Mechanics and Non-Mechanics welcome! Share what you know!

[DJ-Bolan]

hey, just wondering, how many people are actually mechanics here, and how many are not?

just curious, because i want to learn about cars from the inside out. was thinking about becoming a mechanic, but due to financial reasons i'll have to hold out for a couple 2 years.

how long roughly (i know we're all still learning) did you comfortably learn everything about a car? i,e mechanics and just general knowledge eg. this camshaft is meant for this car, but this camshaft can also fit/work right/more kw's/horses?

wanting more general knowledge as i have a cousin who has down diesel/petroleum mechanic apprenticeship and machining work so he knows all about it and how to fix. but i pick his brains too much but i still want to learn.

is it worth doing it? or would it slowly but surely kill my love for working on my own car?

positive and negative responses encouraged (about topic)

- D

[Hangman]

I'm not a mechanic, the closest I have come to any sort of training was work experience at a mechanics which mostly involved sweeping floors and getting lunch...

That said, over the years I've learnt a lot through mates/reading/just having a go etc and in my opinion, I don't mind working on my own cars, it's a hell of a lot cheaper and fulfilling, but I wouldn't want to do it fulltime. That's just my opinion and I'm sure others will think different...

[EDGE3]

Im what you would call a backyard mechanic over the years I have learnt about cars by asking questions,watching a mechanic working on my cars and just by reading instructions in car manuals.Im the same as Hangman I wouldnt want to do it as a job because some of the work is bloody back braking work and mentally draining and very annoying especially when you rip the skin off your knuckles

[Blown V6 Hatch]

I work as a mechanic, but i'm missing the piece of paper that says i'm qualified. I've just been working on cars since i could hold a spanner. Been in the trade officially for about 7 years now, although i'm actually a qualified panel beater.

You never know everything there is to know about cars/mechanicals, so you might know a fair bit, but you're always still learning.

Only you can make the decision whether you want to be a mechanic or not, if you want to do it, go for it. I work on cars everyday, but i still enjoy working on my own car/s, it sort of gets me away from the daily grind so to speak.

[Burnout124]

i am a mechanic and you never know everything but i would say about 5-6 years work and you would know enough to tackel most things

[Blown V6 Hatch]

i am a mechanic and you never know everything but i would say about 5-6 years work and you would know enough to tackel most things

I don't think you can really put a time frame on that to be honest. I think that all depends on where you work, what you work on and how much you are given a chance to do.

[VT-565]

I'm a Fixed Plant Mechanical Fitter by trade, not an auto mechanic, but you would be surprised (or maybe not lol) at how many of the principles are relevant between the two trades.
Certainly has helped me and further more, I've pulled quite a few other people out of the shit with mechanical issues.

Remember this, no matter WHAT you're working on....Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

[Burnout124]

when i said most things i was refering to brakes, plugs and most suspention work and i would agree it would all depend on what you are taught. I work on all makes all models but when it comes to diagnostics you are always learning nowdays you need a scan tool to work on most cars

[old mate]

i'm not a mechanic by trade (actually studying an accounting degree) but have been working on my racebikes since i can remember and fill in as a diesel mechanic at my family business if they are flat out.

i can do most things, well the only thing i havent done is completely rebuild a synchro gearbox but i will try that soon enough. done lots of bike gearboxes, i just break them all the time lolz.

[DJ-Bolan]

yeah i can see where everyone is going with this, i have such a passion for cars, bikes and everything. i would love to know all the tricks of the trade and be able to be confident with what i do, which would mean either studying for 4 years and become completely qualified (and get paid in the process :P) or just learn by teaching myself and through others.

i just want to make sure i don't end up wanting to rebuild a old GT (my love car) and end up half way through it selling it due to lack of time due to work or just growing out of it. haha. + right now i work with family and that's really easy to get away with everything i want to do. decisions, decisions.

people let me know where you learn all of your knowledge. i'm constantly seeking more knowledge, watching wheeler dealers, reading car rebuild websites, talking to people, reading just bikes/cars/parts. but i never get my hands dirty due to lack of vehicle (had to sell car due to speeding, #### da 50) but not really..

haha, has this question ever been posted? :S

[Blown V6 Hatch]

In my opinion, the only real way to learn is to get in there and have a go. You need to get hands on.

Even if you do the apprenticeship, you don't learn heaps at trade school, most of what you learn is in the field working on cars. You can only read and research so much before you need to get hands on.

[DJ-Bolan]

i've changed springs to lower springs, fixed head gasket, changed master cylinder and did a front to back exhaust job on my old 300zx but i just want to learn how to rebuild gear boxes and fix cracked heads. always been into the intricate parts along with aesthetics.

complicated decision.

derp

[Hangman]

Mate, the best way whether you're learning as an apprentice or off mates/manuals is hands on, as said above.

[ari666]

i voted yes, even though i am a "sort of". i mean. i work on cars for a living, carrying out auto repairs, but cant really be classed as a full mechanic cos' of the stuff i do/dont do.

make sense?

anyway. you could work on cars your whole life and not know it all.

the problem is the tech keeps changing. 20 years ago a top rated mechainc was the guy who could get your vacuum reading flat by adjusting 2 screws. now a top rated mechanic is the guy who can use a scan tool.

soon itll be a top rated mechanic is the guy who parks the car quickest into the robot bay where the cars get fixed (or something)

if you wanna learn EVERYTHING, then you gotta stick to a specific part of auto mechaincals. i.e. transmission specialist, engine specialist, suspension specialist etc. i reckon 3-4 years in each section should give you a reasonable understanding of how it all works.

[walesy]

im no mechanic, just a hobby for me, ive been doing my own work for the last 8 or so years, from engine conversions to cam installs, even rebuilt an N/A rb30, i had no idea what i was doing as that was my 1st big job but it went well and i learned alot from it

[VYMAD]

I'm a 'backyard mechanic' LOL.

[padrickz88]

Exactly what blown v6 said, you need to get hands on...... if you do an apprenticeship make sure you do it with a good company... I know a guy who is completing his apprenticeship soon and he knows jack shit, everything he touches turns to shit...

Best way is to get a spare of what you want to work on (engine, trans, diff etc) read some books/manuals and just have all the tools needed..
I found once I started using a torque wrench I felt alot more confident working on cars.. The thing is amazing, cant believe I worked on my car for so long without one, I consider it a must have for everyone

[Calaber]

I started playing around with cars in a different way to some of you. Back in the 1960's, old cars were dumped frequently in the bushland near home. I started out by pulling them apart, for no other reason than to find out how to do it. My first "car" was a chassis cut from one of those wrecks with an old side banger Ford four cylinder dropped in. Never had any formal education, just learned as I went along. It was always just a hobby as it was totally removed from my normal job.

[SBM]

I started my apprentaship about 10 years ago now. So I'm fully qualified and love what I do. I started my own business nearly 2 years ago and it's the best thing I've ever done. All the hard work actually pays off rather than it going in someone else's pocket. To answer your question a bit better I would say 4 years in an apprentaship and probably another 2 and you should be pretty confident at tackling any job. It also depens on what sort of work you do. I have worked in a a couple of dealerships where your doing the same things every day and also worked on trucks, buses, farm equipment, boats and pretty much everything else. At the moment I focus on cars 4WD's and boats which is plenty of variety. As for busted knuckles the longer you work on cars the less it happens as you learn when to stop. As for killing your passion to work on your own car I think that is different with everyone. I enjoy it because you can work at your own leisure on a weekend and just unwind from a busy week. I have a bit of a project which I never really get time to work on. A VK which I am putting an ecotec into. Also have a couple of turbos to fit up when I get around to it.

[a1k3m1]

im about the same as everyone else, Not Qualified but just play around and learn new things, Im a panel beater by trade. and did a bit of Auto electrical work also.. But being a panel beater its usually good to know how everything goes together so when ya take it apart you know how to get it back in one piece

[Boonz]

ive been working as a mechanic for almost 8 years now, and i can safely say that ill never learn everything there is to know about the job, but if you really love working on cars and understand how things work, then go for gold.
but its definately worth getting an old(ish) car and like everyones said, strip it, inspect it and put it back together and learn the basics.

ive been playing round with cars since i can remember and was getting taught how to do things before i even started my apprenticeship, so by the time tradeschool came around, it was more like a refresh your memory course.

the only downside to being a mechanic is the pay while on an apprenticeship, you ahve to work hard to make good money

[nemesis_adrasteia]

im currently an apprentice mechanic, its not a bad job. youve gotta be keen though, the pays shit and the work is hard.

[vkwalks39]

I'm just a backyard hacker. I started out my 1st yr as a mechanic and hated it.And now, Just a vineyard bum.

[klampy]

I'm not a mechanic, the closest I have come to any sort of training was work experience at a mechanics which mostly involved sweeping floors and getting lunch...

That said, over the years I've learnt a lot through mates/reading/just having a go etc and in my opinion, I don't mind working on my own cars, it's a hell of a lot cheaper and fulfilling, but I wouldn't want to do it fulltime. That's just my opinion and I'm sure others will think different...

+1 this is me to a tee =)

[monkeywrench]

ive been a mechanic for about 20yrs and i am still learning till this day,but i must admit its gotten to the stage now where i dont work on cars outside of work,but i actually started out working in a wrecking yard the best way to learn is to see how things come apart first,but i still enjoy learning new things.