Auto Repair Online Course?

[FFChuck]

Hi all! This might sound funny but has anyone done an auto repair online course? The reason i'm asking this is quite simple: I'm 28 years old, full time firefighter, I have my little family and I couldn't afford timewise to go back to school. I feel I have learned a lot since I own my ranger by doing most of the repairs on it and modifying it, but I want to push the thing a little bit foward. I feel sometime I get stuck and I always wanted to do an auto repair course.
Thanks

 

[adsm08]

Auto-tech is hard to learn or teach online. Too much hands-on stuff.

 

[Mark_88]

I did one but it has taken me about 14 years so far...the course is called "The Ranger Station" and I am still learning more each day...the instructors are great...the material is pretty easy to understand but I have to keep reading because there is so much to learn and so many variations of components and combinations...

Then there is the practical application and there is a lab called a "Junkyard" where you can go in and dissect Ranger cadavers and others and most times come away with an understanding that no school can offer...

But...if you want a "formal" education...which may allow you to apply for positions after your career as a Fireman (thanks, eh!) is toast, er, done, a certificate from a recognized school might help...but, then again, as I've learned through my IT experience...there is always something new to be certified in and if you don't have all the "certs" you are not usually considered.

Personally, I don't like on-line formal stuff other than finding a problem, researching it on-line (especially here) and then go to it...so I've never checked out auto repair tech stuff to see what's out there.

I'm sure you will hear from others who may have experience in this area...and I will follow this to find out how wrong I am this time...

Oh, and welcome~

 

[FFChuck]

Thanks for the honest answer. I thought I had mentioned it but yes of course TRS has been a huge ressource. I don't have any plan to leave the department any time soon, it took me a lot of effort and time to get there and I love my job. I just want to learn more. I think there's not a single day I haven't check TRS for infos. Right now I'm swapping my 7.5 for the explorer 8.8 and I'm doing it on my own. I just don't want to screw it up. I've done some mods on my ranger with a good buddy of mine who's a mechanic for the city but he doesn't have much time now.

 

[adsm08]

The Explorer 8.8 swap is not difficult, it is somewhat... frustrating.

Obviously it needs some weld work. If you aren't proficient at welding and/or don't have access to a good welder (I have neither skill nor access) it's best to have that part done for you. After that it's just a lot of bolts. I used plates and U-bolts from an FX4-Level II with a 31-spline. Perfect fit.

After that the worst part was running the brake lines. I did disc brakes with mine, so I did master cylinder and that required adapters and such. Took a could weeks to get the hydraulics hammered out, usually a trip or two to NAPA each day.

 

[ab_slack]

I did one but it has taken me about 14 years so far...the course is called "The Ranger Station" and I am still learning more each day...the instructors are great...the material is pretty easy to understand but I have to keep reading because there is so much to learn and so many variations of components and combinations...

^^^ Great Mark!!!

I feel much the same. TRS often came up in searches and finally started asking questions.

I had done some simple stuff thru the years, but little more than the occasional poke here or there. Radio install, new battery, brake pads, oil change and had for a long time as I got older got lucky with some reliable cars and I just didn't want to get my hands dirty....

And then things changed...my daughters started reaching driving age and the household ballooned from having 2 cars to having 6. Learning and doing has become a matter of self defense. There is always something in need of attention and if something hasn't broke demanding immediate attention my BII has a number of things I want to do and my Explorer has a few minor issues to sort out. It has become an unplanned new hobby of sorts and I have found myself doing things I never imagined I could have done.

I learned so much for this site. I of course find bits in other places and videos on youtube help understand things. With a shop manual and some online searching I am enough to be dangerous. And then it is a matter of doing and usually about the time I am done I figured out most of what I messed up so if I have to do it again I will be prepared.

 

[creekman]

Auto-tech is hard to learn or teach online. Too much hands-on stuff.

so true!

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks for the honest answer. I thought I had mentioned it but yes of course TRS has been a huge ressource. I don't have any plan to leave the department any time soon, it took me a lot of effort and time to get there and I love my job. I just want to learn more. I think there's not a single day I haven't check TRS for infos. Right now I'm swapping my 7.5 for the explorer 8.8 and I'm doing it on my own. I just don't want to screw it up. I've done some mods on my ranger with a good buddy of mine who's a mechanic for the city but he doesn't have much time now.

Yeah, I saw that you had some experience and are already doing things beyond my 14 years of education...so a formal course would only tell you how to fix things that are broken and I think you're already beyond that. I doubt they would cover the swapping of partners, er, parts and all that is really important...after all, Rangers are one of the simplest trucks to work on...

But building... something that is better or more versatile and learning all the tricks and going through the frustrations that these mods entail is a real eye opener that is filled with doubt and wonder and excitement when it works and you can be proud of actually accomplishing something and celebrating with fellow enthusiasts...

And I can see adsm08 has already given you the outline of your course...

 

[wildbill23c]

I wasted the money on an online gunsmithing course. Those online courses like these are pretty darn worthless IMO. There's absolutely no hands on, its all reading and answering questions at the computer. The best way to learn auto mechanics is hands on, and having a good teacher right there with you.

 

[adsm08]

so true!

And I should know. I did two years of web training in conjunction with my actual classroom course work for Ford. Now I go to work, come home, spend a little time with my family, then get on here and try to teach a very disorganized version of on-line auto tech 101. I've gotten both ends of that statement.

 

[wildbill23c]

And I should know. I did two years of web training in conjunction with my actual classroom course work for Ford. Now I go to work, come home, spend a little time with my family, then get on here and try to teach a very disorganized version of on-line auto tech 101. I've gotten both ends of that statement.

TRS has some great mechanics available right here with many years of working on RBV's you can't get any better online teaching than right here. Haven't found anything yet that adsm08 has posted that didn't work, or that was not right. There are many other members here as well with great advice as well, TRS hasn't been wrong yet.

 

[FFChuck]

Thanks guy, really appreciate it. I'll take my time and start posting and asking more questions. I think TRS will be the best " online course" i can get!


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[FFChuck]

Yeah, I saw that you had some experience and are already doing things beyond my 14 years of education...so a formal course would only tell you how to fix things that are broken and I think you're already beyond that. I doubt they would cover the swapping of partners, er, parts and all that is really important...after all, Rangers are one of the simplest trucks to work on...

But building... something that is better or more versatile and learning all the tricks and going through the frustrations that these mods entail is a real eye opener that is filled with doubt and wonder and excitement when it works and you can be proud of actually accomplishing something and celebrating with fellow enthusiasts...

And I can see adsm08 has already given you the outline of your course...

You're right, sometimes I've cursed and gone mad trying to fix some things on the ranger, but when you get it right the relieve is great!

 

[97RangerXLT]

Agree with all of the above.

Too many different vehicles, too many things that you can't properly instruct without putting a tool in the hand of the student and sending him out to the car to fix it.

And then there is the question of "is the online school accredited?" if the answer is no, (and I will bet it is no) then the certificate that you get is worth as about as much as one you design and print from your own computer using a template and Microsoft Word...

AJ

 

[wildbill23c]

Thanks guy, really appreciate it. I'll take my time and start posting and asking more questions. I think TRS will be the best " online course" i can get!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It definitely has helped me with my 84 Bronco 2. Just wish I knew of the existence of this site before I dumped my 84 Ford Ranger .