One class that you may want to consider taking is a basic auto repair class. Most community and technical colleges offer basic auto repair classes, so you should be able to find one that is available in your community. If you have ever been stranded on the side of the road, and do not know what to do next, then this class will benefit you.
I, personally, know nothing about cars. I can check the oil, but that is about all. I can’t even check the other fluids. Whenever I take a car to the shop, I feel like the mechanic has the upper hand. I know that there are honest mechanics out there, but I also have had mechanics tell me that oil wasn’t dripping from my car (which they had just fixed) when there was oil dripping from my car. I could see it. My father-in-law took the car in and suddenly the mechanic could see it to. My point is I would like to at least have a vague idea of what the mechanic is talking about.
Another great reason is that if you are stranded somewhere, you can learn to troubleshoot and possibly get your car started so that you can get it to a shop to get it repaired. My sister is someone that can troubleshoot what is wrong with her car, and knows what needs to be done. When she was in high school and out on a double date, the car got a flat tire. The boys she was with didn’t know how to change the tire, so she got out of the car and changed it for them. I think that they made it a point to learn after that.
Some basic skills that everyone should know include changing a tire, knowing when and how to jumpstart a car safely, checking the fluid levels on your car, and how to change your car’s battery. A basic auto repair class will also teach you how to make simple repairs and how to tell what needs to be fixed. If you don’t have time to take an entire auto repair class, find someone who is experienced in auto repair and ask him to take an afternoon to teach you the basics. This will help you to meet the emergencies that can occur while on the road.
A word of caution: one auto repair class will not make you an expert, and you may still need to take your car to a certified mechanic before you do anything major to it. You can end up costing yourself more money by assuming that you can do more than you really can.