Hello, I have been working on cars since my dad was purchasing what I believe was my fifth vehicle in five years. The rule was if your in school you get a car so I went to college. Any way he bought an old Plymouth Horizon with a head gasket issue and said if I wanted it I had to get the parts and fix it myself.
So, knowing what the deal was and knowing everyone in my little one horse town, the local NAPA auto parts Xeroxed me the necessary pages from a Haynes, and I purchases a new head gasket and a magnetized bowl for nuts and bolts, sealer and a small mechanic set, which we referred to as Barbie tools and went to wrenching.
My uncles were like master mechanics with every tool and meter tester reader imaginable, so they hung out for "moral support",to makes sure I had the right tools, provide a hoist, and torque specifications.
Two things transpired in the end of that learning experience, 1) I had a running vehicle, and 2) my uncles realized I had perfect little hands for all their hard to reach wrenching. I learned all about knuckle busters, that I loved working on vehicles, and the importance of a book- there was no YouTube in 1997.
Over the years I rebuilt my 1984 GMC Sierra from the u joints to the valve cover gaskets, tuned up and replaced the shocks and struts on a 98' Plymouth minivan that i had getting 34 mpg on the highway, and got schooled on fuel injection systems by Ford. I know I prefer a Haynes to a Chilton, and miss popping the hood and seeing a big round carburetor.
I have never owned a new vehicle with a warrenty so after my first experience I always did two things right off the bat, changed the oil, and bought a book for every vehicle I've owned. YouTube is a godsend but there's something about seeing the grease stains that mark chapters and accomplishments.
​​​​ I am now beginning a new chapter, learning the ins and outs of Honda with a 2001 Accord I was practically given to me, and it runs, but needs serious attention in order to keep it that way, and honestly even to pass inspection.
I've been utilizing these forums the past two weeks and finally committed because I'm a Honda owner now. I will need help maintaining and trouble shooting and I may not know the correct names of certain things, but with a little coaching I can explain the thingy that moves those one what-cha-ma-call-its around the thing-a-ma-bob,go.