liz92

I now own a 2001 honda civic ex. I want to learn about my car, whats all under my hood, the name of things(and obviously what it looks like so I can identify them) Can someone point me in the right direction on where to start at least. I want to learn the basics then get in depth with engine and tranny components. Any idea on where I can get info would be of great help!!
Thanks!

whitecivic2003

I would prob go buy a manual for your car and just look through it .

liz92

I tried that but it wasn't as helpful as i expected, I was looking more for something like a diagram. Something that will show me what is on/in the car that is labeled with the name. That way I can then go through and see which part does what, and what are the components that make it up. A website would be much easier than buying a book, that is helpful if I do need to resort to a book, thanks.

iSharix

Well there's always the search button ..

liz92

I tried looking in google but it's very frusterating, and does not get me where i'd like to go, thats why I figured somone on here would be able to redirect me better

MelJ

^That. Or youtube, car sites, etc. Honestly, your best bet is gonna be books. It makes learning worthwhile and they provide the best illustrations. But I'm also in school for auto, so I have textbooks which go pretty in depth on the subjects. Nothing happens in an instant. I started out changing headlight bulbs and stuff not knowing jack squat. My knowledge base is still pretty small, but with those Haynes, Honda, Toyota, and school books, not to mention the peeps here, I've gained much more knowledge over the years.

iSharix

there's a search button in between NEW POSTS and QUICK LINKS

liz92

Thanks, maybe Ill try going to the library and seeing if they have any books that will help.

liz92

WOW! I feel dumb, I didn't even realize that search thing was there! I havnt looked around this site at all yet. Thanks :P

MelJ

The thing is if you're going that route, it's gonna be hard to get everything jam packed into one book. I have this textbook:
http://www.epinions.com/prices/Autom..._by_Tim_Gilles
It isn't bad. It gives you a little of everything and can be found for pretty cheap on Amazon. And yeah. Search is great! Make use of it

liz92

Sounds good! Ill give it a shot! Thanks!!

lowlife9

don't tell me you bought one of those cheap manuals from pepboys you need a real one like chilton though there not cheap. or check here
http://chilton.cengage.com/

iSharix

Wow , you're about the first girl I haven't told to get back in the kitchen .

MelJ

Lol. I got mine from Advance. Get it right . I have access to Alldata and Shopkey at school so anything I can't get from there, I print and bring home. The manual has served its purpose for what I need though, so I can't really complain too much. I'll keep that link in mind though.

liz92

Lol thanks guys, ive skimmed through books from advanced but never bought one. My bf had a chilton, which I took, but I havnt had a chance to look through. I'll check out that website though. One thing I can't figure out is my maintence required light is on, and in the chilton in only gives me what things should be updated up to a certain millage and unfortunetly I drive long distances a lot and can't figure out what needs to be done and my bf is going to school at whyotech so he doesnt really have time to look at it(which is why i am trying to learn about my car)

liz92

plus i bought my bf alldata for his bday in jan. but i believe it is registered for his honda, so it's a bit diff than mine :/

liz92

haha thanks i guess. My bf jus expects me to sit there and hand him what ever tool he tells me he needs. He'd probably laugh if I told him I was on here now and trying to learn about my car.

liz92

Not to be nosey, but where do you go to school?

MelJ

Hudson Valley Community College. Cheap tuition and I get a degree in something in case I decide to ever go back to college for anything else. Also, no need to make multiple posts for quotes. If you're using Chrome or FF, you can hold ctrl click quote, open a window. Do the same for other quotes and copy and paste them into your first reply window. Well, I'm sure there's an easier way, but that's what I do.

liz92

ohh ok, never heard of it. I thought you meant like a technical school or something. Cheap is good though, my dumbass bf is paying about $30,000 or a lil more for a 9month degree in auto mechanics and high performance power training lol.

MelJ

Our program is 2 years. But if he's getting a degree, that's good. Some of these places only offer certificates, which I heard can make things a little difficult.

liz92

with him i use the term degree very very lightly. Lol. I think it actually is a certificate, but at this point I dont care, I have 4more years of college before I get my masters degree, and he already got a job at a place that works on expensive cars and race cars, so atleast he's getting off to a good start before i'm out of school.

liz92

But besides using a chilton to look at this stupid diagram that doesnt go above 90thousand miles, how else can I figure out why my maintence required light is on.

TDC2001civic

Best way to learn is to start wrenching on it. Learning is a hands-on experience

MelJ

The maint. re'q light is an oil change reminder.

liz92

harder said than done, lol. I know socket sizes and **** when I'm told which to go find and hand over, but just looking at something i'd have no idea what size to use, pretty much the only thing i can do is change breaks :P

GreenMachineDX

I dont think anyone of us can explain every part name.. I mean we can but it will take us alot..

liz92

hhmmm then how do i get it to go away bc i did an oil change right after it came on, put in a new oil filter and all.

liz92

yea, that is deff true. I was just looking for something I can read up on and look at diagrams

lowlife9

yeah it just reminds you to do regular maintenance like oil air filter basic crap. now the check engine light is a different story. 90,000 miles is due for a new timing belt and water pump did you have that done yet ??
this is how to reset the light https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...red-light.html