SIGforum
Looking for an auto mechanic instructor/ mentor I guess.

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/1480071025

April 04, 2026, 11:24 AM
sourdough44
Looking for an auto mechanic instructor/ mentor I guess.
This guy is good.

https://youtu.be/EQ2iwfGA2AQ
April 04, 2026, 11:35 AM
Chowser
Hopefully you's is straight and easy.

I had to buy this to do my spark plugs.





Not minority enough!
April 04, 2026, 12:01 PM
P250UA5
I had to get an ultra thin walled 12pt to do my Mini.
My Fiesta was a breeze by comparison

Glad my Legacy is already done, my dad said his Outbacks [2.4T & 2.5NA] were a pain, but easier once you've done it once.




The Enemy's gate is down.
April 04, 2026, 12:10 PM
egregore
An extension that mechanically locks/grabs onto the socket is a good idea. Non-locking extensions tend to pull out of a spark plug socket and leave it inside the well.





"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke
April 04, 2026, 04:39 PM
wrightd
quote:
Originally posted by MRBTX:
Buy a 3/8' torque wrench also. The torque values aren't much at all for any of that stuff. Snug on those is usually enough, but if you haven't wrenched much, you don't want to guess.

This you will definitely need.

HOWEVER, if you've never turned a wrench in your life and don't know how turning one should feel, particularly regarding the torque applied as it relates to the length of the handle, how you grip it etc., IF you accidentally strip your spark plug threads in your head, which is made of aluminum and is easy to do starting in general wrenching, you could end up with an inoperable engine, and the recommended and proper procedure to repair that could be expensive. IF however you're pretty good with your hands naturally with mechanical things, it might be worth a go if you would enjoy it. If this isn't a fun project for you I'd pass and hire it out other things being equal. And after you get all the tools you will need to do it properly, you're prob spending more on tools than the shop labor to have it done professionally.




Lover of the US Constitution
Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
April 04, 2026, 04:43 PM
wrightd
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44:
This guy is good.

https://youtu.be/EQ2iwfGA2AQ

Agreed, he is prob the best for general wrenching and troubleshooting on the Web. He's never said anything that wasn't 100% correct, thought there are lots of others in the bracket on youtube regarding auto mechanics. But this guy is better because he goes the extra mile to do things 100% correctly instead of just good enough most of the time.




Lover of the US Constitution
Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
April 18, 2026, 05:19 PM
JeffSig2022
Thank you to everyone for the instructions and advise you guys gave me. I am happy to report that I have completed this task and my car has new spark plugs and coils and the check engine light is gone. I was just not confident because I had never done this, but I bought the tools you guys suggested and the parts needed (OEM as I was advised here). Thank you everyone. Stay safe out there and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
April 18, 2026, 05:22 PM
92fstech
Glad to hear it! Nice to have the satisfaction of getting the job done on your own!


-----------------------------------------------------------

Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
April 18, 2026, 05:27 PM
P250UA5
Congrats, glad it's done & working.




The Enemy's gate is down.
April 18, 2026, 05:34 PM
.38supersig
Sweet!




April 18, 2026, 08:01 PM
sigmonkey
Jeff.

See if this is something you may like to pursue.

https://www.ntxad.com/fast-tra...-technician-program/


It's a 5 week classroom/shop/hands on training enviornment for about $1200.

Almost any skills you learn are ever wasted, and a lot more applies beyond the vertical focus.

And you might find you like the path.

I will always encourage anyone that desires to learn and do for themselves.

Smile

sm

You




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
April 18, 2026, 10:08 PM
JeffSig2022
I tried to take an automotive class at Tarrant Community College, I was unable to due to my schedule. I work full time with a very unstable schedule. One week I may have Monday and Tuesday off, but the following week I may be out of town 2 or 3 days a week if not more. So I could not accomodate a class.

I will look into the info you sent me, see if I can manage to work it out with my schedule. But defenetly interested in learning this now that I am older, maybe in my next life I can use any skills I may learn to fix my own things and fix things for other people in need. Thank you for the info.

quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Jeff.

See if this is something you may like to pursue.

https://www.ntxad.com/fast-tra...-technician-program/


It's a 5 week classroom/shop/hands on training enviornment for about $1200.

Almost any skills you learn are ever wasted, and a lot more applies beyond the vertical focus.

And you might find you like the path.

I will always encourage anyone that desires to learn and do for themselves.

Smile

sm

You

April 19, 2026, 10:10 AM
jimmy123x
If getting started, I'd recommend this Kobalt 302 piece box for $99, it has about everything you'd need over piece mealing it. A pliar set and a few screw drivers to add to it.
April 19, 2026, 11:55 AM
air
Your specific car may not be in a junkyard/Pull-a-Part, but a KIA/ Hyundai's with the same engine or whatever component you're replacing, practice on the junk vehicle, it lessens the risk to your vehicle and you gain the experience.


___________
___________
___________
April 19, 2026, 07:50 PM
JeffSig2022
I checked that out, I think I am going to get that too. Thanks for the lead. Even buying the tools needed was confusing to me.

quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
If getting started, I'd recommend this Kobalt 302 piece box for $99, it has about everything you'd need over piece mealing it. A pliar set and a few screw drivers to add to it.

April 20, 2026, 07:59 PM
bobtheelf
YouTube is your best friend for things like this. I've learned so much from random people showing how to do random things. Someone has a video of changing plugs on your car.