Vehicles are really magnificent magic machines with a million weird and specific parts, some of which move, others that are set on fire, but all of which are mysterious and hidden.
That sentence contains the full extent of my knowledge about the intricate mechanics of modern automotives.
Thank goodness Norm Gieselman is opening up the doors at Glacier Industrial Services to offer a kind of Car 101 course just for people like me. His Rayborn Crescent full-service auto repair shop has a big open bay, the perfect venue to invite 30 members of the public in for a free two-hour introduction to how a car works.
His objective in hosting his upcoming Car Knowledge Clinic isn’t just to demystify what he does. He wants his clients to be more knowledgeable about their machines when they’re running smoothly and also when something makes that “zhwe-zhwe” sound followed by a loud clunk.
“It’s not like I'm going to teach you how to fix your car. I’m going to teach you the words to say and how the principles work, and what oil goes where and why,” he said of the clinic, set to take place on Saturday, March 23.
The mechanic explained that he prides himself on honesty, being reasonable and making sure people know what’s going on.
“One of things I’m going to cover is how internal combustion works. I’ll ask the question, ‘Who’s heard of a four-stroke engine?’ And most people have. ‘Who knows what that means?’”
The way he describes it is better experienced in person. He does use the phrase “raucous hellfire nightmare that’s going on inside an engine,” which should be enough reassurance that this event isn’t going to be a dry, snoozy, sit-down affair.
He promises a casual, low-stress environment for people to learn about a range of vehicular topics including the drivetrain, tires, preventative maintenance, and yes, fluids and maintenance (a.k.a. what oil goes where and why). He also has on the agenda the overall objective of helping people describe issues to any mechanic to make the work and the relationship easier but also to prevent unnecessary work. He can also offer advice on dealing with warranty claims.
“You don’t have to know the exact term but being able to relate it with symptoms and problems is hugely beneficial.”
Because education is the goal, he’ll also open the floor to anyone with questions. Attendees can mill about and enjoy coffee and snacks afterward to continue the conversation with him or his other mechanics as well, within reason.
“You can’t know everything. It’s just too much.”
Gieselman’s free clinic has already received such a positive response that he had to close off registrations. The good news is that he is strongly considering hosting another session in the future.
