Start with Toyota Itself

• Toyota, like all car manufacturers, creates a repair manual for its vehicles. These are large manuals, usually in two volumes or three, and their cost is not cheap. The price usually ranges around $100 to $200 for the set. They are produced by the car maker to be used primarily as a resource guide for Toyota certified mechanics.
  
  These extensive sources of repair information can be very technical in nature and hard to work with. That said, if you know your way around mechanical journals, these books are invaluable.
  
  

Aftermarket Repair Manuals

• If your Toyota vehicle has been in production for a few years, chances are an aftermarket publisher has written a repair manual for it. Haynes Publishing and Chilton manuals are the two big players in this market, providing repair manuals on most common vehicles and a few obscure ones. You can find them in most bookstores in the automotive section or you can order the specific manual online.
  
  The guides tend to provide both direction and accompanying photos for most general repairs for the specific model car covered. However, these manuals are not completely comprehensive and won't include every repair aspect.
  
  

Tools

• For any mechanical work, you will need a good set of tools and workspace with lighting. Having a clean garage with an overhead light, plugs for a workshop and movable light is critical to keep a project clear of dust and debris. As for tools, a full set of screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches and hammers will be necessary. At times, specialty tools specific to Toyota parts may be needed.
  
  General tools will be relatively affordable in cost and Craftsman makes some of the most durable items. However, specialty tools can be quite expensive and sometimes you have to go through a Toyota dealer to obtain one.
  
  

Approach to Learning Repairs

• If you've never performed a car repair, much less even replaced a flat tire, it is strongly recommended you try to take a course or work with someone who is very experienced your first time. Rookie mistakes can be very costly and occur frequently due to simple lack of procedure knowledge.
  
  Most community colleges offer a basic car mechanic course that is very helpful. If you can't utilize such a program, working with a friend on his car first is a great way to get hands-on practice before working on your own car.
  
  Alternatively, you could sign up for a mechanic's training program, such as those offered by trade schools, but this approach can be very expensive just for your own personal repair needs.
  
  

Practice Makes Perfect

• Performing repairs will seem complicated at first, but the more you do them, the more it will seem simple and easy. Most of the challenge is learning how to do the particular repair the first time. And soon enough you will likely be asked to help out on someone else's car as word gets around about your new skill.