Good learning resources for folks new to all things automotive?

Hi r/cartalk!

I'm a relatively new car owner and a person totally new to automotive repair. I recently decided it was high time I learned how a car worked and how to do repairs on various systems, beyond your basic changing/rotating of tires and oil changes. My impetus? Significant $ repairs every 6 months or so, beyond normal maintenance costs. Lesson learned: never buy a used vehicle in a hurry, especially your first car.

But I'm not too bothered by it. I decided getting a more detailed knowledge of car mechanics and repairs would be an invaluable skill to have for the future, and now would be a great time to learn. So what resources would you suggest for a total automotive newbie? I'd like to start getting a handle on how vehicles operate, and how to do basic repairs. What sorts of tools are needed for what sorts of repairs, etc. (What would be a good starting kit for tools? I have a very basic set of wrenches and socket wrenches, and a few screwdrivers.)

http://www.youtube.com/user/EngineeringExplained/videos?view=1

This above is a great youtube series that so far has been a big help to me. I've only watched and taken notes on a few of the videos so far, on electrical and ignition systems, as that's where my car currently has a problem. But I plan on going through the rest soon. Oh, and I just got a Chilton manual on the recommendation of a friend, but haven't yet gone through it to know what it is.

I guess I'd like to put together a list of resources for newbies like me. Good learning resources, useful tools to have, anything good for a newbie to know about. What would you recommend r/cartalk?