How many proffessional mechanics do we have here?

[LGMechanical]

As I have mentioned before, I am a diesel mechanic and have been in this trade for 7 years. I'm young at 23 but I definately know my way around a truck. I love what I do, though investing so much money into tools is a drag. Not as many people my age are getting into this trade so all you old timers should thank me

I know there are more! Speak up!

 

[Diesel-Mech]

Another truck Mechanic here, 4 years in at 24 years old.

 

[vssjim]

car and light truck, former contstuction equipment, former automotive machinist. long time age 50

 

[Kona Cruisers]

3 now in mechanics.
7+ in autobody before.

 

[LGMechanical]

Another truck Mechanic here, 4 years in at 24 years old.

I knda figured good to see another young guy keeping this trade alive!

car and light truck, former contstuction equipment, former automotive machinist. long time age 50

quite the resume!

 

[Freakazooid52]

im working on it! hopefully 1.5 years more in school. Ive been working at a shop piggy backing for 2.

 

[volvo420coupe]

Auto tech, used to work on only euro cars, then worked at a couple honda dealers, now due to an unexpected move I'm living on a farm in the country and working at an independent body shop (the only tech, or the entire service dept). what a change going from working on some of the worlds finest automobiles to working on farm trucks and rusty American cars. Still loving life and thanking the lord every day that I still CAN provide for my family here in Michigan.

 

[LGMechanical]

Auto tech, used to work on only euro cars, then worked at a couple honda dealers, now due to an unexpected move I'm living on a farm in the country and working at an independent body shop (the only tech, or the entire service dept). what a change going from working on some of the worlds finest automobiles to working on farm trucks and rusty American cars. Still loving life and thanking the lord every day that I still CAN provide for my family here in Michigan.

Alot of the techs at dealerships are sweeping the floors these days. I've worked at two dealers (Kenworth, Western Star). About 8 months at Kenworth and 2 years at Western Star. Kenworth was pretty slow and the pay was bad so I left. Western Star sent me to all sort of courses so I stayed for a while. Eventually they went out of business so now I work for a small shop an luckily we are extremely busy.

 

[nate379]

I never went to school for it but I have worked in a few shops here and there. Was a tech at Sears for a while... some work in a friends shop doing transmissions, t cases, differentials, etc as well.

Not sure I could do it full time. Would take the fun out of it I think.

 

[LGMechanical]

I never went to school for it but I have worked in a few shops here and there. Was a tech at Sears for a while... some work in a friends shop doing transmissions, t cases, differentials, etc as well.

Not sure I could do it full time. Would take the fun out of it I think.

Most general repair shops sublet that kind of work out. We send out transmisisons, differentials, spring pins. We get the tire guy to come to our shop when needed. I would not want to rebuild those things all day, those shops stink like burnt 75w90

 

[Moose-LandTran]

2 years in at 20. Out of work though.

No proper training or qulifications, just 20 years at the University of Life. Looking to move to Canada to train and work as an agricultural diesel tech.

 

[TruckTech]

International Truck.

20 years old, in the field for 7 months, and looking forward to a long career ahead of me.

 

[LGMechanical]

2 years in at 20. Out of work though.

No proper training or qulifications, just 20 years at the University of Life. Looking to move to Canada to train and work as an agricultural diesel tech.

If you can land yourself a job in a good shop, they will send you on courses. (Eaton, Spicer, A/C, etc.) You need to get yourself signed up if you already haven't!

 

[TruckTech]

Most general repair shops sublet that kind of work out. We send out transmisisons, differentials, spring pins. We get the tire guy to come to our shop when needed. I would not want to rebuild those things all day, those shops stink like burnt 75w90

Damn man! What kind of a diesel shop sends out its rebuilds?!?!?!?!?

Just kidding. We do all our rebuilds, unless the customer wants a full rebuild, and not just fix whats wrong, in which case, we usually recommend a reman. Luckily, Weve got one guy on days, and one on nights for that stuff. Everyday I can snake my way out of a clutch job or tearing apart a trans is a good day. We get the tire guy to come out too, which makes me happy for obvious reasons.

 

[Paumanok]

Not "professional" as in having gone to school, but professional in the sense of being capable enough to fix most of our equipment on the farm, and impress many "professional" techs with my farm boy skillz. It's amazing how much you can learn over 10 years asking many many questions and watching and learning the tips and tricks of the trade from the pros - and spending massive amounts of time on GJ, and it also helps to have a proper service/technical manual for those more complicated repairs/services.

 

[LGMechanical]

Damn man! What kind of a diesel shop sends out its rebuilds?!?!?!?!?

Just kidding. We do all our rebuilds, unless the customer wants a full rebuild, and not just fix whats wrong, in which case, we usually recommend a reman. Luckily, Weve got one guy on days, and one on nights for that stuff. Everyday I can snake my way out of a clutch job or tearing apart a trans is a good day. We get the tire guy to come out too, which makes me happy for obvious reasons.

Ugh, clutch jobs..

We get alot of late 90's Volvos here with Detroits in them. The ones that have the mounts on the ****** instead of the engine. That's got to be the most dreadful one for me.

 

[Deafautotech]

Former chrysler and Mercury Lincoln technician as almost 5 years with chrysler training level 2 completed in all system while few classes in level 3 are finish but i tried to become chrysler master tech and my work closed due to no money...

independent shop (mostly of engine, transmissions, and other heavy line works technician) as 3 years.

I have Associate of Science in Automotive Technology... mostly of techs who i work with, either they dont went to college to get degree or they dont give a damn about degree. But my parents forced me to get degree as keep my family tradition!!!

i am out of job as laid off.. right now i am 23 years.. i started internship in independent shop when i am in high school as i am too good in automotive mechanic class so teacher got me a internship to do real life shop.. i am glad i did it!

Right now i tried to go back to dealership but they either dont interesting on not enough qualified technician with certifieds (level 2)... i has ASE as engine repairs and Brakes..

or they avoid me as deaf technician??? i dont know????

i am forward to go back in shop to work again but i dont know when....

 

[UncleDirty]

As I have mentioned before, I am a diesel mechanic and have been in this trade for 7 years. I'm young at 23 but I definately know my way around a truck. I love what I do, though investing so much money into tools is a drag. Not as many people my age are getting into this trade so all you old timers should thank me

I know there are more! Speak up!

Thank you.
I've been maintaining large flying machines for the last 24 years.
And I was 23, 22 years ago.

 

[Deafautotech]

If you can land yourself a job in a good shop, they will send you on courses. (Eaton, Spicer, A/C, etc.) You need to get yourself signed up if you already haven't!

yep! that what i tried to push my former service managers to send me to do all chrysler training courses so i can be level 4 technician as "chrysler master tech".. but my work cant afford to send me to classes because need me to do all heavy line jobs and etc while other techs wont do what i do at work...

 

[LGMechanical]

Former chrysler and Mercury Lincoln technician as almost 5 years with chrysler training level 2 completed in all system while few classes in level 3 are finish but i tried to become chrysler master tech and my work closed due to no money...

independent shop (mostly of engine, transmissions, and other heavy line works technician) as 3 years.

i am out of job as laid off.. right now i am 23 years.. i started internship in independent shop when i am in high school as i am too good in automotive mechanic class so teacher got me a internship to do real life shop.. i am glad i did it!

Right now i tried to go back to dealership but they either dont interesting on not enough qualified technician with certifieds (level 2)... i has ASE as engine repairs and Brakes..

or they avoid me as deaf technician??? i dont know????

i am forward to go back in shop to work again but i dont know when....

Don't worry bud. With those credentials, I'm sure you'll land a good job somewhere soon. Don't stress!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

If you can land yourself a job in a good shop, they will send you on courses. (Eaton, Spicer, A/C, etc.) You need to get yourself signed up if you already haven't!

Trying to. Not so easy, everything i read on doing it gives a different answer as to how you go about it.

 

[Deafautotech]

Don't worry bud. With those credentials, I'm sure you'll land a good job somewhere soon. Don't stress!

yeah.. i has good friend who is assistant service manager for Westgate Chrysler, jeep, and Dodge that has 6 or 7 Chrysler master technicians that which top service dept in indiana because most of dealerships in indiana only has 1, 2, or 3 master technicians... the service manager of Westgate are very interesting on me and was going to hiring me but that time automotive business went hell as too slow and loose many moneys... so he told me to wait and see what is happen..

i have to keep search and trying.. Since i laid off, i had applied almost 18 jobs around dealerships and citys... oh well... it seem like i would be unemployed for longer than what i thought. But i has some of side jobs to do...

 

[TruckTech]

Ugh, clutch jobs..

We get alot of late 90's Volvos here with Detroits in them. The ones that have the mounts on the ****** instead of the engine. That's got to be the most dreadful one for me.

I hear horror stories......


Luckily we dont see many Volvos and the ones we do see are usually trade ins, and I dont usually do trade in inspections.

 

[c130herc]

26 years old A&P, maintaining Bombardier Q400's(big p.o.s but gives job security) for a regional airline. Started in aviation at 19 in the USAF.

 

[volvo420coupe]

Everyone reading shouldn't consider themselves "other than professional" just because they haven't gone to school. the only thing going to school really did for me is give me student loan payments.

Having a college degree has done NOTHING to help me make more money or get me a job.

I did learn a lot, but no more than if I had been working the whole time. On the job training is where you learn to do your job. Go to college if you want a better job than being a mechanic. at least I'm 2 years closer to getting a degree worth something.

 

[autoace]

Day in day out, always learning as the auto industry changes. I'm 37, no spring chicken anymore

 

[Moose-LandTran]

i have to keep search and trying.. Since i laid off, i had applied almost 18 jobs around dealerships and citys... oh well... it seem like i would be unemployed for longer than what i thought. But i has some of side jobs to do...

If you can get some steady side jobs to do at home you'll make more money than you would at the dealership. I've been doing a few, if it was steady i'd spend all my free time counting cash. You can be cheaper than anywhere else and it's all profit..

 

[LGMechanical]

I have some friends with engineering degrees who can;t get a better job than tim horton's. Or some random retail store in the mall. It's brutal.

 

[Deafautotech]

If you can get some steady side jobs to do at home you'll make more money than you would at the dealership. I've been doing a few, if it was steady i'd spend all my free time counting cash. You can be cheaper than anywhere else and it's all profit..

that true!! i did worked on 1968 Firebird with 400 CID (6.6L V8 engine) as it have a really bad leak but it come out of Valve covers on engine. so i did replaced it and changed oil and filter today. i did not get paid as that firebird is friend of mine that i am still wait for power steering pump to arrive. then i need look at transmission as friend said he has someone installed a aftermarket pan and it still leaking. so i need look at pan either it has small crack or bad gasket??? but i had to drop firebird off at his garage as tomorrow is raining... i hate to see nice and sooo fun firebird in raining!

i has push mower that front drive shaft was broke half and same friend who own firebird want it fix but it have to replace shaft (it is 50 dollars for only shaft)...

then same friend have company car that need car inspection and oil change... it has 190K miles..

 

[TruckTech]

26 years old A&P, maintaining Bombardier Q400's(big p.o.s but gives job security) for a regional airline. Started in aviation at 19 in the USAF.

Tell me more about this plane thats a big p.o.s., I dont want to be in one.

Everyone reading shouldn't consider themselves "other than professional" just because they haven't gone to school. the only thing going to school really did for me is give me student loan payments.

Having a college degree has done NOTHING to help me make more money or get me a job.

I did learn a lot, but no more than if I had been working the whole time. On the job training is where you learn to do your job. Go to college if you want a better job than being a mechanic. at least I'm 2 years closer to getting a degree worth something.

A professional is anyone that makes their living as a mechanic. Schooling or not.

Personally, I feel school did wonders for me. I went to UTI for diesel, followed by IH specific training. The truth is yes, 80% of what I use day to day was learned on the job, but I would not be anywhere near what I am today in such a short period of time without the knowledge I had coming out of school. School is a good investment. Period.

But paying off loans does ****.

 

[ourkid2000]

Aircraft mechanic here.........licensed a couple years now. I'm actually an Avionics Technician (known as an AME-E here in Canada).

I'm also close to being an AME-M (which is the equivalent to the A&P license in the USA........well not quite but along those lines).

In Canada....AME's stands for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

Born into the family Repair & Salvage business which has been around almost 50 years now.

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

I have been in automotive for 1.5 years, and I have just started diesel/heavy equipment 3 months ago. I am now 20. I work for a coal hauling company with trucks running on rough haul roads 22 hours a day. It seems like wear and tear around that place is fast forwarded 10 times. And then I get to scrape through the foot of mud to fix the thing. The job is interesting and I learn fast. I am excited to help on one of the rebuilds coming up.

 

[LGMechanical]

A few years back when I worked at Western Star, this guy my age started working there straight outta the Freightliner M.A.P. course. When you spoke with him about engines, parameters, etc., it seemed as if this guy was a serious pro. But I remember he once asked me to show him how to check for play on a u-joint and I was kind of confused. For me hands on has always been the best way to learn. All those courses taught me was just new parts, features, and specs

 

[TruckTech]

I have been in automotive for 1.5 years, and I have just started diesel/heavy equipment 3 months ago. I am now 20. I work for a coal hauling company with trucks running on rough haul roads 22 hours a day. It seems like wear and tear around that place is fast forwarded 10 times. And then I get to scrape through the foot of mud to fix the thing. The job is interesting and I learn fast. I am excited to help on one of the rebuilds coming up.

Sounds like someone needs a Hotsy bay

What kind of trucks does your fleet use?

The rebuild an overhaul? Whats it on?

 

[tatra]

i fixa the choo choos.........16 cyls. of 4400 hp.........and play around on other stuff...........at the moment in plant maintenance so everything form crane motor changeouts to installing window shakers in the lunchroom and offices as needed.............turned 50 and been pulling a wrench for over 40 years.............

 

[Moltar]

I'm a Nissan Master Tech and ASE Master tech. Been with Nissan for three years and Caddy for 6 months prior to that. Started when I was 23 and I'm now 26.

 

[volvo420coupe]

Yeah, the entire semester I spent learning about pre obd2 diagnostics (different for all 3 major brands) has come in to play SOOOOO much for me, especially since I never worked on american cars until late last year.

I'm not bashing higher education, I'm going to go back to school as soon as I can.
I'm just upset at how essential some people have been lead to believe it is.

 

[rsanter]

former pro (if that counts)
mostly did vintage cars, engines and race engines, restorations, streetrods and such

still do it on the side a little

bob

 

[TruckTech]

A few years back when I worked at Western Star, this guy my age started working there straight outta the Freightliner M.A.P. course. When you spoke with him about engines, parameters, etc., it seemed as if this guy was a serious pro. But I remember he once asked me to show him how to check for play on a u-joint and I was kind of confused. For me hands on has always been the best way to learn. All those courses taught me was just new parts, features, and specs

Ill admit, thats me. I remeber 3 weeks in I did my first headgasket, and I actually asked an engine guy what the best way to clean the head surface and deck was Oh well, better to ask stupid questions then F$%& up!

Ill take diagnosing no starts and cruise inop complaints over wheels seals and brakes all day long!