>>I’ve heard horror stories of grown men who didn’t know how to use a tape measure or the name of a phillips screwdriver or how to check oil.
15 or so years ago I, along with two other dads, put together a class on roadside safety and auto maintenance fundamentals which we taught on two successive Saturday mornings at the private high school our kids were in. About half classroom and half hands-on with all the new drivers out in the parking lot, showing them how to do stuff.
I assure you, you are quite correct, there are plenty of them out there. One memorable example - macho football player type, good kid, with a nice pickup truck. No idea how to lower the spare tire from its home below the bed, no idea how to use the tools to jack up a corner and swap out a tire, about a gallon-and-a-half low on coolant, oil low.
I distinctly remember his mom profusely thanking me afterwards and saying “[dad’s name] couldn’t teach him, he doesn’t know how to do that stuff.”
This is very sexist of me but I can’t abide a man I can outwrench.
People really need to know the basics.
I know a guy whose car was running lousy for the last couple of months.
We’ve had these fires going on for a few weeks recently, putting out lots of smoke and ash that could clog up an air filter.
I told him to check the air filter which doesn’t cost anything-you open the thing up and look at it for goodness sake.
He was refusing to do this because the check engine light was on and wimmen were telling him to check the air filter.
I sent him an article, which explained why a dirty air filter can throw a code like that and cause performance issues.
Only then did he check the filter and replace it and what do you know? His car is back to normal.
I always tell people to start with the little easy stuff first.
So many problems can be solved by simply cleaning and/or lubricating which usually don’t cost anything.
I think people are afraid to do things on their own. So they toss stuff and buy new.
You can fix just about anything with youtube tutorials, the right parts and tools and time and patience. People are so afraid to try. I really don’t understand that.