Ok, basically I just bought my car this past weekend (2004 6 speed). I dont really know much about cars. Really, I know NOTHING about them. My husband makes a sincere effort but is a fanatic so he rattles off a bunch of crap and keeps going. Does anyone have any sources that i could use to get some basic info? I dont want to have to go to him for anything, I just want to do it myself. Any book suggestions, websites etc., that I could browse to help me out? Thanks!

 

Read all the stickies on this site. That's a really good place to start and you will learn a lot. Take your time and don't post a lot of questions(that have been asked a million times). Read, read, read. That's all I can suggest. This site is great if you only show the "want to learn".

The stickies are of course highlighted at the top of each sub-forum if you will.
For instance............you posted this in the "Tech Garage" sub-forum, not sure why.........but if you look at the top of this sub forum, you will should find the sticky............... "Gas/Oil Premix Thread"

I learn all the time on here as I'm no expert by any means. When I first joined this site, I did nothing but read for like two months before beginning to post.

 

Yeah, just keep reading. I couldn't read enough when I first got on. I'm still reading a lot, for that matter.

 

Thanks for the replies. I find that most of the posts here are too technical for me at this point. Hopefully, If I keep reading eventually I will catch on.

 

Many Community Colleges have basic automotives courses as part of their adult education curriculum. It's good to get some general theory under your belt with universal application. The rotary is unique, but still a 4-cycle internal combustion engine with the typical electrical and cooling systems.

As a 'teach me fast', howstuffworks.com has a lot of good generalized insight.

Or just wait a few years until we all have electric's and it's even easier.

 

The owner's manual is usually a good place to start...but it's so thick that it's probably worse than your husband.

Sign up in the owner's section at mazdausa.com. You can download an electronic copy of the owner's manual, which can be a lot handier than the printed one if you want to look something up. You can also download the "Quick Tips" booklet, which is very condensed and has the stuff you really need to know.

I second Huey's recommendationof howstuffworks.com for basic unerstanding, and adult education if you want to go deeper.

If you want to do basic maintenance (like oil changes) yourself, the DIYs on this site are excellent.

Ken

 

Holy crap...........me of all people forgot to mention to her to read the manual!

I'm so embarrassed!

 

I think I will read that manual- I have been looking for something to read at work on my lunch break anyway.