Auto Repair Class

[blazer1]

I'm not sure where to post this question.


I want to learn some basic auto repair so I don't always have to call the mechanic. I live in the Tulsa area and other than a full 9 month course at the community college, I cannot find a class to teach these basics on auto repair and maintenance.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I may go about a class once a week (like a language class) or something? Would a shop even offer such classes?

 

[Dr_Goodwrench66]

Are you lacking basic knowledge? What about getting some ASE study guides? They have ALOT of info in them. But it requires LOTS of reading.

 

[bentwrench54]

blazer: the local adult training facility (vocational school) near me does offer the individual courses seperate from the full tech program.

http://www.flipseekpubs.com/publication/?i=67831

here's my local school's online catalog. you might be better served picking up the haynes manuals from your local parts store, or do you have any buddies that mess around with cars?

 

[bazzateer]

How about offering yourself as a non-paid 'apprentice' at your local workshop. Clean up etc in return for being able to watch and learn from the mechanics?

 

[RPH]

Unpaid = liability in today's world. Adult ed program is the best bet.

 

[dtt454]

if your talking basic stuff, changing parts and what not, just get a manual and some tools and go at it. if you feel like you dont know what your doing there is likely some specific forums for your vehicle.

better yet get a factory service manual, it has detailed instructions on how to take things apart/put them together, and how systems work. much more info than a haynes or a chilton.

you can also take some online classes for specific things. like brakes for example, napa used to offer them online, i dont know if they still do, but i know there is a number of other places that offer them online.

i guess the bigger question is how much do you want to know?

 

[dtt454]

oh and one more thing, i wouldnt make a habit of taking repair advice from auto parts store personnell, sometimes they are right, but in my experience more often than not they are wrong, if they were mechanics they wouldnt be working as a partsman.

but a local course is nice because you can ask questions if you have something avalible locally and have the time to invest.

 

[justanengineer]

I would receommend visiting the local library and finding some old auto tech textbooks. The first thing you need to do is learn the basics of how each system works. Dont worry about how specific parts work, just what each part does within the system. This is what you fall back upon when beginning troubleshooting. After learning how the overall system works, then start looking at as many different vehicles as possible and try simply recognizing/finding each part within each system. Simultaneously, spend some time turning wrenches and learning how each part works internally.

If you want to be successful, reading is always a good thing.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Tulsa Tech has an auto repair class this summer, every Tuesday night from 6 to 10pm. It runs from 5/31 to 8/2. If you call right away on Tuesday you may still be able to sign up. http://www.tulsatech.edu/Documents/SummerShortTermCatalog.pdf look at page 37.

 

[blazer1]

Tulsa Tech has an auto repair class this summer, every Tuesday night from 6 to 10pm. It runs from 5/31 to 8/2. If you call right away on Tuesday you may still be able to sign up. http://www.tulsatech.edu/Documents/SummerShortTermCatalog.pdf look at page 37.

Thanks Stuart! I appreciate it. I looked at their website a few days ago but missed the summer classes or short term class.

Thanks everyone for your help. I will also look into a manaul for both my truck and the wife's car.

 

[ovilla]

Don't forget the internet. There is a TON of sites for almost any make and model car that you drive with lots of enthusiasts that like to wrench on their own cars. The search function within these forums is truly your friend as you will learn a lot from everyones questions. I also recommend the How To books at places like Auto Zone and Advance Auto Parts. Right next to the Haynes manuals, you'll find a very nice selection of books on specific topics like electrical, paint and body, AC, Brakes, etc.. Best of Luck!

 

[walperstyle]

Get on Youtube.com . Ask questions. Use Keywords. "how to replace balljoint" etc.

Here is some dudes I bookmarked: http://www.youtube.com/user/1aauto
(click on the videos on the side, aka everything they uploaded)

Also, get a Factory service manual for your car. If you have a common car, you can find it by searching car clubs on the internet. For Example. I own a nissan 240sx, and I found www.240sxtechdvds.org whom has every FSM and a bunch of Tech DVD's that help me with my baby. Good stuff out there.

The internet isnt only a **** machine.

 

[weegaz22]

Learn yourself...buy a cheap wrecker car and a workshop manual and pull it apart and put it all back together again.

Thats the way i learned, which was good enough to help me blag my way into qualified car and hgv mechanic and fitter jobs which i did for years.

Also having a passion for it helps A LOT.

 

[Robbo]

if your talking basic stuff, changing parts and what not, just get a manual and some tools and go at it. if you feel like you dont know what your doing there is likely some specific forums for your vehicle.

better yet get a factory service manual, it has detailed instructions on how to take things apart/put them together, and how systems work. much more info than a haynes or a chilton.

you can also take some online classes for specific things. like brakes for example, napa used to offer them online, i dont know if they still do, but i know there is a number of other places that offer them online.

i guess the bigger question is how much do you want to know?

I second these two things. If you're just getting started the forum idea is a good one. If you can find a quality forum for your car (easier to find a high quality forum with niche cars...but there seem to be more and more all the time, even for fairly plain cars). That will build your confidence as you can search the problems you face with your car and usually can find a step by step write up for the stuff that's really common to the model. After you do a few of them you'll start to realize it's not as "scary" (or insert proper adjective here... "mysterious" maybe) as it seemed and you'll realize that if you take your time and do things in a logical manner and don't wrench while you're half paying attention that there's a TON of stuff you can do that's pretty straightforward....

Also second the shop manual suggestion. They can be expensive, but you'll likely recoup the cost of it in what you would've paid in labor after 1 or two things you do. Then you have it for the rest of the time you own the car. Everything is laid out specific to your car, removal/replacement, wiring diagrams, all that stuff... after I broke down and bought the first one, I made it a habit to take enough out of my "car shopping" budget to buy one whenever I purchase a new (to me) car.

Rob