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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / May 2007In need of advice
I can be kinda dumb when it comes to cars, but I've always wanted to learn about them. I don't want to become a mechanic but I want to be able to take care of the "simple" stuff that I should know. Now I bought a "Car repair for dummies" book like a year ago, read like 200 pages out of 400-500 pages and losing interest. First of all theres alot of details that I don't think I need to know in depth, and second of all, the book is pretty old so it doesn't really cover new cars. To get to the point, anyone knows a good book/reference for begeiners I could get to learn that type of stuff? I guess that asking someone would probly be easier, but I want to learn a little before making a fool out of myself...heh.. Thanks Mike mikeleblanc19@gmail.com wrote in news:1178755124.115868.28690 @o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com: > I can be kinda dumb when it comes to cars, but I've always wanted to > learn about them. I don't want to become a mechanic but I want to be > able to take care of the "simple" stuff that I should know. Now I > bought a "Car repair for dummies" book like a year ago, read like 200 > pages out of 400-500 pages and losing interest. Bad sign. If you don't find the boring stuff utterly fascinating, you're probably not cut out to fix cars, even as an amateur. That's no insult; not everybody is good at everything. > First of all theres > alot of details that I don't think I need to know in depth, and second > of all, the book is pretty old so it doesn't really cover new cars. There is a tremendous amount that's common between "old" and "new". You have to learn as much as you can. > To get to the point, anyone knows a good book/reference for begeiners > I could get to learn that type of stuff? www.google.com www.howstuffworks.com is good. Your local library will have an automotive section. > I guess that asking someone > would probly be easier, but I want to learn a little before making a > fool out of myself...heh.. Or worse, expensively botching a repair. Mess up on brakes, for instance, and you crash into somebody. Mess up an oil change and you pooch an $8,000 engine.  SignatureTegger >I can be kinda dumb when it comes to cars, but I've always wanted to >learn about them. I don't want to become a mechanic but I want to be [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >alot of details that I don't think I need to know in depth, and second >of all, the book is pretty old so it doesn't really cover new cars. Don't learn to fix new cars. Learn to fix old cars. THEN once you understand the basic processed, try working on new cars. For the most part, older cars were designed with maintenance in mind. >To get to the point, anyone knows a good book/reference for begeiners >I could get to learn that type of stuff? I guess that asking someone >would probly be easier, but I want to learn a little before making a >fool out of myself...heh.. Buy a VW Beetle and then get How To Repair Your VW Beetle. The book is magnificent and a great introduction to how cars work and how to keep them working. And the Beetle is a fun and easy car to work on. --scott Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." Thanks for the feedback guys, first of all, I might've not expressed myself correctly, but I just feel that for begeiners, I don't think I need to learn everything in depth. Now that you mention it, sounds like I should learn older cars then move to the more complex newer cars. I won't be buying a beatle.. heh.. would I be able to buy the book seperatly? I agree with, some stuff aren't for certain peoples.. but I actually think that I can learn this.. I love to be able to have a problem with my car and fix it myself..feels good. I'm not THAT clueless with cars, I would just like to learn more of "if this happens"..then check this..or that.. Anywyas still up for suggestions for books.. Mike mikeleblanc19@gmail.com wrote in news:1178759363.132877.269140 @w5g2000hsg.googlegroups.com: > Anywyas still up for suggestions for books.. I already told you: your local public library. Public libraries often have excellent automotive books for beginners. That's where I got my start, lo these many years ago. No Internet back then. SignatureTegger do what i did: memorize and understand as much as you can of your chilton or hayne's manual from front to back. also a thorough read of your factory service manual can help. but homes was right, you need to be really interested in stupid sh.t like bolt strength ratings and spark retard to really start to just know where to look when something breaks. Signaturemr_mushroom http://www.automotiveforums.com Go to some auto parts stoes.Buy a couple of books that pertain to your particular year make and model of vehicle(s).Mostly,those books aren't all that accurate,but you will have something to read that sort of kind of pertains to your vehicle(s) Libraries,,,, some are better than others.If there is a big,big Library where you live,go there and check out some books.Book stores too cuhulin > I can be kinda dumb when it comes to cars, but I've always wanted to > learn about them. I don't want to become a mechanic but I want to be [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > alot of details that I don't think I need to know in depth, and second > of all, the book is pretty old so it doesn't really cover new cars. I have bought, in the past, the Goodheart Wilcox Automotive Encyclopedia. This book has some theory, lots of good picures, etc and is excellent for a beginner, I think. I would assume they have updated this book many times, but have not checked to see if they are still publishing new editions. It was not very expensive, but is chock full of info. You can work on your own vehicle(s).Don't be scared to get your knuckles scraped and dirty.Get some books,read up,and dig in. cuhulin |
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