Advice on Education - Motor Mechanics Course.

[Spennyboy]

Hey,

I want to do a course or some type of learning program on motor mechanics - would pref a hands on approach to it as paper work is not my best friend.

I've had a look at the colleges around me and think i've found what i need - theres level 1 motor mechanics and repair.

Says it goes from a-b in cars/small vans etc.

I was wondering if anyone else had done a similar course - because im a very "hands on" type of learner.

If you were to be put in a pratical once every 2 weeks or similar i would be really pissed off.

Thats the question really - all those in the motor trade who have done education courses on it - what did you do and how did it benefit you?

I dont really want to go into it as a trade (possible after however) - i just want to grasp the information of how cars work as atm its what i find is interesting me more and more.

All comments appreciated.

[urbsy]

When I did my training the practices they were teaching were vastly outdated to the real working environment tbh.
I did one day a week at the local engineering college, mornings paperwork, afternoon practical. I was repairing write offs at work while at college was learning what sort of brush a coachpainter uses and how to rub filler down with 1200 grit paper, was a joke really.

If you don't do it for a job though I think the basic course will be interesting for you as it won't be as tedious, I did a basic pc repair course at college a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

urbsy

[Over Carl]

I wish I had done something like that when I was younger, as I love tinkering with cars but when I was younger I was "advised" to pick "respectable" career paths, uni, that kind of thing. Never finished uni, and spend my free time (thats not on DF) drinking or working on cars.

If I could get a decent wage as an apprentice, I would, but these days, I think most of the garages have eastern europeans on pennies for the donkey work, so I would probably be on something like a ton a week as an apprentice which wouldn't quite do the job for me.

[Epiphany]

I'd love to take a full course in it and take up tuning as a profession, but the starting salaries/apprentice wages are too low for me to consider it

I've been looking at a similar course nearby to me. It's an introduction to Mechanics course which is a one night a week, 10 week course, just to give some general info and maintenence skills and as a side hobby.

[wtaylor]

I wish I had done something like that when I was younger

Ur still a spring chick at 26 .........

[DJAd]

tbh if you just want to learn how a car works, your be best off getting yourself a "project" car to play about with, maybe a shitter off ebay that needs some TLC. Get yourself a Haynes manual for a sidearm and have a play about.

The disadvantages are the fact you won't get a nice certificate to say you can do this etc... but you will have some experience.

Also it depends what you want to learn about. General car maintenance? Repairs? Spraying? Tuning? There are different courses to suit everybody, just depends on what you want from it at the end.

[Over Carl]

True, agree about the shitter idea, but that only works if you have people you can fall back on when you get stuck. I've got mates who run a back street garage who I often call up at silly times at night with very strange problems/requests to borrow funny tools, etc.

In addition my current project is an alfa 156 2.5, and without the help of a brilliant alfa forum, I would have probably scrapped it by now.

I reckon you learn more this way, after you have had real problems, spent a day or two figuring out how to get past a problem that may take a prof mech an hour, you will understand and remember what to do next time.

Edit: Buying a car that you can get a haynes book for helps, but they are sometimes way off the mark (sometimes bits will be revised and different to the model haynes took apart)

[Zippeyrude]

if you get hold of a project i could show ya the basics

[Over Carl]

Also a good start, got to halfords, buy the 150 piece tool box (may still be on offer at 99.99) Provides enough tools for most simple jobs, solid, and lifetime guarantee.

[Spennyboy]

if you get hold of a project i could show ya the basics

Brilliant response guys.

1. A project would be a great idea, however i have no where to store/work on it which would prove a big problem.

2. Regards to type of course - it would be general repair/maintenance type thing - cosmetics is not of much interest atm - its the engine i want.

3. Zippy - if i remember correctly, your only a few minutes from me aint ya ? - are you involved in the business or just happen to know your stuff ?

4. I have the Haynes manual for my car - been looking through it and thats quite interesting read - always makes more sense in person than reading in a book tho.

The main reason for this is i've had my car a while now and the seemingly never ending "faults", while getting on my tits, seems to fasinate me everytime i have to lift the bonnet.

The latest one is i have a split in the water pipe into the engine - water/heater pipes i been told.

Its a 306 XN '95 - and the pipes are right round the back of the engine and a mare to get too - booked into a garage tomo.

I had fan belt problems few weeks ago, loud squeeling noise - altho its simple, that was a nice learning curv into finding that, seeing it can be tighetend and learning about what its job was etc etc.

I deffinately need to persue this further....

[Nikki]

working within the motor trade and dealing with mechanics everyday, it is something i would love to do to, as it intruiges me to go to a car and find the fault and then if feasible with the tools i have to fix it and get it on its way. although i have been told i need 5 years experience in a garage or levels 1,2,3,4 similar to a diploma levels :-(