As we were taught in the military - RTFM. Read The Farking Manual. Chat with mechanics and skim through the forums. You'll learn a lot through observation.

 

yep. cruising forums and read up as much on them as you can.

read a haynes manual front to back.

for me, i got sick and tired of paying mechanics a grand every time i broke something, only to go out, and break it again because A: they were lazy, or B: i was an idiot.

never been back to a shop since. i've now done a clutch, a couple engine swaps, torn an engine down, couple gear installs, numerous lift kits and tonnes of maintenence (driveshafts, ujoints, fluids, etc)

bottom line, you dont' learn unless you do it yourself.

two rules i've followed over the years.
first: if i've broken it, i probalby can't make it worse, and if i do, then call the tow truck and haul it off to the mechanics. at least i tried. you'd be surprised what determination can do.

second: tools are essential. instead of bringing something to a mechanic, do ALOT of research on the problem (like on here) ask questions, and buy the tools needed to do the job. tools are always a great investment.....

good luck

 

I started back when I was about 8 working on bicycles.... by 14, I was maintaining the family cars. When I was old enough to drive myself, and afford a vehicle, I could NOT afford to pay someone else to fix it... so, I learned more. I really enjoyed playing with things mechanical.... ESPECIALLY gas powered toys...... When it was time to join the workforce..... I went into auto repair. I hated body work, mainly because I suck at it. So, it was the wrench turnin' thing for me. Worked in both dealerships, and independent shops, and even ran my own shop for a few years. Closed that up when I moved out of the area. I have had some actual formal schooling for auto/truck repair, but, most of what I learned, I learned on my own, or, from working with other mechanics, that were happy to help me along. (The guys at the chevy dealership were fantastic. I was basically the performance guys' conjoined twin......)

Over the years, I accumulated a great many tools..... unfortunately, due to moves, thefts, and assorted other factors, my supply has diminished quite a bit. I can still do most everything I need to, but, there are some, that I am still working on replacing as I can.

Took me quite a while to get to the level I am today. And I STILL have a bunch to learn. That's why I came here. Find a community of knowledgeable folks, and learn from them, and help where I can. I have learned a LOT from here, and wish I had done my research BEFORE I bought the truck. I would have paid a lot less for it......

I transitioned from wrenching, to computers some time ago. At least, for what I did for a living. I got seriously tired of michigan slush dripping down my back..... Even worked on heavy trucks for a while, but, if the parts weren't huge and heavy, the tools to take them off WERE. Not my cup of tea. Now, I am just retired (medically) and poorer than a churchmouse.

 

Grow up in a house where it is common knowledge that everyone else in the world is a complete moron and cannot be trusted to work on "your" stuff.

Dad maintained all our motors. I helped, when ever I felt like being yelled at. Been doing my own maintenance for nearly 25 years, some stuff I don't touch cause I can't afford all the tools needed.

It also helped that all friends and neighbors also did/do their own work there was always some to watch/help. But that was yesteryear. Necessity also plays a HUGE HUGE role.

 

I have learned most of what i know through my dad, neighbor, and doing work on my truck, oh yea some forums too. The best thing to do is go out and tear up your truck then go back home and fix it....just kidding

but that is how most people learn, its not that I cant spend the money and have someone else fix it, but why not learn by doing it myself, and most of the time if you mess up the first time you can go back and do it right cheaper than going to a mechanic, and all the money you save you can waste on your truck

 

Mechanical ability and know how in general was self taught. I would know what the problem was, open a repair manual to see how it was done and then do it. Ram specific ability and know how was learned here.

 

I should have been more descriptive in my original response:
1) Buy quality tools and don't go cheap. If the proper tool costs $xx and you only have $x, either save up for the right tool or try to rent it. Cheap tools cause frustration and can damage parts, fasteners, or FAIL thus causing injury to you. The same holds true for replacement parts. Quality, not Kwality.

2) Download the Field Service Manual PDF that's located in the DIY section on this forum.

3) Religiously read through the DIY threads. Chances are good that whatever it is you wish to do has already been done by someone else. Study all pictures posted. Print off the steps or have a laptop, PC, or mobile device with the procedure available near the vehicle for reference.

4) PATIENCE. The first time performing a procedure is the learning curve. For example, the first time I removed the power steering pump from my truck took close to an hour. Now, I can remove one in approximately 20 minutes.

5) Alternate transportation is a big plus in the even a job takes longer than expected or problems are encountered. The best time to perform new or cumbersome tasks is a Saturday morning on the off chance the job ends up taking the entire weekend.

6) A clean and well organized workspace is essential. There is nothing worse than tripping over tools and/or parts in the garage. Egg cartons make great temporary storage for small nuts, bolts, and screws. A bench grinder with a wire wheel and a solvent tank are must have items for a garage.

 

a little bit of luck never hurts either

 

I feel that the best way to learn something mechanical is to own under the pretinse of," If I tear it up, I'm going to have to learn how to fix it". It's worked well for me in terms of motors, truck, cars, and computers.

I was introduced to the concept when I got my first computer. It was an ooooolllldddd P2 running Win95. It was given to me by my Stepdad and I quote," IF you **** it up, you will fix yourself". I tore that poor thing to pieces but it was a great experience for me. I still have that old thing running around here somewhere...

 

One of my development servers is a dual PII-450 that's still going strong and has outlived several workstations that have replaced it. It's gone through two PSU's, two complete fan replacements (and is coming due for a third), and one bad memory card, but the spare CPU is still unused in the original box. I keep it around because it gives me some indication of how my code will perform when a modern machine is under significant load.

But now I feel old... that machine was a power user's wet dream when I built it.

Another machine I keep around is one that I originally built as a server for a client and sent out for co-location. I started making noise 3.5 years later that it was coming due for a full fan replacement and they wouldn't listen. It would have been cheap enough -- a long-time friend lived near the co-lo and would have been in and out in half an hour and given them the good guy rate -- but they didn't want to do it. I kept on them, they kept putting it off, and when the last CPU fan (in the triple-fan cooler) died the machine halted every time it saw any significant load. Desperate, my client ordered up an entirely new server so I knocked a few bucks off of the bill in exchange for the old one. I replaced all of the fans and that one's still running strong, though not constantly, five years later.

Oh, the original point I was going to make: Like working on your own truck, if you know what you're doing and build and properly maintain your own computers you'll get a lot more bang for the buck and greater reliability, too. A well-maintained truck won't leave you looking out through the steam at the road you're about to walk, and a well-built, well-maintained computer, rather than leaving you cussing when it finally dies, will instead leave you impressed that it went for so darn long.

There's a lot to be said for learning about the pieces that make up your world and applying that knowledge to keep entropy at bay.