Im an ASE certified tech. And honestly im not so sure i agree with this guy. Yes being s mechanic is awful. But working on older vehicles is worse. Modern vehicles are ez pezy. A 1988 toyota is gonna have a million vacuum lines and need head shims... and a bad head anyway, bad compression. Same with an old ford or chevy. Guys who are zealots for old cars are just delulu.
To each their own. I am glad you like working on the newer stuff, but you are a small minority. You are the first one to even make a comment on this video defending newer cars. I only work on old domestic cars. No computers. If it has vacuum lines, no problem. Those old systems are simple if you understand how they work, and on most cars you can safely delete 90% of them. As for weaknesses...ALL cars have some.
@@techtips1064 ok so first of all, deleting smog equipment is illegal. Even if you live in an area that doesn't require smog. So I don't think a professional mechanic would delete vacuum lines. Second all the equipment on a 50 year old vehicle is going to be rusted to heck. Rebuilding many carburtors is impossible if its asian. So your basically only working on quadrajets and webers. Very narrow range of practice. And remanufactured carburetors ate a joke. In fact finding parts in general is a joke, especially for a 50 year old vehicle whit rusted everytbing. However, if its an old car thwts well maintained, it probably cost more money to fix it up thwt a newer vehicle would cost. Old vehicles ate garbage. They have low power and are absolutely not easy to work on. Just learn to use an oscilloscop, it should take like a day. And you can work on new vehicles.
@@charlesdickerson8260 OK...depending on where you live, deleting smog garbage can be done if the vehicle is old enough. A "professional" wouldn't do it? You better look up the definition of the word "professional". Asian junk doesn't get worked on here and you can always change the carb to something you can get parts for. You can still get kits to rebuild a 74 Toyota carb if you really want though. I won't touch a QJ and Webers are usually found on European cars. I do Holleys, Carter AFBs, Edlebrocks, Autolites, Strombergs and more. Can't get parts? No problem. I make parts. It's the fun I have when someone brings me a '49 Studebaker. Next week is a '50 Olds. Can't get parts??? Where are you looking? There are more parts available for a 40 year old car than a 10 year old car. We have stacks of catalogs of vintage parts. Old vehicles are garbage? What is that opinion based on? Low on power??? Sure, our 10 second drag car with a 50 year old engine is real slow (mostly stock parts). You haven't seen the same ones I have. You can't even buy engines as big as the ones sitting in our yard right now. Dang...the stuff IS rusty. After 50 years it better be. My own car is 58. Rust doesn't scare me. I'm no sissy. You just told me how little you know. Your education doesn't make you smart. Intelligence and education are two different things. You probably wear gloves too.
@@techtips1064 and I'm sure your 10 second car is totally stock too...... Like wtf? That doesn't prove anything. So basically you only work on specialty cars. Classic cars. Not the cars yhe majority if the population actually drives daily. Ok, whatever 👌
@@charlesdickerson8260 You don't even read what I say. You just like to try and put others down. I clearly said I specialize in vintage vehicles. I never said the drag car was 100% stock. The engine has all stock internals except the cam. Late 60s 429 ci. That was in response to your comment about how none of the old cars have any power. And yes, some people do drive them daily. Only the ones that aren't running come in on a trailer. They all drive away. Sorry, the old Studebaker left on a tow truck because the owner of the car also owned a tow truck. My own vehicle is daily driven and 58 years old. You have yet to make a valid point that is any more than just bashing. No, the majority of the population don't drive them. They are too stupid. BTW, learn to spell and use a keyboard.
I love older vehicles with a carburetors,cars back then had a soul, they all were unique and didn't copy each other like today's cars. Im sorry a Toyota Prius or a Tesla will never hold the wow factor that an old school muscle car or truck will have to me.
Owned my own transmission shop for 26 years. Called it quits last year because parts and skilled techs were getting difficult to get. Sold my business for a good price and haven’t looked back.
@@aaadamt964 up until 2010, filling an experienced tech position wasn’t a problem. You may be right that salary may have started the downfall. Add to that, the high cost of tools and the constant introduction of new tech in cars, which many techs were unable/unwilling to learn. Covid just exasperated the problem. There weren’t many employees to fill positions along different industries, hence the low unemployment the last four years if you didn’t work, it was bc you didn’t want to and not bc there wasn’t any jobs out there. My last job post was in late 2020, salary was $20/hr and a 35 hour work week. I didn’t get one application.
@@aaadamt964right, im getting tired of being underpaid and overworked. Trying to get a mobile mechanic business going. Cant make it working for a shop anymore it seems.
I am 26, didnt know what ball joint grease was until I was 23. I have always been poor, and have never had at luck paying others to repair my stuff. Either the job was half assed, left undone, and or the repairs were more costly than the vehicle was worth. I dove into mechanic work, repairing a botched brake job on our car. That gave me confidence. Then the water pump went out, timing chain driven gm 2.4, and I repaired the car myself. Went on to replace the entire steering and suspension before the wife wrecked it. Again leaving us with no car. I had just purchased a rusted out parts jeep, with plans to buy a rust free one. That happened almost immediatedly, and when i got the rust free one home i doagnosed the knocking engine to also have a blown head gasket. So i pulled out both motors and put the good runner from parts jeep into the new daily. Knock on wood, no running problems so far! Oh well, more has happened on the journey, but where better for a young mechanic to start? Lol
Look into the followers being flung off the exhaust rod wrecking shit in the upper head they have clips that you can snap on to prevent the nightmare from even happening I had a Durango with the 4.8 v8 I beleave it's known as "hemi tick" I started my Durango one night & it happened to me was running like shit and another guy in the parking lot told me my shit was leaking oil unbeknownst to me..after I got it towed back tobthe house I took off the valve cover and it was as if a small bomb exploded inside metal fragments all over and the housing the follower goes up and down with the cam lobe was completely sheared off so just a heads up those Chrysler meters the smallest all up to the biggest hemi are all susceptible to this these clips I'm telling you about can be snapped on within an hour or so. Best of luck my friend to you & yours!
@@jamessouza7065 thank you for the heads up. I personally am trying to stick to the straight 6 4.0 motor, while technically a christler engine, it is based off of the earlier AMC 2.5 4 cylinder with the same length rods and pistons, the 4.0 straight 6 runs smoother when compared to a v-block or 4 cylinder. It is also infinitely easier to work on compared to v-blocks, you can refresh the jeep 4.0 over a weekend with fresh main rod and cam bearings, rings rods and pistons, and it shouldn't take more than 2-3 days with the engine still in the vehicle, at home in the garage. Or if your like dex-jeeps you can pull the motor in a little less then an hour, rebuild it and have it back together the next day, or use a lift to help speed along the process and probably finish an in frame motor refresh the same day you start on it. Expect your motor to survive another 150+k miles, well maintained, per rebuild. But wait there's more, lol 😂. You can shave the heads down for a higher compression ratio, carbeurate it and get an manual trans, which allows you to delete the computers, and run alcohol. Literally emp bomb proof. I personaly feel like the jeep cherokee/grand cherokee is the modern model t, cheap to buy and run, easy to modify. Even the 5.2 and 5.9 found in the grand cherokee can be modified in similar ways. Hemi engines definitely need more love, I wish you good luck with it!
I miss the cars that you could work on yourself. There's no need for all this high tach garbage where everything works on electricity and sensors. All the cars today look the same, like blobs. Cars from the 30's up to the 70's had character and worked amazingly.
I was thinking about this today, watching a youtuber revive a Model T. Do you think people will be doing revival videos 100 years into the future of say, a 2024 Nissan Altima? You know, an average car, as average as the Model T was for the day.
I jokingly call my 50 year old daily driver "mechanical zen". Carbureted motor, manual transmission, the only electronics are the distributor and ignition box. Compared to the newer stuff, it's relaxing and a pleasure to work on.
@@Guillotines_For_Globalists It will never happen. All the electronics in these vehicles will render them completely and absolutely wothless in a very short time.
ASE certified master here, it's really not all doom and gloom. I prefer OBDII vehicles 96+ as the diagnostic is easier. The 96-10 Japanese vehicles are rock solid but easier to repair now the 15 and up vehicles have more systems GDI, turbos and their associated plumbing, blind spot and foward collision sensors. Some tech like electric power steering eliminated power steering leaks and most EPS systems are reliable. The biggest problem I see is deferred maintenance tpms light pops on, couple years later the EBCM has an issue, then a few years later the occupant detection system (weight sensor) causes an SRS light. Customer brings in the car with Tire,ABS, airbag and maybe a check engine light and they want a quote well it's going to be high. Dealer level scan tools are really only needed for coding and programming if you don't do the volume to warrant having a certain tool that's where you should have a network of other shops you work with as a network, if you live in a large city you have several mobile programming and diagnostic guys. Wrenching is as hard as you make it, don't be afraid to turn away customers, don't be afraid to ask another shop for help. Right now a well run shop is a license to print money.
Good points, not only tools and know how that counts. it's also sometimes having to make parts from different models do the job. Availablity problems, we had a blown motor and couldn't get the right one. So I was pressured by the boss to 'approve' the different motor and got an earful from the guy doing the work. He quite rightly pointed out that everything had to be modified to do the job. Lose,lose.. then they scream about how long this all takes. Not to mention that many modern cars are designed to torture mechanics. Things like having to tear half the csr down just to do a job like a water pump. Also don't get me started on some book times they should be called Modern Mythology!
There's a special place in hell for company owners who wanna make more money by selling cheap counterfeit parts at the cost of literally everyone else involved.
7 years in the field, actually enjoyed working in both older and newer cars. Anyone that can’t do both simply comes down to skill issues, or just don’t want to learn. Left the field because there are easier jobs that pays more. Still work on my own stuff and save tons of money.
I am a master automotive technician for 40 years I know what you mean I should have listened to my mother she said to go in the Air Force and I would have a pension and I would be working at Boeing near me because they hire out of the military and be ready to retire with another pension instead I have to work like my father did till I drop dead I work on old new boats just about anything that has a engine I have to pay 2000 dollars a year to get my scanner updated I used to love to work on vehicles know it's a headache you forgot to mention rust and the parts break taking them off God bless you and your family keep up the hard work making videos and have a blessed day today 🙏
From what I have heard, the Air Force doesn't pay that well, but if it gets you in the door at Boeing, it's a good deal. I deal with those rusted bolts and broken parts every day. Remember how old the stuff is I work on. You get used to it. That's why we ignore flat rates. 1950 Olds is on it's way. Looking forward to that one.
so right -----retired now but before i spent close to forty years turning wrenches in my own business and working for others. like you i loved the work and making vehicles safe and sound and helping people ,now it has changed so much----used to change a heater core in couple of hours-----now it takes that long just to find it . miss the older days when you could do good honest work ,be proud ,make a simple living and make people happy ,now its dog eat dog rush to beat the times and people expect us to do miracles---------full service gas stations for the most part would alert one on a issue before it was to bad------water ,fluids ,tires and things that made driving safer and cheeper !!thanks for sharing--------the good days .
I threw in the towel after 34 years. Counter guy and owner kept forcing me to install parts I knew were no good. Now the customers think I'm an idiot. I have at least 60 thousand dollars invested in tools. I will use them to keep my family's vehicles running. Everyone else can pound salt!
You are absolutely correct sir and are appreciated 🙏 I wish you were close to where I live. Doggone labor rates and parts prices prevent me from having any work done outside of my driveway for the most part and now that I'm old and crippled up it is so hard to do anything. My grown sons have moved away from our home for their military service commitments after university completion and I sure miss them for far more than just helping dad out but that's neither here or there just saying. Thanks for sharing and good luck brother.
Flag hours are a crime. You covered the expensive tools and subscriptions for said scan tools required to talk to the cars. Dealerships/Warranty repairs are a joke, often times big shops will wave diagnostic fees and not make good on it to the mechanic. Customer complaints that Service Advisors and Managers know said car issues are normal yet they won't get in the car with the customer to confirm what the complaint is, which last time I checked is a Service Advisor/Manager's job not the tech's job since we don't get paid hourly. The stories I can tell about cars that made it back to me in the shop at dealerships that never should have been written up. One of my favorites was a backup camera with a white line in the lower 1/4 of the screen. I got in a car to back it out of the parking spot, backup camera powers on... YOU MEAN YOUR REAR BUMPER SINCE YOUR CAR IS WHITE?!!? Parts quality is crap I often have had to do the job more than once because of bad parts provided by customers mostly non-oem parts. I too prefer older cars at this point. I no longer work on cars as a job.
I been doin this since 96 switched to New car prep and accessories coupe years ago myself. Cause it's easy and clean. But yeah all that you mentioned but the real main reason is cars are very complex now and their is almost zero maintenance (in a dealership) compared to 25 years ago. I got a few good years in before every thing had 100k fluid and spark plugs. In a dealership at least gm supplies most of the special tools and wiring diagrams. But I still have 40k into my tools easy with only a $5k tool box i got in 2000. Today you can have 20k into just the tool box alone. Forget the tools inside.
You can have a ton of money in the tools today, however over the last few years a both golden and terrible thing has happened, I personally have started a small buisness thats gotten almost no interest and I can't find mechaic work elsewhere, I have only about 20k invested into tools and that includes less than 1k in my boxes. I do however have advanced diagnostic equipment, power tools, and a lift. I love cars, fixing them, diagnosing and maintaining them, engine and trans work, computers, whatever. I can't wait to learn more about tuning computer controlled engines, and tuning and back carbeurating some of the modern classics like the 4.0 inline 6, and the 5.7 chevy. Wish me luck, as the money is gone. Lol 😂
@@HawkeyeMobileAutoRepair yeah I really enjoyed it too fur a long time I got a hoist in my garage at home I used to do LOTS of side work mostly performance stuff fbodys really. So much so I almost quit my dealership job with all of its security but I know from experience the economy goes you and down and when it's down like now you ain't gonna make much money unless you're fully established. And by then you probably got people depending on you getting enough work to come in yadda yadda sounds like you know full well. The his news is one you invest in the tools you'll always have them. The bad news is there's always new tools you also need so it doesn't end. Good luck my man
Kids nowadays don't want to be mechanics because the newer cars coming out of the lots are over-engineered over complicated.They're just too much parts.There's too much parts to break and it's just a pain in the a**To fix, to take them apart You spend the whole day and fix one little plastic part.That's why people don't want to become mechanics its no fun any more its just expensive and stressfull 🥴
I work for a dealer. I bought most the tools I needed to make good money when I started doing heavy line within the first 6 months to a year. Honestly the newer stuff depending on what you are working on isn't bad. The only difference is there is an onboard computer to tattle tell and point you in the direction of the faulty part. You don't get that luxury on those older cars, every single problem is essentially an NVH concern, sure you don't have codes and some people might not complain about lack of power... but where do you start? You have to check EVERYTHING, where is a modern car will trip a code and point you in the direction... you aren't doing compression and leak down on every car you touch. There is more pinpointing available through the onboard computer then you had on your old computerless systems.
The computer may point you in the right direction, but doesn't tell you what the problem really is. I have seen them mislead people that can't think for themselves or use their head. It may say you have a bad sensor when in fact you have a broken wire. I've seen that exact scenario. That's not just a story I made up. On the older cars, I don't need or want a computer. I can think for myself and diagnose a problem better than any computer.
@@techtips1064 That is true. but what you are saying is the same thing you could do for an older car. plenty of old timers throw parts at them for no ryhme or reason. it is easier to rip a customer off with an older car then it is a newer car. You can't bullshit your way through a circuit fault code and start saying stupid. Where as on an older car you could be upselling a bunch of not needed shit and parts cannon the fuck out of it. The truth is that pre computer cars are easier to rip customers off with. Happens all the time.
@@JrSpitty You would be one of the people getting ripped off if you believe a computer will keep you safe. There is a LOT a computer won't tell you and it will NOT stop me from ripping you off if I want. It won't stop me from charging you for an oil change I didn't do. It won't stop me from charging you for the rotors I didn't put on, the fan that got replaced with a used junk one etc. There is a lot a computer doesn't know and won't protect you from. Besides, the topic wasn't about unscrupulous mechanics. If someone wants to con you, they will always find a way. They may even find a way to use the computer against you. Also, most people can't read codes and don't know what they mean. If they could do all that, they wouldn't need a mechanic. A shady guy could also say there was a code (pick any one) but he cleared it and it requires ten hours of labour to fix the problem.
@techtips1064 older cars didnt last 300k miles. They had odometer that went to 99k and rolled over becuase they weren't expected to last more then 100k until a rebuild. Even a modern transmission will go 200k without a fluid change. You are the one that seems out of touch with reality. Modern computer controlled cars keep engines cleaner and can detect misfires before you can even feel them. Of course not all manufacturers use good systems for detecting misfires. But for the most part that engine even with a handful of check engine lights, will be running smoother then your old peice of crapolla with one problem.
@@JrSpitty Reality??? I can pull the engine in my old car in a fraction of the time it takes to pull the engine in my modern car. Do the newer ones last longer? Yes, but there are a lot of factors in that including the oil in them that didn't even exist when the old ones were built. As for detecting a misfire...if you need a computer to help you with that, you are a hack. I can hear a miss from the other side of the parking lot. Call the old ones a piece of crap if you want. You are just denying yourself of the pleasures of an old car.
Everything you said is 100 percent right. Been a 1 man shop owner mechanic since 1985. I now let the customer provide high liability parts. The loss of mark-up on the part is easily offset by not being liable for the part. "Get me a heater core, choose wisely"😂. I won't install internet junk, must come from brick and mortar store, with receipt. Had to put two reman alternators on a Kia Sedona last week. Older lady, couldn't make her get the part. She had no car to go in😢. Here's Scotty, doin it again!
In my experience, not just parts, manufacturers only want to sell cars, (or motorcycles in my case) dealers don't want a workshop and sales people have bad attitudes to the guys doing any sort of service (is there any older mechanic who hasn't had a 'salesman' by the throat at some time or at least wanted to?) Don't even get me started on customers who think mechanics are getting the $90~$175 hr labour charge plus often start with a real bad attitude when they shouldn't even be in workshop. Managers who have zero idea how to do the job telling you your too slow as 'book says ?x? hrs' I've had to train techs in just about every shop I ever worked in, even experienced people much older than me that hated (or couldn't) read service manuals. (in mid 80's things were so bad Yamaha made 'cartoon' manuals with pictures to follow, torque specs with arrows pointing at fasteners, etc) Yamaha got the idea from US military who were having similar problems Only once do I remember getting real praise from a customer (a college professor) 'Please don't take this the wrong way, but, you have to be real smart to do this job, it's far more complicated than I thought' (I think we were doing valve shims on a 4 cyl DOHC plus carb strip and clean - 4 carb bank) It used to be Made in Mexico, Taiwan or East Germany parts were crap but now it's Made in China, mainly due to quality control (often there isn't any) I made move to working on construction equipment, money was better (much better) most of the work was much simpler (working on side valve small engines and diesels) wiring and electrical systems incredibly basic if machine even had wiring. Really, the only downside was things were big, heavy and usually very dirty, needing up to an hour with high pressure steam cleaner.
ive done all of our vehicle repair/maintenance along with friends vehicles for the past 30+ yrs because of a crooked stealership. all the money ive saved doing my own work ive accumulated the tool collection of a master mechanic along with most of the specialty tools in blow molded cases, testers, meters and so on. ive never worked in a shop professionally, ive been a concrete finisher for 30 yrs. i love my career but when i get to do some wrenching, i know its going to be a fun and relaxing night after work or on the weekend. i do it because ive always loved working with my hands and the satisfaction knowing i was able to help someone save some cash from crooked shops. ive havent had the need for an expensive scanner yet as ive gotten by with a code reader and the internet just fine along with my years of experience. it may take me longer but like i said, im not a mechanic nor do i want to be one. im just a concrete guy that can fix about anything.
It is expensive to run a shop,and you have to charge appropriately to not go broke, some people balk the labor rate and parts price but it is absoloutly necessary to be able to stay in business,if you don’t like it talk to the people that make the cars,it’s not our fault,we are just here to help
The sound of a gear reduction Mopar starter at the intro hooked me,even tho i run the later small starter on my 65 Dart GT 273 i miss that sound,dont miss the headache of R&R
LOL...I don't find the R+R bad on them as long as you don't have headers. Then you are screwed no matter what you drive. Th only starters that I think are a pain are anything GM and the Ford FE engines. That top bolt is a bear. Great engines otherwise.
Thank you for sharing your insights and making this video. I have a 15YO son that I want him to consider a trade as a profession and videos like yours are valuable beyond words.
1) not enough customer pay work at the dealership to offset the stingy warranty times 2) Stingy warranty times 3) The manufacturer expects us to diagnose for free 4) Too much free work (License plate removal for sales department, wiper blades, tire pressures, license plate brackets, initializing TPM, pairing phones, checking Bluetooth system and pairing, teaching customer how to pair their phone, some light bulbs are expected to be replaced for free) 5) too many techs; not enough work 6) not being compensated properly by the warranty administrator based on the techs notes on the R. O. 7) being asked to reassemble the vehicle and then disassemble the vehicle again at a future date for free because a part was coming from another country. 8) Being expected to provide $100k in tools and leave them locked up held hostage in someone else's shop overnight 9) being charged for uniforms 10) poor work / life balance 11) zero 401k matching 12) poor retirement benefits 13) being expected to work Saturdays when there wasn't enough work Monday thru Friday 14) low shop morale because not enough work 15) poor work environment 16) poor work conditions 17) unsafe work environment 18) lack of special tools that should be provided by the dealership 19) no bonuses for CSI or shop safety 20) no holiday party 21) no company parties unless tied to a shop company business meeting as a bribe 22) They will allow you to keep your tools hostage over night, but they won't allow you to use the shop for anything other than your vehicle and immediate family.
So was disabled 12 years ago and shops were part changers. I would diagnosed jobs because most didn't know what they were doing. I understood the theory behind systems. I was 30 at the time. Mechanics need to be book smart now. It is like being a doctor. Pay doesn't reward the smart technicians only fast part changers. I watch shows and you see a vehicle not working in a few mins I'm like it's a speed sensor. They freak out about it being so complicated but come around to it.
Yes...parts replacers that do what a computer tells them. Don't know how to think for themselves and diagnose a problem. Company truck got a new TPS when it was just a broken wire that some basic troubleshooting would have found. Glad I didn't have to pay that bill.
Today's vehicles are meant to be replaced not repaired. Plastic garbage controlled by computers with very little to no resale value. Purchasing a new vehicle is a bad financial decision.
I find this hard. I grew up being told work hard. Dirty jobs a man's job. Now the world everyone you have to me super nice to and be clean and not loud. I literally grew up where everything was USA made we had pride. Some how I feel united states lost our way. We cheap out for everything now just to save a dollar . Crazy sad truth. I weld and I see the industry turning to machines because no one wants to work a trade anymore like mechanics welding carpenters masonry so many trades being lost. It sucks
If you think about it, the big campaign to push all high school graduates to "College" was strictly to weaken American productivity, manufacturing, and the trades in general. IT makes perfect sense to me now seeing how awfully useless all of these "highly decorated" graduates really are.
@@johnsmith7676 It is worse than that, they start them in high school. The kids with the highest grades, "honors" have all kinds of awards and recognition yet they really don't know how to do anything else besides "book smart". Do you notice how the youth are so scared and apprehensive to do anything? They seem immature to me. Looking back to myself and my friends at age 18 only 17 years ago, yeah we were probably immature, but we used to do so much more without being fearful!
I wanted to be a mechanic after high school. Working on cars just felt something I could enjoy and getting paid doing it. I decided to work in a hospital setting instead. Wrenching can be hard on the body and conditions can be harsh. I work on my families and friends car only when Im available and around my schedule. It best of both worlds for me because work is better in what I do but my love on working on cars is my getaway.
I gave up working on cars for a living in 1976, when cars were getting too hard and complicated to work on. But I still work on classic cars 1972 and earlier and I've got all the business, as a part time hobbyist mechanic, that I can handle. It amazes me in how today's mechanics know nothing about carburetors, distributors, generators, drum brakes. I had a wealthy car collector want me to be his full time private mechanic but I don't want to move to Oregon, too expensive to live there
From about the mid 70s on they were a mess with all the "smog" stuff on them, but most of that can be tossed over your shoulder now because they are old enough. The ones that really get me are the ones that have computers. No thanks. They make the stuff from the 70s look simple.
It's easy to blame China, but Chinese companies only make parts to a level of quality that is requested by the vendor. The vendor approaches a "manufacturer" and asks them to make a particular part TO A SPECIFIC PRICE. And that price is not much because the vendor wants to clear anywhere between 80 to 100% markup. The Chinese "manufacturers" then take that offer and put it out to tender to subcontractors who underbid each other (because they want to make their markup on that contract). What you end up with is a part made for pennies on the dollar. They can actually make high-quality items (heck, they have a very successful space program, plus many other world-leading industries), but it's us in the Western world who want "cheap" items.
My friend, what I'm telling you is in my country [Greece] here the schools are closed for the entire car trade, mechanics, body construction, carburetor and car exhaust technicians, no child can learn these professions, if so they have to pay privately private school The old technicians are not allowed to resell their shop, if they want to close it for health or retirement reasons, they are not allowed to sell or rent the shop to others Who's work you will ask? the big representatives like VW, MB, BMW They bring technicians from Balkan countries who do the work very cheaply, don't cause any problems, these dealerships have painters and electricians, the car only gets original parts, very expensive and the car electricians work for us, they even do a seminar in Germany, for electric cars, i.e. the future, the EE obliges us in 2028 all cars have to be sold electrically, anything with a license plate can drive, new petrol cars will no longer be available, well us Wait and see, I don't think exactly what they're cooking My friend if you have money buy china electric cars are very cheap good business, stop with old USA cars clean work, no more dirt and some spare parts, and you are king
Lack of respect was what killed my desire to fix daily drivers. Everyone thinks your ripping them off. Now you get a guy/girl who loves their 1970-anything and just wants it fixed, they will stop and listen to us old timmers as to why it need to be done this way, not just hammer it together.They know they can't do it and respect us who can. Understand that parts fail beyond our control.Daily drivers pay the bills but not worth working on any more. I only work on other peoples junk if they are a collector or enthusiast wanting to learn.
I love when people have a desire to learn. Just had a customer help put his own engine together because he wanted to learn more. Most shops won't let a customer in. We handed him tools and knowledge. It was a good time and he came back and spent more money. He was grateful and thankful. Guys like that make this job worth doing.
If manufacturers intended for modern cars to be serviced they wouldn't engineer them so you have to remove half an engine to replace spark plugs. Or need an IT degree to work with the absurd number of ECM sensors. Or be an NECA certfied electrician. Or lift the cab to work on a modern pickup truck. Modern vehicles are made to use then throw away. At least that's what the manufacturers want you to think.
That depends on where you live. In the north, there is a small market for AC work. I know, I used to install and service systems. I also did tires. Hard work and a dirty job. I still do brakes and suspension.
late 80s volvos are a breeze to work on, i'm an expert on these, they are fuel injected with a computer (to the right of the passengers feet behind the plastic) but there are no codes, the fuel injection components are checked with a voltmeter, that's it....and the only problems i have ever had with these cars are the drive shaft bearing that needs grease or leaking fuel line, one very strange problem, i got a bad voltage regulator (screws into the back of the alternator) and when it was below zero out the car wouldn't run right until the battery got warmed up, for the people that don't know this the battery loses half it's power at these temps. the other problem is never use aluminum fuses on these cars, the best place for you to get parts is worldpac, or autoparts warehouse (same place for non mechanics, all oem very high quality parts
I worked at a Volvo dealership in the late 70s/early 80s. I owned one too. Fuel injection with no computer and they were built to be worked on. The 200 series were great cars.
This is capitalism in action. Well, our flawed capitalism. Greed at the top is almost done squeezing the middle class out. They'll be charging a subscription to be able to turn your car on soon. I'm not being stupid.. Check engine light is an option on Hyundai's in some countries. BMW charging subscriptions to be able to turn on your heated seats... 2nd amendment time is coming.
You are right. I've never owned a car with heated seats. I grew up without them and still don't need them. One less thing to go wrong. My car I like best doesn't even have electronic ignition. My other car... I ignored the "check engine" light until it burnt out.
Please just stop. The problem with our form of capitalism is government involvement. It’s NOT a free market when and it’s in the government and oligarchs best interest to choke out the individual…There’s no better option than a free market market to allow for personal growth and freedom. The frogs wanted a king…
Capitalism is not the problem. Shortsighted and yes unscrupulous manufacturers and of course the elephant in the room ,…Government. Socialistic policies and regulations is what drives most of this stupidity. If a manufacturer could free themselves of government control and manufacture a reliable(last for many years), less expensive and easier to work on vehicle, I believe people would break the doors down to buy it. I work in the repair field and also a shade tree mechanic but when I pop the hood of a new vehicle it is a nightmare to behold. Making it easier, simpler and cheaper to repair should be the goal. Of course with that happening there are downsides but the bottom line is people will not be abused by a system working against them and their wallet.
You prefer to only work on older cars, that is a familiar story I heard a lot in the late 70s and 80s. That was when I watched a whole generation of points and condensor mechanics , forced to retire because they do not understand the computers and sensor engine controls and there were less and less stuff on a car they can repair. I was one of the few who transitioned over and still fix much of my cars today. Now I see mechanics in their age 40s never touched a distributor or carb. I am more than happy to get rid of the carbs, bias tires and regular headlights etc. There is still a lot of stuff in a car that had minimal changes, and there is definitely enough work for smaller shop to survive. I know I deal with one , they fix what I cannot. Where mechanics get squeeze is at the dealer, where they have huge overheads and staff to pay for, One college showcased about $600 worth of equipment just to change oil for cars (Toyota) with sealed transmission. I did it with little equipment in my driveway within a couple of hours and after watching You Tube .
You aren't entirely right. I CAN work on newer ones (I own a code reader etc.) I choose not to. I won't work on things I don't believe in and newer cars have a lot of unnecessary tech I don't believe in. On top of that, people are paying a lot (they have no choice) to own and repair all that tech. The price of a new vehicle is NOT proportionate to inflation. You pay average $15,000 just for all the computers in them. True there are a lot of systems that haven't changed much and a lot of things (like radial tires) are huge improvements.
@@techtips1064 The computer can tell you something, but sometimes it still require the human touch. Let say the code reader tell you the Oxygen sensor is bad, you of course will replace it, but the code will not go away, because there is a bad wire 1 of 4 to the sensor is bad. Computers are not everything.Experience will make it a lot faster to find such troubles than someone whose code reader are gathering dust much of the time.
@@tonylam9548 I agree. The computer can point you in the right direction, but unless you possess troubleshooting skills as well, you may easily miss the real problem. The computer can't replace talent. Unfortunately a lot of people think it can.
@@techtips1064 I've fixed plenty that 'nobody could fix" and all that other stuff. I also didn't waste all of my money on foolish stuff, at least not in the last 25 or so years of my career. I now have realestate worth well into 7 figures. But I look like a regular mechanic and usually drive 10 year old (or more) cars and trucks. When I have to deal with white collar workers, they talk down to me like I'm some illiterate unskilled laborer. They do that to all mechanics no matter how intelligent they are. As soon as a pencil pusher hears you are a mechanic, they put you in the same class as some moron that works at jiffy lube. Personally as an old man I usually tell them exactly what I think of them. I really don't give a damn because I could buy and sell their stupid broke asses like 10 times over. But why does it have to come to that?
@@joecummings1260 Yep, you gotta like what you do. You sure won't get much respect for your occupation. Some people think you need a degree to get a good job. There are still a lot of "lowly" trades that pay well and don't have the expense of a degree.
I hang around a lot of old guys, lot of car guys, and when it comes to work and jobs in general the same things are always said: 1) The job they do isn't good anymore and doesn't allow people to provide. This is usually because wages are stagnant, buying power of the dollar is down, and they're comparing the job to when they started not to what the market is like now. 2) The barrier to entry is too high. Most of these guys could walk across a street and get a job based off a handshake, now everything is stacked to be ridiculous so that you're forced to work for someone with no hope of ever starting your own business. Like you mentioned with the fees for tools, vehicle specific trainings, and diagrams. The idea is that you need to be able to sell your labour and it can't be expensive for someone to buy it. 3) No one wants to work (long hours, dirty environment, etc, etc) This one is absolute bullshit. The ONLY barrier I've ever seen with younger people refusing work is not getting paid for it. Would they work in a dirty environment like being a mechanic? Yes, absolutely. Would they do it in a shop as a mechanic, one of the most criminally underpaid trades I can think of? I don't think so. Anyone today getting into the job market is screwed, the path to being able to afford a home and raise a family is very limited. Those kids also have dealt with being raised by parents that have told them not to follow in their footsteps, not to get into jobs like mechanics, truck drivers, tradesmen, etc, etc. Side note: China makes pretty much everything, the reason you see crappy Chinese quality is because we don't pay for them to Quality Control the parts, we know we can even make money selling faulty parts because some people don't know a bad part from a good part and won't try to make a claim against it. Also some times a part that would fail a QC test could sometimes be passable.
Please expand on your number 2 point. I see a lot of people on TH-cam being mobile mechanics. Why don't more techs go their own way? Perhaps you can shed some light on that. Also, that point about parents not wanting their children to follow in their path due to the current state of the profession is so universal. From the little I gather, mechanics jobs will keep filtering down to the lowest income earners, and as long as there's an endless supply of such people things may never get better. Thanks.
They have their challenges. Problems that many new techs have no clue about. Just the same, they had simplicity. I just completely wired one using two harnesses (no schematics for either) and a lot of custom parts. No computer, so it wasn't that hard. When I say "complete" re-wire, I mean there wasn't a wire in that truck I didn't touch.
Good in theory and I agree they are better, but sad truth is many aren't available and you have to settle for unknown aftermarket parts that end in disaster. I have put HEI modules in Fords and Dodges, but unless you can find an actual GM part, you risk failure. I often resort to used ones just to get the real thing and they will still work for years. The copy cat parts don't last and sometimes don't work when you get them. Of course electrical parts are non-returnable so not worth the risk.
Right to repair fail us all I gave up last year and only work on pre 2000 now. 1950-1979 is what I like now times were just so simple then. Thing is people who own old cars are their second car so they can live without them for a while we find good parts. This China crap is a temporary fix at best.
Think about how much you spend on just rags. I would rather go to the junkyard, find my car and grab a part then buy new. New oem is great but hard to find and expensive. New is shit like you said with the head gasket.
With all due respect mechanics fix things that need fixed. Otherwise you're an enthusiast. It's no different than computer programers that used to write in C (I was one). There are still mechanics that work on carburetors and they're still programmers that write in C. I fix cars that have computers because that's what people want fixed.
i've been seeing a lot of these videos lately and i've been working on cars for 20 years. Most of these videos are some, no offense, old guy complaining that you can't just tune a carb with a screw driver any more. Technology progresses. Yup you do some of the work on a modern car with a computer or scan tool and you have to have an understanding of the complex electrical systems. As for tools you don't need a pile of snap on tools and power ratchets etc. As for telling people you can't make money being a single mechanic shop.. absolute b.s. I make a killing. I sounds to me like you like working on simple cars. There's nothing wrong with that but you all need to stop whining that the industry is leaving you behind.
I'm not whining. FACTS are that in twenty years you won't be able to get parts for a new car. In 50 years, you will still be able to get parts for the junk I work on. For every car I save, there is one less overpriced and overly complicated car being manufactured and sold. I AM green.
@@abdul-kabiralegbe5660 Start-up costs would be the main reason. Most people will never save up enough money working for someone else to go out on their own. Most guys will have their own tools, but after they pay the bills, they won't have enough left to buy all the "shop" equipment they need, rent or buy a shop to work in and fill the shop with all the bare necessities for inventory.
@@abdul-kabiralegbe5660 It works for some guys and there is a demand for it, but I wouldn't want to do it and I see a lot of down sides to not having a physical building to work in. Around here it would be far too cold to work for half of the year... and no place to store your inventory or shop tools.
"It's not financially viable." Bullshit. If you believe that, then you need to make some changes in how YOU operate. Either charge more for your services or tool / skill up so that body work, an engine swap, etc. isn't as traumatic as it should be. Any mechanic, tech, whatever the hell we're calling these people now who says something like, "It's just not worth my time," isn't a mechanic anyone should want to have working on their car anyway. Those guys are deadbeats.
Well, I have a moral that stops me from charging as much as I should. Driving should be more affordable than it is. If you have no problem with gouging people to get work done, then I guess you are entitled to your opinion. To suggest I should "tool up" is totally against what you are saying. If you think I should, then you also think I should spend a lot of money just to do a job that will never pay for the tools I used to do it. How does that make sense? When was the last time you bought paint booth (since you mentioned body work) or a building big enough to put it in?
@@techtips1064, are you running a mechanic shop or a goddamn charity? Your customers are not your friend and just because you need to be charging rates that make the work worth doing doesn't mean you have to force them into taking out more mortgages. I mean, my god, I know you're a mechanic, but surely you have at least SOME critical thought processes that you can use to look at your business strategy through a lens of refinement? It's not rocket science: Step back far enough to see what pricing model you're using--which, judging from what you just responded with, doesn't even appear to exist in your situation--and analyze how you can progressively increase costs until you're able to stow away enough each month to afford the things you'll be able to use to make your work better and to provide a better service. Because the irony in your mentality in this is that you think you're doing yourself some kind of "God's work" when in reality, your charity work is burning you out and taking from the community what would otherwise be a great mechanic who's worth the money he charges. Nobody benefits if you're worth anything but burn-out or poo-poo your own trade. Get real. Stop providing charity work. You're running a business. Make it worth doing or else fucking retire already and make room for someone who isn't dead yet.
The automotive and automotive service "industries" have become nothing but one massive grift. It's all just a shakedown. And a shakedown of the worst kind. Every last aspect of it all. And, all the new "vehicles" -- ALL of them -- are absolute junk, on top of the aforementioned issue. They are DESIGNED to fail, and fail relatively soon, after purchase. We all know who runs this ridiculous circus-of-the-absurd, too.
It is kinda funny you keep saying don't blame China but all the bad parts are coming from China maybe China shouldn't be letting these bad parts get on the boat
Maybe China is like every other country and only cares about money. Maybe the people to blame are the companies having parts made there even though they know they make inferior products, or perhaps blame the people that want to save a buck and buy the cheap junk. If they didn't buy it, nobody would sell it. Problem solved.
Myth or not I heard that you could purchase a model T ford from sears, they would send it to you in a crate with 3 tools to assemble it,…a hammer, a screwdriver and a wrench(assuming an adjustable one).
Hickok75F100, The world is crap, we know. Do you really need to make and post up a 20 min video to say the same shit every other asshole says? Nonetheless, I liked the video because I want to go back to turning wrenches and no cell phones.
Hmm...I didn't know there were so many others thinking alike. I've only seen one video on the topic. I guess the whole world isn't blind. BTW, if you don't mind the parts problem, you can still turn off your phone and turn wrenches on old cars.
Im an ASE certified tech. And honestly im not so sure i agree with this guy. Yes being s mechanic is awful. But working on older vehicles is worse. Modern vehicles are ez pezy. A 1988 toyota is gonna have a million vacuum lines and need head shims... and a bad head anyway, bad compression. Same with an old ford or chevy. Guys who are zealots for old cars are just delulu.
To each their own. I am glad you like working on the newer stuff, but you are a small minority. You are the first one to even make a comment on this video defending newer cars. I only work on old domestic cars. No computers. If it has vacuum lines, no problem. Those old systems are simple if you understand how they work, and on most cars you can safely delete 90% of them. As for weaknesses...ALL cars have some.
@@techtips1064 ok so first of all, deleting smog equipment is illegal. Even if you live in an area that doesn't require smog. So I don't think a professional mechanic would delete vacuum lines. Second all the equipment on a 50 year old vehicle is going to be rusted to heck. Rebuilding many carburtors is impossible if its asian. So your basically only working on quadrajets and webers. Very narrow range of practice. And remanufactured carburetors ate a joke. In fact finding parts in general is a joke, especially for a 50 year old vehicle whit rusted everytbing. However, if its an old car thwts well maintained, it probably cost more money to fix it up thwt a newer vehicle would cost. Old vehicles ate garbage. They have low power and are absolutely not easy to work on. Just learn to use an oscilloscop, it should take like a day. And you can work on new vehicles.
@@charlesdickerson8260 OK...depending on where you live, deleting smog garbage can be done if the vehicle is old enough. A "professional" wouldn't do it? You better look up the definition of the word "professional". Asian junk doesn't get worked on here and you can always change the carb to something you can get parts for. You can still get kits to rebuild a 74 Toyota carb if you really want though. I won't touch a QJ and Webers are usually found on European cars. I do Holleys, Carter AFBs, Edlebrocks, Autolites, Strombergs and more. Can't get parts? No problem. I make parts. It's the fun I have when someone brings me a '49 Studebaker. Next week is a '50 Olds. Can't get parts??? Where are you looking? There are more parts available for a 40 year old car than a 10 year old car. We have stacks of catalogs of vintage parts.
Old vehicles are garbage? What is that opinion based on? Low on power??? Sure, our 10 second drag car with a 50 year old engine is real slow (mostly stock parts). You haven't seen the same ones I have. You can't even buy engines as big as the ones sitting in our yard right now. Dang...the stuff IS rusty. After 50 years it better be. My own car is 58. Rust doesn't scare me. I'm no sissy. You just told me how little you know. Your education doesn't make you smart. Intelligence and education are two different things. You probably wear gloves too.
@@techtips1064 and I'm sure your 10 second car is totally stock too...... Like wtf? That doesn't prove anything. So basically you only work on specialty cars. Classic cars. Not the cars yhe majority if the population actually drives daily. Ok, whatever 👌
@@charlesdickerson8260 You don't even read what I say. You just like to try and put others down. I clearly said I specialize in vintage vehicles. I never said the drag car was 100% stock. The engine has all stock internals except the cam. Late 60s 429 ci. That was in response to your comment about how none of the old cars have any power. And yes, some people do drive them daily. Only the ones that aren't running come in on a trailer. They all drive away. Sorry, the old Studebaker left on a tow truck because the owner of the car also owned a tow truck. My own vehicle is daily driven and 58 years old. You have yet to make a valid point that is any more than just bashing. No, the majority of the population don't drive them. They are too stupid. BTW, learn to spell and use a keyboard.
I love older vehicles with a carburetors,cars back then had a soul, they all were unique and didn't copy each other like today's cars. Im sorry a Toyota Prius or a Tesla will never hold the wow factor that an old school muscle car or truck will have to me.
Owned my own transmission shop for 26 years. Called it quits last year because parts and skilled techs were getting difficult to get. Sold my business for a good price and haven’t looked back.
@@NorCalNiche a little under 7 figures. Made some investments along the way, don’t have to worry about work again.
@mybighandle are skilled techs hard to find or are they hard to find at the price you want to pay?
@@aaadamt964 up until 2010, filling an experienced tech position wasn’t a problem. You may be right that salary may have started the downfall. Add to that, the high cost of tools and the constant introduction of new tech in cars, which many techs were unable/unwilling to learn. Covid just exasperated the problem. There weren’t many employees to fill positions along different industries, hence the low unemployment the last four years if you didn’t work, it was bc you didn’t want to and not bc there wasn’t any jobs out there. My last job post was in late 2020, salary was $20/hr and a 35 hour work week. I didn’t get one application.
@@aaadamt964right, im getting tired of being underpaid and overworked. Trying to get a mobile mechanic business going. Cant make it working for a shop anymore it seems.
@@aaadamt964this! There are skilled techs, just pay them what they ask.
I am 26, didnt know what ball joint grease was until I was 23. I have always been poor, and have never had at luck paying others to repair my stuff. Either the job was half assed, left undone, and or the repairs were more costly than the vehicle was worth. I dove into mechanic work, repairing a botched brake job on our car. That gave me confidence. Then the water pump went out, timing chain driven gm 2.4, and I repaired the car myself. Went on to replace the entire steering and suspension before the wife wrecked it. Again leaving us with no car. I had just purchased a rusted out parts jeep, with plans to buy a rust free one. That happened almost immediatedly, and when i got the rust free one home i doagnosed the knocking engine to also have a blown head gasket. So i pulled out both motors and put the good runner from parts jeep into the new daily. Knock on wood, no running problems so far! Oh well, more has happened on the journey, but where better for a young mechanic to start? Lol
Look into the followers being flung off the exhaust rod wrecking shit in the upper head they have clips that you can snap on to prevent the nightmare from even happening I had a Durango with the 4.8 v8
I beleave it's known as "hemi tick" I started my Durango one night & it happened to me was running like shit and another guy in the parking lot told me my shit was leaking oil unbeknownst to me..after I got it towed back tobthe house I took off the valve cover and it was as if a small bomb exploded inside metal fragments all over and the housing the follower goes up and down with the cam lobe was completely sheared off so just a heads up those Chrysler meters the smallest all up to the biggest hemi are all susceptible to this these clips I'm telling you about can be snapped on within an hour or so. Best of luck my friend to you & yours!
@@jamessouza7065 thank you for the heads up. I personally am trying to stick to the straight 6 4.0 motor, while technically a christler engine, it is based off of the earlier AMC 2.5 4 cylinder with the same length rods and pistons, the 4.0 straight 6 runs smoother when compared to a v-block or 4 cylinder. It is also infinitely easier to work on compared to v-blocks, you can refresh the jeep 4.0 over a weekend with fresh main rod and cam bearings, rings rods and pistons, and it shouldn't take more than 2-3 days with the engine still in the vehicle, at home in the garage. Or if your like dex-jeeps you can pull the motor in a little less then an hour, rebuild it and have it back together the next day, or use a lift to help speed along the process and probably finish an in frame motor refresh the same day you start on it. Expect your motor to survive another 150+k miles, well maintained, per rebuild. But wait there's more, lol 😂. You can shave the heads down for a higher compression ratio, carbeurate it and get an manual trans, which allows you to delete the computers, and run alcohol. Literally emp bomb proof. I personaly feel like the jeep cherokee/grand cherokee is the modern model t, cheap to buy and run, easy to modify. Even the 5.2 and 5.9 found in the grand cherokee can be modified in similar ways. Hemi engines definitely need more love, I wish you good luck with it!
Recovery is important, looks like you are good at it :^)
Exactly The Point!
Who would want to work on most of the modern vehicles anyways?
(It’s and abomination of creation)
(It’s a freak show in most cases)
😂🫡For sure
I'm always calling this new junk an abomination 😂
Bad part is its on purpose, this is an attack from all angles but no one will see it
I'm not sure all of it is on purpose. Many of the decisions are just made by stupid people in power...and YES, it is coming from many directions.
If I get a junk part, I always write junk on it with a paint marker before I return it, so nobody else gets screwed
I miss the cars that you could work on yourself. There's no need for all this high tach garbage where everything works on electricity and sensors. All the cars today look the same, like blobs. Cars from the 30's up to the 70's had character and worked amazingly.
THAT is why I do what I do. I also drive a 58 yr old car daily.
I was thinking about this today, watching a youtuber revive a Model T. Do you think people will be doing revival videos 100 years into the future of say, a 2024 Nissan Altima? You know, an average car, as average as the Model T was for the day.
I jokingly call my 50 year old daily driver "mechanical zen".
Carbureted motor, manual transmission, the only electronics are the distributor and ignition box.
Compared to the newer stuff, it's relaxing and a pleasure to work on.
@@kerryharrell8821 I got ya beat. Mine is 58 and still has points.
@@Guillotines_For_Globalists It will never happen. All the electronics in these vehicles will render them completely and absolutely wothless in a very short time.
ASE certified master here, it's really not all doom and gloom. I prefer OBDII vehicles 96+ as the diagnostic is easier. The 96-10 Japanese vehicles are rock solid but easier to repair now the 15 and up vehicles have more systems GDI, turbos and their associated plumbing, blind spot and foward collision sensors. Some tech like electric power steering eliminated power steering leaks and most EPS systems are reliable.
The biggest problem I see is deferred maintenance tpms light pops on, couple years later the EBCM has an issue, then a few years later the occupant detection system (weight sensor) causes an SRS light. Customer brings in the car with Tire,ABS, airbag and maybe a check engine light and they want a quote well it's going to be high.
Dealer level scan tools are really only needed for coding and programming if you don't do the volume to warrant having a certain tool that's where you should have a network of other shops you work with as a network, if you live in a large city you have several mobile programming and diagnostic guys.
Wrenching is as hard as you make it, don't be afraid to turn away customers, don't be afraid to ask another shop for help.
Right now a well run shop is a license to print money.
Good points, not only tools and know how that counts. it's also sometimes having to make parts from different models do the job. Availablity problems, we had a blown motor and couldn't get the right one. So I was pressured by the boss to 'approve' the different motor and got an earful from the guy doing the work. He quite rightly pointed out that everything had to be modified to do the job. Lose,lose.. then they scream about how long this all takes. Not to mention that many modern cars are designed to torture mechanics. Things like having to tear half the csr down just to do a job like a water pump. Also don't get me started on some book times they should be called Modern Mythology!
I didn't want to be a mechanic anymore, before it was cool! You're 100% right!
There's a special place in hell for company owners who wanna make more money by selling cheap counterfeit parts at the cost of literally everyone else involved.
7 years in the field, actually enjoyed working in both older and newer cars. Anyone that can’t do both simply comes down to skill issues, or just don’t want to learn. Left the field because there are easier jobs that pays more. Still work on my own stuff and save tons of money.
You will always need people who have the ability to fix shit.
💯.
That is why I pick and choose what I work on.
@@techtips1064
🎯 ✔️
The problem is modern vehicles are not designed to be repaired. They are designed to be replaced.
I am a master automotive technician for 40 years I know what you mean I should have listened to my mother she said to go in the Air Force and I would have a pension and I would be working at Boeing near me because they hire out of the military and be ready to retire with another pension instead I have to work like my father did till I drop dead I work on old new boats just about anything that has a engine I have to pay 2000 dollars a year to get my scanner updated I used to love to work on vehicles know it's a headache you forgot to mention rust and the parts break taking them off God bless you and your family keep up the hard work making videos and have a blessed day today 🙏
From what I have heard, the Air Force doesn't pay that well, but if it gets you in the door at Boeing, it's a good deal. I deal with those rusted bolts and broken parts every day. Remember how old the stuff is I work on. You get used to it. That's why we ignore flat rates. 1950 Olds is on it's way. Looking forward to that one.
so right -----retired now but before i spent close to forty years turning wrenches in my own business and working for others. like you i loved the work and making vehicles safe and sound and helping people ,now it has changed so much----used to change a heater core in couple of hours-----now it takes that long just to find it . miss the older days when you could do good honest work ,be proud ,make a simple living and make people happy ,now its dog eat dog rush to beat the times and people expect us to do miracles---------full service gas stations for the most part would alert one on a issue before it was to bad------water ,fluids ,tires and things that made driving safer and cheeper !!thanks for sharing--------the good days .
The flat rate times on warranty work just got worse and worse. I gave up at 25 years experience, and have been very happy ever since.
That's why we don't do flat rate. We charge for what we do. Simple.
I threw in the towel after 34 years. Counter guy and owner kept forcing me to install parts I knew were no good. Now the customers think I'm an idiot. I have at least 60 thousand dollars invested in tools. I will use them to keep my family's vehicles running. Everyone else can pound salt!
@@georgehopper4535❤😂🫡
You are absolutely correct sir and are appreciated 🙏 I wish you were close to where I live. Doggone labor rates and parts prices prevent me from having any work done outside of my driveway for the most part and now that I'm old and crippled up it is so hard to do anything. My grown sons have moved away from our home for their military service commitments after university completion and I sure miss them for far more than just helping dad out but that's neither here or there just saying. Thanks for sharing and good luck brother.
Flag hours are a crime. You covered the expensive tools and subscriptions for said scan tools required to talk to the cars. Dealerships/Warranty repairs are a joke, often times big shops will wave diagnostic fees and not make good on it to the mechanic. Customer complaints that Service Advisors and Managers know said car issues are normal yet they won't get in the car with the customer to confirm what the complaint is, which last time I checked is a Service Advisor/Manager's job not the tech's job since we don't get paid hourly. The stories I can tell about cars that made it back to me in the shop at dealerships that never should have been written up. One of my favorites was a backup camera with a white line in the lower 1/4 of the screen. I got in a car to back it out of the parking spot, backup camera powers on... YOU MEAN YOUR REAR BUMPER SINCE YOUR CAR IS WHITE?!!? Parts quality is crap I often have had to do the job more than once because of bad parts provided by customers mostly non-oem parts. I too prefer older cars at this point. I no longer work on cars as a job.
I been doin this since 96 switched to New car prep and accessories coupe years ago myself. Cause it's easy and clean.
But yeah all that you mentioned but the real main reason is cars are very complex now and their is almost zero maintenance (in a dealership) compared to 25 years ago. I got a few good years in before every thing had 100k fluid and spark plugs.
In a dealership at least gm supplies most of the special tools and wiring diagrams. But I still have 40k into my tools easy with only a $5k tool box i got in 2000. Today you can have 20k into just the tool box alone. Forget the tools inside.
You can have a ton of money in the tools today, however over the last few years a both golden and terrible thing has happened, I personally have started a small buisness thats gotten almost no interest and I can't find mechaic work elsewhere, I have only about 20k invested into tools and that includes less than 1k in my boxes. I do however have advanced diagnostic equipment, power tools, and a lift. I love cars, fixing them, diagnosing and maintaining them, engine and trans work, computers, whatever. I can't wait to learn more about tuning computer controlled engines, and tuning and back carbeurating some of the modern classics like the 4.0 inline 6, and the 5.7 chevy. Wish me luck, as the money is gone. Lol 😂
@@HawkeyeMobileAutoRepair yeah I really enjoyed it too fur a long time I got a hoist in my garage at home I used to do LOTS of side work mostly performance stuff fbodys really.
So much so I almost quit my dealership job with all of its security but I know from experience the economy goes you and down and when it's down like now you ain't gonna make much money unless you're fully established. And by then you probably got people depending on you getting enough work to come in yadda yadda sounds like you know full well.
The his news is one you invest in the tools you'll always have them. The bad news is there's always new tools you also need so it doesn't end.
Good luck my man
@@irocss85 Yup. Never ending tool bill. And the price of tools is ridiculous.
Kids nowadays don't want to be mechanics because the newer cars coming out of the lots are over-engineered over complicated.They're just too much parts.There's too much parts to break and it's just a pain in the a**To fix, to take them apart You spend the whole day and fix one little plastic part.That's why people don't want to become mechanics its no fun any more its just expensive and stressfull 🥴
They replace the part the computer tells them to. They don't know how to think for themselves.
I work for a dealer. I bought most the tools I needed to make good money when I started doing heavy line within the first 6 months to a year. Honestly the newer stuff depending on what you are working on isn't bad. The only difference is there is an onboard computer to tattle tell and point you in the direction of the faulty part. You don't get that luxury on those older cars, every single problem is essentially an NVH concern, sure you don't have codes and some people might not complain about lack of power... but where do you start? You have to check EVERYTHING, where is a modern car will trip a code and point you in the direction... you aren't doing compression and leak down on every car you touch. There is more pinpointing available through the onboard computer then you had on your old computerless systems.
The computer may point you in the right direction, but doesn't tell you what the problem really is. I have seen them mislead people that can't think for themselves or use their head. It may say you have a bad sensor when in fact you have a broken wire. I've seen that exact scenario. That's not just a story I made up. On the older cars, I don't need or want a computer. I can think for myself and diagnose a problem better than any computer.
@@techtips1064 That is true. but what you are saying is the same thing you could do for an older car. plenty of old timers throw parts at them for no ryhme or reason. it is easier to rip a customer off with an older car then it is a newer car. You can't bullshit your way through a circuit fault code and start saying stupid. Where as on an older car you could be upselling a bunch of not needed shit and parts cannon the fuck out of it. The truth is that pre computer cars are easier to rip customers off with. Happens all the time.
@@JrSpitty You would be one of the people getting ripped off if you believe a computer will keep you safe. There is a LOT a computer won't tell you and it will NOT stop me from ripping you off if I want. It won't stop me from charging you for an oil change I didn't do. It won't stop me from charging you for the rotors I didn't put on, the fan that got replaced with a used junk one etc. There is a lot a computer doesn't know and won't protect you from. Besides, the topic wasn't about unscrupulous mechanics. If someone wants to con you, they will always find a way. They may even find a way to use the computer against you. Also, most people can't read codes and don't know what they mean. If they could do all that, they wouldn't need a mechanic. A shady guy could also say there was a code (pick any one) but he cleared it and it requires ten hours of labour to fix the problem.
@techtips1064 older cars didnt last 300k miles. They had odometer that went to 99k and rolled over becuase they weren't expected to last more then 100k until a rebuild. Even a modern transmission will go 200k without a fluid change. You are the one that seems out of touch with reality. Modern computer controlled cars keep engines cleaner and can detect misfires before you can even feel them. Of course not all manufacturers use good systems for detecting misfires. But for the most part that engine even with a handful of check engine lights, will be running smoother then your old peice of crapolla with one problem.
@@JrSpitty Reality??? I can pull the engine in my old car in a fraction of the time it takes to pull the engine in my modern car. Do the newer ones last longer? Yes, but there are a lot of factors in that including the oil in them that didn't even exist when the old ones were built. As for detecting a misfire...if you need a computer to help you with that, you are a hack. I can hear a miss from the other side of the parking lot. Call the old ones a piece of crap if you want. You are just denying yourself of the pleasures of an old car.
Everything you said is 100 percent right. Been a 1 man shop owner mechanic since 1985. I now let the customer provide high liability parts. The loss of mark-up on the part is easily offset by not being liable for the part. "Get me a heater core, choose wisely"😂. I won't install internet junk, must come from brick and mortar store, with receipt. Had to put two reman alternators on a Kia Sedona last week. Older lady, couldn't make her get the part. She had no car to go in😢. Here's Scotty, doin it again!
I like your thinking. Unfortunately, most of our customers don't even know where to source any parts.
In my experience, not just parts, manufacturers only want to sell cars, (or motorcycles in my case) dealers don't want a workshop and sales people have bad attitudes to the guys doing any sort of service (is there any older mechanic who hasn't had a 'salesman' by the throat at some time or at least wanted to?)
Don't even get me started on customers who think mechanics are getting the $90~$175 hr labour charge plus often start with a real bad attitude when they shouldn't even be in workshop.
Managers who have zero idea how to do the job telling you your too slow as 'book says ?x? hrs'
I've had to train techs in just about every shop I ever worked in, even experienced people much older than me that hated (or couldn't) read service manuals. (in mid 80's things were so bad Yamaha made 'cartoon' manuals with pictures to follow, torque specs with arrows pointing at fasteners, etc) Yamaha got the idea from US military who were having similar problems
Only once do I remember getting real praise from a customer (a college professor) 'Please don't take this the wrong way, but, you have to be real smart to do this job, it's far more complicated than I thought' (I think we were doing valve shims on a 4 cyl DOHC plus carb strip and clean - 4 carb bank)
It used to be Made in Mexico, Taiwan or East Germany parts were crap but now it's Made in China, mainly due to quality control (often there isn't any)
I made move to working on construction equipment, money was better (much better) most of the work was much simpler (working on side valve small engines and diesels) wiring and electrical systems incredibly basic if machine even had wiring.
Really, the only downside was things were big, heavy and usually very dirty, needing up to an hour with high pressure steam cleaner.
ive done all of our vehicle repair/maintenance along with friends vehicles for the past 30+ yrs because of a crooked stealership. all the money ive saved doing my own work ive accumulated the tool collection of a master mechanic along with most of the specialty tools in blow molded cases, testers, meters and so on. ive never worked in a shop professionally, ive been a concrete finisher for 30 yrs. i love my career but when i get to do some wrenching, i know its going to be a fun and relaxing night after work or on the weekend. i do it because ive always loved working with my hands and the satisfaction knowing i was able to help someone save some cash from crooked shops.
ive havent had the need for an expensive scanner yet as ive gotten by with a code reader and the internet just fine along with my years of experience. it may take me longer but like i said, im not a mechanic nor do i want to be one. im just a concrete guy that can fix about anything.
It is expensive to run a shop,and you have to charge appropriately to not go broke, some people balk the labor rate and parts price but it is absoloutly necessary to be able to stay in business,if you don’t like it talk to the people that make the cars,it’s not our fault,we are just here to help
The sound of a gear reduction Mopar starter at the intro hooked me,even tho i run the later small starter on my 65 Dart GT 273 i miss that sound,dont miss the headache of R&R
LOL...I don't find the R+R bad on them as long as you don't have headers. Then you are screwed no matter what you drive. Th only starters that I think are a pain are anything GM and the Ford FE engines. That top bolt is a bear. Great engines otherwise.
Everytime that I've worked a job that l got tired of, l quit and got a different job. It works!
No point in staying where you are not happy. Doesn't look good on my resume, but I take pride in my work, even when I cleaned toilets.
Thank you for the rant!
Thank you for sharing your insights and making this video. I have a 15YO son that I want him to consider a trade as a profession and videos like yours are valuable beyond words.
1) not enough customer pay work at the dealership to offset the stingy warranty times
2) Stingy warranty times
3) The manufacturer expects us to diagnose for free
4) Too much free work (License plate removal for sales department, wiper blades, tire pressures, license plate brackets, initializing TPM, pairing phones, checking Bluetooth system and pairing, teaching customer how to pair their phone, some light bulbs are expected to be replaced for free)
5) too many techs; not enough work
6) not being compensated properly by the warranty administrator based on the techs notes on the R. O.
7) being asked to reassemble the vehicle and then disassemble the vehicle again at a future date for free because a part was coming from another country.
8) Being expected to provide $100k in tools and leave them locked up held hostage in someone else's shop overnight
9) being charged for uniforms
10) poor work / life balance
11) zero 401k matching
12) poor retirement benefits
13) being expected to work Saturdays when there wasn't enough work Monday thru Friday
14) low shop morale because not enough work
15) poor work environment
16) poor work conditions
17) unsafe work environment
18) lack of special tools that should be provided by the dealership
19) no bonuses for CSI or shop safety
20) no holiday party
21) no company parties unless tied to a shop company business meeting as a bribe
22) They will allow you to keep your tools hostage over night, but they won't allow you to use the shop for anything other than your vehicle and immediate family.
So was disabled 12 years ago and shops were part changers. I would diagnosed jobs because most didn't know what they were doing. I understood the theory behind systems. I was 30 at the time. Mechanics need to be book smart now. It is like being a doctor. Pay doesn't reward the smart technicians only fast part changers. I watch shows and you see a vehicle not working in a few mins I'm like it's a speed sensor. They freak out about it being so complicated but come around to it.
Yes...parts replacers that do what a computer tells them. Don't know how to think for themselves and diagnose a problem. Company truck got a new TPS when it was just a broken wire that some basic troubleshooting would have found. Glad I didn't have to pay that bill.
Also don’t get mad at China or Mexico seriously they are the not the problem. They are making opportunity just like us
Today's vehicles are meant to be replaced not repaired. Plastic garbage controlled by computers with very little to no resale value.
Purchasing a new vehicle is a bad financial decision.
im glad somebody saying something about it
I find this hard. I grew up being told work hard. Dirty jobs a man's job. Now the world everyone you have to me super nice to and be clean and not loud. I literally grew up where everything was USA made we had pride. Some how I feel united states lost our way. We cheap out for everything now just to save a dollar . Crazy sad truth. I weld and I see the industry turning to machines because no one wants to work a trade anymore like mechanics welding carpenters masonry so many trades being lost. It sucks
If you think about it, the big campaign to push all high school graduates to "College" was strictly to weaken American productivity, manufacturing, and the trades in general. IT makes perfect sense to me now seeing how awfully useless all of these "highly decorated" graduates really are.
@@Guillotines_For_Globalists "Highly-decorated". Yes... Mickey Mouse degrees.
@@johnsmith7676 It is worse than that, they start them in high school. The kids with the highest grades, "honors" have all kinds of awards and recognition yet they really don't know how to do anything else besides "book smart". Do you notice how the youth are so scared and apprehensive to do anything? They seem immature to me. Looking back to myself and my friends at age 18 only 17 years ago, yeah we were probably immature, but we used to do so much more without being fearful!
I wanted to be a mechanic after high school. Working on cars just felt something I could enjoy and getting paid doing it. I decided to work in a hospital setting instead. Wrenching can be hard on the body and conditions can be harsh. I work on my families and friends car only when Im available and around my schedule. It best of both worlds for me because work is better in what I do but my love on working on cars is my getaway.
Perfect. It's true, you enjoy things a lot more when it isn't your job.
I had to put subtitles to hear this guy 12:22 . Thanks for posting
Glad I quit while I was still in auto tech school.
😂❤FRFR STILL LEARN …TRUST ME GREAT SKILL TO HAVE … DONT GO CRAZY ON THE TOOLS BUT SOMETIMES YOU FO GET WHAT YA PAY FOR!
We’ve had the same 14 f-150 in 3 times for a heater core. Realized after the second time that chinesium wasnt cutting it
1- if it has wires coming out of it or wires plug into it, OEM replacement only.
2- if the whole dash has to come out for replacement, OEM only.
I gave up working on cars for a living in 1976, when cars were getting too hard and complicated to work on. But I still work on classic cars 1972 and earlier and I've got all the business, as a part time hobbyist mechanic, that I can handle. It amazes me in how today's mechanics know nothing about carburetors, distributors, generators, drum brakes. I had a wealthy car collector want me to be his full time private mechanic but I don't want to move to Oregon, too expensive to live there
From about the mid 70s on they were a mess with all the "smog" stuff on them, but most of that can be tossed over your shoulder now because they are old enough. The ones that really get me are the ones that have computers. No thanks. They make the stuff from the 70s look simple.
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY...ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS..........2 MORTGAGES 1 IS THE HOUSE THE OTHER IS YOUR TOOLBOX AND TOOLS
Commenting on the video for the algorithm
Can't hurt. Thanks.
It's easy to blame China, but Chinese companies only make parts to a level of quality that is requested by the vendor. The vendor approaches a "manufacturer" and asks them to make a particular part TO A SPECIFIC PRICE. And that price is not much because the vendor wants to clear anywhere between 80 to 100% markup. The Chinese "manufacturers" then take that offer and put it out to tender to subcontractors who underbid each other (because they want to make their markup on that contract). What you end up with is a part made for pennies on the dollar. They can actually make high-quality items (heck, they have a very successful space program, plus many other world-leading industries), but it's us in the Western world who want "cheap" items.
Well said.
My friend, what I'm telling you is in my country [Greece] here the schools are closed for the entire car trade, mechanics, body construction, carburetor and car exhaust technicians, no child can learn these professions, if so they have to pay privately private school
The old technicians are not allowed to resell their shop, if they want to close it for health or retirement reasons, they are not allowed to sell or rent the shop to others
Who's work you will ask? the big representatives like VW, MB, BMW
They bring technicians from Balkan countries who do the work very cheaply, don't cause any problems, these dealerships have painters and electricians, the car only gets original parts, very expensive
and the car electricians work for us, they even do a seminar in Germany, for electric cars, i.e. the future, the EE obliges us in 2028 all cars have to be sold electrically, anything with a license plate can drive, new petrol cars will no longer be available, well us Wait and see, I don't think exactly what they're cooking
My friend if you have money buy china electric cars are very cheap good business, stop with old USA cars clean work, no more dirt and some spare parts, and you are king
Old North American cars will never die. You can get any parts you want and I will always have work...and NO computers.
Lack of respect was what killed my desire to fix daily drivers. Everyone thinks your ripping them off. Now you get a guy/girl who loves their 1970-anything and just wants it fixed, they will stop and listen to us old timmers as to why it need to be done this way, not just hammer it together.They know they can't do it and respect us who can. Understand that parts fail beyond our control.Daily drivers pay the bills but not worth working on any more. I only work on other peoples junk if they are a collector or enthusiast wanting to learn.
I love when people have a desire to learn. Just had a customer help put his own engine together because he wanted to learn more. Most shops won't let a customer in. We handed him tools and knowledge. It was a good time and he came back and spent more money. He was grateful and thankful. Guys like that make this job worth doing.
The government has a hand in this. EPA ect.
The things they make us spend money on...let's not go there.
If manufacturers intended for modern cars to be serviced they wouldn't engineer them so you have to remove half an engine to replace spark plugs. Or need an IT degree to work with the absurd number of ECM sensors. Or be an NECA certfied electrician. Or lift the cab to work on a modern pickup truck. Modern vehicles are made to use then throw away. At least that's what the manufacturers want you to think.
You can make lots of money doing easy work like AC, brakes, suspension, tires and other easy work. Hire 2 guys to help. I would do it.
That depends on where you live. In the north, there is a small market for AC work. I know, I used to install and service systems. I also did tires. Hard work and a dirty job. I still do brakes and suspension.
I would always do those jobs myself and save the money.
late 80s volvos are a breeze to work on, i'm an expert on these, they are fuel injected with a computer (to the right of the passengers feet behind the plastic) but there are no codes, the fuel injection components are checked with a voltmeter, that's it....and the only problems i have ever had with these cars are the drive shaft bearing that needs grease or leaking fuel line, one very strange problem, i got a bad voltage regulator (screws into the back of the alternator) and when it was below zero out the car wouldn't run right until the battery got warmed up, for the people that don't know this the battery loses half it's power at these temps. the other problem is never use aluminum fuses on these cars, the best place for you to get parts is worldpac, or autoparts warehouse (same place for non mechanics, all oem very high quality parts
I worked at a Volvo dealership in the late 70s/early 80s. I owned one too. Fuel injection with no computer and they were built to be worked on. The 200 series were great cars.
This is capitalism in action. Well, our flawed capitalism. Greed at the top is almost done squeezing the middle class out. They'll be charging a subscription to be able to turn your car on soon. I'm not being stupid.. Check engine light is an option on Hyundai's in some countries. BMW charging subscriptions to be able to turn on your heated seats... 2nd amendment time is coming.
You are right. I've never owned a car with heated seats. I grew up without them and still don't need them. One less thing to go wrong. My car I like best doesn't even have electronic ignition. My other car... I ignored the "check engine" light until it burnt out.
Please just stop. The problem with our form of capitalism is government involvement. It’s NOT a free market when and it’s in the government and oligarchs best interest to choke out the individual…There’s no better option than a free market market to allow for personal growth and freedom.
The frogs wanted a king…
Exactly right
Capitalism is not the problem. Shortsighted and yes unscrupulous manufacturers and of course the elephant in the room ,…Government. Socialistic policies and regulations is what drives most of this stupidity. If a manufacturer could free themselves of government control and manufacture a reliable(last for many years), less expensive and easier to work on vehicle, I believe people would break the doors down to buy it. I work in the repair field and also a shade tree mechanic but when I pop the hood of a new vehicle it is a nightmare to behold. Making it easier, simpler and cheaper to repair should be the goal. Of course with that happening there are downsides but the bottom line is people will not be abused by a system working against them and their wallet.
Didn't have quality problems with Chinese parts
But hard to find parts, not in stocks parts.
I find the problem is both.
You prefer to only work on older cars, that is a familiar story I heard a lot in the late 70s and 80s. That was when I watched a whole generation of points and condensor mechanics , forced to retire because they do not understand the computers and sensor engine controls and there were less and less stuff on a car they can repair. I was one of the few who transitioned over and still fix much of my cars today. Now I see mechanics in their age 40s never touched a distributor or carb. I am more than happy to get rid of the carbs, bias tires and regular headlights etc. There is still a lot of stuff in a car that had minimal changes, and there is definitely enough work for smaller shop to survive. I know I deal with one , they fix what I cannot. Where mechanics get squeeze is at the dealer, where they have huge overheads and staff to pay for, One college showcased about $600 worth of equipment just to change oil for cars (Toyota) with sealed transmission. I did it with little equipment in my driveway within a couple of hours and after watching You Tube .
You aren't entirely right. I CAN work on newer ones (I own a code reader etc.) I choose not to. I won't work on things I don't believe in and newer cars have a lot of unnecessary tech I don't believe in. On top of that, people are paying a lot (they have no choice) to own and repair all that tech. The price of a new vehicle is NOT proportionate to inflation. You pay average $15,000 just for all the computers in them. True there are a lot of systems that haven't changed much and a lot of things (like radial tires) are huge improvements.
@@techtips1064 The computer can tell you something, but sometimes it still require the human touch. Let say the code reader tell you the Oxygen sensor is bad, you of course will replace it, but the code will not go away, because there is a bad wire 1 of 4 to the sensor is bad. Computers are not everything.Experience will make it a lot faster to find such troubles than someone whose code reader are gathering dust much of the time.
@@tonylam9548 I agree. The computer can point you in the right direction, but unless you possess troubleshooting skills as well, you may easily miss the real problem. The computer can't replace talent. Unfortunately a lot of people think it can.
I'm 62 and grew up in this business. No money, and no respect
You get respect if you fix the things that others won't touch. I am viewed as a miracle worker by some. That's there opinion, not mine.
@@techtips1064 I've fixed plenty that 'nobody could fix" and all that other stuff. I also didn't waste all of my money on foolish stuff, at least not in the last 25 or so years of my career. I now have realestate worth well into 7 figures.
But I look like a regular mechanic and usually drive 10 year old (or more) cars and trucks.
When I have to deal with white collar workers, they talk down to me like I'm some illiterate unskilled laborer. They do that to all mechanics no matter how intelligent they are. As soon as a pencil pusher hears you are a mechanic, they put you in the same class as some moron that works at jiffy lube.
Personally as an old man I usually tell them exactly what I think of them. I really don't give a damn because I could buy and sell their stupid broke asses like 10 times over. But why does it have to come to that?
@@joecummings1260 Yep, you gotta like what you do. You sure won't get much respect for your occupation. Some people think you need a degree to get a good job. There are still a lot of "lowly" trades that pay well and don't have the expense of a degree.
I hang around a lot of old guys, lot of car guys, and when it comes to work and jobs in general the same things are always said:
1) The job they do isn't good anymore and doesn't allow people to provide.
This is usually because wages are stagnant, buying power of the dollar is down, and they're comparing the job to when they started not to what the market is like now.
2) The barrier to entry is too high.
Most of these guys could walk across a street and get a job based off a handshake, now everything is stacked to be ridiculous so that you're forced to work for someone with no hope of ever starting your own business. Like you mentioned with the fees for tools, vehicle specific trainings, and diagrams. The idea is that you need to be able to sell your labour and it can't be expensive for someone to buy it.
3) No one wants to work (long hours, dirty environment, etc, etc)
This one is absolute bullshit. The ONLY barrier I've ever seen with younger people refusing work is not getting paid for it. Would they work in a dirty environment like being a mechanic? Yes, absolutely. Would they do it in a shop as a mechanic, one of the most criminally underpaid trades I can think of? I don't think so.
Anyone today getting into the job market is screwed, the path to being able to afford a home and raise a family is very limited. Those kids also have dealt with being raised by parents that have told them not to follow in their footsteps, not to get into jobs like mechanics, truck drivers, tradesmen, etc, etc.
Side note: China makes pretty much everything, the reason you see crappy Chinese quality is because we don't pay for them to Quality Control the parts, we know we can even make money selling faulty parts because some people don't know a bad part from a good part and won't try to make a claim against it. Also some times a part that would fail a QC test could sometimes be passable.
Please expand on your number 2 point. I see a lot of people on TH-cam being mobile mechanics. Why don't more techs go their own way? Perhaps you can shed some light on that.
Also, that point about parents not wanting their children to follow in their path due to the current state of the profession is so universal.
From the little I gather, mechanics jobs will keep filtering down to the lowest income earners, and as long as there's an endless supply of such people things may never get better.
Thanks.
Good video...
I think its pretty cool you dont work on vehicles with computers...
Rare Breed 👍🏼🛠
They have their challenges. Problems that many new techs have no clue about. Just the same, they had simplicity. I just completely wired one using two harnesses (no schematics for either) and a lot of custom parts. No computer, so it wasn't that hard. When I say "complete" re-wire, I mean there wasn't a wire in that truck I didn't touch.
OEM parts only for me ...
Good in theory and I agree they are better, but sad truth is many aren't available and you have to settle for unknown aftermarket parts that end in disaster. I have put HEI modules in Fords and Dodges, but unless you can find an actual GM part, you risk failure. I often resort to used ones just to get the real thing and they will still work for years. The copy cat parts don't last and sometimes don't work when you get them. Of course electrical parts are non-returnable so not worth the risk.
Right to repair fail us all I gave up last year and only work on pre 2000 now. 1950-1979 is what I like now times were just so simple then. Thing is people who own old cars are their second car so they can live without them for a while we find good parts. This China crap is a temporary fix at best.
Think about how much you spend on just rags. I would rather go to the junkyard, find my car and grab a part then buy new. New oem is great but hard to find and expensive. New is shit like you said with the head gasket.
Truth
With all due respect mechanics fix things that need fixed. Otherwise you're an enthusiast. It's no different than computer programers that used to write in C (I was one). There are still mechanics that work on carburetors and they're still programmers that write in C. I fix cars that have computers because that's what people want fixed.
i've been seeing a lot of these videos lately and i've been working on cars for 20 years. Most of these videos are some, no offense, old guy complaining that you can't just tune a carb with a screw driver any more. Technology progresses. Yup you do some of the work on a modern car with a computer or scan tool and you have to have an understanding of the complex electrical systems. As for tools you don't need a pile of snap on tools and power ratchets etc. As for telling people you can't make money being a single mechanic shop.. absolute b.s. I make a killing.
I sounds to me like you like working on simple cars. There's nothing wrong with that but you all need to stop whining that the industry is leaving you behind.
I'm not whining. FACTS are that in twenty years you won't be able to get parts for a new car. In 50 years, you will still be able to get parts for the junk I work on. For every car I save, there is one less overpriced and overly complicated car being manufactured and sold. I AM green.
In your experience, why don't more technicians go their own way instead of working for others?
@@abdul-kabiralegbe5660 Start-up costs would be the main reason. Most people will never save up enough money working for someone else to go out on their own. Most guys will have their own tools, but after they pay the bills, they won't have enough left to buy all the "shop" equipment they need, rent or buy a shop to work in and fill the shop with all the bare necessities for inventory.
@@techtips1064 Thanks for shedding light. Perhaps the mobile mechanic route may be a pathway to a fixed location shop?
@@abdul-kabiralegbe5660 It works for some guys and there is a demand for it, but I wouldn't want to do it and I see a lot of down sides to not having a physical building to work in. Around here it would be far too cold to work for half of the year... and no place to store your inventory or shop tools.
WHAT IS THAT GUY SAYING??? Even at full volume I can’t hear what he is saying
He's saying it's time to fix your computer so you can hear it.
"It's not financially viable."
Bullshit. If you believe that, then you need to make some changes in how YOU operate. Either charge more for your services or tool / skill up so that body work, an engine swap, etc. isn't as traumatic as it should be.
Any mechanic, tech, whatever the hell we're calling these people now who says something like, "It's just not worth my time," isn't a mechanic anyone should want to have working on their car anyway. Those guys are deadbeats.
Well, I have a moral that stops me from charging as much as I should. Driving should be more affordable than it is. If you have no problem with gouging people to get work done, then I guess you are entitled to your opinion. To suggest I should "tool up" is totally against what you are saying. If you think I should, then you also think I should spend a lot of money just to do a job that will never pay for the tools I used to do it. How does that make sense? When was the last time you bought paint booth (since you mentioned body work) or a building big enough to put it in?
@@techtips1064, are you running a mechanic shop or a goddamn charity? Your customers are not your friend and just because you need to be charging rates that make the work worth doing doesn't mean you have to force them into taking out more mortgages. I mean, my god, I know you're a mechanic, but surely you have at least SOME critical thought processes that you can use to look at your business strategy through a lens of refinement? It's not rocket science: Step back far enough to see what pricing model you're using--which, judging from what you just responded with, doesn't even appear to exist in your situation--and analyze how you can progressively increase costs until you're able to stow away enough each month to afford the things you'll be able to use to make your work better and to provide a better service. Because the irony in your mentality in this is that you think you're doing yourself some kind of "God's work" when in reality, your charity work is burning you out and taking from the community what would otherwise be a great mechanic who's worth the money he charges. Nobody benefits if you're worth anything but burn-out or poo-poo your own trade. Get real.
Stop providing charity work. You're running a business. Make it worth doing or else fucking retire already and make room for someone who isn't dead yet.
The automotive and automotive service "industries" have become nothing but one massive grift. It's all just a shakedown. And a shakedown of the worst kind. Every last aspect of it all.
And, all the new "vehicles" -- ALL of them -- are absolute junk, on top of the aforementioned issue. They are DESIGNED to fail, and fail relatively soon, after purchase.
We all know who runs this ridiculous circus-of-the-absurd, too.
Maybe a little more serious than I would have worded it, but I can't argue with you.
Thank you
It is kinda funny you keep saying don't blame China but all the bad parts are coming from China maybe China shouldn't be letting these bad parts get on the boat
Maybe China is like every other country and only cares about money. Maybe the people to blame are the companies having parts made there even though they know they make inferior products, or perhaps blame the people that want to save a buck and buy the cheap junk. If they didn't buy it, nobody would sell it. Problem solved.
An adjustable wrench, screwdriver, and a hammer are the only tools a good mechanic should need.
You forgot the most important tool. A brain so you can troubleshoot problems and think...
Myth or not I heard that you could purchase a model T ford from sears, they would send it to you in a crate with 3 tools to assemble it,…a hammer, a screwdriver and a wrench(assuming an adjustable one).
Hickok75F100, The world is crap, we know. Do you really need to make and post up a 20 min video to say the same shit every other asshole says? Nonetheless, I liked the video because I want to go back to turning wrenches and no cell phones.
Hmm...I didn't know there were so many others thinking alike. I've only seen one video on the topic. I guess the whole world isn't blind. BTW, if you don't mind the parts problem, you can still turn off your phone and turn wrenches on old cars.