[steve86]

One way to learn how to work on modern engines in cars of today is to take a engine or car that does not run and you don't care about it and take it apart.

Very good post. For the modern cars, OBD-II can make it a lot easier to know where to look when diagnosing, also.

As far as practicing, one of the recent single cylinder four-stroke FI off-road bikes is a great place to get it, especially since rebuilds can come every 50-70 hours (sometimes a lot more or a lot less). All the same stuff there, plus you only make a mistake once instead of four or six or eight times!

[American Constitutionalist]

Your right, a OBD-II scanner is a must on all new cars.
It can either direct you to what is wrong with the car or at least lead you into the right direction to diagnosing it.
Yes, most people are afraid to work on their modern cars but a engine is a engine is a engine whether it's from a 1 cylinder lawn mower engine to a 10 cylinder.
I was afraid at one time to remove the fuel rail and fuel injectors but I took the fuel rail and fuel injectors off another engine just like mine or close to it and found out how easy it to do.
Most fuel injectors have a lower and upper O ring.
Most fuel injectors are on a fuel rail like pipes or a solid aluminium rail tube.
Most fuel injectors are ok and just need cleaning unless the copper coil inside them burn out.
You can try and get a fuel injector from a junk yard but it's a crapshoot, you either get a good one or one that does not work.
Also when taking the fuel injectors out of the fuel injector ports on the intake manifold make sure you clean the dirt, grime, sand, out before removing, use a micro vacuum attachment that you can hook up to your regular vacuum cleaner.
Yes the professional mechanics might not like what I am saying but most people can learn to fix the most basic things on a car, get a book or manual for your car, a OBD-II scanner.
Most sensors on your car can be replaced yourself and save thousands of dollars.