how much do i need to learn?

[mrsparkle]

So I am just a poor college student who recently bought a car I fell in love with but I don't know the first thing about cars other than some really basic knowledge. My question is how long and how did you all learn all that oh know? I would love to contribute to the threads but I can barely keep up with what everyone is talking about

[BPanda]

I always worked with people who really knew what they were doing. Don't just watch them, work with them. Slowly over the years I learned a lot about my last car, could take apart the entire thing front to back, except for the engine. Working on your own car with someone who knows what they're doing looking over your shoulder is the best way to do anything I think, as long as you have that friend...

[teflon_jones]

Learning is almost an infinite process. There's always something you won't know, and there's always somebody that will know more about certain things than you.

The best way to learn about cars is to wrench on them yourself instead of paying somebody to do it. The other thing to do is just read, read, and read all you can find. The sticky threads on this forum are a great place to start.

[MainFrame]

Hang out at good performance shops, read (a lot), ask questions (don't be afraid to go straight to the source), work on your car.. break stuff (might seem odd, but it's always a lesson).

[SD_GR]

Go to the public library. Find a repair manual for a popular car of little value and over a decade old. Read on how to remove a cylinder head. Twice. Go to a junk yard. Pay the $2 to enter, and find that car. Remove the head and buy it (fair is fair, you're paying to learn). Presto.

[wrxtreme06]

Unabomber's Manifesto - NASIOC

this thread taught me a lot when i was first learning. i also read and read and read through threads on here.

[Amaterasu]

It depends. I took a few automotive classes before. I learned nothing from the teacher lecturing, but learned when I actually tried to do something. I will always hate timing belts though... One important thing I remember is to keep all the parts you remove, such as the bolts, pistons, rings, etc., in one place or a zip-lock bag and label it. Definitely get some hands on experience and don't be afraid to ask questions. I would never ask a question because I always thought it was a stupid. I realized later that it didn't make a difference because that teacher thought all teenagers were idiots that had no respect for anyone else's property. Lol.

[Sworks]

Personally I have owned a lot of crappy cars, was young and broke, so if your going to get it running again, I guess its sink or swim. Really its not rocket science. Lots of F bombs and bloody knuckles and you'll be surprised as to what your capable of doing.

[BPanda]

Personally I have owned a lot of crappy cars, was young and broke, so if your going to get it running again, I guess its sink or swim. Really its not rocket science. Lots of F bombs and bloody knuckles and you'll be surprised as to what your capable of doing.

Lol, yeah, I forgot, get band-aids, lots of em