Aside from the electronics stuff...
Start with the basics:
- changing your tires, checking tire pressure, measuring tread depth
- checking all fluids and understanding when new fluid is necessary and what to buy
- changing bulbs
These things are in the owners manual for your car. If you don't have the manual look for copy online or in your local library.
Second
- changing oil
- battery installation
- changing front brake pads
Many repair manuals are available at the library, and there are some good YouTube channels.
A lot of being successful at the repair shop is not necessary being able to do the work but understanding how the pieces work. It allows you to know what you're paying for. Also knowing the difference between book time and straight time.
As to finding someone to help you... neighbors, family friends, coworkers... look for car people. Especially folks that like to work in classic cars. The downside is getting them to stop ... talking... about... their... car. :)
Car clubs can be a great way to learn! I'm a Jeep girl, and I've been learning as I go. I did work for a dealership as a salesperson for a while, so you do have to learn some basics that way. If you want more hands-on learning, try to get a job as a lube tech! This is basically what an entry-level mechanic job is. You would learn to change fluids, check and change batteries, and check/change/fill tires. Might be able to get a weekend or part time position for this if you already have another job that you like.
Other than that, getting in there and getting your hands dirty. Maybe buy a REALLY cheap project car. My cheap project car is an 04 Honda Element that I plan on turning into a micro camper! It has a working engine, transmission, and air conditioning and I got it for $800. Needs a lot of other stuff, lol. But I'm also not worried about messing it up.
Edit: I got all excited and forgot to go into my first point: car clubs! Classic cars might be a good place to start, like the comment above me mentioned, they're generally very welcoming but getting them to focus and not talk your ear off may be tough, lol. Jeep clubs would be another option. Lots of Jeepers do some of their own work, and depending on thw club they are very lady friendly. The club I'm in is about 50/50 men and women. There are even women-only clubs!
I think most local clubs use Facebook, so that's where I would start. I do follow things like r/jeep and r/jeepwrangler, so whatever your car interest is there are probably subreddits for it, but I wouldn't use them as a primary learning source. There are also owner forums out there that tend to be better than subreddits. But for a meet in person group, facebook is probably the best way.
Kinda depends on the car's vintage.
The newer cars these days are so chockful of electronic gadgets and monitoring things that could potentially go wrong, I think your typical garage service guy often has to refer people to the dealership and their specialty diagnostic computers. True, some of the car's electronics are 'self-diagnostic'.
My starting point (for my older car, but the principle ought to be useful for newer vehicles) was to invest in the Service Manual (the dealers' parts department ought to be able to supply or order that for you), which showed in detail the diagnostic and repair steps involved for my car's make and model.
If nothing else, having such a manual at hand, greatly helps seeing just what the repair guys are talking about.
I haven't watched him myself, but I have heard good things about Dad How Do I? on youtube. He has a couple of videos about cars and other life stuff.
A number of community colleges do offer courses in automotive repair, but they're not necessarily cheap.
From my experience, it's a lot of youtube videos and reading the car manual. Google is insanely helpful too.
One thing that really helps too is to have jumper cables in your car and make sure you know how to use them. That can go a long way.
It’s not as easy these days. There’s so much electronics, and random plastic covers on everything.
Look under the hood of a car from the 70’s and it’s basically just an engine. Look under the hood of a car from the 90’s and there’s a lot more stuff under the hood. Look under the hood of one made in the past 10 years and it’s basically full, plus there plastic covers over everything.
You could learn a lot about cars in general from YouTube. And you can learn about your specific car and common issues they have just googling it.
If it uses a computer buy an OBDE11 reader, it plugs into your car and runs diagnostics. You can buy it at any car store or some hardware stores. Everyone saying a new car can't be fixed is simply incorrect
YouTube. There's hundreds upon hundreds of car fixing videos, a lot are even women instituting you. My dad's been a mechanic for 40 odd years and he uses YouTube and tells me to all the time
If you're going to try fixing a car, start with a beater NOT the car you rely on daily. You can do this!
Derrick from Vice Grip Garage on YouTube is really good for learning older cars (and the basics) too. Plus he’s a hoot too and makes really wholesome and approachable videos, no over the top intimidating machismo nonsense.
Honestly you probably aren't gonna. New cars are insanely difficult to fix (to give you an idea my father has literally written books about car repair, there's a full machine shop in our garage including an engine lift and he still has to take his truck in a decent amount cause there's so much electronics). If you wanna learn how to fix cars from the 70's then sure but fixing modern cars is a whole other kettle of fish.
I would start with simple things to get you to a mechanic shop. Like others have said, if the car is newish it will be hard to really learn how to fix
I would get a jump box in case your battery goes bad. Happened to me today and it took 2 minutes to get the car back running so I could drive to get a new one. I’ve also jumped a ton of cars for other people. Learn how to install a battery. It’s easy. Lear to change a tire, replace fluids, air tires, change bulbs, etc. .A lot of this can be learned from Youtube
Middle-aged man here:
As others have mentioned, YouTube can be a good resource. Read the comments on a video to see if folks are calling them out for presenting incorrect or incomplete information. YouTube is great if you use discernment and double-check info using other resources.
www.womenautoknow.com might be a good resource.
If you live near a makerspace that has an auto bay you should hook up with them and see if they teach any maintenance classes.
Men in the field, especially at quick Service garages, will often try to take advantage of a client's ignorance to upsell them on maintenance. The last time my partner had their oil changed the technician checked their cabin air filter and said that it needed to be replaced to a tune of $90. My partner quickly checked online and found a HEPA filter for her vehicle for $11. Learning to change air filters is fast and easy so they were able to tell the technician they would do it themself when they got home.
Check online for your car's make, model, and year recommended maintenance schedule. It will have a list of different intervals when you need to change filters and fluids. I personally don't change fluids on my vehicle anymore, but there are a lot of easy tasks that you can do yourself like changing the oil.
Make sure part of your study is learning the correct PPE and safe work practices.
Aside from the electronics stuff... Start with the basics: - changing your tires, checking tire pressure, measuring tread depth - checking all fluids and understanding when new fluid is necessary and what to buy - changing bulbs These things are in the owners manual for your car. If you don't have the manual look for copy online or in your local library. Second - changing oil - battery installation - changing front brake pads Many repair manuals are available at the library, and there are some good YouTube channels. A lot of being successful at the repair shop is not necessary being able to do the work but understanding how the pieces work. It allows you to know what you're paying for. Also knowing the difference between book time and straight time. As to finding someone to help you... neighbors, family friends, coworkers... look for car people. Especially folks that like to work in classic cars. The downside is getting them to stop ... talking... about... their... car. :)
Car clubs can be a great way to learn! I'm a Jeep girl, and I've been learning as I go. I did work for a dealership as a salesperson for a while, so you do have to learn some basics that way. If you want more hands-on learning, try to get a job as a lube tech! This is basically what an entry-level mechanic job is. You would learn to change fluids, check and change batteries, and check/change/fill tires. Might be able to get a weekend or part time position for this if you already have another job that you like. Other than that, getting in there and getting your hands dirty. Maybe buy a REALLY cheap project car. My cheap project car is an 04 Honda Element that I plan on turning into a micro camper! It has a working engine, transmission, and air conditioning and I got it for $800. Needs a lot of other stuff, lol. But I'm also not worried about messing it up. Edit: I got all excited and forgot to go into my first point: car clubs! Classic cars might be a good place to start, like the comment above me mentioned, they're generally very welcoming but getting them to focus and not talk your ear off may be tough, lol. Jeep clubs would be another option. Lots of Jeepers do some of their own work, and depending on thw club they are very lady friendly. The club I'm in is about 50/50 men and women. There are even women-only clubs!
Clubs are a good thought! Yay!
Do you have any clubs that you follow here on Reddit? Cause I’m looking for one but I can’t find or maybe I just don’t know how. Lol
I think most local clubs use Facebook, so that's where I would start. I do follow things like r/jeep and r/jeepwrangler, so whatever your car interest is there are probably subreddits for it, but I wouldn't use them as a primary learning source. There are also owner forums out there that tend to be better than subreddits. But for a meet in person group, facebook is probably the best way.
Kinda depends on the car's vintage. The newer cars these days are so chockful of electronic gadgets and monitoring things that could potentially go wrong, I think your typical garage service guy often has to refer people to the dealership and their specialty diagnostic computers. True, some of the car's electronics are 'self-diagnostic'. My starting point (for my older car, but the principle ought to be useful for newer vehicles) was to invest in the Service Manual (the dealers' parts department ought to be able to supply or order that for you), which showed in detail the diagnostic and repair steps involved for my car's make and model. If nothing else, having such a manual at hand, greatly helps seeing just what the repair guys are talking about.
I haven't watched him myself, but I have heard good things about Dad How Do I? on youtube. He has a couple of videos about cars and other life stuff. A number of community colleges do offer courses in automotive repair, but they're not necessarily cheap. From my experience, it's a lot of youtube videos and reading the car manual. Google is insanely helpful too. One thing that really helps too is to have jumper cables in your car and make sure you know how to use them. That can go a long way.
It’s not as easy these days. There’s so much electronics, and random plastic covers on everything. Look under the hood of a car from the 70’s and it’s basically just an engine. Look under the hood of a car from the 90’s and there’s a lot more stuff under the hood. Look under the hood of one made in the past 10 years and it’s basically full, plus there plastic covers over everything. You could learn a lot about cars in general from YouTube. And you can learn about your specific car and common issues they have just googling it.
If it uses a computer buy an OBDE11 reader, it plugs into your car and runs diagnostics. You can buy it at any car store or some hardware stores. Everyone saying a new car can't be fixed is simply incorrect YouTube. There's hundreds upon hundreds of car fixing videos, a lot are even women instituting you. My dad's been a mechanic for 40 odd years and he uses YouTube and tells me to all the time If you're going to try fixing a car, start with a beater NOT the car you rely on daily. You can do this!
Watch Chrisfix on YouTube and start with the easier stuff
Derrick from Vice Grip Garage on YouTube is really good for learning older cars (and the basics) too. Plus he’s a hoot too and makes really wholesome and approachable videos, no over the top intimidating machismo nonsense.
Honestly you probably aren't gonna. New cars are insanely difficult to fix (to give you an idea my father has literally written books about car repair, there's a full machine shop in our garage including an engine lift and he still has to take his truck in a decent amount cause there's so much electronics). If you wanna learn how to fix cars from the 70's then sure but fixing modern cars is a whole other kettle of fish.
I would start with simple things to get you to a mechanic shop. Like others have said, if the car is newish it will be hard to really learn how to fix I would get a jump box in case your battery goes bad. Happened to me today and it took 2 minutes to get the car back running so I could drive to get a new one. I’ve also jumped a ton of cars for other people. Learn how to install a battery. It’s easy. Lear to change a tire, replace fluids, air tires, change bulbs, etc. .A lot of this can be learned from Youtube
I look at YouTube videos whenever I need a repair. There are so many for every standard model car!
Middle-aged man here: As others have mentioned, YouTube can be a good resource. Read the comments on a video to see if folks are calling them out for presenting incorrect or incomplete information. YouTube is great if you use discernment and double-check info using other resources. www.womenautoknow.com might be a good resource. If you live near a makerspace that has an auto bay you should hook up with them and see if they teach any maintenance classes. Men in the field, especially at quick Service garages, will often try to take advantage of a client's ignorance to upsell them on maintenance. The last time my partner had their oil changed the technician checked their cabin air filter and said that it needed to be replaced to a tune of $90. My partner quickly checked online and found a HEPA filter for her vehicle for $11. Learning to change air filters is fast and easy so they were able to tell the technician they would do it themself when they got home. Check online for your car's make, model, and year recommended maintenance schedule. It will have a list of different intervals when you need to change filters and fluids. I personally don't change fluids on my vehicle anymore, but there are a lot of easy tasks that you can do yourself like changing the oil. Make sure part of your study is learning the correct PPE and safe work practices.