How to Level Mechanics in Project Zomboid

It’s been said that in dire situations, people become more receptive to new knowledge. I guess when your choices are to learn how to repair a car yourself or be devoured by a zombie horde, you become a little more willing to crack open a textbook. If you want to have any chance surviving and staying on the move in Project Zomboid, you need to learn how to replace, maintain, and just generally repair car parts, and to do that, you gotta have a high Mechanics level. Here’s how to level Mechanics in Project Zomboid.

Your Mechanics stat, in a nutshell, determines your affinity with automobiles in Project Zomboid. Removing and repairing the various parts of a car requires the use of your Mechanics stat, and larger, more complex vehicles require a higher level. With a sufficiently high Mechanics stat, you can mix and match parts between vehicles to create the Franken-car of your dreams, not to mention do so without damaging the individual parts in the process.

How to Level Mechanics in Project Zomboid

To level Mechanics in Project Zomboid

1. Set your character profession to Mechanic
2. Read Skill Books and Auto Manuals
3. Uninstall/reinstall parts on vehicles

When it comes to developing a practical skill, the best way to get good at it is to just do it, and do it a lot. The same is true for leveling Mechanics in Project Zomboid; by simply removing and attaching parts from any given vehicle, you’ll gain Mechanics experience points. Before we get into that, though, there are a few things you should do first to expedite the process.

Set Your Character Profession to Mechanic

Firstly, when you’re setting up your character at the start of the game, consider the profession you give them. Different professions confer particular stat bonuses based on what they’re good at. In the case of Mechanics, you should make your profession Mechanic, and Mechanics receive a 25% bonus to all Mechanics experience points earned. If you’re going for a vehicle-centric character, this is an absolute must.

Mechanics Skill Books and Auto Manuals

Secondly, reading material. Remember what I said about cracking a textbook? Well, it’s time to make good on that. Scattered around the world are Skill Books that, when read, will provide a temporary increase to the amount of experience points you earn for a brief time. The Mechanics books in particular come in five flavors, each granting a large experience bonus:

• Mechanics For Beginners
• Mechanics For Intermediates
• Advanced Mechanics
• Expert Mechanics
• Master Mechanics

If you don’t choose Mechanic as your starter profession, then in addition to the Skill Books, you should also seek out the Laines Auto Manuals. These three manuals will give your character the ability to perform maintenance tasks at greater levels and on more complicated vehicles. The Auto Manuals include three volumes:

• Standard Models: Teaches basic Mechanics and lets you work on simple cars like sedans.
• Commercial Models: Teaches intermediate Mechanics and lets you work on commercial vehicles like vans and trucks.
• Performance Models: Teaches advanced Mechanics and lets you work on high-performance vehicles like sports cars.

Uninstall and Reinstall Parts on Vehicles

Thirdly, you need the proper tools. No mechanic on Earth can do their job without a proper toolbox, and the same goes for you. Removing and installing certain parts on a vehicle requires particular tools. For example, to remove simple parts like the radio or headlights, you’ll need a screwdriver, while to remove the tires, you’ll need a jack and lug wrench. You can find Mechanic tools in gas stations and auto repair shops, or if you’re lucky, they may be in the trunks of derelict cars.

Alright, you’ve got everything you need, so now it’s time to put it all together. To get Mechanics experience, go find a car, any car, preferably a few of them in a big group if possible. Make sure to read your Skill Books first, then right click on a car and select “Vehicle Mechanics.” This’ll bring up the vehicle’s repair menu.

Starting at level 1 Mechanics, use your screwdriver to both uninstall and reinstall the radio, car battery, headlights, and tail lights. Each installation and removal will give you some Mechanics experience. If there are other vehicles nearby, go over to them and repeat this process. You can also attempt to repair a car’s engine if it’s damaged; even if you botch it, you’ll still get some experience. The only catch here is that you can’t get experience from performing the same Mechanics procedure twice in the same day, so after you’ve broken down and rebuilt every car nearby, you’ll have to wait 24 hours before you can do it again.

Once you get up to level 2 and 3 Mechanics, you can perform more complicated repairs, such as removing and installing a car’s doors and windows or removing and installing a car’s tires, in both cases using the lug wrench. At level 4, you can remove and install a car’s seats. Once you get to this point, you don’t even need to bother with the radios and headlights anymore, as the experience they’ll give you are comparatively paltry compared to doors, tires, and seats.

Just keep on repeating this process as much as you can, whenever it’s convenient for you, and you’ll max out your Mechanics stat in no time at all. After that, you’re pretty much the master of all things on four wheels. Make the ultimate Mad Max-mobile and take control of the infested highways!

For more guides, check out our website’s Project Zomboid section!