How Do I Become a Mechanic?

[Truktek2]

I think the ASE certificates are more for customers than mechanics. Customers want to see that the person fixing their car is certified somehow to work on that guy,

Well that's just it. The ASE tests just ask you generic automotive theory that's applicable to pretty much all makes and models. Its not like its geared toward any specific system. Its knowledge you should have gained when you were in tech school or college.When I was at Ford I was about 4 classes short of getting my master tech status on specific Ford systems. That's what made me confident to say I was competent at fixing their systems, not taking an ASE test. It does soothe customers. That I'll give ya.

 

[Truktek2]

I don't see anything wrong with taking them. It tells me that your interested enough to put in the study time to pass the test. That you have a mind to be as profesional as you can right now. And it tells me you can read, understand and retain the information. And that's very important when your working on a problem.....because..... You can't know everything about everything but you can use recources to find the information, learn about it and figure out what's going wrong. I get asked questions all day long by techs that don't have the inclination or the where with all to find out for anything for themselves. Where's the wiring diagram? What components are involved in the system? How's it supposed to work. In other words READ THE BOOK FOR PETE'S SAKE. SHOW ME SOME PERSONAL INITIATIVE. That's what something as simple as studying for and passing a test shows me that you can do. There's more techs that stand around and snivel about this and that than there are techs that do thier best at helping themselves learn to be the best they can be. Trust me, if you've go all your ase certs and you've been to even a collage level tech school and have a couple years of experiance in a shop and showed me a passion for the job I'm going to be very interested in you as a possible hire. Now having said that, I had eight of my ase certs and the L1 engine perf. and even recertified all of them when they expired. They've since expired and I'm not worried about retaking them. I've since been to all manner of chrysler schools, enough so to be level 4 (the highest as far as chysler is concerned) in all catagories besides diesel. I even had a super cool SM that sent me to Detroit, San Francisco and Pheonix for some classes that weren't available in my area at the time. The one thing I would say is Don't bug the techs to much. Stand back and watch and ask questions when appropriate but don't just hang around. I hate it when the lube kid want's to hang around in my stall and small talk when I'm trying to get something done. No, scratch that, when I'm tying to get six things done....at once.

There's nothing wrong with taking them at all. It even looks good on a resume when you graduate from school. But if Greekorican is taking them for the purpose of commanding more money, it's pretty much useless.

 

[Mike N]

If the brakes are binding, wouldn't I feel it once I let my foot off the brakes? Or are you saying they're always binding, slowing down the left wheel a hair? I'm gonna need some new tires, I'll take it in then and have them take a look at it. The front shocks feel worn out too (my mom had the rear shocks changed recently, but not the front ones).

I'm willing to go to community college. Truman College has an automotive program, will any community college do? My school has pounded into my head to go to a very reputable school (well, for college anyway). The guys I talked to said Lincoln Tech would make my job search easy. I have to wonder what difference it makes, how different could these programs be?

One more thing. I'm gonna want my ASE Certifications ASAP, right? Would working at Aamco be counted towards that, and does getting my ASE certs sooner make me command a higher pay sooner?

I did look into machining as you guys suggested. Machining can be done by computers now, and with lasers and such. I think its a dying trade because they can be replaced with a computer. It still looks cool, so I'll look into it as well.

You may have a dragging caliper, dragging just enough to cause the car to drift left. There are so many things that can make a car pull, it's just one thing to look at out of many.

Nothing wrong with a community college. Alot cheaper than UTI, and some of them have placement programs to help you land a job after college is over. You may want to look into what your CC has to offer before you sign up for UTI or similar.

You need two years experience before you can take ASE tests. Not sure whether an automotive program in college counts as experience or not. My guess would be no.

 

[Mike N]

I don't see anything wrong with taking them. It tells me that your interested enough to put in the study time to pass the test. That you have a mind to be as profesional as you can right now. And it tells me you can read, understand and retain the information. And that's very important when your working on a problem.....because..... You can't know everything about everything but you can use recources to find the information, learn about it and figure out what's going wrong. I get asked questions all day long by techs that don't have the inclination or the where with all to find out for anything for themselves. Where's the wiring diagram? What components are involved in the system? How's it supposed to work. In other words READ THE BOOK FOR PETE'S SAKE. SHOW ME SOME PERSONAL INITIATIVE. That's what something as simple as studying for and passing a test shows me that you can do. There's more techs that stand around and snivel about this and that than there are techs that do thier best at helping themselves learn to be the best they can be. Trust me, if you've go all your ase certs and you've been to even a collage level tech school and have a couple years of experiance in a shop and showed me a passion for the job I'm going to be very interested in you as a possible hire.

I couldn't have said that any better. Nothing worse than a lazy tech that just comes looking for the answers. Like I'm gonna have the magic cure all, or show them the one magic bolt that cuts the 8 hour job into a 20 minute one. I tell the younger guys (and the flush queen from my earlier posts) to apply themselves. Grab a manual, a flow chart and your multimeter and figure stuff out. It's really not that difficult, it just takes time and understanding. Of course to them it's easier to pad and rotor every car that comes in than it is to diagnose a check engine light.

 

[Mike N]

There's nothing wrong with taking them at all. It even looks good on a resume when you graduate from school. But if Greekorican is taking them for the purpose of commanding more money, it's pretty much useless.

I make more than the two flush queens in my shop because I have all 8, while they have zero. These guys have a higher productivity percentage than I do (because the hang gravy all day long, and have the hourly loober goobers doing alot of their work). The one queen griped about money (for a change ), and he was told that when he started getting certs he'd be given a raise accordingly. He took the brake test and failed it miserably.

 

[Mike N]

Well that's just it. The ASE tests just ask you generic automotive theory that's applicable to pretty much all makes and models. Its not like its geared toward any specific system. Its knowledge you should have gained when you were in tech school or college.When I was at Ford I was about 4 classes short of getting my master tech status on specific Ford systems. That's what made me confident to say I was competent at fixing their systems, not taking an ASE test. It does soothe customers. That I'll give ya.

ASE tests to me are just an industry wide yardstick that says the guy working on your car at least has half a clue what he's doing. No guarantee the job will be done right, but at least he isn't some clueless moron with a shiny Vato-Zone toolkit.

 

[Truktek2]

I make more than the two flush queens in my shop because I have all 8, while they have zero. These guys have a higher productivity percentage than I do (because the hang gravy all day long, and have the hourly loober goobers doing alot of their work). The one queen griped about money (for a change ), and he was told that when he started getting certs he'd be given a raise accordingly. He took the brake test and failed it miserably.

Do you think you make more than those guys because you passed the ASE certs or because you have the experience to diag and fix the problems in front of you? If you let your certs expire is your employer going to cut your salary? I don't think so. The problem I have with the ASE certs is that it seems like a scam for them to make money. I can see if they added tests as technology changed and they wanted to test your competence in the technology, but why do the certs where the theory never changes (such as brake hydraulics or engine theory) expire? I guess I'm just too cynical.

 

[Stumbo]

Instead of auto mechanics, you might think about learning to repair hospital equipment.

 

[greekorican]

Instead of auto mechanics, you might think about learning to repair hospital equipment.

Such as what? X-ray machines? Backup generators?

Generators are another thing I wouldn't mind working on, I think I'd need to go to school for engineering to do that.

 

[fdeck]

Instead of auto mechanics, you might think about learning to repair hospital equipment.

This is an interesting option. There's vast amounts of gear in hospitals, from beds that go up and down, to the machine that goes "ping." From what I can tell, each piece of equipment has to be routinely tested too.

 

[fdeck]

At the dealer shop where I went, you never got to speak with a mechanic. The shop had a "service advisor" who was basically a full time flush queen.

Those guys don't realize that in a rust belt state, they can only fool somebody like me, once. A person gets their repair bill, mentions it to someone else at work, and within less than 90 seconds, they are confronted by several co-workers who understand cars inside and out.

 

[Mike N]

Do you think you make more than those guys because you passed the ASE certs or because you have the experience to diag and fix the problems in front of you?

Yes.

If you let your certs expire is your employer going to cut your salary? I don't think so.

Don't give them any ideas.

The problem I have with the ASE certs is that it seems like a scam for them to make money.

For who to make money? ASE, or for the shop to command a higher labor rate because they have "certified" techs?

I can see if they added tests as technology changed and they wanted to test your competence in the technology, but why do the certs where the theory never changes (such as brake hydraulics or engine theory) expire? I guess I'm just too cynical.

New York State inspector licenses expire too, although the regulations have hardly changed in the 20+ years I've had mine. Like you said before, it's all about $.

 

[Mike N]

At the dealer shop where I went, you never got to speak with a mechanic. The shop had a "service advisor" who was basically a full time flush queen.

Advisors are there for one thing only. Sell sell sell. These guys are under the gun for big numbers. Heck, they even sell stuff I didn't suggest. I've gotten repair orders back with flushes and other crap that I didn't recommend, and when you ask them about it they'll tell you that they pitched it to the customer and they went for it.

I know that mechanics have the reputation of being crooks, but in most cases you'll find it's the "advisor" that's the crook and not the tech.

 

[Truktek2]

Yes.



Don't give them any ideas.



For who to make money? ASE, or for the shop to command a higher labor rate because they have "certified" techs?




New York State inspector licenses expire too, although the regulations have hardly changed in the 20+ years I've had mine. Like you said before, it's all about $.

Ah, well played. Point taken..........I've just never benefitted financially from having them.

 

[Truktek2]

Advisors are there for one thing only. Sell sell sell. These guys are under the gun for big numbers. Heck, they even sell stuff I didn't suggest. I've gotten repair orders back with flushes and other crap that I didn't recommend, and when you ask them about it they'll tell you that they pitched it to the customer and they went for it.

I know that mechanics have the reputation of being crooks, but in most cases you'll find it's the "advisor" that's the crook and not the tech.

Sad, but true. I've experienced this on many ocassions myself.

 

[68Goldfish]

Advisors are there for one thing only. Sell sell sell. These guys are under the gun for big numbers. Heck, they even sell stuff I didn't suggest. I've gotten repair orders back with flushes and other crap that I didn't recommend, and when you ask them about it they'll tell you that they pitched it to the customer and they went for it.

I know that mechanics have the reputation of being crooks, but in most cases you'll find it's the "advisor" that's the crook and not the tech.

Hmm, I'm going to have to turn my service writer on to this idea. lol just kidding.
I am here to make money but I try to keep the scaming of the customer down to a minimum.

 

[Absentia]

You go to Community College, get your ASEs then get a job porting cars or changing tires until and old timer dies and you can take his job.

Seems to be working so far with my buddy.

 

[Mike N]

Hmm, I'm going to have to turn my service writer on to this idea. lol just kidding.
I am here to make money but I try to keep the scaming of the customer down to a minimum.

So do I, but the advisors are only after the dollar. Recently I had a 99 Concorde in my stall for a crank-no start. Narrowed it down to a bad cmp. Has a code P1391 in the computer, unplugged it and the car started. When it did start id sounded like two skeletons ****ing on a tin roof. Even as a GM guy I know that the 2.7's are junk, and it's not going to be long before this thing expires. I advised the advisor to tell the customer to ditch this roach. Advisor comes back and says we're replacing the sensor, putting 4 tires on it, and some other crap that brings the bill to $700. I personally would have sent this heap packing.

Today at the end of the day the SM comes to me and says the car is being towed back in, no start, customer is pissed, blah blah blah. I tell him the thing is probably toast, since the engine rattled badly last time it was here. SM tells me that there was no record of that in the customers history. I tell him to find the original ro and read my hand written notes detailing the engines condition, and then find the advisor that screwed up and ream him, not me.

This, btw , is the same advisor that not long ago pulls a Lincoln in my stall. I ask him whassup, he tells me it's his buddy's car and the A/C is blowing warm air. I ask him for the ro, and he tells me there isn't one. Then he tells me the local Lincoln dealer just did $1200 worth of A/C work , and asks me to find the leak. I tell him to shove it and walk away. I did'nt do the work, and I ain't working for free- go back to the Lincoln dealer and let them fix their **** up.

 

[Truktek2]

So do I, but the advisors are only after the dollar. Recently I had a 99 Concorde in my stall for a crank-no start. Narrowed it down to a bad cmp. Has a code P1391 in the computer, unplugged it and the car started. When it did start id sounded like two skeletons ****ing on a tin roof. Even as a GM guy I know that the 2.7's are junk, and it's not going to be long before this thing expires. I advised the advisor to tell the customer to ditch this roach. Advisor comes back and says we're replacing the sensor, putting 4 tires on it, and some other crap that brings the bill to $700. I personally would have sent this heap packing.

Today at the end of the day the SM comes to me and says the car is being towed back in, no start, customer is pissed, blah blah blah. I tell him the thing is probably toast, since the engine rattled badly last time it was here. SM tells me that there was no record of that in the customers history. I tell him to find the original ro and read my hand written notes detailing the engines condition, and then find the advisor that screwed up and ream him, not me.
.

This is one reason I got so digusted with dealers and packed my bags. I've said it once and I'll say it again. When a persons salary is based on incentive, whether its the tech,service writer,manager or parts personnel you're just looking for trouble. All you do is create an environment for incompetence and thieves. They put a lot of time and resources training guys like me,only to have them get up and leave. What a waste of effort (on their part not mine). Go train someone else so they can leave as well. Then they wonder why there's such a shortage of techs. When these @$$holes get their heads on straight and go back to the business of fixing cars, give me a call. Nah maybe not. By the way, I still love turning a wrench. Wouldn't do anything else. Just not under those conditions. I like to sleep at night.

 

[68Goldfish]

I bet if you came to my dealership, were on my team, and we stayed very busy the way we are now so you got plenty of jobs, and you looked over the cars and upsold legit work and then did the work eficiantly so that you consitantly billed 50-55 hours a week I bet you'd change your attitude about flat rate. I used to be super anti flat rate just like you untill I realized just how much I screwed myself over the years. Taking a stand is cool but not when your the only one your screwing. Like I said, there's a game bieng played, you might as well suit up. Believe me, it's going to go on with or without you. Making money on flate rate and treating customers fair is not imposible. Look at it this way, I'm the same guy as I was three years ago, I work just as hard (twice as hard as anybody else). I used to be paid hourly (becuase I insisted) I made about 55K a year, no matter how much I made for the man. Now I'm paid flat rate (they insisted) and this year (the first entire year on flat rate) I will clear just under 80K. . Like I said, I'm the same guy, with the same productivity rate only now I collect on the extra hours instead of just giving it to the man. My point is by taking the anti flat rate stand I WAS SCREWING ONLY MYSELF........for years. I've allways been a hard worker I only wish I would have been capitolizing on it all this time.