal to an expensive brand (i.e. cat back or downpipe).
I also hate talking to people about cars. There was this one kid in school that would talk to me about cars, he called a skyline a skyliner on a daily basis. He was also surprised when he found out that they "only" have 280hp because he thought his automatic 4cyl Accord had 220 with his intake, cat-back and other misc. things like $200 plug wires. The kid told me it would be awesome when he gets lowering springs because then he would just have to turn the steering wheel a little and the car would swerve hard (like the springs would quicken his steering ratio or something, lol).
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EZcheese15
- Moderator
- Posts: 6518
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2002 12:40 pm
- Car: 2012 Juke SV
2011 Titan Pro-4X
2007 BMW 328i - Location: St. Charles, IL
- Contact:
I got lucky...
My dad worked for Ford when I was born. When I was 2 yrs old, he took a job for Nissan as a District Service Manager.
When I was 10 yrs old, he took another job within Nissan, as a Regional Training Instructor. He did that till I graduated High School. So, I kinda had 15 years of Nissan knowledge before I even began to wrench. I knew stupid crazy stuff, like the OEM security code for a 3rd generation Maxima is Start 5523. Like a 1990 Z32 is the only year that did not offer a factory CD player. Stupid stuff I tell ya.
But after High School, I decided to go for a B.S. in Automotive Engineering. I learned a ton at college. But like everyone says, the tricks is read, read, read, wrench, wrench, wrench.
A list of mandatory tools that everyone should have:
Good floor jack (so you can use the handle as a breaker bar, and it's not a pain in the *** to release pressure)HammerZip TiesPB Blaster (to the person that said Mopar Rust penetrant is better....you obviously have never used PB blaster...I've used both, and PB wins hands down)wrenches10 of the following: 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets (you will loose these regularly)
And also, buy an FSM. I don't care what kind of car you have, buy the FSM. Not chiltons, not haynes, the FSM.
And finally, don't be afraid to take something apart. Take your time, do stuff right. Don't take your car to a mechanic, no matter what. No matter what it is, you will figure it out....eventually. And in the process you will learn more than your mechanic knows about it.
The first time I did a clutch job on my 200SX, I thought I'd never have the car running again, just because it was so far dissassembeled. Now days, if someone says "lets swap the head real quick," I'm like "ok, lets do it quick before it gets dark."
My dad worked for Ford when I was born. When I was 2 yrs old, he took a job for Nissan as a District Service Manager.
When I was 10 yrs old, he took another job within Nissan, as a Regional Training Instructor. He did that till I graduated High School. So, I kinda had 15 years of Nissan knowledge before I even began to wrench. I knew stupid crazy stuff, like the OEM security code for a 3rd generation Maxima is Start 5523. Like a 1990 Z32 is the only year that did not offer a factory CD player. Stupid stuff I tell ya.
But after High School, I decided to go for a B.S. in Automotive Engineering. I learned a ton at college. But like everyone says, the tricks is read, read, read, wrench, wrench, wrench.
A list of mandatory tools that everyone should have:
Good floor jack (so you can use the handle as a breaker bar, and it's not a pain in the *** to release pressure)HammerZip TiesPB Blaster (to the person that said Mopar Rust penetrant is better....you obviously have never used PB blaster...I've used both, and PB wins hands down)wrenches10 of the following: 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets (you will loose these regularly)
And also, buy an FSM. I don't care what kind of car you have, buy the FSM. Not chiltons, not haynes, the FSM.
And finally, don't be afraid to take something apart. Take your time, do stuff right. Don't take your car to a mechanic, no matter what. No matter what it is, you will figure it out....eventually. And in the process you will learn more than your mechanic knows about it.
The first time I did a clutch job on my 200SX, I thought I'd never have the car running again, just because it was so far dissassembeled. Now days, if someone says "lets swap the head real quick," I'm like "ok, lets do it quick before it gets dark."
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Maverick7687
- Posts: 1957
- Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2004 6:43 pm
- Car: Sagemist(FSO) 1998 Maxima SE & Charcoal Metallic(KG2) 1993 240sx & My newly aquired Pearl White 1990
- Contact:
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EZcheese15
- Moderator
- Posts: 6518
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2002 12:40 pm
- Car: 2012 Juke SV
2011 Titan Pro-4X
2007 BMW 328i - Location: St. Charles, IL
- Contact:
Get one at the dealer. Some older cars have some aftermarket companies that sell backstock of old FSM's.
As for being on the internet...some FSM's are out there, but they are illegal because of copyright, so they are not heavily advertised. They are expensive, but it will be the best reading material you will ever buy.
I remember one time somebody asked on a mailing list the best mods to get for starting out....they had like $1000. Somebody replied:
An FSMToolsToolsToolsSubscriptions to Sport Compact Car, Grassroots Motorsports, etc.
As for being on the internet...some FSM's are out there, but they are illegal because of copyright, so they are not heavily advertised. They are expensive, but it will be the best reading material you will ever buy.
I remember one time somebody asked on a mailing list the best mods to get for starting out....they had like $1000. Somebody replied:
An FSMToolsToolsToolsSubscriptions to Sport Compact Car, Grassroots Motorsports, etc.
I never was really taught, taking my car and paying someone to fix it was just not an option. It was cheaper for me to buy the parts and a $9 haynes manual decent enough to show me how to do it. You just can't be afraid to work on your car...I think thats why alot of people don't work on them theirselves. Get over the fear...go get your hands dirty ( I hate getting my hands dirty, but once that first drop or smear of grease is on me...watch out cuz i'm going to town). I replaced so much stuff on a past prelude, I could do the CV axles in the dark. I replaced the transmission overnight just so I could go to work the next day. I never had a desire to mess with carbs or the engine guts though, luckily I never had to. Anyway, when something breaks fix it yourself......eventually you will get more comfortable with your car and be replacing transmissions, clutches, and who knows what else.
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nametakennow
- Posts: 10024
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 4:14 pm
- Car: '06 MINI Cooper S
Hmm... FSM probably a good idea for a project car on that list. Tools are a must. I finally got my own pretty simple 128pc set for Christmas (spent my Christmas money on TOOLS! it was a weird feeling, but a cool one). I'm quite happy to have them now. yee!
SCC has some of the best articles I've ever read, car related or not, definitely my pick for magazine one ought to get.
SCC has some of the best articles I've ever read, car related or not, definitely my pick for magazine one ought to get.