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The only way to really learn quickly is to get a job as a tech. Maybe look for a weekend, part-time job at a quick lube place, since that’s what you’d be doing at a real shop as a newbie. That and tires.
There is no substitution for actual on the job experience. Schooling can make you very book smart, however, you learn to put that brain to use when you are actually on the job as an automotive technician. I don’t really think thats something you can experience without being in the field. Even if it is only for a short amount of time, you will learn so much.
Hands on is the best way and there really is no fast involved. When it comes to automotive service you will find that learning is a process that never, ever stops.
I agree 100% that there is no substitute for on hands, wrench turning experience. I’ve been in a college automotive program for about 2 years now, (5 semester program) and honestly the only classes I’ve actually learned anything from were the electrical courses. If you’ve ever rebuilt an engine, replaced a strut or shock, or replaced brake parts, then you simply don’t learn much on these tasks on the college level.
I don’t necessarily agree about gaining knowledge at a lube shop though. I worked at a Speed Lube for about 3 months. Obviously we did oil changes, and the most advanced task we did was transmission pan drops. In my opinion, if you decide that this is the career path you want to pursue, you should already have these basic skills. However, at Speed Lube, we didn’t even rotate tires or do brakes or anything along those lines. I guess if you worked somewhere where you did do brakes and other basic maintenance tasks, there’d be much to learn…….
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