Unhook the battery, maybe the computer will reset itself and all will be good.

 

Thats pretty much how it goes with him lol, his alternator went out and u could tell by the sound thats what it was and he thought his engine was blown lol, shouldn't have told him it was the alternator could have had a 99 Sunfire with 110k for $800

 

I worked at a car shop for a summer in high school- learned my confidence from there. i know my way around tools from work (hospital facilities tech). everything else i had to learn via manuals and internet. my dad never took the time to do any car stuff and my mom spent her time doing church stuff.

 

This should be multiple choices!!! I learned a lot from my dad, I learned a lot through necessity, and I learned a lot from reading manuals, books, the internet, and figuring out what they're talking about.

 

I was thinking multiple choices like Duane, but its cool to see that the poll shows us that most of us give "Dad" the credit. Not to be sexist tho. Did anyone learn from Mom?

 

Self taught, I like to look at cars like grown up Lego's. Take it apart and put it back together how you found it.

For me though it all started when the water pump on my first car broke. My dad in turn handed me a water pump, some tools, RTV, and a Hayne's manual and said "Fix it". To which I did, and I loved doing stuff like that ever since.

 

I'll vote when it is multi choice,

Self taught

Basics have been from my father
Brake jobs, oil changes ect,

Books,the internet,
i'll pick up and read manual cover to cover,
If I don't get how to do somthing I will read as much on the net as I can about it, and/or post in forums asking questions,

And a mix of Trial and Error and friends
Doin big stuff has all been trial and error with some guidance with books and friends, if it doesn't work ask a friends for help, hop on the net or grab my book,

 

No google or youtube on the poll??? Thats who taught me lol.

 

mostly from my dad, scince he's a fleet mechanic and fixes everything from cars to trucks to heavy dump trucks & 18wheelers to tractors & heavy equipment, trailers, small engines, desiel and gas engines, paint & body work, performance builds, he's done a bit of everything i could ever ask about, and has always been willing to lend a hand with my projects

i've also picked up some of my knowlage just tearing into stuff hands on, the monte & the ranger have been great learning tools for me to dissassemble & repair things on. i've found great forums for both, and if i ever mess something up parts are in any junkyard. the buick, i've always been more reluctant to dig into, because if i screw something up with that, parts are mostly non-existant or cost an arm & a leg.

 

Started at a young age racing go karts hanging around the local race track pretty much self taught . Had a car at 14 to rat around the fields watched alot of nascar from a young age . Have a fairly high mechanical aptitude the car I had when I grewup in the day car were easy to work onyou could change the point and use a match book cover to set them. Today you have to have a degree in rocketry to fix them and some expensive stuff to fix it that is why I like this site. You get great ideas and answers from alot of people thxs to everyone