Some tips for someone who wants to start fixing his ride.

[carfixernewbie]

Hey - any help would be great.

I'm thinking about buying my brother's old 2005 VW Jetta.

Before I do I want to consider being able to repair it and do the basics (to start at least) myself.

What's the best place to go and learn about this kind of stuff? Should I just go into the local PartsSource and talk to those guys?

Is it hard to do maintenance on cars today? Someone told me that they're all run by computers now so it's tough to do your own work.

I'm relatively mechanically inclined and not a total idiot, so I figure I can do some stuff on my own.

What do y'all think?

[scat19]

Get on some euro forums. DIY's are amazing. Full pictures, explanations, you can't go wrong.

This is how I started learning!

[sxtothe240]

I suggest you buy this.

[carfixernewbie]

Thanks guys. In terms of local stuff or talking to people - any ideas? I normally get my car stuff at Canadian Tire.

[chrispl]

Originally posted by sxtothe240
I suggest you buy this.

Thats useless...buy a bentley.

Sign up on vwvortex.com.

[g-m]

buy tools and a factory service manual. Have at er

[mycroftxxx]

take some tools to a junkyard and start ripping random things apart, get used to knowing how to actually use a wrench... it pains me to see people strip bolts because they don't know how to put proper pressure on a wrench.

plus in the process of taking random shit apart you will physically see how various parts interact with eachother. something a repair manual or some pictures on a computer screen will not be able to show you in the same way.

[chrispl]

Well not completely useless,but a bentley is much better.

[revelations]

In some ways its easier to do maintenance today on cars than 25 years ago.

I owned a Mazda b2200 that used ELECTRONIC carbs - with about 20 vacuum hoses connected - the WORST thing to work on ever. Computerized fuel injection is 100x better than troubleshooting that!

For many cars, all you need is a OBDII CEL code reader. The basic ones are fairly cheap, as you can look up the meaning the the code online (instead of having the tool tell you right away).

Start with small things like changing your oil and filter, coolant, etc. Buy a torque wrench as well; getting a feel for how tight things SHOULD be, comes only with practice.

[g-m]

I can pull codes with a paper clip

[revelations]

Oh and I wouldnt bother with a factory manual, unless your going off the deep end (eg. tranny rebuild). Haynes/Bentley are just fine.

[carfixernewbie]

thanks to everyone so far. i'll also join the vortex site. Any other good online resources?

[nismodrifter]

Read this:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1835863

And check out threads here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=4

[97'Scort]

Invest in some good tools. I'd suggest buying a good torque wrench, as this will save you lots of headaches. Learn how to use it, too.

Also, invest in a good floor jack, jack stands, and a creeper. Nothing makes working on a car more frustrating that having it jacked half-assed, worming around on the concrete.

[zieg]

Originally posted by carfixernewbie
old

Originally posted by carfixernewbie
2005

Didn't know these were being used in the same sentence now.

[ShermanEF9]

Originally posted by ZiG-87






Didn't know these were being used in the same sentence now.

4 years old is OLD! mines 10!

most of the people on here own cars that are at least 17!

[Arthur Dent]

Get the big socket set at Canadian Tire when its goes on the 60% off sale.

Go to pick and pull - pay a dollar and spend a day taking stuff apart.

Then start with oil change, spark plug change, etc.