New Owner of a DSM but clueless about cars

[Lvzbel]

Hello I bought a GSX about a 4 months ago and so far good very fun car to drive. But I have one problem I have no clue about about cars and I tried looking for automotive classes on the weekends but I had no luck and Im a Medicine student trying to get into Med School so I have to no time to get anymore classes. Even thou Im a really hands on person and I like doing stuff myself and learning in the process but I have no clue how to start learning with my car.

How did you guys learn? Is there any books that will help me get familiar with every part of my car? Any advice will be gladly appreciated.

 

[Clinical]

Reading on places like here are key.
I learned from watching from my buddy on his 11 sec civic and having him help me when I first got my awd talon when I knew nothing mechanical. There were times where I had problems and he couldn't help me and I had no choice so I searched it on here and got it all step by step and did it myself. The first time was a 30minute job that took me about 3-4 hours but I did it, and after that alone I was pretty damn proud of myself. All it was was taking apart everything down to the timing belt to tighten up a pulley that had backed out. Then it was pulling my turbo/o2 housing/mani/etc, and it just goes on and on from there.

 

[killahb33]

Agreed with blurred talon, get a factory service manual, it has helped me a lot, I have not even had my car for a year, have not touched and haynes or chilton. And hosting/going to a meet is key too! Unless your the only 1g that shows up, like I was :S

 

[wishin4nX]

where in LA are you? check the socal section in the regional forums, youll find some meets to go to, and we can teach you everything u want to know

 

[90turbolaserfwd]

The internet is a wonderful thing, but I don't know about you but I live by my haynes manual. Kinda the dsm'ers bible...

 

[DSM1G90]

(dating myself here now....) Coming from straight six and V-8's, carburetors to F-I's, distributors to SS ignition system and to small 4 cyl motors was quite the switch. Learning on SOHC's was the first, then gradually to DOHC's (being the 4G63 being the most complicated belt job that needs to be done...), but in all, it was Chiltons that got me on the roll (even though they're really not that all thorough when I had to hit the shop manuals).

Bottom line - study like you've never study before when it comes to the world of the automobile..

Good luck-DSM

 

[boostmek]

find a buddy that's already a gear head and help him when ever you can or ask him to help you work on your car. that's how i learned my dads buddy asked if i wanted to help him install a bumper on his 69 coronet when i was eight and i have been turning wrenches since and picking things up along the way. you'll never stop learning though which is the greatest thing about cars. so get out there get dirty and start networking with people and practice anger management cause you're probably going to get mad time and time again.

 

[90gen1tsi]

Holy crap does that means that they are unreliable ? Is not a concert to me since i have another backup car. I really bought this car to learn and from what i read the GSX can be a beast coming from a honda that i dont even feel the inspiration to work on it

They can be fairly reliable if they are treated right. They are a fun car all the way around. Even stock you will have several legs up on your average honda. actually in short it will become an addiction.... Love/Hate type I can't get enough of my car!

 

[gabytech]

... from what I've read in this post, alot of ppl here know how to put their bolt-on performance parts in their dsm, but very few ppl here actually have automotive knowledge on how the automobile works and is design. A lot of ppl have given the dude the advice to read the repair manual and various threads here in dsmtuners. Like I said reading the repair manual won't serve of anything if you don't have the knowledge on how the automobile works and all their various components.... Nothing against no one, its just an observation, ...

 

[kidtsi]

^So you can shut the EF up. jk its common sense.

YouTube - 4 Cylinder Engine Cutaway Animation

YouTube - AWESOME ENGINE ANIMATION....

YouTube - How a Turbocharger Works

YouTube - How Turbochargers Work

 

[RT-AWD]

Didn't bother to read the whole thread because, I just farted and am holding my breathe but, if it hasn't been mentioned already, buy the shop manuals for the car, and study them. Buy tools etc. because, after a few years with a DSM you automatically will become ASE Certified. <-- That is a fact. (Kidding, it isn't.)

 

[gabytech]

so if its common sense, why do so many ppl post bs threads in the forum, needing help cause their engine died and won't start, or their engine no idling good, or their engine stalling, or their engine reaching redline at 4k rpms. Even having the reapair manual don't serve any good to some ppl. I ain'y hating, I'm just advice the guy who started the thread, to fist learn how the automobile works, before he tries and make simple work on his car. I'm a certified ASE master automotive technician and certified by Mercedes Benz USA with 11 years experience and training at the job. Theres a huge difference between an automotive mechanic and an automotive technician. Automotive mechanics are the "grease monkey town shop" guys who only knowledge is to make oil changes, brake and suspension repairs, and automotive technicians trobleshoots, diagnose, and repair engine problems and have bumper to bumper knowledge and training. I'm not giving myself a kick, but since this ain't my hobby, its my carrer and life, I advice the guy to first learn how the automobile works before attempting to turn the wrench under the hood of his DSM. Youtube videos are awesome and really help a lot to udnerstand how the engine works, and the various components in the engine. 10 thumbs up for youtube videos...

 

[19tsi91]

I grew up workin on vehicles. For me there was alot of hands on and reading when I got myself lost in a project. I had bought a 94 Laser turbo for my first. I rebuild junk motors from the junk yard I worked at until I knew it and was confident in my dsm build. Somehow, when I went to a Mitsubishi, I had gotten in good with the 2 senior techs that helped me fine tune the car on a fresh 10:1 compression 4G63T. The rest pretty much has been reading (if i get an idea... i research those who have thought of it/ what all it will take to make it happen. Hands on all the way, but don't be scared to ask if you're not sure.

 

[kidtsi]

so if its common sense, why do so many ppl post bs threads in the forum, needing help cause their engine died and won't start, or their engine no idling good, or their engine stalling, or their engine reaching redline at 4k rpms. Even having the reapair manual don't serve any good to some ppl. I ain'y hating, I'm just advice the guy who started the thread, to fist learn how the automobile works, before he tries and make simple work on his car. I'm a certified ASE master automotive technician and certified by Mercedes Benz USA with 11 years experience and training at the job. Theres a huge difference between an automotive mechanic and an automotive technician. Automotive mechanics are the "grease monkey town shop" guys who only knowledge is to make oil changes, brake and suspension repairs, and automotive technicians trobleshoots, diagnose, and repair engine problems and have bumper to bumper knowledge and training. I'm not giving myself a kick, but since this ain't my hobby, its my carrer and life, I advice the guy to first learn how the automobile works before attempting to turn the wrench under the hood of his DSM. Youtube videos are awesome and really help a lot to udnerstand how the engine works, and the various components in the engine. 10 thumbs up for youtube videos...

I born with a wrench on my hand, for me it is. hope the videos are helpful for the OP.

 

[Silverspyder]

Haynes and Chiltons. Read tech articles and VFAQ.com. The good news is, you might not know much about cars NOW, but after owning a DSM for awhile, you'll know A LOT about cars.

 

[Lvzbel]

Thanks everyone sorry for the late response but i was busy in school. I would love to go to school to learn more about cars and but I have my passion that is medicine but I always like cars and I take that as my hobby . Also I just don't want to become knowledgeable in DSM car but also on general, I don't want to go too crazy with my GSX because I was to keep it as my daily I just a powerful car and reliable too. Also my dream car is Datsun 240z so what I learn from my GSX will be really helpful later.

My big question is when I look under the hood I don't know what everything is so that being said, Is there any book that would show me the "anatomy" of a car and each part is use for? I think that if i learn that then I will be ready for the next step because when i read the forums I have no clue what are you guys talking about because I don't know most of the parts on a car and what they are use for. So if anyone can recommend a good to learn anatomy of a car Thank you everyone

 

[Russman1986]

Haynes Chilton manuals are real handy pick one up

 

[aPOS]

LA is a big place and I would go to some local meets and befriend some of them and then you can have people to help you and teach you that way. Also like stated before the manuals, vfaq, and this forum are very good sources of info.

where in LA are you? check the socal section in the regional forums, you'll find some meets to go to, and we can teach you everything u want to know

If you are a "hands on" person, potentially a future surgeon, then watching and participating with local people is a good choice to learn about your GSX. Similar to medical school, reading a book is fine, but getting your hands bloody/dirty is definitely beneficial.

 

[Lvzbel]

If you are a "hands on" person, potentially a future surgeon, then watching and participating with local people is a good choice to learn about your GSX. Similar to medical school, reading a book is fine, but getting your hands bloody/dirty is definitely beneficial.

haha right on, I always liked to work with my hands and yes I plan on being a Neurologist . Ya I guess Ill search around and see what happens.

Thanks everyone