Online Mechanics School?

"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44) 10/24/2013 at 00:17 • Filed to: Autoschool

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I know Lifehacker has an online school in the fall for tech, math and social sciences. Is there a place where I can go to learn more about cars. Anyone know of any good, free online resources.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:18

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I recommend jalopnik.com and oppositelock.jalopnik.com to get a basic understanding.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 00:20

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This has been a real eye opener, I typically use those websites for car related musings and biased opinions.

PRBot II > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:28

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I was gonna say what Mtr said.

Anyway, auto tech classes are really hands-on. I learned a lot of stuff out in the shop I never would have learned from reading.

ddavidn > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:29

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Go buy a broken car, tear it apart, try to put it back together and make it work!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > ddavidn 10/24/2013 at 00:34

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I would love to but my limited cash and single bay garage doesn't give me this option.

Turner950 > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 00:35

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We need more Murilee Martin-esque posts, like the Turbo II boombox and the Skull brake lights.

rabbitman > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:36

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Quick ? are you still in school, if so check into your schools auto repair/votech classes

I know in my state they are offered in the highschool, Some of my schools offer it on site some send you to the closets vo-tech if the district doesnt offer it. When your done you can come out with your diploma and ASE certification or better get pulled in to a program from GMC/Honda/Chrysler, if they sponsor the program and you are good. My little sister started this went for a year, decided she didnt want be dirty her whole life.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > PRBot II 10/24/2013 at 00:36

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I would love to have time to go to some but my crappy income and limited free time doesn't give me much time for fricks to be given.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > PRBot II 10/24/2013 at 00:37

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No matter how much you read or do, you will never know where that stupid goddamn nut is supposed to go.

rabbitman > rabbitman 10/24/2013 at 00:38

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and if not http://www.wyotech.edu/ is about the best option, move away for 6 months to a year and be a pro.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > rabbitman 10/24/2013 at 00:38

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I was just hoping to get a bit more understanding on service items I could do myself. I am a university graduate working a landscaping job that takes up most of my time.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Turner950 10/24/2013 at 00:40

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Yes. I miss Murilee and the parking lot mechanic articles, DOTS and junkyard finds. Not to mention her LeMons coverage. Matt is doing a good job at the helm, but the old Jalopnik is lost. It's not as autobloggy as it was under Wert, but it's more like an automotive Reddit now.

rabbitman > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:43

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well then here and YouTube. here are some basic first do it yourself things.

Also if you find a knowledgeable person at the local auto parts store they can be helpful(those are hard to find these days) or if you see a friend is going to do something their self ask if you can help or watch.

People that know how to do things love showing others.

Turner950 > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 00:44

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This. This so much. I hope Matt is listening.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > rabbitman 10/24/2013 at 00:44

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Thanks a lot dude! Will watch these and hopefully learn a little something.

PRBot II > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:45

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Youtube videos are also pretty helpful (sometimes). Check those and try wrenching your own car. Careful though, breaking stuff is all too easy.

Here's some decent generic info from a kind of annoying guy, Scotty Kilmer:

Scotty Kilmer Channel

Turner950 > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 00:46

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But then again, an automotive Reddit would get way more page views than one focused on the niche art of modifying decrepit cars (jalopies) (not sure where -nik in jalopnik comes from). I can understand why they'd change.

rabbitman > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:46

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YouTube and Google will pretty much answer every question you ever have. almost.

Their conversational search is pretty awesome just ask and it will provide most of the time.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Turner950 10/24/2013 at 00:47

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So do I. It seems like every post is either news, rumors, or

'Hey guys look at this! You wont believe this! This is soooo rad!'

Oh, and Oppo cross posts.

PRBot II > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 00:52

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True words right there.

GhostZ > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 00:55

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I wonder if MIT Open Courseware has any mechanical engineering courses available...

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Truth be told, that website is amazing. You can lean more in a few weeks than what an entire semester of college will teach you, it just takes initiative and creativity (which most students lack) to get the most out of it in less time.

Edit: Yep, there's a ton of them.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/find-b…

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Turner950 10/24/2013 at 01:04

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If I want to see automotive Reedit, I would browse /r/cars, or my favorite (and source of many pics I've posted... shhh on that) subreddit, /r/carporn

I believe the nik comes from sputnik, which is why Jalopnik covers space and aerospace topics as well as cars. I understand why they changed too, but that doesn't mean I like it. And as I said, Matt (and Torch) has done a good job bringing some of the quirk back.

Remember the Awesomeness Manifesto? They know. Now, about Kinja...

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ddavidn > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 01:15

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Ah yes. I have those problems myself. I learn a little bit about cars every month when I have to fix mine. Other than that, just learning from other people's projects, Oppo is a good place to do that. Magazines like grassroots motorsports have some info, browsing forums for projects. Reading through repair manuals and parts diagrams... it gets boring quick if you aren't actually working on something.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > ddavidn 10/24/2013 at 01:17

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Ya I would love to have an old junker to work on. I do have an '82 Honda ZR50 I could mess around with. Tough to get parts for though.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > GhostZ 10/24/2013 at 01:19

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Holy crap, there is an unreal amount of courses on there. That link could steal any and all of my spare time. Hat tip to you sir.

GhostZ > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/24/2013 at 01:31

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I use it to get an advantage by learning course material a few weeks in advance before I take the courses at my college. In many cases, they are taught better online, and since there isn't a grade at the end, your knowledge is contingent only one what you can take from them, rather than what grade you can force out of the professor at the end.

All teaching is self teaching.

Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 03:37

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Murilee is a guy, writes for Car & Driver, still covers LeMons ...

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy 10/24/2013 at 03:45

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I know. The Murilee is a girl thing is an old joke.

Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/24/2013 at 03:51

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Ah, well then, jokes on me ha ha!

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Ignorance of NASCAR is a Jalopnik Trophy 10/24/2013 at 03:53

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Haha that's ok, it is Veeeery old. Relevant link

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