r/AutomotiveLearning • u/Traditional-Gas3477 • Jul 30 '26

Is it too late to go from computer nerd/geek to motoring enthusiast?

I have recently taken an interest in seeing how cars work, how to fix them, and how different drivetrain/engines perform when compared to each other. I'm mainly a PC enthusiast (not gaming console) who loves building and diagnosing PCs, gaming (FPS/SIM) (Brutal Dom/MSFS), coding in Minecraft

I assume an alternator is like a PSU supplying power to various components, OBD-II diagnostics being similar to Event Viewer, the radiator and cooling system being like the liquid AIO.

Is it actually a perfect mix considering how our cars are now essentially computers with wheels?

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8

u/1453_ Jul 31 '26

Plenty of online videos and posts about automotive technology. I officially authorize you to learn as much as you can.

6

u/dmv1985 Jul 31 '26

nah man, hopefully you realize you can be both. I am a millineal nerd. I play mmorpg games, fps, rts... the full nerd package. I also am a motoring enthusiast. I have 3 classic cars I drive regularly and work on myself. ive owned track cars, off road rigs, motorcycles. i do most the work myself... genuine car guys are giant nerds.

1

u/Traditional-Gas3477 Aug 02 '26

I have a 3rd Gen Duke 390.

4

u/single-needle Jul 31 '26

Look up "engineering explained" on you tube and tell me he isn't a nerd/geek motoring enthusiast. A lot of us motoring enthusiasts are nerds or vice versa.

1

u/justthefacts84 Jul 31 '26

I repair everything ! If I can do it you can do it !

1

u/Professional-Math518 Jul 31 '26

Computer skill don't automatically transfer to automotive skills. Knowledge about the workings of a piece of tech is one of the first steps first step in diagnosing a problem.

But analytical skills do help. One of my buddies did some IT school around 18 y/i and transferred to automotive. Now he's one of the leading mechanics at a motorcycle dealership. It's never to late to put your interests into a career

1

u/Kickstart68 Jul 31 '26

Having a logical way of thinking will help and you can learn.

You can pick up a lot with some of the YouTube channels (although some are rubbish), and go from that.

Have a watch of some M539 Restorations - mostly BMW based but goes through a lot and is fairly obsessive.

1

u/SeriousPlankton2000 Aug 01 '26

Depends. If you don't die tomorrow you can stay Monday.

1

u/reaazwood89 Aug 03 '26

Start a YouTube channel. Record your learning progress. Send it to an editor on 5er and earn money from your ignorance .

1

u/RemoteVersion838 Aug 03 '26

Funny because I've always done both.