I definitely learn by doing. About 5 year ago, I had a civic del sol that needed a new cv axle. up to that point I only barely knew how to do oil changes. To learn the procedure, I watched this strange youtuber called EricTheCarGuy. Bought the helms manual for the car and did more and more. At this point ive done everything from putting in a new suspension, changing bearings and bushings, overhauling calipers, brake maintenance, and even a little paint work. Im still timid about doing a motor swap but I hope to accomplish that within the year. Many mistakes were made and many of the right tools for the job were bought and big lessons learned as a result of those mistakes. You have been an enabler for my passion that is auto repair, Eric. Thanks for being here all these years!
@novaman35098 жыл бұрын
I learned by doing. I would tinker with lawn mowers and small engines when I was a kid, then dirt bikes quads and snowmobiles in my early teens, and by my late teens, I was wrenching on old trucks and cars. I wasn't taught very much about mechanical work. I just learned by tinkering.
@HumbleMechanic8 жыл бұрын
KZbin is the only way. THE ONLY WAY!!!
@HumbleMechanic8 жыл бұрын
Truth be told, I have not watched the video yet. I am stilling in an airport waiting for a flight. I will catch ya when I get home ETCG! ;)
@flatderpss42098 жыл бұрын
lol
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
I would argue HumbleMechanic on KZbin is the only way.
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Have a good flight Charles.
@SmittySmithsonite8 жыл бұрын
Charles helped me fix my buddy's daughter's '06 Jetta! He may not know that though ... so THANK YOU CHARLES!! :) I would've never found where that oil was puking from had I not found his channel! Sealed up that vacuum pump, and the car is still leak free a year later. :) I also would've never known what the hell a "triple square" was. LOL! :D
@chucknix11298 жыл бұрын
I am an ASE Master Tech who owns an independent shop. I learned from my grandfather starting when I was 5 years old. He was in the industry for 60 years, and was extremely patient with me being in the shop climbing on bumpers and digging in old parts. In addition to that, Dad is an electrician and in the 90's I made extra money while in college by assembling personal computers. Today, I am appreciative of how all three of those experiences have unified as I operate from the same building in which I began.
@supercoupe62888 жыл бұрын
right on Eric, I to like taking things apart to see how they worked when i was growing up.
@commodore6658 жыл бұрын
same here , I still do that .
@wtbm1238 жыл бұрын
As a kid i remember taking my dads electric drill apart , I never did put it back together , and dad never let me forget . But been taking things apart ever sense . But now i get most things back together .
@killerclown17408 жыл бұрын
I remember as a kid taking apart a Macintosh 128k and finding out the hard way what a flyback transformer is.
@zoidberg4448 жыл бұрын
Jason Delamarter My dad set me up to get zapped by a capacitor taking apart a power supply he got me, not a dangerous shock but very painful... I learned my lesson. Short big caps with a screw driver before poking around in stuff you just unplugged... Not had a shock since i was 8.
@killerclown17408 жыл бұрын
My earth science teacher would leave a lawn mower condenser on his desk.
@ronaldschild1578 жыл бұрын
Man, parents got away with a lot more dangerous horsesh!t back in the day. Today what your dad set you up for would rightly be labelled child endangerment. I'm glad you learned a safety lesson, but I think there are better, and safer, means to teach an impressionable child about the risks of electricity.
@zoidberg4448 жыл бұрын
Ronald Schild A 50V shock to a finger is painful but is a very long way from being dangerous to anyone under 40 young peoples hearts are extremely strong. My granddad let me play with his pocket knife and a sliced my finger open. Was a lot more careful with knives after that! Kids have to hurt themselves to learn.
@silent_insanity36318 жыл бұрын
I totally grew up like that, always taking things apart and working on things myself to learn and have always been visual. I'm not a mechanic but love working on cars and building pretty much everything myself if I can. I have learned so much from this channel alone. My generation is so privileged to have the internet as a source as it's a wealth of knowledge and information and I'm thankful for channels like this because I am a visual learner and being able to see the process is much more understandable than reading from a forum. Thanks ETCG!
@crytech7068 жыл бұрын
im going to be honest how i learned was from you Eric, no joke, work at a Chrysler dealer and everything i knew in the start of my career is from you keep it up
@TomB19888 жыл бұрын
I too have learned A LOT from Eric. I've owned two Honda's since I started watching his videos and it has been a fantastic source of information, especially the Honda/Acura stuff. I can now watch some of his Honda/Acura videos and relate to a lot fo what is going on. I've even found myself saying to the screen, 'you could also do it this way Eric' when he's worked on that GSR of his.
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for that comment. I'm very happy to hear my videos have helped you in your career. It's the best feeling ever to know that I've helped someone. Especially if I helped them get a job. #StayDirty
@SmittySmithsonite8 жыл бұрын
I love that truck too - I had a '94 K1500 that had 266k miles on it when I sold it. In hindsight I should've re-thought the purchase of my '07 Silverado - could've done alot with that $$$ ... but I digress! Sounds like we had similar upbringings. I used to tear my bicycles, radios, etc. apart as a kid. Lots of times I'd get stuck, and dad would come to the rescue - was always amazed at his knowledge - he seemed to know everything! My grandfather was a mechanic his whole life - rebuilt Model T components right up until the day he passed. Over time, the bicycles became dirt bikes, & the dirt bikes became motorcycles, and cars. I already had the mechanical aptitude, and there was no way I was paying those labor rates ( :D ), so getting into auto repair just came naturally. Learned pretty much everything hands-on, but had zero understanding of ignition systems or anything electrical for that matter. I could install a car stereo, or wire lights up, but if I had ignition troubles that the mighty parts cannon couldn't fix, the car went to the junkyard, LOL. I learned about ignition systems, charging, and 12v electrical troubleshooting at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute - alot of what I learned there carried over into everything from chain saws to trucks. Didn't work as a motorcycle tech for very long. I found that doing it for a living took the enjoyment right out of it. I went back to factory work for a brief time, then drove trucks a number of years, all while doing repairs on the side for extra income. Then OBD-II came along and ruined my day!! I've been fumbling with that until I finally got a high speed internet connection in '15. Everything I've learned about OBD-II has been right here on KZbin. Been immersed in it ever since. I watched you and a few other channels (most of the guys were at your meet n greet). Bought Paul's book a few weeks back. Finally bought a bi-directional scan tool this summer, and have plans to grab a Pico setup in the near future. I FINALLY have a grasp on this stuff! Was looking so hopeless for so many years. You guys are a HUGE help. THANK YOU!!!
@wyattoneable8 жыл бұрын
You nailed it Eric. I have struggled with electronics but with the help of KZbinrs such as yourself it has gotten easier. Plus buying a scan tool or scope really helps me "See" what all those electrons are doing. Now I can catch them!
@RICKY7608 жыл бұрын
Your original b18 engine dissection explanation video is what really helped me. I ended up getting a 95 integra SE as my first car
@coldfoot998 жыл бұрын
Took everything apart as a kid, got most of them back together, sort of. When I got my first ride at 16, a '51 Dodge Coronet it need a full brake rebuild, everything. Dad, on the porch said, "you know where the tools are, you know where to get parts and the experience needed is here on the porch when you need it." That's how it was, he was always the teacher. He was an amazing DIY mechanic and I learned so much from him. I actually still have some of his tools that have to be nearly 80 years old. Been working the past 20 years as an RV service tech and still love the job and I'm pushing 70!
@miami13938 жыл бұрын
I come from the I.T. world, mechanics is a hobby for me that started out of necessity,, (looove the tools too). I see similarities in how people talk to IT as they do to mechanics. "my computer's broke" "sir, plug it in to the electrical outlet then press the on/off button", "thank you, you're a genius". "uncle J my car's broke, worked great last night" "son, you must add gas each time the big E lights up..." I've noticed that the more I work on cars, my dexterity and mechanical mind has gotten much better from the hands on experience, but have to say that having a great teacher in the field not only shortens the learning curve but also improves it's quality drastically (I owe that mostly to you Eric). The only major problem I have with on-the-job-only trained mechanics is that a lot of indispensable information is missed which leads to a lot of bad and dangerous repairs (ex: using compression fittings on brake lines and permanently removing thermostats when engines overheat, just to name a couple)
@desporterizer8 жыл бұрын
As a child, I took everything apart! Fortunately for me that also included TVs and radios. In high school I began to work on computers. Even that limited education has helped me immensely over my 25yr career as a mechanic.
@M00atah8 жыл бұрын
You hit the nail on the head. To this day, my Mom loves recounting the time when I was around 6 or 7 and disappeared for around half an hour with one of my Dad's screwdrivers. When my parents finally found me, I had apparently dissembled every doorknob on the second floor of our house. I guess that interest in taking stuff apart and putting it back together has stayed with me, because today I build computers and work on my car in my spare time.
@hatterassportmechanic56218 жыл бұрын
i started in 73 seeing the progression from that to now is amazing. the learning curve now is way different. you have to be a certain person to REALLY apply yourself to repair. still comes down to simple process. thanx keep going.
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Indeed it does. Thanks for the comment.
@yurik19948 жыл бұрын
I started out at around 4-5 years when my parents have bought me a constructor. Maybe that's not how you guys call it, but the brand is meccano, easy to find. Then when i was around 11 years old, i started working with pc's - some idiot technician fucked up pc at my home and i told my parents i'll do it myself. Then when i was 16 i started repairing iphones. And at 18 i started somehow working with my car - rear struts, audio system, turned out i like it, and at 19 i was already working at the shop. Last december i have got an ase g1, today is my exam for ase hvac. Fun fact - all the repairs i have ever done were because my family didn't have money for a proper repair and i had no choice but to fix stuff on my own and later made a living out of it :D r/c stuff, radios, speakers, xbox, plumbing, all kinds of stuff. So i never actually cared whether it's analog or digital, most of the time i had no money to ask someone else to do it :D
@damnoldguy8 жыл бұрын
I was and am the exact same way,,, I fixed my parents dryer when I was 15, my dad was skeptical but amazed.
@HAL-dm1eh8 жыл бұрын
I too was taking all my toys apart, sometimes to the point they couldn't be put back together. The way I take to the electronic side is I conceptualize it using visualization in my head. The motherboard of a computer is a "city" with streets and buildings and each building has a purpose, etc. A small circuit board is a "town", etc.
@ajs6228 жыл бұрын
I’m hands on all the way. I am not a schooled tech, just a DIY guy. I too took all my toys apart as a kid. My dad didn’t buy age appropriate toys either, so as a 7 year old I had the expensive RC car meant for adults, so you can imagine how he felt when it was found in pieces. As a young kid I screwed up everything I took apart, but as I got older I of course learned how to put them back together without wrecking anything or having “Extra” parts. With my bikes they were before the new ones that have sealed bearings in the bottom bracket and wheel set so I used to pull them apart just for fun and repack the bearings. I think that early learning was an important step in learning how things work and building confidence in yourself that you can take things apart and fix them yourself. I also think for the DIY like myself the information age we now live in is awesome, with information being available on how to do ANYTHING it really helps. So with how to information being readily available it then becomes a confidence thing (or tools) weather you tackle a job or not.
@SuperFIFTHGEAR8 жыл бұрын
I remember doing a people unit at school (just how to deal with people), and I remember there were three different learning styles...I forget what they're called, but there's a type that learns by reading books, another type that learns by being lectured at, and the third type that learns new stuff by actually doing it. I think mechanics are the third type that learn by doing something, and learn by figuring out how things work. I'm definitely the third type, and as a child I'd always be taking apart computers, and other things just to see how they work. It's the curiosity that you mentioned.
@wysetech20008 жыл бұрын
Back in the day everything was mechanical. Bout the most complicated in electrical was the generator/regulator system. It could be finicky at times but using the water flow theory we usually figured it out. :D. Understanding the old mechanical systems helped me learn the newer electronic systems and the water flow theory still helps me diagnose today's cars sometimes.
@dannyc86178 жыл бұрын
I am a visual learner, but I also find that diagnostics are easier when the cars computer gives you a better starting point. I was taking things apart and building models before I played with computers. KZbin is an excellent way to see how others have approached problems and has helped me with a lot of repairs.
@tbcarleton7 жыл бұрын
Hit the nail on the head: take thing apart, see part that looks broken, replace broken looking part, put thing back together, and thing works. Electronic stuff, not only can you not always see what's broken, but what you can see with meters and special tools only has meaning when you know what you're supposed to see.
@MatthewWilliamsCFDEV8 жыл бұрын
Tearing down a Honda V4 1100 motorcycle has been quite the learning experience. The problem with the "mechanical camp" on this bike is you might not know something is wrong until you've gotten it assembled. Which is a chore unto itself. I can, however, almost pull the carbs and everything that's not the engine in my sleep now ;).
@edharry39848 жыл бұрын
Right on The Money Eric, That is how I learned,Touch/See, Take Apart! Now to Add to it, I visualize in my mind ,plan it out {including tools} Then do the job .After 40 years as a Licensed Auto Damage Appraiser ,It is still The same, TO DO THE JOB CORRECTLY! Thanks for these video's ,Keep It Up ........
@Wojciech9408 жыл бұрын
I started with changing timing belt and fuel pump. It was `87 VW T3 with 1.6 diesel mechanic injection. My dad let me do it, mentioning how careful I have to be, what`s gonna happen when I will do it not properly. I did it, took me so much time, I bruised my fingers but yet the belt was perfectly on. Car didn`t start, though. Now, my job isn`t anyhow connected with it, but I started to learn, did some minor repairs in my car and started sewing and crafting as a hobby.
@echosan98 жыл бұрын
I've found with OBD systems it makes it easier for people just starting to learn about cars, I went from working on my first gen Legacy with OBD1 pointing me to the problem areas and sensor testing, that died of catastrophic timing belt failure weeks before I planned to change it. Then onto a 92 Ford Falcon with very few dummy lights which caused me to listen/look more closely to the mechanical systems, diagnosed a minor head gasket failure by examining spark plugs. Cars are like any hobby, there's always more to learn
@briansmobile18 жыл бұрын
People are often attracted to the mechanic field by being hands on. Computers are pretty hands off there's even pilfer proof stickers on the PCM to void warranty if you touch them. The access port to listen in on the electronics side of the engine isn't even under the hood anymore. The DLC is in the cab now. You can't grab the throttle cable under the hood to test for noised under the hood. It's all electronically controlled.
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Yea, it's a brave new world. Thanks for your comments as always Brian.
@JTRtv8 жыл бұрын
Definitely hit the nail on the head there Eric. I can build most anything I set out to, fix mechanical things, fully design projects in my head, even wire something up when I know how its supposed to go. But don't ask me to tell you how a radio frequency turns into electrical signals to reproduce Angus Young's guitar on a magnet with some foam on it ;)
@RadioControlAdventures8 жыл бұрын
Definitely love the mechanical side of things. Love taking things apart seeing how they work putting them back together. Hate trying to deal with electrical issues unless its upgrading something. Great videos they are very informative.
@pugman2058 жыл бұрын
I have always been into the mechanical side of things ever since I was little. My dad told me a story that when I was around 3 years old I had gone into the garage where he was working on his motorcycle, he had the engine running and the timing cover off with the points sparking away, and there was me, I had picked up a screwdriver and was trying to jam it into the points, I would have gotten away with it if he hadn't stopped me. Though this is just what he told me I had done, as I don't remember. Things never change and older and wiser I haven't lost my passion for cars. I am often working on someones car be it my own or a friends. When it comes to mechanical parts that are broken, they I find easier to diagnose than electrical parts, especially if diagnostic equipment is needed to enable codes to be pulled, not just for the engine but for ABS and the likes. its fun, but sometimes with computer stuff, one wrong keystroke and an ECU could be bricked.
@Iboo308 жыл бұрын
As an early 90ies kid who grew up , and I´m very thankful of that, right when things started changing from mostly analog to more and more digital and as a result learned to work with both "systems" I totally agree. Granted there are still some analog things I don´t know so well I learn about today, same with the digital stuff as technology progresses every day, but by taking apart my cars and my motorcycle and having some background info from school/university (and the internet) I learned a lot on my own that no teacher would have been able to teach me like that. Being an engineering student adds to the bonus as many professors still tend to talk about older technology they grew up with, if it´s outdated already, so you get a very good idea how sth. works on your own, when you take apart your carburetor or other car/motorcycle parts. I do also have one of those cheap OBD-2 scanners and compared to other people my age who are not interested in that kind of stuff a decent knowledge about how everything works in new cars and what it is based on.
@MustangsbyMatt8 жыл бұрын
I'll call it a late Happy Birthday. Turned 30 on the 19th. Love what you do ECTG1!
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Happy belated birthday then!
@JTRtv8 жыл бұрын
Tearing stuff apart is a good way to learn. I've always said that if you know how something works it ought to be easy to figure out when and why it doesn't.
@jimzivny15548 жыл бұрын
I fit the description, love mechanical things and metalworking. I'm pushing 60(ouch) and learned on cars and trucks without computers, I've slowly adjusted over the years, learned a lot and have gotten pretty good with computerized systems. But I still enjoy mechanical things more, my drag car is a '72 Monte Carlo, big block Chevy with tunnel ram and two Holleys cause that's what I like, I could go faster with an LS engine, turbos and electronic fuel injection but that's not me, that'll be in my son's car(he loves the new stuff). I'm glad my son's work with me cause they push me into learning the new technology, it keeps the brain active.
@Nikkuuu698 жыл бұрын
I started getting an interest in cars about a year ago, and a few months ago I finally purchased a Toyota MR2 to work on as a project car. Professionally, I work as an electrical engineer, which also includes writing software, so I know a little bit about how engine management systems work, but still, I would have loved a car that was fully mechanical. Electronics systems are not open, the source code is not publicly available, and you usually need electrical tools and software experience to get a peek into what's happening inside an ECU. So yeah, personally even I tend to lean towards fully mechanical cars when I want to learn about mechanical stuff!
@response2u7 жыл бұрын
Eric, I wish I had a garage with all your tools! Then I could not wait for my car to break down :) It feels so nice to be able to repair things! Lucky you!
@stymiesnerdly7718 жыл бұрын
Actual practice vs theory. Well stated Eric. My background is in theory, yet I love & gravitate to the physical application & actual practice. Most certainly two different worlds.
@jesteris258 жыл бұрын
My dad called me Passion Paws when I was a kid. Everything I pulled apart I fucked. You all be happy to know I have gotten a lot better over the years lol.
@lewdards11278 жыл бұрын
haha i did the same. i still fuck most things i pull apart.
@Rookie_DIY8 жыл бұрын
lew dards same lol but have improved. And if we break it we know next time what not to do so we learn maybe try this....opps broke it lol
@veverius18 жыл бұрын
same here :D
@JTRtv8 жыл бұрын
so true haha I still remember back 30 years ago when my dad found 6 year old me figured out how to use a screwdriver and had his brand new radio laid out in pieces, course neither of us had any idea how to get it back together. Luckily nowadays I'm alot better at getting stuff back together, minus those extra screws and whatnot that they always put in with stuff ;)
@ChinnuWoW8 жыл бұрын
Literally or figuratively fucked?
@Pureservize18 жыл бұрын
Eric I am as well a visual learner. That is why I like you tube I can see the repair or assembly being put together verses reading about how to put it together. I could probably read those directions 20 times and not get it verses seeing a diagram or blue print and being able to repair it or assemble it. Just how I have always been as I can see in the other comments here.
@mindthependulum62458 жыл бұрын
I also took apart stuff as a kid. I read about Tesla when I was 7, then radio shack became my toy store. By the time I was 9 I taught myself to solder joints. I was the kid that had to program everyone's VCR and I fixed radios as a hobby. When I did Autobody, I was appreciated because I enjoyed doing the electrical work. I still like to listen to the sound of an engine for an initial diagnosis. I like to take a good look around to get an initial feel for things. That being said, I love computer controlled systems. In a general sense, they make life way quicker as a technician. Read a code after getting a feel for what's wrong, then you only change out parts that need it instead of guessing and spending way more time and money than needed.
@BrianHollihan8 жыл бұрын
I did the same exact thing when I was a kid lol. I'd take my toys and bicycle apart to see how it all worked. And that's exactly how I learned to fix stuff is hands on.👍🏽😊
@snorman19118 жыл бұрын
Like many others commenting, I spent my childhood taking everything I had apart. But many of the things I was taking apart were electronic games and other similar items. Then I got a Commodore and started coding, then I got into electronics and spent most of my teens designing circuits and stuff. My favorite was hardware that would let the computer interface with physical stuff. For example, I gutted an old printer, designed some motor drivers and an interface for the PC parallel port, and turned it into a plotter that could draw on a piece of paper with a pen, controlled by software. So when I started messing around with cars, computer control of stuff made so much more sense to me than magical linkages and vacuum hoses.
@RyanJardina8 жыл бұрын
I think understanding the things you can't really use your senses on are more important. For example, anybody can take apart an engine and put it back together. But torquing everything down and measuring the tolerances, you can use your senses to a degree but you still have to understand the numbers/concepts behind them. Same thing with Electronics or electrical. Mechanical things are just less obvious, to most people.
@Dreccomel1938 жыл бұрын
It's a great question... I have a high every time I get to fix something on my truck, that feeling I get is my drug but as you said it has to be a physical thing that ca be touched or see. Otherwise, I have a hard time doing the repair. Recently I changed the alternator on my truck and the hardest part of the process was the bolts I could not see, once I pass through those bolts it was relatively easy. Whereas the rear wiper stopped working and for what I had read the issue was electrical, so I had to start with the basics from the switch at the console to the rear wiper motor. I had to check for power, ground & continuity. The thought process for both repairs is completely different on one hand you see what you are doing (for the most part) and on the other, some detail thought process must be involved because otherwise some variables would be forgotten or go uncheck.
@danbeeson40598 жыл бұрын
Today's young technicians and many who will be entering the trade grew up in a time where if your bicycle breaks, go to Walmart and buy a new one. Most mechanically inclined people enjoy kinesthetic learning however in today's world, youth rarely get the opportunity to experiment, unless it's inside a video game.
@chaznelson61298 жыл бұрын
If I were in the area, I would have loved to be mentored by either you or humble mechanic. When I started as a tech, I caught on fast, but my lack of experience kept me from attacking more (skilled) jobs. after being a "mechanic" for a year and a half I just barely did my first timing belt. Easy but paranoid , because messed up timing, messed up engine, you know. And didn't have anyone to bounce questions off of. Gave me the job, and the job hours, and was told "don't lose me money" since in hourly. Both of you are very knowledgeable and seem to express your teachings in a very understandable language. my horrible first shop experience might be kicking me to leave the field. Pay is 12$ on flat rate now with one lift to work on and I only get the "gravy", that being LOFs brakes spark plugs fluids, and easy diag. I guess my question is, how do you get out of this mindset that "being a mechanic is fun, but it sucks and is not rewarding?"
@MB-tj8un8 жыл бұрын
I too am a "tinkerer". I'm a computer technician for my career, with 13+ years experience in the field. I'm a mechanic for the family and close friends, and my own cars. Most extreme was a clutch on a Honda lol, basic maintenance, suspension, etc. No certification for the mechanic stuff though, just trial and error, self-taught, haynes/chiltons, and of course youtube (these days). I'm fascinated with motorsports and motors since I was a kid. The family still to this day doesn't let me forget how I took apart the Teddy Ruxpin. RIP mr. Ruxpin it was for a good cause. Or how I used to rewind cassette tapes like a boss with my modded 'kids wood-working-lathe'. I've now become the "go-to" guy among my friends and relatives for nearly anything that takes electricity or fuel to work. LOL? Thanks for being you ETCG!
@sbn1207 жыл бұрын
took apart EVERYTHING. couldnt necessarily put it back together though. my parents had to hide all the screwdrivers. so I started using butter knives. I definitely enjoy the analog side of mechanics better, but am learning (slowly) to embrace the multi-meter.
@flipgenyus8 жыл бұрын
YES! Exactly. I took everything apart as a kid, much to my parents' frustrations. The funny thing is I started as a automotive tech long ago, but ended up as an IT technician now. but I'm still the family mechanic and do side jobs when I have time.
@MikeHaduck8 жыл бұрын
Hi eric, love your channel, I was thinking of doing a video on bypassing all the computer stuff on a front wheel drive 4 cyld (distrubutorless) and make it run on the basics without the computer,, I know they do it in the poor countries, I would like to see you do it first,
@stihltech2067 жыл бұрын
I started helping my dad wrench on the family cars when I was about 5 years old. I have always taken care of my own cars and have only reached out to machine shops for help with cylinder heads and boring the block. My first real job was helping my dad with his office machine business, started out cleaning the used ones up for resale and ended up helping him connect the machines to office networks. There are a lot of bits and pieces to a photocopier and you need to know your way around a DVOM to diagnose a lot of the potential issues. Needless to say, nothing scares me under the hood of the car. It's the damn paint that I just cant seem to get right... lol
@joshlynch70648 жыл бұрын
thanks for all the great content. really helped me out going through my apprenticeship.
@asdf072xxp8 жыл бұрын
I have a love/hate relationship with my mechanic. Our deal is, charge me shop rates for diagnosis because I WILL try to fix it myself. Most of the time, I get it done. Other times, a tow truck pulls into their driveway with a half disassembled car. (When they see my car pull up on a flatbed, the managers are already at the desk shaking their heads and laughing when I come through the door. It's my walk of shame.) It's not the money. Sometimes I'll end up spending more that the shop estimate. I just really want to know how it works.
@bosborn18 жыл бұрын
I like both methods. Visual based learning only takes you so far. Being able to figure out things in the abstract just using knowledge or a book makes you a even better troubleshooter. This is probably why I love electronic control based engines. To me it's easier to tune a motor with code than to use a timing light. The mechanical systems just seem archaic...I guess it's just the generation I grew up in being born in the late 70's That being said I do enjoy mechanical injection Diesel engines. I love the precision and the complexity of the injection pumps
@JUSTINSTURGILLTRUCKING8 жыл бұрын
Eric I completely agree I am definitely a more visual learner like if I read a book I could not understand it how it works if I watched a video or a guy showed me how it works all day and I am able to fix it 100% like the repeatability of it so I agree with what you're saying and also a fellow native of Cincinnati
@chriskeiley53438 жыл бұрын
well I was pulling door knobs off my house when I was 4 I think and putting them back on... part of being a mechanic/ technician is pulling things apart and finding out how it really work. part of being a tech is reading how things work and how to test them. when you work on one line of vehicle you wont have to read so much. electrical theory is like you said eric, one of those things you can't touch or see (it's magic) however some people are just really good with electrical theory.
@justsumguy2u8 жыл бұрын
I think that many people are intimidated by automotive electronics, and it doesn't have to be that way. First of all, there is a wealth of information on the internet nowadays about specific systems and how they work. Secondly, a scan tool (even an inexpensive one) can help, and there are some parts you can check with nothing more than voltage or resistance checks. And thirdly, some of those diagnostic procedures that were used on mechanical systems can still be used today. For instance, you can still check fuel pressure and spark.
@kmcca088 жыл бұрын
Hey Eric. Love your videos.. have you ever thought of doing some work on diesels?? I'd love to see some videos of some pick ups or something similar, I'm amazed by those massive diesel trucks you guys have over there..think it would be very interesting..
@mph58967 жыл бұрын
I went from a parts changer to a pretty decent mechanic off quality youtube videos. Took some auto tech classes 15 years ago but youtube really changed everything. Scanner Danner, Brians mobil 1, motoyam82, South Main Auto, Schrodingers Box, Ford tech makuloco, mccuistian all make some quality auto repair content. Mustie1 for small engines and entertainment
@pixotee20078 жыл бұрын
I had to learn how to work on cars from need. Found people who taught me or gave advice (loaned some tools). So the analog systems lend themselves to people trying to learn. Accumulating empirical knowledge can/is a foundation for more abstract (higher) understanding of the various systems and the car as a whole. I tell ya man. I have no talent and very little skill but I have curiosity. and that gets me in as much trouble as it gets me out of tight spots. I suppose the most daunting challenge is not fixing what is broken but DIAGNOSING or troubleshooting. You know the car don't run or is not doing...something. That is the effect. but being methodical in a step by step process of deduction determining the problem... that is challenging. Then figuring out why the system failed, that is a whole leap in knowledge and it is almost an art form. I love digital because you pull out the component and plug in a new one. But you learn nothing (or next to nothing) you only know that it now works. OK, I am a drama queen here goes: -: I don't want to live that way. (lol) no. seriously I like to know why... I am a curious old bastard.
@MechanicalMikesRoadsideRepair8 жыл бұрын
I think it started when I got gifted these things called Knex and also some legos but it was the knex and I was young maybe 7 or 8 or something around there. people seen how good i read the instructions and put things together quickly and also made my custom things from those toys. then someone taught me a little about bicycles, I ended up having a lot of bikes and parts and had collected tools i was gifted. I still work on bikes but not so much and i had to clean my collection a bit. a couple of family members taught me basic things on cars,they still teach me but then I had friends with cars more recently within the past 5 years, I watched KZbin videos and the gods gifted me the ase youtube certified mechanic knowledge so I had the confidence to fix their cars...for the most part i did everything really correct, there were times i did things wrong but learned from it. They had no clue how to work on cars but I did and made some money doing some car work for them. I never asked for money I just did it because I liked it and they gave me money.
@Ryzomadman8 жыл бұрын
Used to take lots of things apart as a kid, only time I got into real trouble was taking apart my parents new JVC VHS video after I got a tape with cartoons stuck In it eventually managed to sit properly a while later once dad taught me the error of my ways
@TheCoatneyadkins8 жыл бұрын
personally,i like BOTH...I like being able to see that something is in distress, and knowing what to look for to tell if it's bad off... sometimes ya might have to break out some precision measuring equipment etc etc... but also , something about electronics, maybe the mystique about NOT being able to see physically what's wrong that INTRIGUES me! and even with the special equipment, one still wouldn't even be able to tell what their looking at, or wether or not there's a problem... which is even more intriguing!! it's almost like a treasure hunt, like the movie national treasure, where you have to go research something, then find the right tool, then research something else, and something else, then finally do your tests, and use your brain to put all the peices of the puzzle together to find the problem, then enter the mechanical aspect of fixing it replacing a component perhaps, and then you still don't know if your path was the correct one until you start the car!!!! it's fascinating, old and new, mechanical and electronic! love it all... and I'm 30...I think right in the middle of the generational split where one side is analog and the other is digital...
@NickNakorn8 жыл бұрын
Anecdotally I think you're right. I have a one-man micro business fixing, restoring and modifying classic and older cars here in the UK. I know I could easily get to grips with electronic systems and some of the software required is now more affordable. But I really don't have the desire to do it. I started life as an artist and have been a designer. I use those exact same skills, albeit directed towards making (my own car project) designing and fixing cars rather than making art or being paid for graphic design work. In many ways, I still see myself as a visual, creative person and the technical aspects of what I do are just part of the tool kit.
@mevsme64168 жыл бұрын
I got into it with helping my uncle fix his cars. something about nuts bolts and screws and making things work again just stuck with me.
@351cat8 жыл бұрын
I've just always been the "how does that work?" type of person. From taking apart RC cars back in my early years all the way to becoming a technician shortly after high school. Even now, I'll replace a component and sometimes take it apart just to see exactly what failed. It sometimes pains me when I can't due to warranty or strict core requirements, lol.
@devohnmitchell9 ай бұрын
As a Child I remember replacing oil out the lawnmower, taking my wheels off my bike and putting them back on, messing around with belts on the vacuum cleaner. As I got older I learned by working on my car.. In the military we had a mechanic shop where you could check out tools to work on your car. I learned how to change my oil, brakes, battery just basic stuff. Then I learned how to do Struts, alternator, starter, from a Friend of Mine that was a Mechanic Who Passed away (RIP). I always watched guys in the trades to learn different stuff. When I got a House..I learned even more. Now I know some electrical, plumbing, carpentry..Etc.
@nerysalguero39568 жыл бұрын
I'm more of hands on learner. I never excelled at the regular school stuff math English or science. It never caught my attention but when I signed up for auto class. I felt more intrigued. I learned because my teacher would take us out and have us dismantle engines and show us what he part was and how it worked with everything. I went to UTI learned my trade and loved it all. Excelled in my classes and was a damn good mechanic until knees started giving out.
@Lauren_C8 жыл бұрын
I learned to drive stick when I bought my first manual car from Carmax. I pretty much researched what not to do, then it was off to the races.
@NebukedNezzer8 жыл бұрын
I grew up on the farm in the 1950s. learned about mechanics, electricity, plumbing, hydraulics, carpentry, metal working, welding, all by doing. Of course learning from other sources over the years including the great internet. I will leave you with a chinese saying I used when I was a teacher. "I see and I forget, I do and I understand".
@latauricewalker8 жыл бұрын
Always took things apart to see how it works and then put it back together but got it from my dad he was mechanic
@michaelblacktree8 жыл бұрын
Guilty as charged! I'm definitely a visual learner, and also a "hands on" learner. That said, I believe that electronic components do have their place. For example, I'll take EFI over a carburetor any day.
@mustie18 жыл бұрын
as a kid pickin on trash day, dragging old mowers home then taking them apart with my tool box that had a hammer and vise grips, and not very good ones at that.
@rgebes2228 жыл бұрын
Mustie1 lol yup I did the same with 20 year old rounded off sockets and my work "table". A bowed out cardboard door on a set of sawhorses
@patthesoundguy8 жыл бұрын
I have been working with cars, learned by the school of hard knocks and been doing most of my own work and some some for other people at least twenty plus years now. I was the kid that took everything apart as well. I have a small engine business now as well a being an audio engineer full time. I use computers and all kinds of other technologies to do.what I do. so I understand the electrical trouble shooting process very well it translates well to modern vehicles. I still gravitate towards mechanical systems even though I see the huge benefits I don't want a computer controlling my engine, I don't like being at the mercy of sensors and semi fragile components.
@ChewbacaTW8 жыл бұрын
I do much of my own mechanical work on my cars and I really like learning by doing. I.E. diagnosis, and then replacement or something to that effect. But I also am a full time programmer in my day job but I still feel like the work for that is mechanical even though I'm just driving a keyboard and mouse to adjust code. But i've noticed a similar issue between those 2 worlds that I spend time with. There seems to be a movement in the automotive industry to add obscuring facades onto parts of vehicles or technology that i work with. They don't want people fiddling with the workings or to even observe the workings. they further abstract necessary knowledge about the interactions between pieces of technology, either because the connecting pieces are proprietary or because they aren't designed to be serviceable. I'm sure that they aren't doing this out of malice but it is terribly annoying as someone that likes to learn by doing. And if I cant see how the parts work together then I won't be able to extrapolate important implications that are necessary to the diagnosis and resolution of the problem.
@idb68 жыл бұрын
YES! The first thing I did after buying a car with an engine shroud was pull it off and toss it into storage. The only reason I still have it is in case it's something important to a buyer in the event I ever decide to sell it.
@2-old-Forthischet8 жыл бұрын
When I was about to get my driver's license, my dad put the car repair manual in front of me and told me that if I was going to drive the family car, I was going to learn to fix it. Thus the beginning of this gearhead. Fast forward to older age when I worked with telecom stuff which included a lot of electrical and computers. Technology has advanced so quickly that it literally got to the point of "green light good, red light bad". Humans are becoming obsolete!
@hatterassportmechanic56218 жыл бұрын
future suggested for c1500 keep it simple and update prom for computer. different advance curve and injection rate. seen good improvement in power and economy. good luck
@SJGINC8 жыл бұрын
That's me 100%. I put everyone's toys together at holidays. I also built models and electronic kits. I learn best from doing. I am not a mechanic, but I fix mine and my family's cars. Just plugged a son's tire this weekend.
@RobCarstuff91128 жыл бұрын
The audio sounds awesome!
@bigcliffe8 жыл бұрын
Correct.....recently watched a tip from Wells on a part that is universal ...comes in a special package and the instructions are that when you get the part that you do NOT play with it....like most us will do when we collect a new part....we love to hold it twist any thing on it that moves....just for the satisfaction of an appreciation of the way it works and its design.......we love to try to understand the quality and its function....however doing that with the part would render it useless or it would have to be re coded at the minimum.....I prefer to play with my parts...
@joselozano05288 жыл бұрын
Before I even worked on cars, I actually build a car out of legos with working suspension & steering. It had other things to, like lights & doors. I was 11 years old & worked on it tell I was 16. Now that I'm actually working on cars I have a much better understanding of how cars work.
@toothpicdinosaur37777 жыл бұрын
"mechanically inclined" the phrase I hate. I grew up being labeled as mechanically inclined and was faced with what seemed to be impossible tasks and brought me to where I am, but I really don't think that I want to work on customers cars anymore or be on the vamputer's time set. Also being 5'5" 110lbs everything is starting to become a physical challenge. does anyone have any suggestions on maybe a similar position in field but less exhausting?
@Nipplator999999999998 жыл бұрын
If I had started on today's cars then I probably would have just walked away, but it's too late now and I had to adjust with the times. I don't mind the electronics, it just feels like I need a new tool for every car lately.
@lethalgarage8308 жыл бұрын
i have a difficult time when it come to electrical stuff mostly cause l like seeing things move and function not just invisible electrical signals
@jamesplum91828 жыл бұрын
I like the automotive electrical side of things and Eric does have a point. All it comes to is who can make it easy to understand it but that comes with time and understand what part fails and understand why how. Having a Mechanical and a electrical understand works both ways. With automatics transmissions have electrical systems then Mechanical. But it does the same job it it was a Mechanical part but does come back to having a good teacher and someone that has a lot of years learning it. Been a Automotive Technician inst just a job its a real thinking game that sometimes plugging in a laptop you can find the code but to a point that much older cars it changes your thinking. i dont know what other Technicians dont all think the same way but there may ways to skin a cat. What you think Eric. I like to ask many Older Tradesman what they think what i said.
@miami13938 жыл бұрын
btw Eric, that interior looks impecable for a 1995
@leedress21878 жыл бұрын
I like both sides of cars the analog and the digital. I love the mechanical because i can see my work, but I've always been into electrical and computer stuff too. I just wish some of the tools on the computer side were a little more cost effective for the shadetree guys like myself. I had to fix an SRS problem on one of my cars recently and had to find someone who had a veris. that showed me the issue, so i went and fixed it, then had to go back to have him clear the codes. I can't justify the cost of a veris for the work that i do. Generic OBD2 gets me by for most stuff, but the more involved stuff requires tools I can't afford.
@hondofourfivetwo93478 жыл бұрын
I usually took my toys a part but only when they were already broken at that point I either fixed it or "made it better" LoL if I couldn't do those two things with it, it became parts to make other broken toys better or something completely original and new.
@davidhealdjr.5138 жыл бұрын
I'm an IT guy by trade, so I'm ok with abstract concepts and connecting them to actual results and actions. However, when I get off work for the day or weekend, and I need to work on my car, I really don't want to do that same sort of stuff. I want the simplicity of an old carbed V8.
@getlikeus12477 жыл бұрын
Eric is great!
@GEARMOAUTO8 жыл бұрын
I had to learn from needing to be able to fix my own cars. I always had the most unreliable cars. I never have had an empty fix it list since I was 14.
@christianguzman82288 жыл бұрын
I dare you to post your best attempt at opening both of the C1500's doors at the same time.
@ETCG18 жыл бұрын
Sounds like fun actually, but I don't think it would be that difficult. I'm taller than you think. At least that's what most people comment on when they meet me for the first time.
@tauruskeys8 жыл бұрын
Hey Eric! I been watching your videos for sometime on advice for cars. But I have to ask about your thought on HHO engine modifications. I ask because I'm in love with science and I believe that automotive training with scientific study can take a technician from Diary of a whimpy kid to Brock Lesnar, I like metaphores to sorry lol. but can you please do a video on HHO VEHICLE MODIFICATION please and thank you for taking the time to read my response
@jordantaylor62638 жыл бұрын
When I was a young kid I would take apart my bike and put them back together also. As well as my skateboard
@flyingtjar0078 жыл бұрын
So I'm not alone. I use to take things (toys) apart and put them back together all the time as a kid.
@TomB19888 жыл бұрын
I don't like working on car electrical stuff for the exact reason you mentioned, you can't see it!
@michaelallen25018 жыл бұрын
As a young tech I struggle the most with the digital stuff. E-classes don't help. I know plenty of the theiry, even have my A.S.E. cert for Electrical. But have no confidence in it. Hands on is the only thing that sticks with me. But I trust the equipment and the theory, and prefer working on the digital age. But I prefer every other system if the car to be analog. Manual with 3 pedals, No ABS, no TCS, no stability management, hydraulic steering and vacuum assisted brakes at most. My toys are typically mid 90's to late 00's for that reason. Like my current project, a 96 Z/28. Plan on converting the single coil, distributor ignition to an LS PCM and 24x reluctor based coil near plug setup. Everything else is up to the driver lol.