How Do I Become a Mechanic?

[Mike N]

As long as you have a good team and a busy shop them flat rate is fine. The problem becomes when you have people that only give a crap about themselves, and little to no management in the shop. That's the battle I'm facing now. No one (probably other than myself) gives a crap anymore. If they do it's not clearly evident by their day to day actions. It's all about me me me. Teamwork? Ha. Guys cherry picking their own tickets, SM & SA's giving stuff away (usually in the form of lower labor times), and a head honcho who only cares about numbers.

I know my toolbox has wheels, but no one around here wants a 42 year old tech with iffy knees and high blood pressure.

 

[Truktek2]

, 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.

Maybe you guys are in a good dealer. But when I was there, pay labor was less than 10%. Out of 20 guys maybe 2 made time consistantly. Which meant guys had to take shortcuts and lie. Don't get me wrong. Most guys are trying to do the right thing in a VERY WRONG system, and I'm not delusional. I don't have dreams of mechanics holding hands singing kumbaya. I realize the bottom line is well, the bottom line. I just feel very strongly that the system is flawed. I realize dealers have to stay competetive, but the ends to me, don't justify the means. And as far as me getting screwed, I too went from 50 to 80k,without flat rate, just by switching to diesel.

 

[Truktek2]

As long as you have a good team and a busy shop them flat rate is fine. .

Here's the problem how I see it. For example. My dealer used to agressively push 30k mile services.It paid 8.0 hrs cust pay.It consisted of a bunch of "checks", swapping out various filters and "adjusting" brakes. But guess what? The manufacturer clearly states that certain fluids need not be changed for 60 or 100k miles. So I dumped perfectly good fluid for the sake of charging the cust. When was the last time you adjusted 4 wheel disc brakes?
Now, since everyone is under the gun, am I really going to change spark plug #4 on an Expedition? That thing is a b*tch! Oh well 7 cylinder tune up. These are the guys that get 70hrs a week while the guy who gets a legit electrical problem
spends 8 hrs trying to fix it and gets 0.5 hrs because the manufacturer doesn't want to pay. I didn't invest so much into school, tools and knowledge to change oil. I also think if you have the skills to do cerebral work you should be compensated accordingly. You guys still think flat rate is ok? I don't. Maybe there's a topic we can agree on.Do you guys like Marcus Miller?

 

[Mike N]

I can understand how sour you'd be towards flat rape, especially in a Ford dealer. I myself have made decent money off flat rape, but sometimes the stress and politics associated with it make me wonder. I know I'd make less being hourly, but the money I'd save in blood pressure meds and the overall state of my sanity may be worth it. The shop I'm in is a total cluster**** at this point.

 

[Truktek2]

And again, I don't fault the mechanic. He's just trying to function within the insane confinements the dealer set up. Guys have mortgages to pay and mouths to feed. As far as I'm concerned we're a product of our environment. It's pretty much sink or swim. I would like to meet the moron who came up with this sytem though, first to ask him why, then to knock his teeth down his throat. Then I look around, doctors are getting their throats cut by Insurance, Engineering jobs going to India, Manufacturing going to China. Could you please hold the doors open on that express handbasket to hell? I'd like to get on now.:scowl:

 

[Mike N]

I would like to meet the moron who came up with this sytem though, first to ask him why, then to knock his teeth down his throat.

Henry Ford.

 

[joegeezer]

ok my friend here is the deal. i am a diesel mechanic and have been for the last 30+ years. the pay is almost decent. the work is heavy. a clutch assy is 158lbs. a wheel and tire assy is 187 lbs. a starter is 64 lbs. all heavy stuff with little or no room to put it on. dirt an grease fallin in your face as you are tryin to do so. alot of egr stuff on todays trucks that dont seem to last no time. engine, cab/chassis, brake and a/c computers multiplexed together. its hard to get a handle on this stuff because it changes so fast. we cant just keep up with the compter stuff. conditions are your hot when its hot, cold when its cold, wet when it rains or snows. you might be along a major interstate tryin to get one goin with cars and trucks runnin 70+ mph just sometimes inches away from you. stay in school get some type of degree please stay away from this type of work. at 47 years old my back constantly hurts, my knees aint no good from mountin tires. i get shootin pains down my legs to the top of my foot. my fingers are hard to move at times. i work for a co. that has great benefits. my fellow mechanics are like brothers to me. my boss is a great man and his boss is even better. they care about us. no, i am not bitter about my job, just my career choice. yes, i know school sucks and you dont want to hear anymore about it. there are plenty of jobs in the truck/automotive field that pay very well without you killin yourself. the nascar school in mooresville will have you workin on race cars but very few graduate an get a job on a top notch team. (pm me on this because i worked for six seasons an a busch grand national team) examine you choices carefully, talk to as many people in the industry as you can. good luck in your choice and much sucess in the future. if you or anyone has any questions you can pm me.

Listen to this guy, and heed it, or be broke the rest of your life like we are. PLUS, the biggest thing that you said, is that you are about to graduate high school, and NOW you want to be a mechanic. MAN, if your not already a mechanic, by the time you are about to graduate high school, you will never be one. I lived with wrench's in my hands since I was 8 years old, cleaning out the carb on my '48 Harley Hummer 125. If your not already one at your age, give it up. Your too late.

Here's my advice: It's the same as I gave my 4 kids.
Choose a job, that you honestly think that you could learn to do, that pays ALOT of money, don't pick one that is your hobby. WHY? because in ten years, no matter what the job is, your going to hate it by then anyway. So why not make alot of money doing something you hate, rather than hating something you used to like, and not making alot of money.

There you are. Class is over now.

 

[Truktek2]

Henry Ford.

Figures.

 

[Truktek2]

Greekorican, I wish I could give you advice on what field to choose, but I honestly have no idea. Seems every field is going down the tubes, and its not getting better anytime soon. Speak to any walk of life and I'm sure they'll complain about their job. I don't know what I'll even tell my own kids when they're old enough. The future generations definitely have it tough. Good Luck in whatever you choose.

 

[mike phillips]

i started to say somethin, but, it just aint worth it no more. all the truths have been said. im out.

 

[greekorican]

Greekorican, I wish I could give you advice on what field to choose, but I honestly have no idea. Seems every field is going down the tubes, and its not getting better anytime soon. Speak to any walk of life and I'm sure they'll complain about their job. I don't know what I'll even tell my own kids when they're old enough. The future generations definitely have it tough. Good Luck in whatever you choose.

I'm still applying to college, but I really don't have any clue what I want to do, but probably something along the lines of engineering. I like to build stuff, improve it, fix it, etc. Engineering is supposed to be big bucks, but they are being more and more outsourced. My neighbors been out of work for a long time. I think the state of the mechanic field must have something to do with the economy. Do you guys agree? I think that there is a good chance that when all this crap is through, the job environment will improve for you guys, but who knows.

As far as it being too late, I'm not sure if I agree with that. I'm a quick learner, more so when it comes to hands on work than in school. I learn a ton while working with my dad, and I've been helping him since I could walk. While carpentry is different from working on cars, I think the skills transfer over. Ever notice that tradesmen usually know more than one trade? Most carpenters i've met can do concrete, electricity, and some masonry. I've met alot of tradesmen who know a ton about cars. I think I'd actually get myself a truck and become a carpenter if I wasn't forbidden to follow my dad's footsteps. The man could teach me alot, but I know he wouldn't allow it. That field is also in the dumps right now...

 

[Mike N]

I'm still applying to college, but I really don't have any clue what I want to do, but probably something along the lines of engineering. I like to build stuff, improve it, fix it, etc. Engineering is supposed to be big bucks, but they are being more and more outsourced. My neighbors been out of work for a long time. I think the state of the mechanic field must have something to do with the economy. Do you guys agree? I think that there is a good chance that when all this crap is through, the job environment will improve for you guys, but who knows.

As far as it being too late, I'm not sure if I agree with that. I'm a quick learner, more so when it comes to hands on work than in school. I learn a ton while working with my dad, and I've been helping him since I could walk. While carpentry is different from working on cars, I think the skills transfer over. Ever notice that tradesmen usually know more than one trade? Most carpenters i've met can do concrete, electricity, and some masonry. I've met alot of tradesmen who know a ton about cars. I think I'd actually get myself a truck and become a carpenter if I wasn't forbidden to follow my dad's footsteps. The man could teach me alot, but I know he wouldn't allow it. That field is also in the dumps right now...

For the time being stick with your Aamco job and see how things go. Six months from now you may hate it and want to give the automotive repair field up entirely, or you may be living and breathing cars 24/7. I think it's too early for you to make any life changing decisions at this point.

 

[TrooperFarva]

I'm still applying to college, but I really don't have any clue what I want to do, but probably something along the lines of engineering. I like to build stuff, improve it, fix it, etc. Engineering is supposed to be big bucks, but they are being more and more outsourced. My neighbors been out of work for a long time. I think the state of the mechanic field must have something to do with the economy. Do you guys agree? I think that there is a good chance that when all this crap is through, the job environment will improve for you guys, but who knows.

As far as it being too late, I'm not sure if I agree with that. I'm a quick learner, more so when it comes to hands on work than in school. I learn a ton while working with my dad, and I've been helping him since I could walk. While carpentry is different from working on cars, I think the skills transfer over. Ever notice that tradesmen usually know more than one trade? Most carpenters i've met can do concrete, electricity, and some masonry. I've met alot of tradesmen who know a ton about cars. I think I'd actually get myself a truck and become a carpenter if I wasn't forbidden to follow my dad's footsteps. The man could teach me alot, but I know he wouldn't allow it. That field is also in the dumps right now...

I haven't known any engineering to get outsourced. IT, yes, customer service, of course, but no real engineering. I've known a few companies who have tried it, and every one of them has regretted it, and then changed back. Proper engineering requires constant interaction with all the customers, both internal and external.

Plus, Department of Defense contractors are pretty serious, and they're required by the federal government to not outsource their engineering.

 

[Truktek2]

Greekorican, Now that my tirade is over, let me try to offer a little advice. Don't let this thread either encourage you or discourage you. Just use it to make a better informed decision. Re-read Mike Phillips post, he pretty much sums it up. I've been under a truck in the snow too, but the only thing that's sends even a colder chill down my spine is the thought of spending 30 years in an office. Its only natural for people to point out the negative when they are asked about their job. I'm sure Victor Wooten would complain about his job too, if you asked him.If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing, not even the dealer part, because I learned a lot in terms of fixing cars and life in general. I'm getting older too, and my knees are also starting to hurt, and if one day I don't want to do this anymore, there are other capacities in this field that would have me sitting behind a desk. By the way, I didn't get into this field until after high school either. I'll get off the soapbox so someone else can chime in, but I'll leave u with this. If I left cars to a hobby, when the hell would I have time to play bass?

 

[greekorican]

Greekorican, Now that my tirade is over, let me try to offer a little advice. Don't let this thread either encourage you or discourage you. Just use it to make a better informed decision. Re-read Mike Phillips post, he pretty much sums it up. I've been under a truck in the snow too, but the only thing that's sends even a colder chill down my spine is the thought of spending 30 years in an office. Its only natural for people to point out the negative when they are asked about their job. I'm sure Victor Wooten would complain about his job too, if you asked him.If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing, not even the dealer part, because I learned a lot in terms of fixing cars and life in general. I'm getting older too, and my knees are also starting to hurt, and if one day I don't want to do this anymore, there are other capacities in this field that would have me sitting behind a desk. By the way, I didn't get into this field until after high school either. I'll get off the soapbox so someone else can chime in, but I'll leave u with this. If I left cars to a hobby, when the hell would I have time to play bass?

Thats one thing I know for sure, I don't want to work in an office. Sitting at a desk bores me to death (unless I'm on the internet of course).

Mom told me again today that I should go to college instead, and do this later if I really want to. She told me about her hair dresser who graduated with a Sociology degree and then decided she decided she really wanted to cut hair. She ended with "Atleast she has a college education." I have to disagree with this, because I don't think a college degree will ever help you in your hair dresser career. She probably racked up 100 grand in college tuition. I'm not saying college isn't important, but I think it depends on what you want to do. I did mention that I could get educated at Truman College, and she kind of likes that idea, probably because it involves the word "college." I'm still on the fence about this. Not completely sure I want to do it, and I know I'm gonna take some heat from my family.

I've been talking to lots of mechanics, and while alot of them tell me the negative side of it I've heard from some who really love it. My friend's cousin takes jeeps and pickups and turns them into monster trucks or offroading vehicles. He says he's having a blast. I also met an old guy through one of my dad's friends. My dad's friend buys old cars, mostly 60's and 70's corvettes, and contracts this guy to rebuild them. This guy has noone watching over him, its just him alone in the garage all day. Both of these jobs sound like a blast, I would have fun doing this in my free time. I have no clue how to find a job as cool as these, and I doubt there is much of a demand for jobs like these. It's probably unrealistic to hope to get a job like that, but I guess you can see what I'm interested in.