Right know i feel like an idoit doing this, but does anyone know a good book or program to help me figure out cars? I'm trying to learn about mechanics in general, but websites (other than this one) never seem to help and I cant find any good books. i know most people learn from others like relatives, but my dad only knows how to drive to the oil change place. i'm trying to learn on the fly, but since i just blew a coil(msd too :shoothead ) trying to fix my car, im about ready to say screw it, dump the bird and get a focus. any help would be very welcome.
Don't feel bad, I killed off my MSD coil too. Get a Motorcraft replacement, they are much better.
I learned by taking parts off and putting them back on. Grab a Chilton or Haynes repair manual. That's about the only book I can tell you about. :)
focus's are nothing but turdburgalers, u could probably get one for pretty cheap, but thats all they are, cheaply made cars, and itll burn u everytime:flame: ...the whole suspension wears really fast on them, you'll end up putting more money in it then u think.
Get a big Chilton's manual that covers your car and read over it,and study it.When I was starting out,before I would take my car apart,I'd go to the salvage yard and pull a similar car aprt first.That way I didn't ruin mine,and,by actually doing the work,you learn it.It's not a hard thing to do (working on cars),it's just understanding what you're doing.Once you understand what the function of the parts are,their purpose,it's easier to remove and replace things.Get under your car,under the hood,in the trunk,look under the dash.Get really familiar with it.There's always someone around the forums willing to help.Even people who have had these cars for years (18 years for me),have to ask for a little help sometimes.
Try looking into a generalized auto class at your local collage. Other than that head to the library.
i have a haynes, but it misses alot. im trying to find a service manual because i heard those were very good.
I also am thinking of trying to get a job at Autozone or a place like it, but i dont know if i need to know alot already or if i can learn on the job.
I still need to learn alot about cars too! But I did find the automotive articles on http://www.howstuffworks.com to be useful, at least to help me gain some knowledge in automotive principles.
The best way to learn the basics is to do your own work, improvise when you have to, and learn from your mistakes. My first car (78 Trans Am with Lt1) was always breaking something, and I had zero money in high school, so I was always coming up with repairs (usually more "shady" than "shadetree"). I can still remember doing my first oil change, and a spectacular failure it was - learn from my mistake, put the oil drain plug in before refilling the engine, especially if the car is facing downhill. You will get oil on your sneakers otherwise.
You're luckier than I was, though - first, you started with a T-Bird (I had two Firebirds before finding my first Thunderbird), and second, you have access to a wealth of info and people willing to help right here on this website. I had no such luxury back in '89...
Good luck with that. I try every once and awhile but I've never even so much as gotten an interview. Jerks. :yuck:
Stuff will break, no matter how experienced you are you will break shiznit werkin on your car.
My parents divorced when I was young and my step dad is not mechanical at all (he was a welder by trade so that gives you an idea of his intelegence) the best way to learn if you dont have someone at home to teach you is to find someone who can teach you. theres bound to be a neighbour or someone down the street who works on their cars, most of the time if you show a desire to learn a person will be more than happy to teach you.
If they have an employee discount on parts, fine. Most people who work at those places know nothing about vehicles. Nothing wrong with that. They could be hanest and tell you that though instead of lying to you. I love catchin them lie to people. It makes for interesting conversation afterward!
Hmm, I have had my fair share of autozone employee's.
This one time, I needed a serpintine belt and they told me they were out of them. So I asked if they had any for a 91 crown vic (its the same engine, just backwards). They told me yes, but they wouldnt let me buy it cause they didn't want to deal with my mom or dad when I found out it wouldn't fit.
Anyways, long story short, my freind has a focus, he took it in three times to try to fix a surging problem. The third time, I came with him and said it was either bad spark, or a fuel problem. Then the ford dealership says, oh, there was a recall on the fuel pump. Ever since then it runs like a champ. But the windows wont roll down, and the dash lights wont stay on for more then a minute. Oh and my freind is 6'6" and the seat wont move either, and his mom is about 5'8".
Fun car when it works, shibby when it don't. Nothing like having to go into mcdonalds when you cant get your window to roll down, but tbird/cougar have this problem too.....
Just replace parts according to the manual, and sooner or later, it will click and you will know how to do it, or be able to skip all the extra pointless steps they put in there for no reason. There are lots of little parts that are easy to replace. The first thing I did on my car , or any car for that matter, was replace the disk and hub assembly, and caliper. It took me an hour the first time.
If you can't figure it out, you can always ask you fox boddied freinds or try the search. You will get it one way or another.
My Uncle just retired from 35+ years with Amoco and now has a job at Advance Auto. Here's hoping he gets employee discounts :evilgrin:
Back on topic, the best way to learn at least for me, was to do it myself. I could watch until I was blue in the face but until I handled the job myself, I never knew how it was done.
I have the Chilton book and it does miss some things here and there. So when I have a problem, I look at the book, look at the car, look at the book, look at the car and so on. After comparing, if I can't figure out what I'm doing, I come here or search other forums looking for answers.
My dad taught me basic oil changes and changing tires and plugs and so forth.
My cousin taught me how to do brake work.
I learned how to change cylinder heads from a visit to a junkyard. I was fortunate to meet a guy who works on Mustangs as a hobby and after buying some parts from him, he offered to show me how to install them.
Knowing function helps and is invaluable when upgrading certain parts. But for a simple replacement, you don't need to know function. You just need to know how it comes off and how it goes back on which is pretty easy to find out when you can see what you're removing. ;)
Again, there is a wealth of information here as you know. If you come across something you're unsure of, post about it. You won't have anyone coming down on you.
It has been my experience that every car runs great when you buy it, but no matter what car you are talking about they all need maintenance and since most people dont' fix anything until it stops running when you get that used car often it needs all the little stuff one thing after another and you get to the point where you want to ditch it. I wouldn't recommend you fight that urge because later on when you have a junk ass focus that needs work you will regret ditching the very capable t-bird. Those cars have more quality than most of the low-end cars currently made. Stick with it and remember practice makes perfect. Once you have replaced all the little that goes bad on old cars the car will become reliable transportation again. Just use descent parts or you will be going back in often. Good luck with it, Jason.
The junk yard is an awsome idea if you have a yard that will let you go in and do that kind of thing. When i need parts I go up there and pull the car apart to learn how to take it apart.
As for learning I have no idea. Both my dad and Grandpa were/are mechanics but my dad lived over a 1000 miles away and my grandpa 2.5 hours. I started on bikes thenfree lawnmowers that friends and neighbors gave me and my friends and then moved on to cars when i started driving and now computers of all things. Believe it or not the two really go hand in hand.
When it comes down to it there are 2 things in mechanics. Brains and Braun. Brains for trouble shooting (the hard part of any mechanics job). This site is the brains. Just look through board. It is full of people who range in knowledge from nothing to some like eric and carmen who know near everything about the cougar/tbird. And everyone inbetween including my self have had a plethera of issues (not saying the cars are bad but all of the cars on this board get driven. Driven ALOT!) and therefore putting us all together know everything.
As far as the braun that's just using your arms and legs or what ever other body part you can use to get the nuts, bolts and screws off. To me that's the easy part.
I'm sure you have the braun but with everything the brains will come along. The more you do, read and see the easier it will all come to you. You obviously have the desire to learn.
I wouldn't mess with a focus. I've had my cougar for 7 years now. Almost to the day infact. And it has by far been the most reliable car in my family over that time. Other than typicals (water pump alternators, batteries) it has never let me down. Hell even after I blew the back two cylinders out (at 194k) i could still cruise down the highway going 70 mph and it always started. Even after sitting for 4 months waiting for her new heart. Hell I have an 88 waiting to get on the road again that had sat for 3 years. We put a battery in her and she fired up to life immediately. Anyone who has ever had one of these cars will tell you how great they are. Mechanically and physically. Any help you need is right on this community. which is by far the best mechanics message board on the face of the earth. The is a commrodery of cougar/tbird owners that doesn't exist with any other faction of vehicle.
tc