How did you learn to work on cars?
 

As I have been reading the various sections of this forum, I began to wonder how those of you who work on your cars learned. I do very little in the way of "wrenching," but have been thinking about trying to learn.

How did you learn? How old were you when you began? Etc?

In 1972, a few months before my 16th birthday, I paid either $600 or $800 (I can't remember) for a 1962 MGA. It was worth $250 tops. Needless to say, it needed some work from time to time. I was fortunate to live next door to the best mechanic I've ever met, a Brit who raced sports cars in the 50s and 60s. I learned tons hanging out in his garage.

i dont know really.. i did alot of interior work and dash removal on my last car so ive got that down pat and the engine stuff.. let me figure what is broken and needs to be replaced and i can usually replace it. usually

To begin with, never having the money to pay someone else to do it. As time progressed paying someone else to do it and not being pleased with the work; with unexpected bouts of being unable to pay for it sprinkled here and there.

I should add that Grandad was a Rolls and Buick mechanic on the Estate where he worked back in the old country. So there must be some genetic aptitude.

I was 23
 

I was 23, which was the year I learned how to drive. 'Struth. My parents were older than old-school, and had the notion I didn't need to learn how, since I had no car. (I fired back, "Then I don't need to know how to balance a checkbook, since I have no bank account." As usual when they had no good answer, they changed the subject.)

My fiancee, later first wife, taught me to drive. She inherited a little insurance money, and bought a new 1975 Ford Maverick 4-door. (Just $4000 new in those days, folks.) The deal was, we'd both drive it, and I'd learn how to take care of it. Which suited me right down to the ground. I learned from books and from friends how to change oil, coolant, flats, and filters, top off fluids, change spark plugs and upper radiator hoses, and keep the tires properly aired up.

The Maverick was a simple car by today's standards, but it proved a good learning experience. And after years of waiting in the heat and cold for buses, or cadging rides from ever-more-reluctant friends, I was glad to have *any* car, let alone a new one! I was determined to make it last!
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I did basically the same, except it was an '83 mercedes; and I have this forum to help.

For the past three years I've had a machine shop class (which was three hours a day, for an entire school year) which got me my current job, as a machinist for a company that does StainlessSteel exaust tubes (for Toyta, mainly) Pay is great (esp. when nearly all my classmates are working at fastfood joint..) and the experience I get there is invaluable. I dont just limit myself to machining; I do everything in the shop (Including, but not limited to: Hydrolics, Welding, Tool & Die making (and some designing) LOTS of High and Low current electrical, etc...)

sounds like me cept my benz was 2500$ and i overpaid by 1000$.. but alas no guy named klause next door that worked in the factory during the W123 period.. although my neighbor did own a 240D while in germany when in the army

I feel your pain man.


I new I soulda talked him down a LOT more.

Working on cars is like flying...your gonna crash and burn a few times.
I started back in the 50's helpng dad decoke his 650 BSA, then his 1949 Vauxall 12, then his '56 Humber and then his '59 Austin A40.

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Damn, D. You just shattered my 38ish image of you:D

I built my own go cart when I was about 14. I had a couple of field cars and my first road car was a 62 Buick Special which needed a motor mount when I purchased it for $100. No money to pay anyone so I did it myself. Then in 1968 (9?) I purchased an MG Midget with a bad clutch and a tooth out of first gear. Had to pull the engine to get at the clutch and tranny but I was working at a Chevy dealership as a car washer/gofer and they let me use the shop. All downhill from there. Lots of real mechanics taught me a lot over the years.

wheres the canoe thing from :silly:

Did a 3 week long canoe trip in Algonquin Park in 1977. It was a religious experience. Pleasure for pleasure, a paddle beats a reciprocating engine anyday.

There was no other choice. Got my drivers license in 1961. Two of my 4 buddy circle were mechanical, the other two were not. None of us could afford to pay to have our cars repaired. So you just learned from manuals and trial and error.

Car's were simpler back then. You have plugs, points, timing, carburetors, no emission stuff, and no power windows etc. No computers. We always figured it out. This included a couple of engine rebuild projects.

I could take the overdrive transmission out of my '56 Ford, re-place the blown synchros, and put it back in one evening. Nobody taught me how to do it. I just crawled under there and figured it out. If you do something often enough it you get good at it.

I took many years off the working on cars thing. Company cars, and no time to mess with the other ones.

Now it's only the MB's that generate any interest on my part. It gets me away from the mental stresses of running my own business. I pay to have the little Tacoma truck, and the 2001 Chrysler mini-van serviced and repaired because I have absolutely no interest in them.

I believe that learning to repair cars is like everything else in life. If have the ability to stick to a target, then you will succeed. You don't necessarily need to become an ace mechanic or tackle every task to enjoy the satisfaction and security of knowing that it was actually done and done correctly.

Finally, the internet with things like forums, pictorials, etc. make things a lot easier to figure out.

Steve

Helped a buddy change a timing chain on a 63' Bonneville when I was about 20.

Then it was just an alternator here and there for the next decade+... diddn't drive much.

Then I got the Benz and found Mercedesshop.

Who wants to wrench on a rusted toyota?... working on the Mercedes is a pleasure and a satisfaction.

Almost everything I learned was from reading and turnning the 'wrench', there is no classroom like trial and error... but the 'Tech' section on this site and the factory manual can get you to the right point of attack.