Does every shop have a tech...

[tool_enthusiast]

...who other fellow techs wonder how they got the job in the first place?

I'm not in the auto repair field, but in my job which is technical by nature (telecommunications), we have some people who just don't know what the (fill in the blank here) _______ they are doing. I wonder how they got this far in their job when they clearly lack basic technical skills. Probably their manager won't have a clue because managers are not expected to be technical, but their peers can all see right through them.

Was just wondering if the same thing applies in the auto repair or contractor business.

 

[reptilezs]

yea got some coworkers that dont know what they are doing and dont know when they dont know so its terrible

 

[fireguy]

yea got some coworkers that dont know what they are doing and dont know when they dont know so its terrible

At the fire station we would say" He is so ignorant, he don't know how ignorant he is"

 

[jethro29]

i have seen it at several repair shops. i guess they try to ( fake it till you make it) so to speak.none at my current shop, because they where interveiwed and hand picked by me.it only takes a very few very specific questions to seperate the imposters from the real deal.it amazes me how many people lie on the applications and continue to lie during the interveiw ,right up till they can't answer that first question.

 

[yogitech]

i have seen it at several repair shops. i guess they try to ( fake it till you make it) so to speak.none at my current shop, because they where interveiwed and hand picked by me.it only takes a very few very specific questions to seperate the imposters from the real deal.it amazes me how many people lie on the applications and continue to lie during the interveiw ,right up till they can't answer that first question.

You mind telling us what questions you asked them, I think it might be funny? Thanks

 

[OccupantRJ]

Sometimes one gets fooled in the opposite way. The owner's son was hired to work for me in the mechanical department one summer. I'm thinking that it's gonna be a long hot summer. The young man's experience was that he had helped someone change an intake manifold and had installed a stereo in a car. He was very quiet mannered and polite, and no $hit, inside of three weeks, he was designing and making production tooling on the Bridgeport, and before the summer was over, he had run conduit and rewired 3 phase power to almost all the plant machinery, getting rid of flexible overhead cording someone had installed in the past. I enjoyed working that young man as much as anyone I ever worked with. His best friend hired on at the same time, and he quit a couple of days before I would have fired him. That sorry young man went on to become a well recommended auto diagnostic tech. Sometimes people pleasantly surprise you.

 

[route246]

A-class managers hire A-class workers. B-class managers higher C-class workers. The types of things those C-class people get away with is absolutely incredible.

It is a reflection on the management when you have these sorts of people working in a group. It happens much more in the corporate world than you could imagine.

One thing I've observed is that many of these C-class workers get characterized as being lazy. Upon closer examination you will often find they are not lazy at all, just totally incapable of doing what they are expected to do. To someone who is not incapable this always looks like the person is lazy.

 

[bobcatdan]

One shop I worked at a tech pulled an engine out of a mustang to do a rear main and oil pan gasket on a 5.0. When he was done it still leaked because the oil pan was rusted threw. Another quy we called "Lighting", he wasn't fast or bright. At my current job, they hired a guy they knew was green, he fixed trucks in the army. He wasn't doing so hot and the final straw came changing oil on a skidsteer and he put hydraulic oil in the engine. It's pretty easy to mix up, 15w-40 comes in one gallon white jugs, and hydraulic comes in 2.5 gallons black jugs. There are winners everywhere you look.

 

[muddyjoe15]

We had one of those guys at the last place i worked. Every morning i would look at his pants to see if they had dirt stains on the knees!

 

[speed bump]

Yep, had one guy who has a masters in EE ask me if what setting the DMM needed to be set for a pulser resistance test. He also after 10 times still couldn't figure out how to build a simple connector.

Had another one who couldn't figure out the leaving $50,000 probes laying in the snow wasn't a good idea.

I think just plain dumb is more useful than lazy though, dumb you can make them do stuff robotically and it will be done in a passable manner. Lazy guys are about useless because you always are riding them and if I have to stop what I am doing to ride you then you might as well not be here.

 

[GoBlue]

We hired a guy one time that only knew lefty loosie righty tighty because he was a friend of my brother. He turned into THE finest tech i have ever known. Way beyond anyone else i have ever worked along side...work ethic like a damn mule...sometimes you just never know.

 

[treasureseeker]

The few places I have worked at most techs were at the same level and most including me made mistakes they shouldn’t have. I more run into management that I question how they made it to that level.

 

[wornoutoldman]

You can and will find incompetence in every workplace. The surgeon that graduated in the bottom of his class is the one I'd be worried about. Oh and this clown/commander in chief....

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

When I was in high school working at a service station, we had a "tech" that was FAMOUS for his "little" mistakes. Most were caught quickly and dealt with before the customers had to deal with them, but more than a few slipped through the cracks. The one that finally did him in was doing a brake job on the owner's wife's Suburban and forgetting to put on the right side caliper. Amazingly enough she made it almost 2 blocks before it fell off the a-arm and started dragging. That was also when we discovered that he forgot another little detail on the right side called a spindle nut.

I ran into this guy a few months ago - he made it to tire/lube manager at a WalMart. People were looking at me funny when I pulled a breaker bar out of my toolbox and started checking my lugnuts before I left the lot, but I sure felt better.

 

[Hammer1963]

Unfortunately, more than likely yes. My shop however, NO !

 

[GDA]

Yes.

Once a group starts to approach more than about a dozen people, it seems you will almost always get this effect. Its proof of the bell curve in real life.

 

[crewchief888]

One shop I worked at a tech pulled an engine out of a mustang to do a rear main and oil pan gasket on a 5.0. When he was done it still leaked because the oil pan was rusted threw. Another quy we called "Lighting", he wasn't fast or bright. At my current job, they hired a guy they knew was green, he fixed trucks in the army. He wasn't doing so hot and the final straw came changing oil on a skidsteer and he put hydraulic oil in the engine. It's pretty easy to mix up, 15w-40 comes in one gallon white jugs, and hydraulic comes in 2.5 gallons black jugs. There are winners everywhere you look.

i think the army truck mechanic worked for us too......

 

[Marfark]

Stuff like this is a huge problem in the military/contracting world. A lot of the people that end up as mechanics in the military are people who have no experience, aptitude, or interest in anything mechanical. They become mechanics because that's what the military assigns them, and they stick with it after they get out because that's what is on their resume. Then they become military contractor mechanics who know nothing.

I've met the occasional military mechanic who has some real knowledge and talent, but they are few and far between, partly because they get no support. My first job as a mechanic was at a Volvo/Mack/GMC dealer, and I learned from a lot of very knowledgeable and experienced guys. Mechanics in the military have nobody to learn from. It's rare to meet a guy over E4 who is still turning wrenches. After two or three years of turning wrenches, they move behind a desk and forget what little they learned.

Incompetence in military shops is so rampant that I don't even resist it anymore. Most decisions are made by guys who have at most three years of experience turning wrenches, and they were taught by guys with two or three years of experience. The only way they know to troubleshoot is to get a group of three or four guys and replace parts until it's fixed. It's sad, and it's expensive.

Almost every single job I've seen performed by the military was totally amateur compared to their civilian counterparts. I know this is not a popular view, but I'm dead serious. Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw wood frame building fall down when it was half built. It was built buy the Seabees, and this is the SECOND time I've seen that happen.

 

[illmatyk]

I'm in the automotive field and I think it was last year we had a new guy and they asked if he could work with me so he knew where to get parts/bill out parts etc etc etc....In the end, I pretty much had to teach him how to do basic oil changes and found out he didn't even know how to use an impact gun or know the difference between lefty loosey righty tighty

 

[Appleyard]

We had a kid that went to the same vocational school I did (different graduating classes) start apprenticing at my shop. He was a really scrawny, soft spoken guy but he had already completed two years of classes for automotive so he must be somewhat serious about his future profession right?

I told him to tighten the lug nuts on a vehicle and I tossed him my MG725 and a torque stick. He barely pulled the trigger on each lug nut. I told him that the torque stick prevents him from overtorquing the lug nuts and he should stay on each lug nut for a few seconds just for piece of mind. Then he said "I would, but it's loud." What!?

He's going to Lincoln Tech in the fall...

 

[bob ny]

when i got out of the service in 53 ( THATS 1953 THANK YOU)i went to work for a Pontiac dealer . The only thing i knew was what i picked up at the farm and what i learned from keeping my car running. An old German shop foreman took me under his wing.
Four years later when he retired he recommended me to replace him. i had 12 mechanics working for me till i left 10 years later. so i never judge a man by what he knows but how fast and thorough he can learn and retain . I was an auto mechanic and i changed my whole life around when i decided to change professions and work for a power company for 33 years but spent most of my free time turning bolts one way or another ,bob w.

 

[justanengineer]

Stuff like this is a huge problem in the military/contracting world. A lot.

It depends on the specific unit command you deal with. Unfortunately our military leadership at the most senior pentagon level has been going downhill for many years now, and it reflects on the majority of the military. I had good leaders and bad leaders during my 7 years. The last three of that was spent under some very good leaders, who upheld strict training requirements for all of our vehicle mechanics. We were required to have more certifications than our civilian counterparts, and as such, the civilians only performed our routine services and no major repairs. I personally would pick a military mechanic over a civilian any day, even a bad one. At least with the military mechanic, you can trust them to follow your order, arent on drugs, and know that they possess a certain level of intelligence.

In several of the privatte civilian shops I worked in, I was accused several times of not knowing my business and simply being hired for my certifications. Usually the techs who did this were the ones worried more about getting done quickly so they could enjoy a cigarette than doing the work properly, and usually were on the way out after I had to repair their repairs.

I say quit worrying about others and worry more about improving your own skills. Anyone who doesnt think they have more to learn is a fool.

 

[Toolhorder]

i have seen it at several repair shops. i guess they try to ( fake it till you make it) so to speak.none at my current shop, because they where interveiwed and hand picked by me.it only takes a very few very specific questions to seperate the imposters from the real deal.it amazes me how many people lie on the applications and continue to lie during the interveiw ,right up till they can't answer that first question.

I hate guys who do this **** in interviews. It's like every interview I go on. I was fully factory trained with Honda and went to a Honda interview at a dealer and after looking at my whole resume and my training with Honda this dipshit thought he was smart and asked me what MAP voltage was at idle on "most" Hondas, mode 6, A/F sensors, etc.. Trust me it doesn't weed out anyone.

 

[jay50]

Stuff like this is a huge problem in the military/contracting world. A lot of the people that end up as mechanics in the military are people who have no experience, aptitude, or interest in anything mechanical. They become mechanics because that's what the military assigns them, and they stick with it after they get out because that's what is on their resume. Then they become military contractor mechanics who know nothing.

I've met the occasional military mechanic who has some real knowledge and talent, but they are few and far between, partly because they get no support. My first job as a mechanic was at a Volvo/Mack/GMC dealer, and I learned from a lot of very knowledgeable and experienced guys. Mechanics in the military have nobody to learn from. It's rare to meet a guy over E4 who is still turning wrenches. After two or three years of turning wrenches, they move behind a desk and forget what little they learned.

Incompetence in military shops is so rampant that I don't even resist it anymore. Most decisions are made by guys who have at most three years of experience turning wrenches, and they were taught by guys with two or three years of experience. The only way they know to troubleshoot is to get a group of three or four guys and replace parts until it's fixed. It's sad, and it's expensive.

Almost every single job I've seen performed by the military was totally amateur compared to their civilian counterparts. I know this is not a popular view, but I'm dead serious. Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw wood frame building fall down when it was half built. It was built buy the Seabees, and this is the SECOND time I've seen that happen.

Agreed fully with what you said. The level of maintenance that can be done by a mechanic is determined by the unit and organization. Four IIIRC) basic levels are unit, Direct Support, General Support, and Depot. The most any Army mechanic will every be able to do is change a few basic maintenance items, and do PMs. When it's time for some serious diagnostic or repairs, they will call in the DD/Allsion, or Cummins, etc contractors to do the job. Most major posts have the contractors assigned full time stateside and overseas.

 

[Marfark]

It depends on the specific unit command you deal with. Unfortunately our military leadership at the most senior pentagon level has been going downhill for many years now, and it reflects on the majority of the military. I had good leaders and bad leaders during my 7 years. The last three of that was spent under some very good leaders, who upheld strict training requirements for all of our vehicle mechanics. We were required to have more certifications than our civilian counterparts, and as such, the civilians only performed our routine services and no major repairs. I personally would pick a military mechanic over a civilian any day, even a bad one. At least with the military mechanic, you can trust them to follow your order, arent on drugs, and know that they possess a certain level of intelligence.

In several of the privatte civilian shops I worked in, I was accused several times of not knowing my business and simply being hired for my certifications. Usually the techs who did this were the ones worried more about getting done quickly so they could enjoy a cigarette than doing the work properly, and usually were on the way out after I had to repair their repairs.

I say quit worrying about others and worry more about improving your own skills. Anyone who doesnt think they have more to learn is a fool.

I don't mean to say that you won't run into idiots in civilian shops. You certainly will. You will also run into guys who have decades of experience, and no amount of certifications can substitute for some of those guys.

Maybe things have changed a lot since you were in the military. I wasn't a mechanic when I was in the military, so I wouldn't know. Last year I worked in a shop with some Marines at Camp Leatherneck, rebuilding IED damaged trucks. There were three shops together, each one rebuilding a different model of truck. In my shop, each shift had five civilians and 10-15 Marines. The other two shops were all Marines. I can count on one hand the number of Marines I met there who actually knew what they were doing, and only one had more than three years of experience. When the second half of the unit rotated in, we had to start from scratch, teaching them things like righty-tighty and how to use an impact. Most of those kids were clueless and totally uninterested. The shop I worked in turned out over twice as many trucks as the other two shops combined. I suspect that had something to do with the fact that seven of us civilians had a lot of experience in civilian shops.

 

[K5blazer83]

I get a little hot under the collar when I hear people talking **** about military mechanics. Not every military mechanic is a drooling fool. I turned wrenches on heavy jets in the Navy for 5 years and was offered a tech position at a Saturn dealership my first semester in college. My knowledge and experience speak for itself.

I do agree that there are some dumb people in the military but I pride myself on being a good technician and NOT a "parts changer".

 

[nate379]

They had an article a few months ago about 2 Army guys fixing some of their equipment. Fixed a leak on a CAT motor. I was thinking, ok these are Army mechanics and that is worthy of a news article?

http://www.jber.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123249502

I have been in the AF for about 10 years and I know MANY people that can't think outside of the box. If the reg or TO doesn't specifically say pick up 1/2" wrench, put it on so and so bolt, they have NO idea what they are doing.
Unfortunately often times those are the people in charge too.

Couple years ago I rebuilt an old Tennant floor scrubber. Had been in storage for years and the mice/rabbits ate the wiring and other parts. I put new batteries, redid the wiring. Spent 2 or 3 days on it. Got it all working good, then was told I couldn't use it to clean the floor because I wasn't trained on how to operate it.
HUH??

 

[GoBlue]

It would be very hard to take an 18 year old kid and turn them into a good tech in 3 and a half years.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Never happen bro

 

[Toolhorder]

They had an article a few months ago about 2 Army guys fixing some of their equipment. Fixed a leak on a CAT motor. I was thinking, ok these are Army mechanics and that is worthy of a news article?

http://www.jber.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123249502

I have been in the AF for about 10 years and I know MANY people that can't think outside of the box. If the reg or TO doesn't specifically say pick up 1/2" wrench, put it on so and so bolt, they have NO idea what they are doing.
Unfortunately often times those are the people in charge too.

Couple years ago I rebuilt an old Tennant floor scrubber. Had been in storage for years and the mice/rabbits ate the wiring and other parts. I put new batteries, redid the wiring. Spent 2 or 3 days on it. Got it all working good, then was told I couldn't use it to clean the floor because I wasn't trained on how to operate it.
HUH??

Wow, in the civy world they'll be shocked to learn nobody gets medals for that ****. It's common procedure.
"class 3 leaks" lmao.
ring ring, "hello sir this is the toolhorder, I looked at your vehicle and it has a class 3 leak and won't be mission capable this weekend"

 

[Moose-LandTran]

In most places i've worked, at least one.

We have a car at work, coolant leak. I checked it, found the fault to be the intake manifold gasket. (coolant passage through the manifold) Well, when it was pressurized to check for the leak some coolant made its way into the cylinder 4 intake port and into the cylinder.

Car won't start, cylinder full of coolant, must be the headgasket according to the boss.

It's sitting in the shop, head stripped.

 

[Sick Puppy]

So Moose, what happened between you diagnosing the fault and boss decreeing that it was a BHG? I'm figuring the intake manifold repair is a whole heap cheaper than the engine stripping job!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

So Moose, what happened between you diagnosing the fault and boss decreeing that it was a BHG? I'm figuring the intake manifold repair is a whole heap cheaper than the engine stripping job!

He decided it was the headgasket and got the go-ahead as such. He completely disregarded my diagnosis and decided that a cylinder full of coolant must be a blown head gasket.

 

[clark_nicholas]

I work at a college and we have a guy in our shop like that He came from a different dept. Its funny We have a student worker who can work circles around him I keep telling my boss to hire the student and move the other guy back to his old dept.

 

[toytech40]

I have seen several techs like this over the years, and some that were good but thought they were always right no matter how wrong they were. Case in point last place I worked was a guy who was smart, good, attention to detail(almost too much) But struggled with thinking anyone else knew anymore then him.

Had one vehicle one time he was working on with a miss, he diagnosed on it for most of the morning and came to the conclusion it had a bad fuel injector, told service manager who told him to ask me my opinion before getting customer approval. He told me the senario and I asked what the compression on that cylinder was as the questioned engine has a history of burning valves and developing a miss. He looked at me like I hadtold him the moon was made of cheese and the sunn was made of lemon drops. I advised him to run compression and cylinder leak test, you know some basic engine stuff. Next thing I see is him tearing it down to get to injectors, not an easy task on said engine. Got it all back together and guess what?????
It still had a miss, service manager not pleased with outcome asked me what I had said to him, told him, he walks over talks to other tech and asks him same thing I had about compression, he never did it saying it can't be that, that never happens in an engine. Manager asked me to run compression and leak down tests while he and other tech watched. 10 mins later cylinder has no compression and leaking by the valves. Manager moves vehicle to my stall to do head work, other tech demands to be paid for all his diagnostic work and replacing injector. Manager shook his head no and sent him home for the rest of the day, the tech cried to owner, the manager andI called on the carpet and questioned, and were commended on our knowledge and handling situation. Other tech left couple months later as this was not his only incident like this.

 

[GoBlue]

ah commision

 

[tool_enthusiast]

Great responses! It's good to know the level of competency among peers applies to any industry. Kinda scary thinking I can drop my car off at a shop and depending on which tech I get, I can possibly get the right or wrong job done on my car. Hopefully there is someone who signs off or verifies the work just in case.

 

[jethro29]

I hate guys who do this **** in interviews. It's like every interview I go on. I was fully factory trained with Honda and went to a Honda interview at a dealer and after looking at my whole resume and my training with Honda this dipshit thought he was smart and asked me what MAP voltage was at idle on "most" Hondas, mode 6, A/F sensors, etc.. Trust me it doesn't weed out anyone.

well it does for me.and that's all that matters to me.and i believe that by asking specific questions that you can absolutely weed out some of the fakes.

 

[Gtamazing]

Wow, in the civy world they'll be shocked to learn nobody gets medals for that ****. It's common procedure.
"class 3 leaks" lmao.
ring ring, "hello sir this is the toolhorder, I looked at your vehicle and it has a class 3 leak and won't be mission capable this weekend"

After a short ****** rampage I had a class 3 leak from the end of my ****

"the Class III leaks, which the Army defines as "seepage of fluid great enough to form drops and drip during inspection."

 

[GoBlue]

classy