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Justin, we do a lot of our own repairs, and we have found out that our best source of information is...the internet! The Chiltons manuals have limited ability to help diagnose problems, they just show you what and where things are.
Our current cars are Saturns, and there is a rabid SaturnFans forum that we search topics for troubleshooting purposes all the time. For instance, we figured out that the fuel pump needed to be replaced in one, and we found a topic where some guy had written out the entire process, with pictures and arrows showing exactly what to do in what order. This would not be found in the Chiltons.
Likewise, the Airstream Argosy motorhome has a forum we use to help diagnose problems. We have a manual from Airstream that is practically useless. Especially for older cars, the internet is a godsend for finding solutions to the dreaded "intermittent problem".
A good auto mechanics course would also be a great start, but getting to know a local small mechanic's shop, where you can learn with the guy, is also a possibility. We are tight with the counter guy at the Auto Supply store as well!
Sarah
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"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." - Mark Twain
DINKS, 38 and 46, plan for his ER at 50, mine few yrs later.
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