I got a crash course in auto repair when I didn't have money to have a mechanic fix it. I went to Pep Boys and bought a Haynes Manual. It was either fix my own truck, or don't drive. So I learned really fast. Start small (brake job or oil change) and when you are more confident you can move on to bigger things (suspension work and/or engine work). 8 years later I am still working on my own vehicles, and I will continue even if I have the cash to have someone else do it.