I've owned my '72 Westie for nearly a year but am a total numpty when it comes to anything mechanical/technical. I keep hearing that these vehicles are straightforward to work on but am frustrated by not knowing where or how to pick up the basics. I live in the Portsmouth area and wonder whether there's somewhere local I could find a course/evening class to attend (preferably VW-specific) to get me started. I'd simply like to be able to have the confidence to do an oil change and a basic service, I don't have any prententions about becoming an expert. Any suggestions? Al
Hello To be honest I've never head of a specific course. I think what most people have done is self tought through hames manuals forums etc. Maybe just playing around with your engine and following a hanyes manual or even joining a local vw club.
i dont think you will find any vw specific courses but south downs and chichester college used to do motor vehicle, i assume they still do
In the olden days you could go to evening classes on motor maintenance for next to nothing. Cuts have done away with a lot of these "recreational" courses so you'll be lucky to find anything. I recently wanted to learn paint spraying but all I could find are full time courses for professionals which cost £1000's. I've not been but Techenders seems like a great place to start.
Techenders is the weekend after Easter and is near Lutterworth which is sort of near Where the m1 and m6 meet in the midlands. It's my first visit there and hear great things about it. I am an OK home mechanic so can do servicing but am looking forwards to getting doing a few jobs, meeting folk and a bit of friendly advice being available if I need it. Why not come up for it? You would just need a few tools and spares and you'll go home with new skills and a better sense of how easy these vans are to work on.
I did one years back at my local college that showed you how to do basic servicing like changing all the fluids, as well as brake and suspension problems. They also had some engines stripped down and explained how it all went together and how engines work. I remeber thinking its amazing how reliable engines are as there are som many parts to it that i'm surprised they dont break down more often.
I think a modern course would just comprise one lesson on how to connect your laptop to the engine management system ...
Thanks for the tips - have found a basic course at Eastleigh wiphich is inexpensive. Would be well up for t'enders but have wedding to go to... Next time, for sure.
I did a basic mechanics course (here in manchester) but found the best single learning experience was Techenders (look out for the next one in September) and following the threads on here. John Muir book is also very helpful as is the latest Keeping Your VW Alive magazine.
I am self-taught and started with a Suzuki 50cc and a Haynes Manual. Get a haynes and start with some simple things - change an air filter, change a wheel etc. You will build confidence once you start to understand some of the basics. VW engines are straight forward but this is only relative to other engines - you will need to get some confidence first by just having a play.
My training started when I was 12 and I helped my Dad take the engine out of a Standard 8 and restore it, side valve with starting handle. That was our daily driver, not a classic. I was fixing mate's Dad's cars by the time I was 14. Nothing like a good hands on apprenticeship for learning how to do stuff. I would recommend finding someone from TLB as buddy and work together.
Simples my friend, be so bleedin skint you have to Borrow ! any repair manual , / ask the guy round the corner who is always working on his own vehicle > and with a deep breathe , get stuck in , cos as i and others have learned , you got the part you got the sub-system in bits ,you might be gettin panicky at this point ,go for a coffee /ciggie/ whatever, clear your mind ,return, repair /refit /replace>smile !!! smile again! skint aint good , but sometimes its had its plus points ,over the years! a.k.a. "right of passage">"baptism of fire"
