This is one of the questions I get asked the most so I decided to make a video of my response. Should you get into auto repair? Good question, it really depends …
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This is one of the questions I get asked the most so I decided to make a video of my response. Should you get into auto repair? Good question, it really depends …
Comments are closed.
I am just going to play this vid when co-op students come a knocking, as it will save me much breath. I have been saying the same thing verbatim for the last five years.
The one thing I hate about being in this field is the fucking heat. I don't understand why these bullshit places don't believe in A/C. My main goal is to work at Mercedes, BMW. If I don't get in there. I will just quit this hot bullshit. I am just happy to repair my own cars, I like to save money. I have other ways to make money. I do like cars, just not the bullshit hot shit.
I am actually on the end of things where I love machines. Every machine I see I have to know how it works. Because of that it of course stemmed on over into automotive. Now I generally enjoyed working on my own car which is where I went with it at first. After that I slowly worked into the trade by first doing the shade tree mechanic thing then finally on into a shop that I work at now.
the best way my boss describes it to me is it is a lot like a giant jigsaw puzzle and seeing how it goes together or how it works etc etc. Although it is a privately owned shop I work at he buys higher end cars (BMW's, Mercedes) along with middle of the road cars (GM, Ford, Chrysler). There are 3 mechanics in total, the guy in the morning, me and my boss. My boss is not afraid to get right down and do anything and I admire him for that. He gives the same opportunity to every mechanic that works for him and will turn them loose on a car to see if they can repair it properly and there have been many many times the new guy screwed something up we had to go back and fix. Out of everyone that came and went I was the only one who retains the privilege of working on the higher end cars and who is allowed to work on even his personal 1971 Buick GSX. So honestly yeah I like what I do because there are 0 politics and 0 worry while working on the cars. More times than not I am alone in the shop until he comes down to give me a hand because it still is a passion of his.
This line of work has led me towards building and fabricating machines including firearms for personal use. Once you get the entire set of skills (welding, brazing etc etc) then you can literally apply them to anything that revolves around machines.
I will also say to folks who want or are considering a job like this a huge portion of working with different makes and models is that sometimes you have to take a step back and assess how something needs to be done. Sometimes the traditional way of doing it just won't work a good example is something like a cv axle rusted in place that no amount of force is ever going to get the splines to let go so you end up having to devise a different way. You got to be good at knowing that something isn't going to work. You've also got to get a feel for what a bolt feels like if it isn't going in correctly or is to its max and is going to snap if you continue. I live in the north east and I have yet to snap off a bleeder valve on a caliper and that is saying something. You just have to know when it feels like it is going to snap.
I'm 16 going into auto techni as a trade in my grade 12 year yeah I feel the same way love working on cars but still have a lot to learn I have a older 60s car that I practice on and also my friend fixes cars on the side and of course I help him with that aswell. Do you have any tips on getting a job at an auto shop I'm currently in the fast food like we all started but would like to get a job I will advance in and like. I already have don't simple jobs like oil changes trans flushes and brakes but would love to learn more.
His advice is very helpful for me to have a bigger picture about being an
automotive technician.
Lol I hate cars. I like how some of them look.
But mostly, I just want to know how to fix them. Thats all. For my own personal gain.
10000000000%
Eric!!! how did you know my life story ?
The time to get in was before the electronic and computers invaded them. I would hate to be dropped into this field as a newbee right now. I couldn't imagine. It also hasn't been the same since the 2009 crash. Greed and apathy have REALLY, REALLY set in. 23 years….I hate cars and everything about cars, EXCEPT what I do now which is 90% Electrical.
I make 60 flat rate hours a week and still struggle if I could go back in time I would pick a different trade
I'm not sure how concerned I should be about the whole cost of tools situation. Because my dad's been a technician at Honda for a large majority of his life and he's now a Mazda salesmen. If anything I can just use his tools.