I can't say I'm experienced with the ins and outs of a car. Far from it. I just spent a few hours under my Lancer and for any of those newbs like me whose experience with cars ends with "refilling the gas and taking it to get its oil changed," here are some things that I've noticed:

1) Attire
-----------------

-DAMN, it is dirty under there. If you're going under, make sure you wear something you don't mind getting completely filthy. Both the ground (oil spots, broken glass, mysterious red/purple substances) and your car will be dirty and that stuff will rub off on YOU. Be prepared.

-Jeans and a T-shirt may be comfortable, but it's not for this. If you have it, wear a long sleeved shirt. Do you really need car grease on your elbows?

-If you have them, wear gloves. Rubber, latex, any other fabric is fine, I'm sure. Damn near anything you touch will leave its greasy evidence on your body. It takes forever to get it out from under your finger-nails.



2) Equipment
--------------------

-There is enough room under the Lancer to wiggle your way under, and work fairly quickly. But if you have access, use a lift or jackstands. You don't really appreciate the ease of these things unless you bang your elbow 20+ times.

-Eye protection. A couple of things (Black flakes, meet eyeballs. Eyeballs, black flakes.) fell from the car onto my glasses. This is something I'm sure you would like to avoid as well. Also, I found myself banging my head into many things under there. I would have poke my eyeball 3 or 4 times had I not worn those glasses.

-Tools. Having the right tools with you helps plenty, but a friend or another body to hand you tools (or in my case, to hold the flashlight up) or give a hand is even better.




3) 3rd party help
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-Making a trip to Kragen or some other auto parts store? Ask for help/advice! They are there to help. Yes, maybe you have some stupid question that any car guy could answer, but you're a newb! It's all right to seem stupid.

-Anyone on these boards. A lot of these guys know what they're doing. Don't be afraid to ask.


4) When to work
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-The day time is great for work! Plenty of sun, warm(usually), birds chirping, flowers growing, dogs barking, cats stealing your uts and bolts... isn't it grand? WAAAAY better than working until the cold, harsh, blind-as-hell night. If you can, do it during the day, you'll find it easier to work when you can see what you're working on.

-Make sure you have plenty of time. You'll do a better job on things when you're not in such a hurry. Plan ahead. Maybe on your day off instead of on your lunch break.

-After said trip to auto parts store, give your car some time to cool down before going under again. The muffler could singe your eyebrow! That's how hot it gets!
(Maybe not...) Let it set for a bit. You'll be glad you did.


Highy doubt there are newbs on here of my skill level, but if at least one person was helped by this, then I'm glad. On a side note, that sway bar is a ***** to get .on.

 

1 more tip I have. If you have had your car running within a half hour or so of working on it give or take a bit, the thing might be hot!!?!??? DEE DEE DEE. I swear to god, some people wonder why they get burnt when touching stuff in the engine bay. And also, don't try to change belts when the car is running... They have warning labels on them so obviously someone was dumb enough to try it. Keep those in mind and you should be OK.

 

I added a few more things, thanks. Good looking out.

 

Dickies and T-shirt work just fine

If you goto jack the car up, make sure you do it RIGHT. Dont want it falling on you

If you dont wear gloves, any pumice soap will get that dirt and grim off. Just gotta scrub a littler harder under the nails 8-)

I work at Ford, I still wear latex gloves for little jobs, they are damn near useless doing big jobs or going into hard to reach places.

And mechanics gloves rip to often

 

I would also add that if you do put your car on stands or on a ramp to chaulk (sp) your tires. Don't be one of the stupid idiots that dies under his car while changing the oil. And when installing any part, be it exhaust or intake manifold, please disconnect the negitive. You damage your electrical system... and that's not fun to repair or pay for.

And yeah that black thing line was funny. Wear goggles or be like me and wear really thick corrective lenses... I'm a dork.

Fox

 

nitrile gloves FTW

there's only enough room w/o lifting if you're 'slim' (read : I don't fit, 6'4" 230lbs)

working at nite FTW : halogen and fluorescent lites work great

fox - it's 'chock'

 

Know whats loads of fun!?

Arching the battery terminals with a socket wrench/wrench/anything long and metal

Keep all your metal tools away from the battery. Also if its wet out, keep water from arching terminals.

Batteries that explode are no fun.

And of course, no smoking, they let of explosive gases.

 

does chocking your tires mean putting something on each side of either the fronts or rears to make sure the car doesn't role when one side is up on stands?

also, is it dangerous to buy cheaper stands? I got my jack and stands for 40 bucks. they seem to work fine, but then again, it is my life...

 

Yes to chocking the tires.

And I dont see why those stands would be that bad. I bought 4 Craftsmans Jack stands to do work at home, havent failed on me yet, only cost me 50 bucks. No jack though, I had my own anyhow. And I've done ALOT of work on them,

Although, I dont remember if they were on sale or not, I dont think they were.

 

thanks i always wondered about that. and now that i think of it they were on sale.

 

Drop lights are a gift from the gods. Also pay the money and get a good floor jack. Oh and a good rechargeable impact gun.

 

wow this is a jem of a post i actuly had my car fall off my stands once scared the you know what out of me funny now but then againg looking back it always is. i learned my lesson. were i work there is a safety officer who does nothing but make sure care are lifted and on stands properly he drives the mechanics crazy glad all i do is sit on my *** lol