Scrap Yards

smetol

Hi there.
I have lots of time since recently and have decided to do some auto mechanic self studying.I got some car manuals etc...and want to start to do some basic maintenance things like removing the engine,starter,re-connecting electrics,fixing brake pads...
I am scared to do it with my car.I was looking for some advice (perhaps some car mechanic.course or so)
Also is it ok to go to scrap yard and just 'mess around' and remove,replace this and that..of course for some fee...Btw how it works if I want to get something from there..I mean some car parts..?

Mr Benevolent

smetol wrote: »

Hi there.
I have lots of time since recently and have decided to do some auto mechanic self studying.I got some car manuals etc...and want to start to do some basic maintenance things like removing the engine,starter,re-connecting electrics,fixing brake pads...
I am scared to do it with my car.I was looking for some advice (perhaps some car mechanic.course or so)
Also is it ok to go to scrap yard and just 'mess around' and remove,replace this and that..of course for some fee...Btw how it works if I want to get something from there..I mean some car parts..?

Nah they won't let you do that. Besides, in a scrapyard you won't be able to run the car to see if what you've done has worked or not. Just fix and maintain your own car and learn that way. You'll be more careful when it's something that's yours.

PS: Removing the engine is NOT a basic maintenance task. If it ain't broke don't touch it. Besides, most problems are with sensors etc.

dr.fuzzenstein

Can't see this happening, I started out with oil change, plugs and filters, did some suspension work, brakes, and some bit with the engine (never taken that out), but in the end what you really need is a garage, a pit or a lift, some heavy duty car jacks and axle stands, a really well stocked tool chest and, most helpful, a friend who knows what they're doing, because you don't want to fiddle with the brakes or the timing belt on your own, you can destroy your engine or yourself in the process.
Maybe buy an old banger and try to do it up, the fact that for years I have never spend more than a months wages on a car (sometimes more like a weeks wages), meant htat there was always something to fix, just don't do critical stuff on your own.

Muckie

Best bet is to get a "project car". Done myself years ago when i was
into Ford Xr3i's. Got 3 to make 1. :pac:
Great fun on summer evenings. You'll need a bit of room, Haynes manual
tools and take your time. Have fun too.

Max_Damage

Buy an old Fiesta or Micra or something (something mid 90's or older, as they'll have less electronic nonsense in them), and work on it.

I'd recommend a Micra K10 (82-93 boxy model). Here's a grand little one on Donedeal: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1159468 Very easy to work on, and even a limited amount of spanners will remove mosts nuts and bolts. I should know, I current own two of them!

Also get a Haynes manual (can be got cheap on eBay).

Some vital tools though: torque wrench, a good imperial and metric socket and spanner set, and if you're doing valve and piston work, a piston ring compressor and a valve compressor.A tap and die set will also be needed, because you WILL sheer the heads of nuts at some stage.

Best of luck.

macroman

All you need is a banger, a few tools and your sorted.

It's more fun without the manual

Max_Damage

macroman wrote: »

It's more fun without the manual

That's very much debatable!

dr.fuzzenstein

Max_Damage wrote: »

Buy an old Fiesta or Micra or something (something mid 90's or older, as they'll have less electronic nonsense in them), and work on it.

Whatever you do, buy something that won't attract hatred from every single other motorist on the road. Micras, be they good or bad (don't know, irrelevant), have such a bad reputation that anyone driving them will get bullied and harassed, it's like the kids at school who get their hair cut by their mother.
Try Golf, Civic, Focus, etc...
But for God's sake no Micra!
Unless you want to destroy it Top Gear caravan style.
Then I'll help you buy a handful of Micras and come up with ways to destroy them, launch them into space, throw them off cliffs, blow them up and have them crushed by industrial machinery.
Then we'll stick the videos up on Youtube.
Or maybe even start our own Kill The Micra campaign and website!

Max_Damage

^ He's looking for a car to use a DIY mechanic practise, not to drive every day.

What's your problem anyway? Why should he care what other people think of his car? I don't.

dr.fuzzenstein

Max_Damage wrote: »

^ He's looking for a car to use a DIY mechanic practise, not to drive every day.

What's your problem anyway? Why should he care what other people think of his car? I don't.

I couldn't fix a Micra, I'd be compelled to set fire to it.
It's just years of suffering of being stuck behind them, driven by octogenarians at 40 km/h, with 3 tires half deflated, one door not properly shut, mirros folded in, driver completely oblivious to 2 mile tailback behind him, thank GOD I take the motorway into work every day now.
It just has left me with desires to do terrible things to them.
Also, ask anyone who drives a Micra or any other car that looks like it, e.g. the old Corsa, because of the above they get bullied and harassed through no fault of their own.
One day when I have a bit of spare time and money I fully intent to buy one, destroy it in the most horrid way possible and put it up on Youtube.
Anyways, I had 2 1980's VW Transporters, 2 W123 mercs, a Mk III Cortina and a long list of other bangers that I bought for a song, did up and drove around.
Buying a car that you might actually care for and drive in the end is a lot more fun.
Having said that, if Micras float your boat, sorry to step on your toe, didn't mean to, if everyone liked the same thing life would be boring.
Or the OP can go all out and buy an old Alfa, go all out scary and daring, hell for leather, why not?

Merch

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I couldn't fix a Micra, I'd be compelled to set fire to it.
It's just years of suffering of being stuck behind them, driven by octogenarians at 40 km/h, with 3 tires half deflated, one door not properly shut, mirros folded in, driver completely oblivious to 2 mile tailback behind him, thank GOD I take the motorway into work every day now.
It just has left me with desires to do terrible things to them.
Also, ask anyone who drives a Micra or any other car that looks like it, e.g. the old Corsa, because of the above they get bullied and harassed through no fault of their own.
One day when I have a bit of spare time and money I fully intent to buy one, destroy it in the most horrid way possible and put it up on Youtube.
Anyways, I had 2 1980's VW Transporters, 2 W123 mercs, a Mk III Cortina and a long list of other bangers that I bought for a song, did up and drove around.
Buying a car that you might actually care for and drive in the end is a lot more fun.
Having said that, if Micras float your boat, sorry to step on your toe, didn't mean to, if everyone liked the same thing life would be boring.
Or the OP can go all out and buy an old Alfa, go all out scary and daring, hell for leather, why not?

Micra is a grand car

Mr Benevolent

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I couldn't fix a Micra, I'd be compelled to set fire to it.
It's just years of suffering of being stuck behind them, driven by octogenarians at 40 km/h, with 3 tires half deflated, one door not properly shut, mirros folded in, driver completely oblivious to 2 mile tailback behind him, thank GOD I take the motorway into work every day now.
It just has left me with desires to do terrible things to them.
Also, ask anyone who drives a Micra or any other car that looks like it, e.g. the old Corsa, because of the above they get bullied and harassed through no fault of their own.
One day when I have a bit of spare time and money I fully intent to buy one, destroy it in the most horrid way possible and put it up on Youtube.
Anyways, I had 2 1980's VW Transporters, 2 W123 mercs, a Mk III Cortina and a long list of other bangers that I bought for a song, did up and drove around.
Buying a car that you might actually care for and drive in the end is a lot more fun.
Having said that, if Micras float your boat, sorry to step on your toe, didn't mean to, if everyone liked the same thing life would be boring.
Or the OP can go all out and buy an old Alfa, go all out scary and daring, hell for leather, why not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpY87vStEyI