Website about Car maintenance

[Dapper Swindler]

The internet is often a great way to find information. My car is having some problems right now and I thought wouldn't it be great if there was a website about car maintenance? Wouldn't it be great if it had a troubleshooting faq? Or even an online forum where you could ask for advice? Or just some great free information about car maintenance and repair that people could do at home without taking it to a mechanic?

And wouldn't it be great if one of you knew of such a website and gave me the url?

(couldn't find anything decent with google)

 

[WastelandWarrior]

What kind of car problems are you having?

Brakes, engine, trans, steering, suspension?

What's the year make and model of your vehicle?

There are plenty of good web forums, but more info is needed.

 

[Dapper Swindler]

1990, Grand am.

There is most likely something wrong with the breaks. Whenever I use them it makes a noise and then comes to a jerking, bouncing stop; it almost feels like my car sinks.

It's great if you want to solve my specific problem, but I'm also looking for a place where I'll be able to learn about this kind of stuff on my own so I won't be so uneducated about it and won't have to bother someone every time something goes wrong. In this case, I can't afford to take it to a mechanic and it isn't worth it anyway because the car is not worth enough to pay anymore to get it fixed (I just paid $350 to get it fixed for something else). That's why I want to see if there's anything I can do for it myself before I consider taking it to a mechanic or getting another car.

 

[WastelandWarrior]

Start with a Haynes manual. You can pick one up at pretty much any car parts store. In the first couple of pages there is troubleshooting question and answer thing.

Here is a GA forum:

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/index.php?s=

And their problems section:

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=7

 

[Dapper Swindler]

Ah, that should help out. thanks a lot.

 

[WesCottII]

I use the how stuff works website for all that stuff.

I find it quite helpful.

www.howstuffworks.com

 

[diablo]

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/pontiac-manuals.html

Get one of these books - they should be availiable at your nearest Auto Zone as well. Sure, they cost 10-20 bucks, but you get what you pay for... and the money you'll save in learning how to do it yourself pays almost instantaneously.