If you are a car enthusiast or fantasize about spending time under the car with a greased apron, you may have probably thought about learning to fix cars as a hobby.
Many individuals out there want to learn how to fix cars but don’t know how or if it’s a good idea.
So, Is Learning How to Fix Cars a Good Weekend Hobby?
Absolutely yes! Learning to fix cars is a good weekend hobby, especially if you want to save money in the long run. Do you have crazy love for cars or fantasize about spending a day well spent under a popped hood, a grease rag in your pocket, and a torque wrench in hand? Learning how to fix cars will help to put your passion into practice.
By learning the basics of mechanics such as changing the coolant and fluids, replacing the air filter, cleaning corroded battery terminals, etc., you can achieve valuable skills and save money you would otherwise use in paying a mechanic to perform routine maintenance and repair on the vehicle.
After you start fixing them up for fun, you might discover car repair and maintenance is the career for you.
Read on for some tips on learning the basics of car repair when starting it as a career.
How Do You Start Learning Car Mechanics?
Now that you have a passion for fixing cars, some of the ways to start learning car mechanics include;
- getting an old clunker
- meeting other vehicle enthusiasts
- visiting auto mechanic stores
- getting a car manual
- watching car repair tutorials
- and taking classes to be an auto mechanic.
Let’s dive deeper into these points.
1. Purchase An Old Junk Car
To learn how to fix cars as a hobby, you should start by buying a Junker.
This is the best way to learn to fix cars as a beginner, particularly if you are young and have a limited budget.
With the help of friends and online forums, you can learn the basics of repairing a car, such as changing oil, plugs, repairing valve cover gasket, etc.
Check online for websites such as Craigslist, classified sections of newspapers, or eBay to find cheap and wreaked cars for sale and start your project.
You can also ask around your family members and friends if they know anyone who would like to discard their old car.
2. Buy A Set Of Tools
Now that you have your old janky car, you will need to do various repairs, including changing the oil, checking out the brakes, and doing a basic tune-up.
Hence, you will need to go out and purchase a set of repairing tools.
Buy the tools and supplies you require to do regular maintenance checks.
The common tools required for maintenance include
- Wrenches
- Hammers
- Pliers
- Car Ramp
- Screwdrivers
Replacement fluids for keeping on hand include
- windshield washer
- brake fluid
- transmission fluid
- power steering fluid.
A socket set is the heart of any toolset to begin by getting that.
You can find a relatively decent socket set on online platforms or local stores at around $60.
3. Meet Other Car Enthusiasts
Lots of people have a hobby for cars.
Why not find the car enthusiasts in your local area and learn from them a few things about car repairs? Introduce yourself to individuals and ask them for advice and tips.
If you cannot find any events or prefer networking from home, check out car enthusiast forums or Facebook groups that you can join.
4. Watch Car Repair Tutorials
If you want to learn to do any repair, YouTube provides lots of video tutorials and how to do videos that will teach you how to repair the car step by step.
However, ensure you only follow the advice from trained mechanics.
You can find out if the YouTuber has authority in car repairs by checking on the ‘About section’ of the channel and reviewing their online reputation.
While everyone can post a YouTube video, not everyone can fix a car.
5. Get A Car Manual
Instead of watching a video, you can also opt for a car manual.
The booklet contains lots of info concerning your car’s proper maintenance.
And for older models, they might even have step-by-step instructions on completing repairs.
These manuals can save you a lot of effort and time, particularly in things like fluid capacities and torque specs.
Different models and brands might vary in how the system has been built.
The specific owner’s manual for a vehicle offers important information for a specific model year.
6. Join Forums
Forums are one of the favorite platforms to find information.
For example, when looking for torque specs, you can google it to get a thread on a forum where tons of individuals take photos of their factory service manuals that shows all the specification details you require.
They also come with step-by-step guides in completing repairs and are full of tricks and tips for getting the repair done with the fewest injuries or mistakes.
7. Take An Auto Mechanic Course
The best way to pursue how to fix cars as a hobby is learning from experienced instructors who can show how to work on the car properly.
Because most car models are operated by computers, do-it-yourself is not what it used to be.
If you want to get formal wrenching education, you can consider taking courses at your local community college.
Certified technicians run the classes in auto shops or online.
If you want to turn your love for cars into an interesting career, attending the classes will do the trick.
While not many people go to the library today, you can consider grabbing some engineering textbooks to understand the physics involved in fixing various problems.
Can You Make Extra Money by Learning to Fix Cars?
Trucks, cars, and SUVs utilize several systems to operate properly.
All these systems require to be synchronized and checked with routine maintenance.
Even if you’re not car savvy at first, you can still acquire the applicable ‘fix it up’ abilities.
As a car owner, learning to fix various tasks yourself will help you save money and learn valuable auto mechanic skills.
With most people paying a mechanic to perform routine maintenance and repairs on their car, you can use the skills you have gained to earn some extra cash from performing the repairs.
You can also use your skills to offer a hand of help to your family and friends needed some maintenance and repair on their vehicle.
If you are a natural problem solver and love to work with your hands, this hobby can be a great career path for you.
Bottom Line
Whether you are looking to fix your vehicle break into the mechanic’s field, learning how to fix cars is a good hobby on the weekend.
These tips will help you start fixing cars as a hobby easily.
The inspections can include; checking tire pressure, changing the oil, and inspecting engine parts to check for required repairs.
Related
How Expensive Is Car Restoration as A Hobby? (Four Considerations)
References
Becoming a self-taught mechanic expert, how to get started (vehicle, auto) – City-Data.com
Want to learn to be a hobby mechanic! – Whirlpool
I want to learn how to fix cars as a hobby. -Reddit