I hate people saying "keep it a hobby". If it's your love, pursue it. It will suck, you'll buy tools forever, you'll have shitty days, you'll have cars that are broken (customer asks for oil change, w/ broken head gasket). But that's a job. Just buckle down and accept that any career is going to have downsides- if you atleast enjoy the upsides more, that's a plus.
I didn't say its a career to get rich. Oka, clearly you find money to be what life is worth. Perhaps there are others who are happy to have enough, and a job that satisfies them. If you want money, work for a bank robbing poor people, it will match your personality. I'd shoot myself before becoming a police officer (or lawyer), and while I'm not jumping careers to become a mechanic, if I that was all I had, I would be alright.
I am 23 years old I never went to school although I have been working on cars since I was 9 years old, I am a mobile mechanic I make around $200 to $300 dollars a day only on repairs, I buy junk cars sell the parts or fix them up and I also have my own little shop where I do heavy stuff and rebuild engines. It is a great business, You just need to be smart and creative, and work hard (I work around 85 hours a week) last year I made $85,000.
that is the cool thing about getting paid with cash, you do not have to declared all the money you actually make I am buying a lot of tools and equipment so I declared that as well. but I still paid like 10,000 on taxes
I've been turning wrenches professionally since 1991. I love it now just as much as I did when I first started. enjoy going to work everyday in fixing cars or light trucks. it makes me feel good that I am helping people out. I worked for a Chevrolet dealership until we lost the franchise six or seven years ago. we are now an independent repair shop used car dealership. my toolbox is a Snap-on Tripple Bank TUV. It's pretty much full of tool and some junk lol. Thanks for all the videos.
Thanks for the comment Richard Badi its nice to hear something positive about the industry all I hear is negative stuff about it and I am in school for this, its easy to let that demotivate you but I don't let it I have a vision for success in this industry.
I went to school for Toyotas. Thoughts a auto technician was a dream job. Quickly was turned off as well as most of my class mates. Now I work on power wheelchairs. Way better, still challenging, and purpose driven. But no one ever says "be a wheelchair technician when you grow up. Who knows about that job? I sure didn't. My toyota education was cool, I admit. Also allowed me to find respect for guys that work on cars in general for a paycheck. I think the cost of tools really turned me off though and the environment.
I am in school for automotive repair. I found out the hard way that I love working with my hands turning a wrench then I do typing at a computer trying to figure out why someone has a software conflict. I can see how the engine works and know how to fix it; but with computers I can't just see it and fix it. Automotive just sticks in my head and never leaves. I have found that computer stuff leaves over time. Plus I just got board of fixing computers. I know I will have to show the the people at
i work as a air compressor service tech go in to auto shops all day long i have noticed two things you dont see many happy auto mechanics and you dont see very many old auto mechanics so glad i went a different route
I have worked in dealerships for over 30 years now, not as a mechanic, and i can tell you that of the couple hundred mechanics i worked with, not more than 4 or 5 really liked their job. NONE ever said " I want my kid to do this". NONE. That tells you something.
Honestly after spending two years working in a dealership, my answer to this question would be "hell no". The cons outweigh the pros. Biggest con for me: You work ridiculously long hours and workweeks. I worked 50 hours a week, 6 days a week. 7AM-5PM Mon-Fri, 7:30AM-1PM Saturdays. So ONE day off per week and hardly any free time. And the money really isn't worth it in most cases. Sure, there are the few senior guys that make pretty decent money, but that's only after doing it for 15-20 years. Don't forget the cost of tools. As far as I know, it's the only trade that requires you to furnish such a ridiculous amount of tools. My advice to someone interested in mechanics is to pursue an engineering degree. Use your mind to earn your living, not your body. Just as food for thought, the median income for a mechanical engineer with a bachelor's is $80K for the FIRST year. Me personally, I quit my job as a technician to go work at Whole Foods. Same payrate but more enjoyable work.
Ive been thinking about doing automechanic too but at the same time theres too many negativity, not getting paid much working long hours etc..im in the military right now working on jet engines and i know about long hours and hard work although ive only been in for 3 years..at the same time i also thought about going engineering and like what u said mechanical is getting my interest
50 hours a week is not a long week. 7am to 5 pm is a 9 hour day. In some jobs folks work 12 hour days and 70 hours a week. If your not making good money as a tech it means one of several factors; 1. your lazy and slow 2. your a parts changer and not a real tech 3. you work for a shitty company. Guys/girls in this trade who make real money have mastered diagnostic and electrical work, constantly reading and investing time in improving their knowledge,have a strong work ethic, and don't mind working overtime.Actors, doctors, lawyers, ceos work ridiculous hrs. They also make a lot of money. Nobody is gonna hand you $120k a year for nothing. You are gonna have to work hard for it. If your flat rate it means your logging 50 to 100 shop hrs a week. If your hourly that means working ot. If your a solid tech and you feel your not being paid what your worth. Find another job. Or open your own shop.
@@kennethg5460 Couple of things. 50 hours is longer than most of the population works every week, and if you're not making 20 percent more than most of the population, it's a long week. There are several factors beyond your ability or drive that can affect your paycheck in a big way. One of those is merely being in a dealer, because warranty work doesn't pay what it should (and in the Chrysler dealer I worked for, it didn't pay dick). No such thing as overtime when you're a flat-rate mechanic, which suggests that you aren't one. If you are, then you ought to know that. This guy's not bitching about the hours, he's bitching about the return on that investment every week. I can second this guy's experience; I was a new tech in a dealer, and once I came off the quicklane, I was struggling to turn 40 in a 50-hour week, every week. Not because I didn't know what I was doing, but because when you're new, you get recalls and warranty and bullshit from dusk to dawn. I made money on a lot of jobs, I lost money on a lot of jobs. But ultimately, what made it hard was that most of the jobs I did didn't equal the time it took to do it (without cheating). And a LOT of guys cheat because of it.
@@adamhamilton9259 You have made some solid points. I transitioned over to heavy equipment/diesel years ago. I suggest most do the same. Big money, lots of work, no flat rate and great bennies. Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Allison are always looking for experienced mechanics and are willing to train. Good luck.
Oh no 50 hours 😥😥😥 Quit bitching i work 80 hours a week you DONT know a thing about long hours it is worth it to those who love doing what they love to do
6 months ago I started an apprenticeship in accident repair, and actually went in to it too tentatively. Now, I love it, and it brings a new challenge every day! Certainly, if you want action and a challenge when working on an automobile, accident repair is the way to go!
Hit the nail on the head Eric. Correct in every point. After 18 years in the industry still buying tools. You do need to love it. You do need to put your time in and learn. Doing it every day is not like dyi.
I'm a 52 year old man. I'll be starting school for technician in fall. I know that no job is perfect. I want to do it because fixing cars help me psychologically. When I'm focusing on the car, it takes my mind off other problems
i used to love working on computers, until I spent 20 years in IT field making very little money. Looking to mechanic field. this video is good advice.
My brother and I enjoyed playing tennis. Nothing serious, just having fun. Then we decided to take lessons and take it more seriously. That took all the fun out of it. Neither of us play tennis anymore.
I completed a Votech school in auto repair. I worked in a tire shop part time and took on a second job full-time at a dealership as a service porter under contract that if a past two ASE tests I would be placed in the express lane. I learned they only made 5 dollars per flat rate hour and quit after a month. What I learned about in dealerships is they are more concerned with selling and "up selling" services rather than repairs because of so many of the commission based job positions within a dealership(service writers, Parts). They also try to keep lube techs making as little as possible and keep them off the "Line" for as long as possible. I have also noted that in my area there aren't man Lube Tech jobs posted on job boards but there are a few of "seeking automotive mechanic" postings with descriptions that i don't meet from right out of tech school and a tire shop. it lead me to ask where do you get your start?!? I also don't feel i learned much more at a votech then i already new from TV, Magazines and video games. the cars at school were old and outdated. The jobs don't seem as plentiful as I thought. any other recent grads have this problem
Computer tech myself, also doing my diy on my car (wife and I); and decided to start simply, getting a auto diagnostic computer and work from there, just diagnosis at a low fee. That helps to get started.
i chose to be a diesel tech and i can say im glad i did it the money is there, the jobs are always there, and the best part i still love working on my cars after a day of work if you like cars and wrenching i would suggest to do the same
This trade is what you make of it. The best advice I ever got is become a Diesel Tech or if your into Auto work for yourself. You can make more money working for yourself as an Auto Tech than working at a plantation dealership.There seems to be alot of whining about treatment of mechanics.Automotive Mechanics is a professional trade.Act accordingly. Dont let people treat you like an indentured servant.
I wanted to be an auto mechanic but this video had really made me consider diesel. I'm in my senior year of high school so this is very important to me. Thank you for this video Eric
henry Starkey yeah thats the oil feild.private shops or even ryder or penskee dont pay like that haha.i was taking home alittle over 500 at a shop doing oil,tire changes,part replacing and diag and got out of it
@GunnyTheGrey That's a choice.If your a skilled mechanic there are good jobs out there or you can work for yourself. If your a parts changer your a dime a dozen and you'll get what you get. Respect yourself and your trade. Take time to to learn and master your trade. When doctors graduate from medical school they spend the first 3 years of their career as interns earning less than 40k a year. Once they make it pass that their pay goes up. The same goes for this trade. If your 5 years or more years in this trade and your not making money its your fault.
I watched this video about 8 or 9 months ago and I'm now proud to say i've been with a fleet shop for 7 months now performing preventative maintenance and DOT inspections for 18 an hour plus benefits. They actually hired me having no prior diesel experience. But like you said Eric, they really are strict. The only reason it pays so well is because these commercial vehicles must meet standards placed by the federal government. Therefore, there is quite a bit more liability to be had. Either way, I love it much more!
But to get extremely good at IT, or be worth anything at it, you trade investment in money with investment in time. If you don't live, breathe, and think computers, you will quickly become rather mediocre, whereas the basics of a car never change. Someone who was extraordinarily good at cars in 1993 can still come to now and fix cars pretty well. My Grandpa, a former IBM Field Engineer, if he were to rise from the grave, would not know how to fix a comp.
I have to go with the others that say DON'T DO IT, YOU WILL REGRET IT! Listen to him talk about side jobs. If you are making the money you should at this business, you shouldn't have to do side jobs. When I got in this business it was 50-50. Now you only get a small percentage of the labor. The amount of money you will spend on tools is mind boggling! Keep it as a hobby. I wish that i had done that...
Nick Meloche I would have been a rock star! Actually I have no idea what I would have done now that you ask. I worked construction before I worked on cars for a living and I switched because I did not like the idea of working in the weather as I got older. I do my own gig now, so it is not as bad as flat rating. Before I worked for myself I was looking at getting a salary job. That way you get paid no matter what.
First 10 years was fun. After that I started to get burned out. After that I had no interest in it as a hobby anymore. Sold off my race car, boats, dirt bikes, snowmobiles because it seemed like a job coming home to work on my own stuff. Biggest mistake new techs make is spending 10k on a new box and 10k on tools their first year before they even know how to use the tools. I have 100k in tools now and I never bought a new box because there is no value in it. I’ve bought a huge 2 year old tool box for 1500 bucks from someone that was getting out of the business. I bought another big box with a few grand of tools in it for 1800 because the guy was also getting out of the business. There’s always tool boxes forsale for pennies on the dollar. The only way I’d recommend anyone getting into the business is if they plan on being the absolute best tech possible. If your going to be just your average parts changer you will not make much money and hate the business. I work for an independent European shop and that has been some of the best pay around other than working at a diesel shop. Not many technicians are good at working on European vehicles and diesels. Many diesel and European shops around the USA are at the point that it’s so hard to find really good techs that they will pay you a relocation fee, sign on bonus to move you out of state for an A+ tech. In my opinion 75% of the technicians are average and just make an average living that you could make in many other businesses that don’t require buying tools and hard work. If your going to be average don’t expect to make much money.
Truth... I loved working on cars until I had to work on cars. The reality, in the automotive world, will, sometimes, destroy your passion as a troubleshooter...
you hit the nail on the head talking about not wanting to work on cars after work. when i get off work i dont even want to look at car. i love what i do though, just like to keep it at work. and i try and do my own repairs when I am at work so that it doesn't feel like Im wrking outside of work
Great reality discussion. Your point has an analogy with the restaurant industry. Many people who love to cook at home have the delusion that they might be good at running a restaurant : -)
I've worked in both types of shops auto and fleet and to be quite honest i liked working on cars better than what i do trucks. With cars i seemed to be a lot more interested in everything about them as opposed to diesel where for me the only part of it i'm interested in is the fact the engine makes black smoke. my best advice is if you go diesel the interest in how everything works needs to be there, not just being in it for the money.
I am currently about to graduate as a diesel technician from college and that is true i was drawn into diesel for the money and work. i will be 19 years old when i start working hopefully in a shop or fleet
I'm a truck driver. We have 1 mechanic for 9 trucks. You can't work on a truck as it's going Down the road, so we usually have 2 trucks in the shop during the day and everything else has to get done after the trucks are parked. That makes for a long day! The mechanic is the highest paid person but it's not much more and the price for him is 14 hr days instead of 12 for the drivers. Seeing him there on Sunday is not uncommon. You couldn't give me that job!!! But if your the type of person that likes to " save the day" then maybe it's for you. You will get old fast!!!
That mechanic is a fool. Top diesel mechanics in the Northeast who work for real outfits like Cummins,Cat, Detroit Allison, and Railroad companies make $45 to $ 53 bucks and hour. Time and half and double time on holidays. That is 90 to 100 and hr. You will never see that kind of money driving a truck unless you own it.
I worked for a shop in Watertown NY that provided all tools and when there for a year, they bought you your tool box that was fairly loaded. we did fleet services, on buses, semis , even had a contract with Greyhound.
I started at a Toyota dealership back in 2009 when i was 18. Went to Toyota T- TEN got my associates degree, certificate from Toyota and a Certfied tech out the gate. Went flat rate in my 2nd year of T TEN and was enjoying it. Time went on, they started to see what i can do and my hours tanked. Warranty after warranty, noise after noise the whole shabang. I was getting paid in knowledge a lot of my time spent in the dealership. Still, making a living tho.. I decided it 2016 to try the diesel field, got hired at Penske truck rental as a diesel technician 3 and was a fleet shop working 2nd shift hours. Union shop, benefits were not all that great but enjoyed it. Was getting paid a bit more than i was at Toyota not too surprising i was working on Heavy trucks. When i first got hired there it was starting ALL over, all they gave me was PM's after PM's and boring stuff because i wasnt certified and that shit let me tell you gets super boring. But, after about a year they gave me some real work, clutches, drive line repair , brakes , air leak repair , etc. Working on these trucks really takes a tole on your body ill tell you that.. After about 4 years, i finished up a Clutch replacement on a freightliner cascadia and i said to myself, i do NOT want to work in diesel any longer. 2nd shift ( ALOT of diesel shops are 2nd shift ) was getting frustrating, the 1st shift technicians were in their late 40's and 50's and only way to get on 1st was to wait for them to retire ( union rules ) . I wasnt waiting 15 years to get back to a day shift. So, at 29 years old, i decided to get back to the Toyota dealership flat rate again . Not saying diesel is not a good way to go, but in my experience it wasnt all that great, and to be honest just not for me but i gave it a shot. Its nice to work with a lift again and not on my back on a creeper.
To add to. I am a forklift mechanic. There are some days that i don't want to touch my car...but for the most part, i have realized that industrial work gives me the pay i need to survive, and i enjoy the engine work. I also get to work on my car there on the weekend for enjoyment, i like the guys i work with. At the same time who am i to dwindle your passion? Diesel is the way to go!
I 100% agree with looking at a project and not wanting to mess with it after a long day. Sort of the reason that when I went to a motorcycle shop after leaving automotive, I went back to automotive lol. I build and rebuild bikes at home as my hobby and working on bikes all day just about murdered that hobby. I don't have a "project car" anymore as a result of being an auto mechanic again lol. I've been at it for 5 yrs and taking tech classes at nite at community college. Biggest thing I can say is get in school, don't initially blow your load on tools but get what you really need as you need it. When you know what you're doing and you're confident get you're certificates from ASE or Factory. I agree with diag and electrical being vital to making money. Shops currently are taking advantage of good techs with no certs using it as an excuse not to pay well.
I’ve struggled for a while. But I’m still going and it’s getting better. But yes!!! Don’t go in thinking it’s peaches and cream!!! Worked on Caterpillar machines and semis now back into light duty diesel trucks. Sometimes it’ll take afew shops and you’ll fail but don’t get discouraged if you truly wanna make it a living.
hit the nail on the head about fleet work. I worked at a dealer then I was a mechanic in the military and now I'm fleet. I love it! great benefits and my tools were provided for. Definately try to aim for a fleet job.
All this info goes for body shops too. Just started working at one right out of school, what a huge difference real shops are from school, stressful and always pressure to finish cars fast, and so far all of my money has gone to buying tools. I pay back the snap-on guy as soon as I can, most of the time.
True. Computers have become highly intertwined with nearly everything, and the trend will only continue. It is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it is terribly difficult to maintain a vehicle with sophisticated electronics, but on the other hand, the vehicle becomes far more power and efficient than a comparable vehicle from another era. I completely forgot the Electronics aspect of the modern Auto mechanic, so you are correct.
I went to school for automotive technology graduated and I do not work on cars for a living. I love cars I like to know a lot about cars but to do it day in and day out I just cant do it. It has saved me probably 50 times the amount over the years than the tuition was initially. Cars are just mechanical devices and the knowledge you learn from cars pertains to a lot of mechanical items. extremely useful information. I do not regret it one bit.
Hi Eric. My father was a DIY carpenter. He had a good office job as HR director for different companies during his early years. One day he decided to leave the office job and make a business out of his hobbie. He's been doing carpentry for the past 25 years, he keeps getting his hands dirty but he mostly manages the business and clients. He has hired good workers and pays fairly well compared to other shops. His personal projects are always last and clients always go first. Income first. His motivation relies not on the job itself but the satisfaction of the client, the recommendation afterwards and that he is hired again afterwards by the same customer for a new project or fix. Thanks for your sincerity about it. Good luck bud.
This is still good advice. Auto has made a little bit of a come back since this video, but as a guy who has been in diesel for a few years and has plenty of friends in diesel and auto, I can tell you that diesel is where you can make a lot more money in the low and mid range (if you're REALLY great as an auto guy, you can take advantage of book rates), and if you're a professional, you can have a lot more job security. In the diesel world, book rate for repairs is almost unheard of. It's hourly wages. Your employer probably still has expectations for how much you should be getting done in a shift or in a week, but it's not the "feast or famine" world of autos where a frozen or stripped bolt, or a frustrating electronic diagnosis that takes an hour or two more than "average" is going to take money out of your pocket. I know how much money I'm going to make each week, unless I work over time, and when I do (and every diesel shop I know offers plenty of OT), I know I'm getting that 1.5x pay, instead of working a bunch of extra hours just to get to 40 book hours. It's dirtier and it requires bigger, and possibly more tools, but it's a more humane way to work. It's just a better career, at least with the way the world is right now. Until dealerships start having a hard time finding technicians, they're never going to pay what they should or treat technicians the way they should. Diesel is not perfect, but it's much closer to the way the entire mechanical/technical world ought to be.
Been working for a diesel fleet shop for 10 years now and I absolutely love it. I went to school for automotive but ended up in a fleet shop which I hear tends to happen from time to time. What you said about diagnostics and electrical is spot on here on the fleet side with everything going to computers now a days and with some of these rigs having 8-10 computers on them knowing how to diagnose and troubleshoot are absolutely critical not to mention fun from time to time. The parts are heavy and your body will hurt but there is no place I'd rather be then in a fleet shop.
Wanted to elaborate on what Eric said about the company providing tools. This is my experience of what was provided by the company (their tools used by us not given to anyone) 2" sockets or bigger, seal drivers, tire impacts, 1" impacts and 3/4 impacts were provided by the company anything lower was at your expense. Diagnostic tools provided by the company (their tools used by us not given to anyone) consisted of a roll away cart with a monitor on it attached to a laptop with Diamond Logic Builder, Service MAXX, Detroit Diesel and Cummins Insite programs. All other tools/boxes were my responsibility.
Think of the systems involved in the automotive universe. Not many skilled trades require the depth and knowledge required to diagnose and service modern vehicles. Educational updates are constant as the auto world changes rapidly. Regardless, at least you will save money on your own vehicles and perhaps these experiences will lead to into another trade with more prospects. In the future you will see two automotive service people,"super technicians" and "parts hangers".
If u want to make money in this business you have to prove you are worth it, do the difficult stuff, advanced electrical diag, engine rebuilding. Otherwise you are seen as an “r&r” type of tech which won’t make anything! Anyone can r&r but it takes skill to diag.I see to many techs stuck at B tech bc they just do simple r&r or basic diag. Yeah they make 900$ take home but you could be making a lot more if you stepped up a bit
You are very right Eric, I am a tech in a FLEET! Everything comes in on a truck, pretty much the world depends on these trucks going down the road. If you dont like the "flat rate system" join a fleet company.The GREAT majority of fleet company's pay an hourly wage. If I work 50 or 60 hours in a week I want to be paid for every minuet. Diesle technalogy is changeing EVERY DAY, DPF systems DEF systems, aftertreament systems for EPA standards, and 20 diff control mods on some of these trucks.
I took a lot of auto shop classes in high school during the late 1970's. We even had some internships at local auto repair shops. I learned that I would never want to be a professional auto mechanic - hard, physical work and extremely low pay. Even back then it was the same old B.S. - miserable customers, sloppy work by techs and sh*tty working conditions... But, I still enjoy working on my own cars and helping friends fix their cars. I've been an auto repair hobbyist for over 30 years...
This reminds me of a dialogue I participated in regarding photography. There are marked similarities. One thing is for sure, doing things as a job is very different than an amateur. NOT always better, it's more about capturing what sells, quickly. In photography, marketing trumps tools and even talent. And business skill is critical. Many photographers sadly face the reality that what drew them to the profession was completely different than the reality.
I bought my first car in 2003.... but i didn't actually start doing my own work until the summer of 2004 BECAUSE I basically killed my 1998 Buick leSabre which killed my wallet lol. I spent a total of $1900 to get this car fixed. It had a blown head gasket and cracked intake manifold. Looking over the receipt I realized how much of the money went to labor and how much went to parts. I just couldn't believe some of the prices they charged me for parts that I believed I absolutely didn't need. I made a goal to educate myself any way I could and do my own work. From then till now I've worked at auto parts stores, service centers, a tow yard, and even a full fledged auto repair shop. I still don't have my ASE certification, which I do want to get ... but anyway. I can definitely relate to everything you say in this video and how true it is! Thank you for this! It definitely puts things back in perspective.....P.S. I still wanna be a certified mechanic/automotive technician! Thanks again Eric!
I love electronics, building radios, modifying motherboards and building random circuits. So I decided to be an Electronics Engineer. I heard the old saying, "do what you love and never work a day in your life". Here I am over one year out of college as an Electronics Engineer and I can't stand it. I can relate my situation with what you're saying. I think sometimes hobbies should just stay at home and away from work.
I hear you about the diesel work thing. I tried to get hired by U.P. (union pacific) and was going to get started out at 18 an hour and they were going to train me. I couldn't pass the physical test at the time I tried to get hired. I would LOVE to work on trains. I mean how often do you hear about a person working on a train for a living.
I worked at tune-up masters for a few months. The bad thing about that job, is the amount of work hours was based on the amount of customers you had rolling in. If it was slow, they sent you home. I eventually quit for lack of hours. Yes, I was an oil man, but they were going to send me to training school. Sucks for me. But, you're right! Stay dirty!
Iam training to be a lorry mechanic Iam a car mechanic and I owe Eric The Car Guy a big thank you you helped me to gain my light vehicle qulafaction thanks man
Eric once again you're absolutely right. if you're interested in getting into this profession solely because you love cars.... DON'T. after about 2 years you will hate cars, you're not going good to want to do any projects at home e, the last thing you're going to want to do after working in a hot ass shop for 10 hours is go home and work on a project car, you're not going to want to eat enough see a car on the road, I've been there and done that. Fleet is the best, I was fortunate enough 2 years ago to happen upon a position with the postal service. it is a completely different mentality, they want to their stuff fixed, and fixed now no matter the cost, if the vehicle is down it is the movie get mail and now it's costing get them money instead of making it, there is no flat rate to contend with, tools are provided and benefits are unbelievably better than any dealer or independent will offer. anyway, I tell new guys in the business that the best thing going you can do is buy tools and quality lifetime warranty tools, and read and in this day and age watch videos and soak up every little piece of knowledge you can find and store it away and don't forget it, it will come in handy someday. also you are never ever going good to know own everything about every car, what makes you good is knowing how to find out stuff when you need to know it.
You're absolutely right. I've been driving big truck for over 10 years now and the mechs have it made (relatively speaking). They are always in demand, and there is much less complaining from owners because so many of these companies out there are huge and these guys don't own the trucks. So the company sends them to TA or Petro to get repaired and they don't give a shit how much it costs. Easy life.
First off, thanks for taking the time and sharing your videos with us. I never thought that I would get burnt out in my dream job, which was firefighting/paramedic for the past 23 years. I searched long and hard for a new career and thought I would go with my hobby, which is being a DIY mechanic, been mechanic all my adult life, from auto, to farming equipment, just don't have the professional experience companies want. This video helped me with choosing my new career as well. I just enrolled in diesel applied technology at a local tech school. Just wanted to thank you, any other advise is always welcome.
My dad was a master mechanic for over 50 years and he passed away last year. I worked with him from the age of 7 . He worked for a taxi company for 15 years and there was only 2 of the mechanics I got to where I could take 1 of the apart and put it back together. Since I was the older son he left me his tools and car testing stuff. He had his stuff mostly craftsman as sears was near us and a few special snap on tools. It was insured for 75k I had to have it shipped up to hudson valley from Louisville KY . I now have 3 tool boxes full of tools and 1 with electronics. I have it insured for 80k I am a disabled vet nothing works from the waist down.I got it all 2 months ago. I can o way use even 1/3 of the tools but I will not sell them unless I was about to lose my house. I live a rural area about 90 miles up from NYC. I have started cleaning them and putting them in the correct order . I had 2 folks living in a old bungalow colony. 1 guy is a jack of all trade and has quite a few tools but he has already asked to borrow things. I took picture of what ever he takes and told him I want them back like you took them. I do work on my wheelchair and my 2 scooters a lot.
Hello Eric, I've worked in the automotive field while in the military. Worked on tactical vehicles when I served in the Army from 92 -2003 and what I like to call civilian vehicles from 2003 until 2006 where I made the decision to go into fleet management. :) There were days where I loved my job but there were also days where I felt that i made a serious error in judgement. lol! Mostly because of a difficult job I had on my hands. I'm sure we all have had those days. Now that I am retired from the military I've tried to find another career outside of vehicles but have met with one failure after another. Tried insurance sales, FAILED!, call center job FAILED! Even tried IT career in Network Systems Administration and that was serious headache to learn. So much to know and do to get a decent job in this field even tougher I believe than that of the automotive technical field. Could be wrong. So, long story short..I feel compelled now to return to the automotive field once more. Its going back to school that i know that's going to be difficult for me at 43 years old. Younger crowd is difficult to deal/click with. What's your opinion on my situation? Anyway, thank you for your videos. They are very educational and have help me with my own vehicle on occasion. Best wishes to you/family for continued success. :)
First, thank you for your service. As to your question. You might consider getting a service writer position at a dealership. That way you can still work on cars in your own time, still be involved in the field, and you won't have to go through the relearning process or deal with the BS in the shop. Well, you'll be dealing with a whole different type of BS, but that's beside the point. Just a thought. No matter what, good luck.
Thank you. Your gratitude is appreciated as well as your feedback. I recently accepted a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs over at Fort Riley Kansas. I start on 9 Sept with a 4 to 6 week training course at Topeka KS then will be placed over at Fort Riley. It is a far better position there knowing i will be in a position to help out fellow veterans such as myself. Thanks again for your feedback sir and i wish you/family continued success.
hvac is another good technical field to work on and transport refrigeration. in any skilled field you dont make much starting out but once you made it to the top of the food chain you are in demand. there isan art to removing broken bolts in any field.
There's also a lot of people going into the trade that don't want to deal with the grunt work when starting out at a new place. They don't understand that you need to work your way up to the big jobs. That means doing oil changes, washing floors, washing cars, etc. You have to put in the work to get the pay off.
I am just getting started in the auto tech business and I plan on doing it as a side hustle while keeping my full-time job in an unrelated field because it seems like full-time automotive technicians get worked to death while the shop owner/dealership makes all the big money and if you open your own shop you'll have to hire at least 5 technician to pump out good profits
I completely agree with the motivation going away after a while. I used to think "hey, i get to replace ball joints on my truck" Now I just sigh and look sad at the prospect, especially after spending a day in 100 degree heat at work, then have to come home and do it, but with no lift, and fewer/not as good tools at home.
Another good option is public transport. I've been working for Nj transit for 2 years now. Got hired as just a mechanically inclined dyi guy. They sent me to their own school. I make $21 and I'm 23. Full befits too.
This video was a real eye opener. I attended and graduated automotive school from 08-09 specializing in mostly auto with some diesel on the side. After graduating I spent the better part of a year applying to over 31 places only to have Honda call for an interview and offer me a high school kids type of position, I couldn't believe it after spending 13 months and $24K on school, I would actually have lost money from quitting my grocery store job and working for Honda. Fast forward till now being in the military I hope to cross train into a vehicle maintenance field and possibly look into the fleet service like you suggested, I never thought about it the way you described it. Upon watching this video and growing older/starting a family I've realized I need better financial support that a diesel position may offer along with the enjoyment of being a technician, and still enjoying modifying cars in my free time. Thanks for the ideas.
Im a 4th year apprentince in sydney Australia been working as a mechanic for the last 4 years ive worked at small workshops and ive swapped over to dealership to try out about a year ago to put in plain simple its a shitfight no one is curtious no one is willing to teach people new things everyone will stab eachother in the back al in the name of money and all morals and quality thrown in the bin its sad to be honest its now QUANTITY OVER QUALITY eric ive been watching your videos for a long time now and your the last remaining honest and morally trusted mecahanic
Cannot agree more with everything you have said. 20 year old, 2.5 year technician. Feeling the pain everyday, especially in my wallet from time to time. But for me, I wouldn't have it any other way (for now).
diesel not only is in the trucking industry but also, heavy equipment, marine, medium duty trucks, agricultural....not to mention the stationary diesel engines in generators, water pumps, etc.....
Everything said about fleet shops in this video is true. I worked in 2 fleet shops. One bought EVERY tool. The other provided only the big tools. I feel big rigs are so much easier to work on then cars. Yes they are bigger and heavier, but you have tools to compensate for that.
After being in the trade for only a short time now, just over a year... I have definitely had a taste of it and I want to continue. To start though I wasn't all in all the time. There were manny days where I thought to myself I should stop and get out while I can but I pushed through because I don't give up that easy. , everything Eric says is true from money in tools and not wanting to work on stuff after work. My advice to anyone is to just go do it if its what you want get your feet wet , give it your all and then some. After you have tried it then make the call. Never leave the what if factor it will haunt you!
The one thing I kind of wish you had touched one and I wish people had let me know of before hand. One make sure if you are going to work at a auto shop that they will work with you during hard times. Right now as we go into winter the number of people getting their cars worked on dropped HARD. Specially for the coming holidays. I am lucky at times to get scrap from the master techs who are doing nothing but low end jobs like oil changes and tire rotation. I am trying for a second part time job and working 11 hours a day makes it next to impossible and my shop doesn't want to really work with me to make it happen. I have even asked for a pay cut to work at 37 hours a week hourly and they can overload me with work. Winter hurts a lot for my area lol. I went from 50+ flag hours down to 27 last week and 32 the previous. This is my first year at this shop and it HURTS.
I really appreciate this video, 8 years have passed since I decided to go into the profession of auto repair and boy your right.. I think that being a good mechanic I'm talented but to the mass public were stupid and replaceable, never the less our professional tools are not cheap one bit... shade trees indeed rant that our high dollar tools are overrated but when you wrench 8 plus hours a day your grateful for the comfort and quality these tools provide... and thanks for throwing out working for a good independent... I do and I feel far advanced into many makes, models and having a true understanding of how systems function across the board... I enjoy the technical challenge of diagnostics rather then being a parts hanger... that gets old quick in this field and is very unsatisfying
wow I was actually over here thinking to become a mechanic but I see everyone saying just keep it as a hobby. This really is making me reconsider about if I should go along and do this.
If you love cars and like me want a active job the. I think this is a good trade to get into, yeah the pay isn't great at first but if you are dedicated and become good then who knows where you'll go, I've just started my 3 year apprenticeship at Audi and I'm loving it, love the work, love the atmosphere I just love it, and I plan to go through all levels from service tech to qualified tech and then to master tech because I'm passionate about this trade, that's the most important thing in my opinion
Eric, I'm a lead Tech at Acura. It's so true you get spoiled. I work out of a Husky toolbox, I used to do everything out of a cart. I'm getting sick of it, even for a pay cut it'd be nice to learn more from other makes. When I get a side job I have to learn the make, which is fun, but also soaks up the time for making money.
I'm 23 years old and a ASE master tech and I've worked for 3 gm dealers in Las Vegas, NV. I started washing cars at a dealer, moved to a lube tech, managers saw potential and gave me an opportunity to be an apprentice and 2 years later I'm a self sufficient technician that fixes a lot of incompetent technicians, diagnostic error comebacks. Most important thing I'd say is this job is not for everyone. Most important traits you need in my opinion is a high tolerance for stress, a high attention to detail and a decent long term memory. This career is absolutely going to be in high demand 5 years later when Vietnam baby boomers start retiring. There are not many students I've seen that become successful technicians even after they spent $20-40k in vocational auto school. Biggest issue is schools don't train for reality of what technicians really see in the front lines and the common issues. They teach so much variety that you can't retain what is important and what is acceptable to forget. so you forget 90% of it and a lot of what you learned still doesn't apply to the real job. Another issue is car's are evolving so fast and complex, it can be overwhelming for a entry level technician to know where to start the diagnosis. Managers don't have a crystal ball saying how difficult the car will be to diagnose so entry level technicians can spend a great deal diagnosing a car and only get paid 1/4 what the job calls out for. That's where apprenticeship is a highly valuable asset to show the tech the ropes. The style of payscale is something that works great for me but not something everybody else is cut out for. The 2 principles I live for being a technician, is customer satisfaction and making a reasonable profit. Please don't invest money in a vocational school to be a technician until you acquired a sub technician job at a dealership and spent spare time helping and learning from a technician to see if you cut out for that style of work. Passion about car's does not mean you could survive the style of commission pay at a dealer. It requires a lot of multitasking and attention to detail to make hours and get a decent paycheck at a dealership. There's so many small details I wish I could list but can't memorize them all.
I agree, it's not for everyone, and it's never what you think it will be going in. However, I still feel that an automotive education is the best foundation to a successful career in auto repair. I've worked at the dealer, and I've seen many people moved up from the car wash to lube tech. Truth is the dealer is getting cheap labor out of them. More often than not, someone from the car wash is not going to do well as a technician. I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm saying it's a rare exception such as in your case. Thanks for your input.
in school for diesel, father in law got me interested i know the torture but growing up i never thought id be interested at 20 i just learned how to change a tire for his daughter then fixing small things, turns out i hate school and cushy office environments. blue collar, better people, real people
A great place to be a mechanic is in the general aviation field. There is a great shortage of Airframe and Powerplant techs, "A and Ps." It is interesting and relatively clean work. The world of Lycoming and Continental engines is rather strange. Still mostly 1940's technology, refined over 70 years.
Very true it's not for everyone, some people may be better suited for parts, diesel, small engine, motorcycle ect ect. I worked for a few major automotive maintain & repair chains before I discovered I was better suited for Industrial Mechanical (conveyors, AC motors, Industrial controls) but I don't regret the automotive experience I gained. I'm able to work on my own vehicles and help close friends with their cars and projects. My point is don't be afraid to try different things.
I work as fleet mechanic for a state agency. The hardest part of the job was actually getting the job. Applying to take the test, taking the test, interviews, waiting for the right opening, and so on. I work on anything from chainsaws to big earth moving equipment and boats. We get plenty of training and the benefits are pretty nice, our tools are even provided by the state. Get hired by a state agency and you will never have to work hard again.
After working for both a diesel fleet and dealership I have found I like the dealership work much more. In my case, the dealerships pay more, better hours, and the work performed is much more interesting. At a fleet it's basically lights, tires, and preventative maintenence. If you're lucky your fleet will do injectors or something but most fleets keep almost all of their fleet under warranty for the dealerships to fix. I am at the fleet now and I can say we would rather hire people with dealership experience over fleet experience.
Eric, as a mechanic/technician myself i find it hard to believe that your still spinning spanners. You have the gift of the gab + experience and u should be doing something greater with all do respect. Peace.
Thank you for that. Truth is, all I do is my TH-cam work these days.Trust me, it's a ton of work. I actually think I work harder now than ever and I used to work 3 jobs. Thanks again for your comment.
I really like the interview your interviewer mentality. Applies to any job you want. When they ask you if you have any questions it's a good opportunity to ask them about how well they do their job by asking how they handled a conflict or something like that.
I hate people saying "keep it a hobby".
If it's your love, pursue it. It will suck, you'll buy tools forever, you'll have shitty days, you'll have cars that are broken (customer asks for oil change, w/ broken head gasket). But that's a job. Just buckle down and accept that any career is going to have downsides- if you atleast enjoy the upsides more, that's a plus.
I love this guy saying becoming a mechanic is something that makes people poor. My uncle is RICH AS HELL and he flips cars that he fixes.
I didn't say its a career to get rich. Oka, clearly you find money to be what life is worth. Perhaps there are others who are happy to have enough, and a job that satisfies them. If you want money, work for a bank robbing poor people, it will match your personality. I'd shoot myself before becoming a police officer (or lawyer), and while I'm not jumping careers to become a mechanic, if I that was all I had, I would be alright.
rasvial thank you...
being a mechanic for a living absolutely killed my love for working on vehicles
I'm a diesel technician and I started in a fleet shop, and everything Eric said is 100% real.
I am 23 years old I never went to school although I have been working on cars since I was 9 years old, I am a mobile mechanic I make around $200 to $300 dollars a day only on repairs, I buy junk cars sell the parts or fix them up and I also have my own little shop where I do heavy stuff and rebuild engines. It is a great business, You just need to be smart and creative, and work hard (I work around 85 hours a week) last year I made $85,000.
Anthony Salgado How much were your taxes?
that is the cool thing about getting paid with cash, you do not have to declared all the money you actually make I am buying a lot of tools and equipment so I declared that as well. but I still paid like 10,000 on taxes
Train me in auto mechanics Anthony
Wow, 85 hours a week. Geez. You must really enjoy what you do.
I'm really want to be mechanic so I have no idea about mechanic so what can I do first step to be mechanic
I've been turning wrenches professionally since 1991. I love it now just as much as I did when I first started. enjoy going to work everyday in fixing cars or light trucks. it makes me feel good that I am helping people out. I worked for a Chevrolet dealership until we lost the franchise six or seven years ago. we are now an independent repair shop used car dealership. my toolbox is a Snap-on Tripple Bank TUV. It's pretty much full of tool and some junk lol. Thanks for all the videos.
Thanks for the comment Richard Badi its nice to hear something positive about the industry all I hear is negative stuff about it and I am in school for this, its easy to let that demotivate you but I don't let it I have a vision for success in this industry.
Richard Badi
Wow!!...............
th-cam.com/video/sluNuVp2_TE/w-d-xo.html
No one cares what you did. Do one with you over priced tools
I went to school for Toyotas. Thoughts a auto technician was a dream job. Quickly was turned off as well as most of my class mates. Now I work on power wheelchairs. Way better, still challenging, and purpose driven. But no one ever says "be a wheelchair technician when you grow up. Who knows about that job? I sure didn't.
My toyota education was cool, I admit. Also allowed me to find respect for guys that work on cars in general for a paycheck. I think the cost of tools really turned me off though and the environment.
I am in school for automotive repair. I found out the hard way that I love working with my hands turning a wrench then I do typing at a computer trying to figure out why someone has a software conflict. I can see how the engine works and know how to fix it; but with computers I can't just see it and fix it. Automotive just sticks in my head and never leaves. I have found that computer stuff leaves over time. Plus I just got board of fixing computers. I know I will have to show the the people at
How do you replace the lower motor mount lower front motor mount on a 2002 Ford Taurus
i work as a air compressor service tech go in to auto shops all day long i have noticed two things you dont see many happy auto mechanics and you dont see very many old auto mechanics so glad i went a different route
I have worked in dealerships for over 30 years now, not as a mechanic, and i can tell you that of the couple hundred mechanics i worked with, not more than 4 or 5 really liked their job. NONE ever said " I want my kid to do this". NONE. That tells you something.
David Hill m
David Hill
Wow!!...............
th-cam.com/video/sluNuVp2_TE/w-d-xo.html
Honestly after spending two years working in a dealership, my answer to this question would be "hell no".
The cons outweigh the pros. Biggest con for me: You work ridiculously long hours and workweeks. I worked 50 hours a week, 6 days a week. 7AM-5PM Mon-Fri, 7:30AM-1PM Saturdays. So ONE day off per week and hardly any free time. And the money really isn't worth it in most cases. Sure, there are the few senior guys that make pretty decent money, but that's only after doing it for 15-20 years. Don't forget the cost of tools. As far as I know, it's the only trade that requires you to furnish such a ridiculous amount of tools. My advice to someone interested in mechanics is to pursue an engineering degree. Use your mind to earn your living, not your body. Just as food for thought, the median income for a mechanical engineer with a bachelor's is $80K for the FIRST year. Me personally, I quit my job as a technician to go work at Whole Foods. Same payrate but more enjoyable work.
Ive been thinking about doing automechanic too but at the same time theres too many negativity, not getting paid much working long hours etc..im in the military right now working on jet engines and i know about long hours and hard work although ive only been in for 3 years..at the same time i also thought about going engineering and like what u said mechanical is getting my interest
50 hours a week is not a long week. 7am to 5 pm is a 9 hour day. In some jobs folks work 12 hour days and 70 hours a week. If your not making good money as a tech it means one of several factors; 1. your lazy and slow 2. your a parts changer and not a real tech 3. you work for a shitty company. Guys/girls in this trade who make real money have mastered diagnostic and electrical work, constantly reading and investing time in improving their knowledge,have a strong work ethic, and don't mind working overtime.Actors, doctors, lawyers, ceos work ridiculous hrs. They also make a lot of money. Nobody is gonna hand you $120k a year for nothing. You are gonna have to work hard for it. If your flat rate it means your logging 50 to 100 shop hrs a week. If your hourly that means working ot. If your a solid tech and you feel your not being paid what your worth. Find another job. Or open your own shop.
@@kennethg5460 Couple of things. 50 hours is longer than most of the population works every week, and if you're not making 20 percent more than most of the population, it's a long week. There are several factors beyond your ability or drive that can affect your paycheck in a big way. One of those is merely being in a dealer, because warranty work doesn't pay what it should (and in the Chrysler dealer I worked for, it didn't pay dick). No such thing as overtime when you're a flat-rate mechanic, which suggests that you aren't one. If you are, then you ought to know that. This guy's not bitching about the hours, he's bitching about the return on that investment every week. I can second this guy's experience; I was a new tech in a dealer, and once I came off the quicklane, I was struggling to turn 40 in a 50-hour week, every week. Not because I didn't know what I was doing, but because when you're new, you get recalls and warranty and bullshit from dusk to dawn. I made money on a lot of jobs, I lost money on a lot of jobs. But ultimately, what made it hard was that most of the jobs I did didn't equal the time it took to do it (without cheating). And a LOT of guys cheat because of it.
@@adamhamilton9259 You have made some solid points. I transitioned over to heavy equipment/diesel years ago. I suggest most do the same. Big money, lots of work, no flat rate and great bennies. Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Allison are always looking for experienced mechanics and are willing to train. Good luck.
Oh no 50 hours 😥😥😥
Quit bitching i work 80 hours a week you DONT know a thing about long hours it is worth it to those who love doing what they love to do
6 months ago I started an apprenticeship in accident repair, and actually went in to it too tentatively. Now, I love it, and it brings a new challenge every day! Certainly, if you want action and a challenge when working on an automobile, accident repair is the way to go!
Hit the nail on the head Eric. Correct in every point. After 18 years in the industry still buying tools. You do need to love it. You do need to put your time in and learn. Doing it every day is not like dyi.
I'm a 52 year old man. I'll be starting school for technician in fall. I know that no job is perfect. I want to do it because fixing cars help me psychologically. When I'm focusing on the car, it takes my mind off other problems
once a hobby becomes a profession it becomes repepative and tedious
i used to love working on computers, until I spent 20 years in IT field making very little money. Looking to mechanic field. this video is good advice.
My brother and I enjoyed playing tennis. Nothing serious, just having fun. Then we decided to take lessons and take it more seriously. That took all the fun out of it. Neither of us play tennis anymore.
Giga Slayer hows it going
Yep, 5 days a week. Lost 35lbs so far. Thanks for noticing.
I completed a Votech school in auto repair. I worked in a tire shop part time and took on a second job full-time at a dealership as a service porter under contract that if a past two ASE tests I would be placed in the express lane. I learned they only made 5 dollars per flat rate hour and quit after a month. What I learned about in dealerships is they are more concerned with selling and "up selling" services rather than repairs because of so many of the commission based job positions within a dealership(service writers, Parts). They also try to keep lube techs making as little as possible and keep them off the "Line" for as long as possible.
I have also noted that in my area there aren't man Lube Tech jobs posted on job boards but there are a few of "seeking automotive mechanic" postings with descriptions that i don't meet from right out of tech school and a tire shop. it lead me to ask where do you get your start?!? I also don't feel i learned much more at a votech then i already new from TV, Magazines and video games. the cars at school were old and outdated. The jobs don't seem as plentiful as I thought. any other recent grads have this problem
Computer tech myself, also doing my diy on my car (wife and I); and decided to start simply, getting a auto diagnostic computer and work from there, just diagnosis at a low fee. That helps to get started.
i chose to be a diesel tech and i can say im glad i did it
the money is there, the jobs are always there, and the best part i still love working on my cars after a day of work
if you like cars and wrenching i would suggest to do the same
You'll never run out of work. Thanks for your input.
This trade is what you make of it. The best advice I ever got is become a Diesel Tech or if your into Auto work for yourself. You can make more money working for yourself as an Auto Tech than working at a plantation dealership.There seems to be alot of whining about treatment of mechanics.Automotive Mechanics is a professional trade.Act accordingly. Dont let people treat you like an indentured servant.
I wanted to be an auto mechanic but this video had really made me consider diesel. I'm in my senior year of high school so this is very important to me. Thank you for this video Eric
Go for diesel I was straight out of high school with no experience making 4000 a month just changing oil on oilfield equipment
henry Starkey yeah thats the oil feild.private shops or even ryder or penskee dont pay like that haha.i was taking home alittle over 500 at a shop doing oil,tire changes,part replacing and diag and got out of it
@@Sparaco487 you worked for a shitty company.
@GunnyTheGrey That's a choice.If your a skilled mechanic there are good jobs out there or you can work for yourself. If your a parts changer your a dime a dozen and you'll get what you get. Respect yourself and your trade. Take time to to learn and master your trade. When doctors graduate from medical school they spend the first 3 years of their career as interns earning less than 40k a year. Once they make it pass that their pay goes up. The same goes for this trade. If your 5 years or more years in this trade and your not making money its your fault.
Erik what did you do in the end?
I watched this video about 8 or 9 months ago and I'm now proud to say i've been with a fleet shop for 7 months now performing preventative maintenance and DOT inspections for 18 an hour plus benefits. They actually hired me having no prior diesel experience. But like you said Eric, they really are strict. The only reason it pays so well is because these commercial vehicles must meet standards placed by the federal government. Therefore, there is quite a bit more liability to be had. Either way, I love it much more!
amazing video! unfortunately i didn't enjoy working as a german auto mechanic. stressful, hard work, and annoying.
But to get extremely good at IT, or be worth anything at it, you trade investment in money with investment in time. If you don't live, breathe, and think computers, you will quickly become rather mediocre, whereas the basics of a car never change. Someone who was extraordinarily good at cars in 1993 can still come to now and fix cars pretty well. My Grandpa, a former IBM Field Engineer, if he were to rise from the grave, would not know how to fix a comp.
silver965 my thoughts exactly
This video isn't about customers, it's about getting into the repair field. I do have other videos on customer service if you want to check those out.
I have to go with the others that say DON'T DO IT, YOU WILL REGRET IT! Listen to him talk about side jobs. If you are making the money you should at this business, you shouldn't have to do side jobs. When I got in this business it was 50-50. Now you only get a small percentage of the labor. The amount of money you will spend on tools is mind boggling! Keep it as a hobby. I wish that i had done that...
well what else would you have done
Nick Meloche
I would have been a rock star! Actually I have no idea what I would have done now that you ask. I worked construction before I worked on cars for a living and I switched because I did not like the idea of working in the weather as I got older. I do my own gig now, so it is not as bad as flat rating. Before I worked for myself I was looking at getting a salary job. That way you get paid no matter what.
First 10 years was fun. After that I started to get burned out. After that I had no interest in it as a hobby anymore. Sold off my race car, boats, dirt bikes, snowmobiles because it seemed like a job coming home to work on my own stuff.
Biggest mistake new techs make is spending 10k on a new box and 10k on tools their first year before they even know how to use the tools. I have 100k in tools now and I never bought a new box because there is no value in it. I’ve bought a huge 2 year old tool box for 1500 bucks from someone that was getting out of the business. I bought another big box with a few grand of tools in it for 1800 because the guy was also getting out of the business. There’s always tool boxes forsale for pennies on the dollar.
The only way I’d recommend anyone getting into the business is if they plan on being the absolute best tech possible. If your going to be just your average parts changer you will not make much money and hate the business. I work for an independent European shop and that has been some of the best pay around other than working at a diesel shop. Not many technicians are good at working on European vehicles and diesels. Many diesel and European shops around the USA are at the point that it’s so hard to find really good techs that they will pay you a relocation fee, sign on bonus to move you out of state for an A+ tech.
In my opinion 75% of the technicians are average and just make an average living that you could make in many other businesses that don’t require buying tools and hard work. If your going to be average don’t expect to make much money.
Truth... I loved working on cars until I had to work on cars. The reality, in the automotive world, will, sometimes, destroy your passion as a troubleshooter...
I'll keep fixing computers for a living an wrenching on the weekends for fun.
What do you mean fixing computers? As in a computer repair shop? I'm just curious.
Network Systems Engineer for a Hospital.
just read your comment lol. i work in IT too as a helpdesk technician. I want to tinker around in my garage on weekend s!
+FrugalPrepper HAha im headed down that same road! Almost have my MIS degree but I love working on cars too....
+FrugalPrepper Im in IT but id like to do some mobile operations on the weekends. I just need a trailer.
you hit the nail on the head talking about not wanting to work on cars after work. when i get off work i dont even want to look at car. i love what i do though, just like to keep it at work. and i try and do my own repairs when I am at work so that it doesn't feel like Im wrking outside of work
The transition from hobby to profession is not always a happy one. Like Eric says, DIY and work are a galaxy apart sometimes.
Great video.
Great reality discussion. Your point has an analogy with the restaurant industry. Many people who love to cook at home have the delusion that they might be good at running a restaurant : -)
I've worked in both types of shops auto and fleet and to be quite honest i liked working on cars better than what i do trucks. With cars i seemed to be a lot more interested in everything about them as opposed to diesel where for me the only part of it i'm interested in is the fact the engine makes black smoke. my best advice is if you go diesel the interest in how everything works needs to be there, not just being in it for the money.
The advice at the end really applies to most any job interview.
I am currently about to graduate as a diesel technician from college and that is true i was drawn into diesel for the money and work. i will be 19 years old when i start working hopefully in a shop or fleet
I'm a truck driver. We have 1 mechanic for 9 trucks. You can't work on a truck as it's going Down the road, so we usually have 2 trucks in the shop during the day and everything else has to get done after the trucks are parked. That makes for a long day! The mechanic is the highest paid person but it's not much more and the price for him is 14 hr days instead of 12 for the drivers. Seeing him there on Sunday is not uncommon. You couldn't give me that job!!! But if your the type of person that likes to " save the day" then maybe it's for you. You will get old fast!!!
That mechanic is a fool. Top diesel mechanics in the Northeast who work for real outfits like Cummins,Cat, Detroit Allison, and Railroad companies make $45 to $ 53 bucks and hour. Time and half and double time on holidays. That is 90 to 100 and hr. You will never see that kind of money driving a truck unless you own it.
I worked for a shop in Watertown NY that provided all tools and when there for a year, they bought you your tool box that was fairly loaded. we did fleet services, on buses, semis , even had a contract with Greyhound.
I started at a Toyota dealership back in 2009 when i was 18. Went to Toyota T- TEN got my associates degree, certificate from Toyota and a Certfied tech out the gate. Went flat rate in my 2nd year of T TEN and was enjoying it. Time went on, they started to see what i can do and my hours tanked. Warranty after warranty, noise after noise the whole shabang. I was getting paid in knowledge a lot of my time spent in the dealership. Still, making a living tho.. I decided it 2016 to try the diesel field, got hired at Penske truck rental as a diesel technician 3 and was a fleet shop working 2nd shift hours. Union shop, benefits were not all that great but enjoyed it. Was getting paid a bit more than i was at Toyota not too surprising i was working on Heavy trucks. When i first got hired there it was starting ALL over, all they gave me was PM's after PM's and boring stuff because i wasnt certified and that shit let me tell you gets super boring. But, after about a year they gave me some real work, clutches, drive line repair , brakes , air leak repair , etc. Working on these trucks really takes a tole on your body ill tell you that.. After about 4 years, i finished up a Clutch replacement on a freightliner cascadia and i said to myself, i do NOT want to work in diesel any longer. 2nd shift ( ALOT of diesel shops are 2nd shift ) was getting frustrating, the 1st shift technicians were in their late 40's and 50's and only way to get on 1st was to wait for them to retire ( union rules ) . I wasnt waiting 15 years to get back to a day shift. So, at 29 years old, i decided to get back to the Toyota dealership flat rate again . Not saying diesel is not a good way to go, but in my experience it wasnt all that great, and to be honest just not for me but i gave it a shot. Its nice to work with a lift again and not on my back on a creeper.
Great point. Thanks for the comment.
To add to. I am a forklift mechanic. There are some days that i don't want to touch my car...but for the most part, i have realized that industrial work gives me the pay i need to survive, and i enjoy the engine work. I also get to work on my car there on the weekend for enjoyment, i like the guys i work with. At the same time who am i to dwindle your passion? Diesel is the way to go!
I 100% agree with looking at a project and not wanting to mess with it after a long day. Sort of the reason that when I went to a motorcycle shop after leaving automotive, I went back to automotive lol. I build and rebuild bikes at home as my hobby and working on bikes all day just about murdered that hobby. I don't have a "project car" anymore as a result of being an auto mechanic again lol. I've been at it for 5 yrs and taking tech classes at nite at community college. Biggest thing I can say is get in school, don't initially blow your load on tools but get what you really need as you need it. When you know what you're doing and you're confident get you're certificates from ASE or Factory. I agree with diag and electrical being vital to making money. Shops currently are taking advantage of good techs with no certs using it as an excuse not to pay well.
I’ve struggled for a while. But I’m still going and it’s getting better. But yes!!! Don’t go in thinking it’s peaches and cream!!! Worked on Caterpillar machines and semis now back into light duty diesel trucks. Sometimes it’ll take afew shops and you’ll fail but don’t get discouraged if you truly wanna make it a living.
Eric,You're such a high quality human being. Thanks for existing.
hit the nail on the head about fleet work. I worked at a dealer then I was a mechanic in the military and now I'm fleet. I love it! great benefits and my tools were provided for. Definately try to aim for a fleet job.
All this info goes for body shops too. Just started working at one right out of school, what a huge difference real shops are from school, stressful and always pressure to finish cars fast, and so far all of my money has gone to buying tools. I pay back the snap-on guy as soon as I can, most of the time.
True. Computers have become highly intertwined with nearly everything, and the trend will only continue. It is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it is terribly difficult to maintain a vehicle with sophisticated electronics, but on the other hand, the vehicle becomes far more power and efficient than a comparable vehicle from another era. I completely forgot the Electronics aspect of the modern Auto mechanic, so you are correct.
Your so right about the Truck and Coach, clientele is completely different.
I went to school for automotive technology graduated and I do not work on cars for a living. I love cars I like to know a lot about cars but to do it day in and day out I just cant do it. It has saved me probably 50 times the amount over the years than the tuition was initially. Cars are just mechanical devices and the knowledge you learn from cars pertains to a lot of mechanical items. extremely useful information. I do not regret it one bit.
Hi Eric. My father was a DIY carpenter. He had a good office job as HR director for different companies during his early years. One day he decided to leave the office job and make a business out of his hobbie. He's been doing carpentry for the past 25 years, he keeps getting his hands dirty but he mostly manages the business and clients. He has hired good workers and pays fairly well compared to other shops. His personal projects are always last and clients always go first. Income first. His motivation relies not on the job itself but the satisfaction of the client, the recommendation afterwards and that he is hired again afterwards by the same customer for a new project or fix. Thanks for your sincerity about it. Good luck bud.
This is still good advice. Auto has made a little bit of a come back since this video, but as a guy who has been in diesel for a few years and has plenty of friends in diesel and auto, I can tell you that diesel is where you can make a lot more money in the low and mid range (if you're REALLY great as an auto guy, you can take advantage of book rates), and if you're a professional, you can have a lot more job security.
In the diesel world, book rate for repairs is almost unheard of. It's hourly wages. Your employer probably still has expectations for how much you should be getting done in a shift or in a week, but it's not the "feast or famine" world of autos where a frozen or stripped bolt, or a frustrating electronic diagnosis that takes an hour or two more than "average" is going to take money out of your pocket. I know how much money I'm going to make each week, unless I work over time, and when I do (and every diesel shop I know offers plenty of OT), I know I'm getting that 1.5x pay, instead of working a bunch of extra hours just to get to 40 book hours.
It's dirtier and it requires bigger, and possibly more tools, but it's a more humane way to work. It's just a better career, at least with the way the world is right now. Until dealerships start having a hard time finding technicians, they're never going to pay what they should or treat technicians the way they should. Diesel is not perfect, but it's much closer to the way the entire mechanical/technical world ought to be.
Thanks for believing in us all EricTheCarGuy we believe in you too!
Been working for a diesel fleet shop for 10 years now and I absolutely love it. I went to school for automotive but ended up in a fleet shop which I hear tends to happen from time to time. What you said about diagnostics and electrical is spot on here on the fleet side with everything going to computers now a days and with some of these rigs having 8-10 computers on them knowing how to diagnose and troubleshoot are absolutely critical not to mention fun from time to time. The parts are heavy and your body will hurt but there is no place I'd rather be then in a fleet shop.
Wanted to elaborate on what Eric said about the company providing tools. This is my experience of what was provided by the company (their tools used by us not given to anyone) 2" sockets or bigger, seal drivers, tire impacts, 1" impacts and 3/4 impacts were provided by the company anything lower was at your expense. Diagnostic tools provided by the company (their tools used by us not given to anyone) consisted of a roll away cart with a monitor on it attached to a laptop with Diamond Logic Builder, Service MAXX, Detroit Diesel and Cummins Insite programs. All other tools/boxes were my responsibility.
Think of the systems involved in the automotive universe. Not many skilled trades require the depth and knowledge required to diagnose and service modern vehicles.
Educational updates are constant as the auto world changes rapidly.
Regardless, at least you will save money on your own vehicles and perhaps these experiences will lead to into another trade with more prospects.
In the future you will see two automotive service people,"super technicians" and "parts hangers".
If u want to make money in this business you have to prove you are worth it, do the difficult stuff, advanced electrical diag, engine rebuilding. Otherwise you are seen as an “r&r” type of tech which won’t make anything! Anyone can r&r but it takes skill to diag.I see to many techs stuck at B tech bc they just do simple r&r or basic diag. Yeah they make 900$ take home but you could be making a lot more if you stepped up a bit
You are very right Eric, I am a tech in a FLEET! Everything comes in on a truck, pretty much the world depends on these trucks going down the road. If you dont like the "flat rate system" join a fleet company.The GREAT majority of fleet company's pay an hourly wage. If I work 50 or 60 hours in a week I want to be paid for every minuet. Diesle technalogy is changeing EVERY DAY, DPF systems DEF systems, aftertreament systems for EPA standards, and 20 diff control mods on some of these trucks.
I took a lot of auto shop classes in high school during the late 1970's. We even had some internships at local auto repair shops. I learned that I would never want to be a professional auto mechanic - hard, physical work and extremely low pay. Even back then it was the same old B.S. - miserable customers, sloppy work by techs and sh*tty working conditions... But, I still enjoy working on my own cars and helping friends fix their cars. I've been an auto repair hobbyist for over 30 years...
the advice at 14:40 is golden
Martin Ziggy u
This reminds me of a dialogue I participated in regarding photography. There are marked similarities. One thing is for sure, doing things as a job is very different than an amateur. NOT always better, it's more about capturing what sells, quickly. In photography, marketing trumps tools and even talent. And business skill is critical. Many photographers sadly face the reality that what drew them to the profession was completely different than the reality.
I bought my first car in 2003.... but i didn't actually start doing my own work until the summer of 2004 BECAUSE I basically killed my 1998 Buick leSabre which killed my wallet lol. I spent a total of $1900 to get this car fixed. It had a blown head gasket and cracked intake manifold. Looking over the receipt I realized how much of the money went to labor and how much went to parts. I just couldn't believe some of the prices they charged me for parts that I believed I absolutely didn't need. I made a goal to educate myself any way I could and do my own work. From then till now I've worked at auto parts stores, service centers, a tow yard, and even a full fledged auto repair shop. I still don't have my ASE certification, which I do want to get ... but anyway. I can definitely relate to everything you say in this video and how true it is! Thank you for this! It definitely puts things back in perspective.....P.S. I still wanna be a certified mechanic/automotive technician! Thanks again Eric!
I love electronics, building radios, modifying motherboards and building random circuits. So I decided to be an Electronics Engineer. I heard the old saying, "do what you love and never work a day in your life". Here I am over one year out of college as an Electronics Engineer and I can't stand it. I can relate my situation with what you're saying. I think sometimes hobbies should just stay at home and away from work.
I hear you about the diesel work thing. I tried to get hired by U.P. (union pacific) and was going to get started out at 18 an hour and they were going to train me. I couldn't pass the physical test at the time I tried to get hired. I would LOVE to work on trains. I mean how often do you hear about a person working on a train for a living.
I worked at tune-up masters for a few months. The bad thing about that job, is the amount of work hours was based on the amount of customers you had rolling in. If it was slow, they sent you home. I eventually quit for lack of hours. Yes, I was an oil man, but they were going to send me to training school. Sucks for me. But, you're right! Stay dirty!
Iam training to be a lorry mechanic Iam a car mechanic and I owe Eric The Car Guy a big thank you you helped me to gain my light vehicle qulafaction thanks man
Dude i literally volunteer at shops as a mechanic aid. Now school has become My only source of information.
Eric once again you're absolutely right. if you're interested in getting into this profession solely because you love cars.... DON'T. after about 2 years you will hate cars, you're not going good to want to do any projects at home e, the last thing you're going to want to do after working in a hot ass shop for 10 hours is go home and work on a project car, you're not going to want to eat enough see a car on the road, I've been there and done that. Fleet is the best, I was fortunate enough 2 years ago to happen upon a position with the postal service. it is a completely different mentality, they want to their stuff fixed, and fixed now no matter the cost, if the vehicle is down it is the movie get mail and now it's costing get them money instead of making it, there is no flat rate to contend with, tools are provided and benefits are unbelievably better than any dealer or independent will offer. anyway, I tell new guys in the business that the best thing going you can do is buy tools and quality lifetime warranty tools, and read and in this day and age watch videos and soak up every little piece of knowledge you can find and store it away and don't forget it, it will come in handy someday. also you are never ever going good to know own everything about every car, what makes you good is knowing how to find out stuff when you need to know it.
You're absolutely right. I've been driving big truck for over 10 years now and the mechs have it made (relatively speaking). They are always in demand, and there is much less complaining from owners because so many of these companies out there are huge and these guys don't own the trucks. So the company sends them to TA or Petro to get repaired and they don't give a shit how much it costs. Easy life.
First off, thanks for taking the time and sharing your videos with us. I never thought that I would get burnt out in my dream job, which was firefighting/paramedic for the past 23 years. I searched long and hard for a new career and thought I would go with my hobby, which is being a DIY mechanic, been mechanic all my adult life, from auto, to farming equipment, just don't have the professional experience companies want. This video helped me with choosing my new career as well. I just enrolled in diesel applied technology at a local tech school. Just wanted to thank you, any other advise is always welcome.
My dad was a master mechanic for over 50 years and he passed away last year. I worked with him from the age of 7 . He worked for a taxi company for 15 years and there was only 2 of the mechanics I got to where I could take 1 of the apart and put it back together. Since I was the older son he left me his tools and car testing stuff. He had his stuff mostly craftsman as sears was near us and a few special snap on tools. It was insured for 75k I had to have it shipped up to hudson valley from Louisville KY . I now have 3 tool boxes full of tools and 1 with electronics. I have it insured for 80k I am a disabled vet nothing works from the waist down.I got it all 2 months ago. I can o way use even 1/3 of the tools but I will not sell them unless I was about to lose my house. I live a rural area about 90 miles up from NYC. I have started cleaning them and putting them in the correct order . I had 2 folks living in a old bungalow colony. 1 guy is a jack of all trade and has quite a few tools but he has already asked to borrow things. I took picture of what ever he takes and told him I want them back like you took them. I do work on my wheelchair and my 2 scooters a lot.
Hello Eric, I've worked in the automotive field while in the military. Worked on tactical vehicles when I served in the Army from 92 -2003 and what I like to call civilian vehicles from 2003 until 2006 where I made the decision to go into fleet management. :) There were days where I loved my job but there were also days where I felt that i made a serious error in judgement. lol! Mostly because of a difficult job I had on my hands. I'm sure we all have had those days. Now that I am retired from the military I've tried to find another career outside of vehicles but have met with one failure after another. Tried insurance sales, FAILED!, call center job FAILED! Even tried IT career in Network Systems Administration and that was serious headache to learn. So much to know and do to get a decent job in this field even tougher I believe than that of the automotive technical field. Could be wrong. So, long story short..I feel compelled now to return to the automotive field once more. Its going back to school that i know that's going to be difficult for me at 43 years old. Younger crowd is difficult to deal/click with. What's your opinion on my situation? Anyway, thank you for your videos. They are very educational and have help me with my own vehicle on occasion. Best wishes to you/family for continued success. :)
First, thank you for your service. As to your question. You might consider getting a service writer position at a dealership. That way you can still work on cars in your own time, still be involved in the field, and you won't have to go through the relearning process or deal with the BS in the shop. Well, you'll be dealing with a whole different type of BS, but that's beside the point. Just a thought. No matter what, good luck.
Thank you. Your gratitude is appreciated as well as your feedback. I recently accepted a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs over at Fort Riley Kansas. I start on 9 Sept with a 4 to 6 week training course at Topeka KS then will be placed over at Fort Riley. It is a far better position there knowing i will be in a position to help out fellow veterans such as myself. Thanks again for your feedback sir and i wish you/family continued success.
That's fantastic! Good luck at the new job.
hvac is another good technical field to work on and transport refrigeration. in any skilled field you dont make much starting out but once you made it to the top of the food chain you are in demand. there isan art to removing broken bolts in any field.
There's also a lot of people going into the trade that don't want to deal with the grunt work when starting out at a new place. They don't understand that you need to work your way up to the big jobs. That means doing oil changes, washing floors, washing cars, etc. You have to put in the work to get the pay off.
I wish I could find people just like you that make youtube videos on advice for Plumbing, Electricians, Welding, and HVAC.
I am just getting started in the auto tech business and I plan on doing it as a side hustle while keeping my full-time job in an unrelated field because it seems like full-time automotive technicians get worked to death while the shop owner/dealership makes all the big money and if you open your own shop you'll have to hire at least 5 technician to pump out good profits
I completely agree with the motivation going away after a while. I used to think "hey, i get to replace ball joints on my truck" Now I just sigh and look sad at the prospect, especially after spending a day in 100 degree heat at work, then have to come home and do it, but with no lift, and fewer/not as good tools at home.
Another good option is public transport. I've been working for Nj transit for 2 years now. Got hired as just a mechanically inclined dyi guy. They sent me to their own school. I make $21 and I'm 23. Full befits too.
This video was a real eye opener. I attended and graduated automotive school from 08-09 specializing in mostly auto with some diesel on the side. After graduating I spent the better part of a year applying to over 31 places only to have Honda call for an interview and offer me a high school kids type of position, I couldn't believe it after spending 13 months and $24K on school, I would actually have lost money from quitting my grocery store job and working for Honda. Fast forward till now being in the military I hope to cross train into a vehicle maintenance field and possibly look into the fleet service like you suggested, I never thought about it the way you described it. Upon watching this video and growing older/starting a family I've realized I need better financial support that a diesel position may offer along with the enjoyment of being a technician, and still enjoying modifying cars in my free time. Thanks for the ideas.
Im a 4th year apprentince in sydney Australia been working as a mechanic for the last 4 years ive worked at small workshops and ive swapped over to dealership to try out about a year ago to put in plain simple its a shitfight no one is curtious no one is willing to teach people new things everyone will stab eachother in the back al in the name of money and all morals and quality thrown in the bin its sad to be honest its now QUANTITY OVER QUALITY eric ive been watching your videos for a long time now and your the last remaining honest and morally trusted mecahanic
Cannot agree more with everything you have said. 20 year old, 2.5 year technician. Feeling the pain everyday, especially in my wallet from time to time. But for me, I wouldn't have it any other way (for now).
You'd be surprised how much work you can get done with a good ~130pc tool suitcase and some extra stuff
diesel not only is in the trucking industry but also, heavy equipment, marine, medium duty trucks, agricultural....not to mention the stationary diesel engines in generators, water pumps, etc.....
i love the honest truth and no sugar coating it.wish more people were honest.................great video
Everything said about fleet shops in this video is true. I worked in 2 fleet shops. One bought EVERY tool. The other provided only the big tools. I feel big rigs are so much easier to work on then cars. Yes they are bigger and heavier, but you have tools to compensate for that.
After being in the trade for only a short time now, just over a year... I have definitely had a taste of it and I want to continue. To start though I wasn't all in all the time. There were manny days where I thought to myself I should stop and get out while I can but I pushed through because I don't give up that easy. , everything Eric says is true from money in tools and not wanting to work on stuff after work. My advice to anyone is to just go do it if its what you want get your feet wet , give it your all and then some. After you have tried it then make the call. Never leave the what if factor it will haunt you!
The one thing I kind of wish you had touched one and I wish people had let me know of before hand. One make sure if you are going to work at a auto shop that they will work with you during hard times. Right now as we go into winter the number of people getting their cars worked on dropped HARD. Specially for the coming holidays. I am lucky at times to get scrap from the master techs who are doing nothing but low end jobs like oil changes and tire rotation.
I am trying for a second part time job and working 11 hours a day makes it next to impossible and my shop doesn't want to really work with me to make it happen. I have even asked for a pay cut to work at 37 hours a week hourly and they can overload me with work. Winter hurts a lot for my area lol. I went from 50+ flag hours down to 27 last week and 32 the previous. This is my first year at this shop and it HURTS.
I really appreciate this video, 8 years have passed since I decided to go into the profession of auto repair and boy your right.. I think that being a good mechanic I'm talented but to the mass public were stupid and replaceable, never the less our professional tools are not cheap one bit... shade trees indeed rant that our high dollar tools are overrated but when you wrench 8 plus hours a day your grateful for the comfort and quality these tools provide... and thanks for throwing out working for a good independent... I do and I feel far advanced into many makes, models and having a true understanding of how systems function across the board... I enjoy the technical challenge of diagnostics rather then being a parts hanger... that gets old quick in this field and is very unsatisfying
I had the choice at highschool. Auto or electro-mechanics. I chose THE
wow I was actually over here thinking to become a mechanic but I see everyone saying just keep it as a hobby. This really is making me reconsider about if I should go along and do this.
If you love cars and like me want a active job the. I think this is a good trade to get into, yeah the pay isn't great at first but if you are dedicated and become good then who knows where you'll go, I've just started my 3 year apprenticeship at Audi and I'm loving it, love the work, love the atmosphere I just love it, and I plan to go through all levels from service tech to qualified tech and then to master tech because I'm passionate about this trade, that's the most important thing in my opinion
Eric, I'm a lead Tech at Acura. It's so true you get spoiled. I work out of a Husky toolbox, I used to do everything out of a cart. I'm getting sick of it, even for a pay cut it'd be nice to learn more from other makes. When I get a side job I have to learn the make, which is fun, but also soaks up the time for making money.
Check out the EricTheCarGuy channel, plenty of repair vids there. Link in the description.
I'm 23 years old and a ASE master tech and I've worked for 3 gm dealers in Las Vegas, NV. I started washing cars at a dealer, moved to a lube tech, managers saw potential and gave me an opportunity to be an apprentice and 2 years later I'm a self sufficient technician that fixes a lot of incompetent technicians, diagnostic error comebacks. Most important thing I'd say is this job is not for everyone. Most important traits you need in my opinion is a high tolerance for stress, a high attention to detail and a decent long term memory. This career is absolutely going to be in high demand 5 years later when Vietnam baby boomers start retiring. There are not many students I've seen that become successful technicians even after they spent $20-40k in vocational auto school. Biggest issue is schools don't train for reality of what technicians really see in the front lines and the common issues. They teach so much variety that you can't retain what is important and what is acceptable to forget. so you forget 90% of it and a lot of what you learned still doesn't apply to the real job. Another issue is car's are evolving so fast and complex, it can be overwhelming for a entry level technician to know where to start the diagnosis. Managers don't have a crystal ball saying how difficult the car will be to diagnose so entry level technicians can spend a great deal diagnosing a car and only get paid 1/4 what the job calls out for. That's where apprenticeship is a highly valuable asset to show the tech the ropes. The style of payscale is something that works great for me but not something everybody else is cut out for. The 2 principles I live for being a technician, is customer satisfaction and making a reasonable profit. Please don't invest money in a vocational school to be a technician until you acquired a sub technician job at a dealership and spent spare time helping and learning from a technician to see if you cut out for that style of work. Passion about car's does not mean you could survive the style of commission pay at a dealer. It requires a lot of multitasking and attention to detail to make hours and get a decent paycheck at a dealership. There's so many small details I wish I could list but can't memorize them all.
I agree, it's not for everyone, and it's never what you think it will be going in. However, I still feel that an automotive education is the best foundation to a successful career in auto repair.
I've worked at the dealer, and I've seen many people moved up from the car wash to lube tech. Truth is the dealer is getting cheap labor out of them. More often than not, someone from the car wash is not going to do well as a technician. I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm saying it's a rare exception such as in your case.
Thanks for your input.
in school for diesel, father in law got me interested i know the torture but growing up i never thought id be interested at 20 i just learned how to change a tire for his daughter then fixing small things, turns out i hate school and cushy office environments. blue collar, better people, real people
A great place to be a mechanic is in the general aviation field. There is a great shortage of Airframe and Powerplant techs, "A and Ps." It is interesting and relatively clean work. The world of Lycoming and Continental engines is rather strange. Still mostly 1940's technology, refined over 70 years.
Very true it's not for everyone, some people may be better suited for parts, diesel, small engine, motorcycle ect ect. I worked for a few major automotive maintain & repair chains before I discovered I was better suited for Industrial Mechanical (conveyors, AC motors, Industrial controls) but I don't regret the automotive experience I gained. I'm able to work on my own vehicles and help close friends with their cars and projects. My point is don't be afraid to try different things.
THANK YOU THE CAR GUY FOR ALL YOUR INTERESTING VIDEOS.
His advice is very helpful for me to have a bigger picture about being an
automotive technician.
I work as fleet mechanic for a state agency. The hardest part of the job was actually getting the job. Applying to take the test, taking the test, interviews, waiting for the right opening, and so on. I work on anything from chainsaws to big earth moving equipment and boats. We get plenty of training and the benefits are pretty nice, our tools are even provided by the state. Get hired by a state agency and you will never have to work hard again.
After working for both a diesel fleet and dealership I have found I like the dealership work much more. In my case, the dealerships pay more, better hours, and the work performed is much more interesting. At a fleet it's basically lights, tires, and preventative maintenence. If you're lucky your fleet will do injectors or something but most fleets keep almost all of their fleet under warranty for the dealerships to fix. I am at the fleet now and I can say we would rather hire people with dealership experience over fleet experience.
Eric, as a mechanic/technician myself i find it hard to believe that your still spinning spanners. You have the gift of the gab + experience and u should be doing something greater with all do respect. Peace.
Thank you for that. Truth is, all I do is my TH-cam work these days.Trust me, it's a ton of work. I actually think I work harder now than ever and I used to work 3 jobs. Thanks again for your comment.
I m doing my businesses day one I graduated from school. I put my intention only diagnose the any car that come to my shop.
I really like the interview your interviewer mentality. Applies to any job you want. When they ask you if you have any questions it's a good opportunity to ask them about how well they do their job by asking how they handled a conflict or something like that.