Interested in learning about how cars work and how to complete basic repairs? Reading up and registering for classes can help make you become a more self-sufficient car owner.
We love our cars. We keep them clean (usually), take them on errands, trust them with our families’ lives. But most of us have NO idea how to fix our cars when they break down or need maintenance. We spend thousands of dollars hoping that the mechanics we’ve chosen know what they’re doing and aren’t ripping us off.
But there is a solution: Take a course to learn how to fix your own car. If this doesn’t strike terror in you, then here are a few tips on how to choose an auto repair course for your level of ability.
1. Be a book worm
If you're the type of learner who can just pick up a book, read directions, and start tinkering, then you may not need a course...just a read!
Begin with your owner’s manual. That helpful book (that most of us leave hidden in the glove box) has information on the specifics of your model. It will give you the specifications of what type of oil, fluids, and gasoline to use, along with a schedule for changing the oil and oil filter, rotating the tires, and changing the air filter. All pretty basic fix-it jobs that you can learn to do at home.
Find yourself a basic start-up instruction book tostart that covers the basics and give you the skills to determine when you can do it yourself and when you should take your car to a professional.
2. Take a course that covers the basics
If you want to learn how to fix your car, but don’t plan on becoming a professional service technician, then you’ll want to find a course that caters to the basics. This can be tricky to find, but these courses are out there. Begin by calling your community colleges and technical schools to see what they offer. Explain that you don’t need a course with full accreditation, just the basics of car repairs.
Certain auto mechanic schools also offer introductory courses to the automobile industry.
3. The path to professional
If you already have a basic understanding of auto repair and want to turn pro, then you are in luck. Most community college and technical schools will offer full- and part-time courses. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level program to arm you with the basic knowledge and practical skills to enter the auto industry or a program that ends in an apprenticeship exam, you can likely find the courses you are looking for at your community colleges.
