1.) What motivated you?
2.) How did you get started?
3.) What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?

1.) I needed the blasted thing to run!!!
2.) With a handful of crappy tools and crappy shop manual - Chilton, IIRC.
3.) a. The oversight and instruction of those with much more experience that were willing to let / required me learn 'hands on'.
3.) b. Better tools and reference materials/shop manuals.

Sweet thread!

 

1) My first car was an MGB. Needed constant attention. The car was a 79, and it was like 1985.
2) well, within a week of owning it the exhaust manifold cracked, necessitating replacement of it and rebuild of the (manual) choke, which was dripping fuel onto the mani causing said crack
3)working with my father and friends. Edit: Oh and I had the Bentley.

 

1) I bought my first car in 1984-a 1974 Chevy Vega. 'Nuff said.
2) Made a pest of myself around several mechanics.
3) Neccessity is the mother of invention.

 

Motivation? Poverty, being incredibly cheap, other mechanics messing things up so I had to go back and re-fix things anyway.

Started? One Saturday morning when I was 13, Dad came in with a nice clean white box and said "I've got a present for you", which turned out to be a water pump for his pickup. It just got more involved from there.

Helpful? Old duffer mechanics and experience. Nothing like screwing up a time or two to really get you some great experience. Having an old duffer mechanic to explain the tried, true, but forgotten ways of getting things done without the proper tools is priceless. On my Passat, this website has been a great help. The only money I've spent on labor since I found this site was for my frozen TREs.

Just finished with timing belt, water pump, tensioners, belts, and some other minor tidbits while the nose was off. Buffed up my headlights a bit while I had them out, so they will look better for the next couple months or so.

So, I'm cheap, and I don't trust most mechanics. Grew up on a farm as well, with old equipment, most of it older than me. You learn to fix things and diagnose problems.

 

I'd been mostly away from doing my own wrenching while I raised a family... just getting back to it a bit now, at 54.

Back in the day, there were several factors. First, my father was hopeless with tools, so I was the family fixit guy. Out on my own, I was lacking in funds but had a taste for dragging home mechanical orphans. Ever try to find someone to inexpensively work on a Renault Dauphine, MGC-GT, or Triumph TR250?

The motivations were curiosity, poverty, and the sense of accomplishment.

I got started by buying the largest wrench set Sears made, and the shop manual for the car in question. I was slow, methodical - did everything by the book and took Polaroids (digital wasn't invented yet) of every step of the disassembly. Replaced whatever needed it, and reversed the process. Then moved on to something bigger.

What helped me most was living in an industrial area, and being friends with my neighbors. I had an auto repair shop in my backyard; they'd let me use their lift and (very occasionally, with great suspicion) a tool. Across the street was a body shop...

Another big help was having lots of cars. Even though I was single, I'd keep 3 - 5 cars around, so if I got stuck with one all apart (or busted something irreparably), it was no big deal. These days, I'm single again and have two Passats - and I'm looking for a nice Corrado.

 

1. Watched my dad and grandpa work on cars, and I've always been mechanically incline. Also when I got my frst car the fast and furious seen was just getting started, so I was all about that too.

2. I remember helping my dad with odds and ends when I was a kid, everything from diy body to a boat motor transplant (it was in inboard) 400 c.i. so it was pretty envolved. I myslef did not really get into until I threw the clutch on my '89 CRX and I was addicted, my first manual was a chiltons, and it sucked!

3. I hate to say it but the more I screw something up, the more I learn for next time. PW has helped alot too, then I can see others mistakes too.

 

My parents didn't have money to buy me a car, and I didn't have much money to buy cars either, so my first car was 500 bucks and I just would keep them running, its been 10 years since then and I have owned I would say close to 15 vehicles through that time, I buy them broken, fix them and sell them after 6months or a year.


Just got started with the help of my dad/grandpa and DIY manuals


Google if you have a question, more then likely somewhere on the net it has been covered.

 

My parents didn't have money to buy me a car, and I didn't have much money to buy cars either, so my first car was 500 bucks and I just would keep them running, its been 10 years since then and I have owned I would say close to 15 vehicles through that time, I buy them broken, fix them and sell them after 6months or a year.


Just got started with the help of my dad/grandpa and DIY manuals


Google if you have a question, more then likely somewhere on the net it has been covered.

Some else mentioned good tools, I can not agree more, there is nothing like having the right tool for the job, or the right tool to get to that oddly placed nut or bolt, after 10 years of collecting, I have north of 6k in tools, most of which are craftsman, good brand as they are fairly cheap, good quality, and lifetime replacement

Some else mentioned good tools, I can not agree more, there is nothing like having the right tool for the job, or the right tool to get to that oddly placed nut or bolt, after 10 years of collecting, I have north of 6k in tools, most of which are craftsman, good brand as they are fairly cheap, good quality, and lifetime replacement

 

1. started cause i wanted to save money, like working with my hands, and didnt like having to rely on a mechanic or a dealer for work.

2. learned in the family buisness that does excavation, septic, and lot clearing lots of older equipment that breaks down alot, spent most of my time with my grandfather and uncle (buisness owners) and leaned from there. first real work on a normal sized truck was with my cousin when he rebuilt an 83 chevy custom deluxe. .

3. most helpful was a bently, a computer, and a camera, good tools and the right tools as well make a job go much easier and quicker. and dont be afraid to make mistakes it will happen but you will learn from them. hell my first suspension install went so bad it went out on a flat bed to an indy cause after 3 days with a pinch bolt we gave up.

dont get discouraged, if your in over head you can always call for help or ask here. your in NY theres some really good PW members there who are always willing to help, i'm only 2.5 hours from NYC and always willing to help. hell sp33dy and I went to MD 2 weekends ago to help a member with his timing belt on his wifes A4. this is a great community and we help each other out the best we can, so dont be afraid to ask for help.

 

in 99 I went to dealership to get new rotors/pads, they wanted $1000 for parts and labor. That pretty much kicked of my "mechanic" career.

10 years later I saved almost 10k between all the things I've done over the years to all my cars.

I used to enjoy it as I was learning, but now I don't really like working on my cars, just do it cause I can't pay someone/want it done right/and not deal with BS.



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What motivated you?
How did you get started?
What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?
Thanks!

1. A 1971 BMW 1600
2. As someone mentioned, a handful of cheap tools and a Chilton's manual.
3. Being able to afford a mechanic.

 

What motivated you?
Necessity - no money
How did you get started?
I was always mechanically inclined, as I always took disassembled and reassembled stuff when I was young.
What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?
Organization, finding a good way to organize parts after taking them off to remember where they went

 

I watched my uncle in his repair garage from time to time as it was only a few blocks from home. Mostly got to play with and operate the lifts for him.

Finally got started in 1999 when a good friend offered to show me how to change my oil. Up until that point I never considered the possibility of being able to diy.

Most helpful was def cb5!

 

Motivation/necessity: Sense of job well done; scared of VW mechanic bills; Curiosity; Pride; Distrust of others' motivations and thoroughness

Got Started: ClubB5 (PassatWorld) DIY writeups! :thumbup:

Helpful: Digital photos, Helpful members, Haynes manual (I still have yet to find the Bentley anything more than a PITA for most jobs )

 

x2
:bowdown: to those who write these DIYs

 

1. My dad since I was little, and not by choice. He owned a british car, and had to get to work in the morning. So sometimes there was not time to wonder what was actually wrong. I occasionally find myself in the same situation. That's why I start large projects on friday night.
2. At age 4, scrubbing valves with gasoline. I still remember - the brown ones are running rich, the pink ones are running lean, and the white ones are just perfect. My current career of auto maintenance started when I got the wagon and had 'my own' car to work on. All hell broke loose.
3. Decent tools and a good shop manual. I watched my dad make parts when I was a kid, so I know that anything can be fixed (to a large degree), and I also know that if you don't get it right the first time, you might have to re-do it. Remembering to not start drinking until the job is done is also a critical tool.

Best part of all of this is that I can afford to own 4+ VWs - the money I save on the wagon and Golf often pays for my Rabbit and Scirocco playtime. It's a powerful motivator! This year I "saved" over $2K in maintenance on the wagon alone. It also makes the occasional shop job far less painful - I'll have no problem justifying sending the clutch out as I haven't spent that money on anything else.

 

What motivated you?
How did you get started?
What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?

My Passat
I got a job in a local garage beginning with oil changes, then tires, then brakes, etc and worked my way up to engine work.
Having friends on PW and a dad with LOTS of tools and years of experience. :thumbup:

 

I've had a love for cars since I was a kid once I stated driving them I started changing them.

I dove right in really, my ICE work started with my first car a 1990 Carolla and everything else came with my 2002 GTI.

Forums and internet searches have helped me more than anything other than screwing up and having to figure it out myself.

 

What motivated you?
How did you get started?
What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?

1. Dad seemed to know EVERYTHING about cars...whereas I couldn't fix anything.

2. Dad started bringing me along as he fixed things, and then the percentage I watched became less, as my percentage of actually DOING became more.

3. Learning to take my TIME, and not rush the thought process.

 

1. The Royal Navy decide that I would make a good engineer.
2. They spent 20 years trying to turn me into one.
3. Transferred these skills to working on cars

 

1) My car breaking downoke:

2) My first and second car were bugs, you do the math. They break down+ little amount of income= me repairing them

3) Help from family and friends who worked on their bugs too, and some of those damn specialized VW tools:wrench:

 

1. I am naturally mechanically inclined and love to tinker, plus I am CHEAP.
2. Helping pops work on his truck, then him making me work on mine while supervising.
3. A haynes manual.

 

1. I've always loved cars, i was yelling out car names from my car seat (true story, you can ask my parents)
2. My parents had a 68 cougar that my dad didn't drive and he said if i could get it running then by all means. spent 3 summers, i was 11 when i started.
3. Forums, forums are by far the greatest tool i have ever found when working on a car. not only the knowledge base but meeting people who have likely done the project before and asking for hints and stuff that are not in manuals. ask as many questions as you need, it always helps. but usually i can fumble my way through things with enough time and enough light. im convinced that given the correct tools there is not a job on a car i cannot complete.

 

What motivated you?
How did you get started?
What did you find most helpful as you were learning and tackling more complex projects?

My first car was my father's 81 SAAB 900 that I bought off him. He gave me a good price on it, but the deal was that if something went wrong or needed doing that I was the one that fixed it.

Motivation was keeping said car on the road. Although I soon got interested in seeing what else I could tweak on it.

My father was probably the biggest help. He's an engineer by trade but has been restoring vintage cars (mainly Model T's and 20's and 30's era cars) for years. My family has an acreage with a fair size quonset so we have the room for cars, parts cars and tools.

Also I have to give props to Ray MacGowan. He owned a SAAB, Volvo and Jaguar repair shop and spent a substantial amount of time giving me free advice. Although he sold the shop he and my family still stay in touch. In fact I still probably call him a few times a month to get an informed opinion.

With that said, it's guys like him that are the reason I spend as much time as I do on forums like this. Aside from the fact that I like talking automotives, I figure it's a Karma thing. Both my father and him (among others) took the time (and still do) to help me out. I figure it's only right that I do the same.

 

1. I always been in love with taking things apart, modifying them, or fixing them.
2. My dad had a big part on this as well. Back when i was 4yrs old we moved to argentina due to his business and stayed there till i was 11. During that time he built me my first go-kart 125cc and i raced locally for 3 years (8-11). That was how i started using my tools and then i moved to cars.
3. I guess when you like something so much you want everything to do with it.

 

1. poor HS/college student
2. blown head gasket, then a bad clutch on a 200k plus car.
3. Knowing that the next time I did my current task that it would take 1/5th as long.

 

3. Knowing that the next time I did my current task that it would take 1/5th as long.

Hahaha...that's a big part of my rationale behind buying a second Passat for my wife, against pretty much all of my other good judgment

"Well, at least I don't have to learn a bunch of new crap and all those busted knuckles will be worth it"

 

The only issue with that is the fact that with another car you might not have to learn anything to begin with....cause it won't break (as much).

hehe

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