Does anyone know where I can learn a few things about performing my own maintenance on cars? I'm looking to buy a Z in a few months and I'd like to know more about some of the maintenance involved so I don't get chumped at the shop. I'm not looking for any certification, just a place/class to get some general knowledge and maybe some hands on experience.

 

Some local junior colleges offer classes in basics of automotive where they have a shop and you get to work on real cars. A couple of those would definitely help.

 

also check out the local ROP... they have mechanic classes at the ROP in my area and it's free

 

This might be a dumb question, but what's an ROP?

 

oh, i think they only have ROP in california... it stands for Regional Occupational Program..

But they probably have something similar where you live

 

www.uticorp.com that is where I am planning to go and trying to get into the Porsche program.

 

As long as you have some tools and a place to work you shouldn't need to much teaching. I graduated from wyoming tech and actually ended up doing industrial automation. You need patience, confidence, and desire to see the project through to the end. This forum is problably the best class you can go through simply cause its application specific if you go to school they'll teach you the basics that won't really help you on taking care of your Z.

I'm sure if you ask most of the forum people are willing to help. Even the advanced guys I'm sure would be nice enough to tell you how and where to change your oil, air filter, fuel filter etc.

 

UTI is an amazing school, please tell me all about it when you finish


the big 2 are UTI and Wyotech
UTI has more experience and gets more students hired, its something like 90% of technicians come from UTI and not Wyotech

 

I don't know I'm glad i went to Wyo tech some of it was dumb an stupid but I really learned a lot in a hurry. As far as the job thing goes its what you put into it is what you get out of it. I passed the BMW level 1 step test. Offered to pay for school. Turned it down. Jaguar and Porchse also. Ended up going to work for Rolls Royce in Norway (not the car place) Wyotech offers job placement for life. Its really not hard to place a job when you get top honors. If you slack and treat it like high school you'll feel lucky when you get a job at jiffy lube.

 

I work full time currently so I'm really just looking for a night school class once or twice a week. I'm not really looking to change careers (currently a pharma engineer), but I just wanted some knowledge. Anybody out there from Indianapolis?

 

Indy has a Z-Car club, you might want to think about joining. Most clubs have people who would be willing to lend a hand as well as their expertise. And you will learn a lot by just hovering over their shoulder. Go to ZCCA.org to find their web site.