I am new to cars, well what each part means and stuff like that, and I am trying to learn about them so i don't look like an idiot when my friends talk about cars. Any advice on where to start, or what basics i need to know? Please give me ideas and good links.


Thanks

 

routine maintenance and a light foot will endure your car will last. do as much to your car yourself as you can otherwise you be a 40yo that pays others to do their oil changes. do your research and take your time

 

down load the manual. read it. and get to know what everything goes and does. no point on going after market if you don't know basic theory

 

well it takes time. for a start, open up your hood and locate the following:

-airbox
-engine
-header

howstuffworks dot com does a good job explaining the basics.

also, learn to maintain your car on your own(oil change, checking fluids, etc). there are step by step tutorials that can be found on the internet, such as this site. all in all, you gotta learn through passion. dont feel pressured to have to "study" or memorize parts to fit in with others. i understand your engine bay may seem very complex and overwhelming at first, but they all fit together like pieces in a puzzle. kind of like body parts in human anatomy ;)

 

Honestly the best way to learn is to watch people that know what they are doing, ask them why they are doing certain things ceratin ways , and doing your own mantainence will not only give you experience it will save you tons of money.

 

Barnes & Nobles has some good starter books you can breeze through.

 

Get a shop manual as well. Don't know how much Toyota manuals are but I got a manual for my Z06 for $150. Best money I've spent on the car so far and I've bought a lot of stuff for it.

It will have pictures and details of everything you will need and then some.