"Learning" mechanics - anyone done long distance learning courses?

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rossyl

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CLK 230K W208 Coupe (1999)(Auto)
Hi,

So I've a little experience. Back at the age of 17 I crashed my car (1994 Peugeot 405), my parents said "if you want a car, you can fix the one you irresponsibly crashed". So I bought a Haynes and changed - bumper, lights, radiator, thermostat, bonnet.

I'd love to learn more, I'd like to spot common faults, to be able to change certain parts, to know what various parts do etc etc.

So I'm presuming there are long distance learning courses for this, Open University? I have quite a demanding job so evening classes are not really possible as sometimes I work pretty late.

Has anyone done anything like this, what was your experience?

Thanks
 
Hi,



I'd love to learn more, I'd like to spot common faults, to be able to change certain parts, to know what various parts do etc etc.



Thanks
That is what this forum is all about. You are never too old to learn and I do day to day.
 
It would be very hard to learn such a trade as mechanics if you are not doing it on a very regular basis. The skills you learn are by getting your hands dirty and getting stuck in. The more you do the better you get.

Mistakes will be made but you will learn from them. Learning spanner skills takes years. It took me 5 years of working every day to gain confidence to take on anything and to learn the spanner skills.

Learning common faults is going to be tricky as all cars are different. The only way to learn this is to work on one brand consistantly.

Good on ya for wanting to do it and good luck.
 
Hi,

So I've a little experience. Back at the age of 17 I crashed my car (1994 Peugeot 405), my parents said "if you want a car, you can fix the one you irresponsibly crashed". So I bought a Haynes and changed - bumper, lights, radiator, thermostat, bonnet.

I'd love to learn more, I'd like to spot common faults, to be able to change certain parts, to know what various parts do etc etc.

So I'm presuming there are long distance learning courses for this, Open University? I have quite a demanding job so evening classes are not really possible as sometimes I work pretty late.

Has anyone done anything like this, what was your experience?

Thanks

Just to add to what the OP has said, I have also been really keen to learn how to wield a spanner competently - have been toying with the idea of doing an evening class or something, but not sure where to start looking either:dk:

I guess as has been said in this thread - you need to focus on learning about a particular marque to get any good at it. I'd imagine that the need for specialist diagnostics, and the skills that go with it makes learning about this stuff much harder...
 
Thanks Olly. I'm not looking to replace a mechanic at all. I'd just like to have more knowledge and understand what different parts of the car do, how things work and common problems...like what is likely to cause vibration at certain speeds, or poor handling ec etc.

Will have a look at that book.

Thanks
 
That book is the one I used at college a few years ago and is excellent. it will teach you the fundementals.

Start slowly. Walk first....etc
 
Did you buy it?
 

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