Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[3.2 manual]

thought after posting in the end of a solved thread, how many people were taught to maintain a car by their father? or done a coarse?  my father taught me with motor bikes, cars etc. also hes had to put up with the advent of electronic ignition and the like of egr valves hes still doing it now and never fails. i will attempt anything, engine rebuilds, the lot. all because i was shown the basics of what is possible. how does a young couple on average wages afford to take two cars to the garage everytime it needs servicing or gets a problem? we cant, i maintain the lot but the other half changes bulbs and knows when somethings not right. this will be passed down(if willing to learn), but is it too late is home servicing etc already lost?

[albitz]

I was taught by my dad,I can remember helping him bleed brakes when I was 9 years old. My 25 year old son doesnt drive and is not remotely interested in what makes a car work.Youth,its wasted on the young.

[nick v6]

i dropped out of school at the age of 14 and walked straight into a garage where i learnt alot more than what i did at school
i would still be in a garage now if it was not for my health problems over the last 2 years

[KillerWatt]

The old man taught me sod all, mainly because he worked all sorts of manic hours and was never at home.

A couple of garage bills once I turned 16 soon had me realising it was cheaper if I did it myself, so I taught myself.

I suspect the reason home servicing is a dying animal is because of all the electronics. The home user doesn't have access to the necessary equipment, so they think there's no point in trying to have a go themselves.

[feeutfo]

diagnostics are greatest monopoly rip off ever invented, any other product it would come in the box on a cd rom as part of the purchase. But no not motor trade, the keep it on an exclusive platform deliberately and charge the earth for it. It can be pc based as vag com proves.

[barclay03]

I was mostly taught by my dad too 

Hes been an engineer for the past 40 or so years - originally served his time as a toolmaker, was an engineer in the RN and ran a few garages, now a signal engineer in the underground.

He showed me the basics and how things worked and then left me to soft it myself and only helped if i needed it - ive had enough experiance/confidence to attempt almost anything, including an engine conversion on one of my old cars including making up a custom loom, all in a weekend lol

I definetly couldnt afford to run the cars if i was using a garage :-/

[Martin_1962]

I learnt off my dad - a mechanic for years

[waspy]

My dad knew & knows sod all about the mechanics of a vehicle (i often wonder how he got by as a farmer, tractors & all :-/)

I'm also self taught, though i must say i also find the diagnostic side daunting mainly because i don't use it, i guess if if used it more often then it wouldn't be a problem.

I think if you take your time & think about what you're doing you can do many things

[Jimbob]

My dad is totally useless on mechanics (or anything handyman to be honest).  Father in law has done a lot in his day and can help too.

This place, and its guides have been a godsend to me,

before oof, I couldnt even do an oil change, will now tackle a lot of jobs.

Mark DTM and a few others on here have been a great help, he has done a lot for me, and I have learnt a lot through watching and helping.

This place has saved me thousands in garage bills, and given me a new hobby too 

[Ghost]

I left school started of in a garage and whent to the army, so the garage gave me a basic understanding of how a vehicle works,
up untill now I have had one of my cars to a garage for pc diag. and no other.
I have rebuilt a few cars the best was a e30 325 Bmw,
theres nothing I would not do on a car, Just cant afford the bills from the garage and dont see why I should pay them to do the same thing I can,
its just a pita working under an umberella most of the time, english weather Lol.
kids now just want to drive them and not repair them.

[unlucky mark mv6]

Im still learning whenever something goes wrong with the car,i dont use garages as there is too many cowboys about.No matter what the problem i will do it myself armed with info off the internet and the good old haynes book of bullshit.

[KillerWatt]

diagnostics are greatest monopoly rip off ever invented,

Too right they are.

Any single piece of software you may (or may not) need is already on the net, the only slight drawback is you need to spend a few £'s on making the interface between car & laptop (and believe me, it really is only a few £'s).

[goonv6]

I was taught by my grandad who could literally make something out of nothing (Including casting magnesium sumps for Jowett prototype cars). When he died, I had still got a lot to learn and don't mind admitting failing a lot on the way. I started collecting tools along the way and now have a full garage that almost rivals a workshop including a hoist, compressor, welder and god knows how many specialist tools such as reverse brake winders, flarers, locking kits, C.V. boot tools. Every time I do a job, I learn something new.

If it wasn't for these skills, I'd be in trouble now as I have hit some lean times. Fortunately, I was ableto shoehorn a new engine into an Omega and I now have a car that I am really proud of.

In answer to the theme of your thread, home mechanics are now more prolific than they have been in the last 20 years. How do I know this? Just look how many members this forum has... 8-)

[doog]

I learned how to sort cars because when i passed my test I had enough money to insure it and fuel it and very little left over to pay for servicing so if i wanted to keep the car running it was a case of Please read the manual and work it out
 many engine rebuilds in my flat later i had a good idea about how the go together

Doug

[Ian_D]

I worked at a car garage every Saturday while I was at school / college for a few years. Started there as a valeter, and slowly moved onto repairs / servicing. Was only a small garage, only hardish job I can remember doing is changing the glow plugs on a 2.5TD Omega - Look back now and laugh - its a dead easy job really!

Most of the stuff I know is self taught - same with computers / electronics - well most stuff really!    :y:question