Joelfke
Well-known member
22yr old interning mechanic for chevy....still in school for another year though..
How many proffessional mechanics do we have here?
- Thread starter LGMechanical
- Start date
OP
LGMechanical
Well-known member
caper
Well-known member
Interprovincial auto service tech,Interprovincial truck and transport tech,former Ford senior tech,diesel specialty,former International certified tech.Currently awaiting testing for Mobile Hydraulic mechanic certification.38yrs old,working as a mechanic since 17,went to school for about 6 mths 20 yrs ago otherwise just reading all the time and challenging exams to pass the certs.Now a fleet mechanic for our provincial electrical utility,basically a glorified oil changer,but it's about the highest paying mechanic job in the province so I tolerate the boredom.
Fleet monkey = highest paying mechanic job ?????????
I didnt think Id ever say this, but HOT DAMN IM MOVING TO CANADA!
Nortonscustom
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2008
- Messages
- 375
Well started out (first job) working at a small engine shop, then spun wrenches at an auto repair garage for about five years. Spent the next 15 years repairing plastic extruders and injection/blow molders. Ran my own machine/fab shop for a while. Now I work on automated sorting systems. These days 90% of my time is spent with a DMM but once in a while I still get to dust off my ratchets.
Norton
Norton
caper
Well-known member
We service aerial devices where men go 50-60 feet in the air.Our company will only hire the highest qualified techs for safety reasons.They pay us over 30 bucks an hour to basically do pm service on them.The average mechanic pay around here is 15-22 bucks.We rarely have job openings unless someone retires or dies.Took me 5 yrs to get an opening to get in.If I didn't have all my certs they wouldn't even look at me.
jwitt
Well-known member
8 years as a Navy Torpedoman, 12 years as a motercycle mechanic, 15 years as an equipment mechanic, now I work on comercial water meters. Been bending wrenches on something since I got out of high school.
Jim
Jim
I worked as an apprentice in 2003 at a volkswagen dealer. spent a year there. then joined the army. after coming home from iraq in april 2008, i started working again as a mechanic/fabricator at a performance shop. loved the work, plenty busy but money wasn't great. Started recently at a BMW dealership. we are extremely busy, money is good, and i plan on staying here a while. So, im happy where i've gone throughout the years. only 23 btw.
WVU Tuba Dale
Well-known member
Sounds like someone needs a Hotsy bay
What kind of trucks does your fleet use?
The rebuild an overhaul? Whats it on?
We use mainly Peterbilt quad axle dump trucks (8 of them), but we just bought 4 2010 model KW T800 tri-axles that have suspension built to the hilt. I am really a fan of the Kenworths, even the older tractor we have seems to have stood the test of time. We also have 2 Intenational tractors with rear end troubles, and a few Mack tri-axles.
The rebuild is on a 2007 Peterbilt. I'm not sure what you mean by overhaul, but its getting tore down to the block with new bearings, sleeves, rings, etc.
jsaw
Well-known member
Started working on machinery on a farm, then 2 years of college for automotive. 14 years at a Chevy dealer, Left the dealer to work for a commercial ambulance fleet repair shop/ independent repair shop. been there 2 1/2 years.
Diesel-Mech
Well-known member
Generally what you are calling a rebuild is called an overhaul in the diesel community, that's still a fairly new truck to be having an overhaul already is it CAT or Cummins powered and how miles does it have on it just out of curiosity?
Canadian Charlie
Banned
I'm 44 and just a wanna-be pro-tech. But I do admire you tech's and wish I was one
WVU Tuba Dale
Well-known member
Cummins, and I can't think of the mileage off the top of my head, but I am thinking it is in the 300,000's range. It's one of the fly ash trucks, and from what I have seen so far, that stuff wreaks havoc on anything that moves or has wires.
If your running quad axle dump trucks, yah, an Intl aint gonna hold up. I did actually PDI a couple 8x8 9400s that were built by Marmon Herrington, and those things were badass as hell.
Yah, thats what I meant by overhaul. Hmm, peterbilt huh? Guessing Cat C15?
EDIT: Took too long to reply, saw its Cummins. And Im also curious as to the reason for it. We deal almost exclusivley with ISXs in our heavy duty and I have yet to see one overhaul. Only seen one headgasket, and a truck is getting a shortblock as we speak for a crack in the block.
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Diesel-Mech
Well-known member
Hmm that's pretty early for an ISX you guys must really be beating on them (good job security there). Have fun with that twin cam pile of red metal lol.
OP
LGMechanical
Well-known member
Trucks average 200,000km a year. So that's pretty early. Most guys go 1.5+ million km without touching it. I also wonder if its a Cat or an ISX
WVU Tuba Dale
Well-known member
It is an ISX, it is blowing excessive blue smoke and puking oil out of all the gaskets. If you knew the driver, you wouldn't question why we call him "tear-*** Tim."
EDIT: 300,000 is in miles, just to clarify.
EDIT: 300,000 is in miles, just to clarify.
OP
LGMechanical
Well-known member
It is an ISX, it is blowing excessive blue smoke and puking oil out of all the gaskets. If you knew the driver, you wouldn't question why we call him "tear-*** Tim."
EDIT: 300,000 is in miles, just to clarify.
Back when I worked at Western Star/Hino a guy bought a new Hino FB with a standard transmission. He admitted that he had never driven standard before. He burnt out the clutch 10 hours later
EDIT: 300,000 is in miles, just to clarify.
Ouch! Just out of warranty.
-B-
Well-known member
20+ year bicycle mechanic
I hold an international license so I can work the pro races in Europe . ( works for domestic too)
I work in shops as jobs are available ..... not now
I hold an international license so I can work the pro races in Europe . ( works for domestic too)
I work in shops as jobs are available ..... not now
Dust
Well-known member
I'm twenty-four, almost twenty-five, and have been an apprentice mechanic at a Dodge dealership for the last year. My one year date with the company is July 1st.
Before that I wrenched as a hobby for five years, and took courses at a junior college. Earned two certificates specializing in Tune-Up and Engine Repair, and machined and assembled three engines, two of which are Mopar stroker small blocks. My professor thought I'd be an excellent machinist, and that's still my main goal. Hope to have a speed shop by thirty-five.
I do HVAC, brakes, electrical, lube, and heavy line work at my shop. Need to start bugging my senior mechanic for some driveability, trans, and suspension work so I get more experience under my belt.
Before that I wrenched as a hobby for five years, and took courses at a junior college. Earned two certificates specializing in Tune-Up and Engine Repair, and machined and assembled three engines, two of which are Mopar stroker small blocks. My professor thought I'd be an excellent machinist, and that's still my main goal. Hope to have a speed shop by thirty-five.
I do HVAC, brakes, electrical, lube, and heavy line work at my shop. Need to start bugging my senior mechanic for some driveability, trans, and suspension work so I get more experience under my belt.
volvo420coupe
Well-known member
I would still be a bicycle mechanic if it didn't pay half of what being a car mechanic does. Bicycles are much more enjoyable to work on, and bike shops offer a far better environment to spend 50 hours a week in.
Mostly bike shops provide the tools so there is no opportunity to stand out with your superior tool collection.
-B- I am very jealous, you have obviously been repairing bicycles well enough for long enough to make a decent living at it, and I'm sure you have a set of bicycle tools to rival most shops.
Bicycle tools are awesome, I wish all the members here could fully understand the slightly different world of bike shops, as well as they do car shops.
Mostly bike shops provide the tools so there is no opportunity to stand out with your superior tool collection.
-B- I am very jealous, you have obviously been repairing bicycles well enough for long enough to make a decent living at it, and I'm sure you have a set of bicycle tools to rival most shops.
Bicycle tools are awesome, I wish all the members here could fully understand the slightly different world of bike shops, as well as they do car shops.
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
27(as of yesterday), A&P for 7.5 years.
caper
Well-known member
The fly ash part of this is the key for all you guys wondering why an ISX with low mileage is in need of an overhaul.Flyash is like working in sand that sticks to everything and pretty much can only be removed with a sandblaster.We routinely have trucks working in our plants around flyash that just disintigrate.We usually try to give the plants the 4-5 year old 1/2 tons because after 6 mths to a year everything is completely covered in ash and the trucks are shot.Very common for the frames on 1/2 tons to break in flyash,it's like it eats away at the steel in no time.If your not keeping up with your air filters engines don't last.
sberry
Banned
I can usually tell if a guy has had some trade school.
sberry
Banned
Well backed up by this statement.
sberry
Banned
I had a guy apply with me the other day as a mechanic, basic qualifications were that he has a good 305 block minus all the rotating parts and that his dad was a mechanic for 28 years.
Deafautotech
Well-known member
what kind of apprentice mechanic do? are you attend a Chrysler Automotive Program?? Do you are enjoy working at dodge Dealership?
I was worked at Chrysler Jeep dealership as 4 years but i was started bottom line as lube tech but after one year, i am become to be act as "master tech" as i do all engine repairs, transmission problems, diagnostic a check engine lights, and etc... i am so love this job but my work closed as running out of money. i would go back to chrysler again but i am not sure because most of chrysler dealership that i tried applied at, they dont contact me..
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
I feel bad for you, I wouldn't worry too much about the Chrysler dealers you have contacted and applied for a job at not getting back with you. I imagine that they are as unsure about their long term viability as a Fiat/Chrysler dealership.
You could be in the boat that I am in, 33 years of a very specialized 'skill' that has absolutely NO relevance outside the oilfield, and thanks to the way the 'new' Halliburton did things, they gave no opportunity to learn another 'product line'.
I could probably get a job tomorrow in coiled tubing, or special tools (and I have 12 years experience running special tools), but it means nothing because I never did it since they broke everything down to 'specialized skill levels'.
I was trained as a mechanic, and worked at it for 2 years in the early 1970's, and again as a JD ag 'technician' for 3 years in the early 90's, but all that means jack **** when I have NO knowlege of electronics, or modern components, that and the fact that NOBODY is hiring anyhow.
You could be in the boat that I am in, 33 years of a very specialized 'skill' that has absolutely NO relevance outside the oilfield, and thanks to the way the 'new' Halliburton did things, they gave no opportunity to learn another 'product line'.
I could probably get a job tomorrow in coiled tubing, or special tools (and I have 12 years experience running special tools), but it means nothing because I never did it since they broke everything down to 'specialized skill levels'.
I was trained as a mechanic, and worked at it for 2 years in the early 1970's, and again as a JD ag 'technician' for 3 years in the early 90's, but all that means jack **** when I have NO knowlege of electronics, or modern components, that and the fact that NOBODY is hiring anyhow.
bberger
Well-known member
I worked at mainly Gm dealerships for almost 20 years then opened a private repair shop for 7.Now I have been teaching automotive at a local college and vocational school for 10 years.I also traveled a while with a Nitro funnycar team. I always say we won't be rich but we never will go hungry.
nightrain00
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2008
- Messages
- 134
I'll be 34 sooner than I want to been Chassis maintainer for New York City Transit for almost 11 years. Was at a Ford dealer and independents before that. They call us Maintainers so they don't have to pay the prevailing wage for a Mechanic. Currently changing the cylinder head on a Detiot Diesel series 50 CNG.
There you go again. Do actually think someone would believe that line?
Elroy understands he was born at night. It wasn't last night.
You got a A&P certificate at 24, good for you
Apprentice at 11. Bull ****
Mr.Nutcase
Well-known member
Thank god, that I did not work in Chrysler dealership.,I was going to get in the Cap program.The sponser dealership, closed.....
Instead am going work for Toyota, (T-ten), I just will have apply....
Instead am going work for Toyota, (T-ten), I just will have apply....
Deafautotech
Well-known member
Yeah. that why i am trying to go different way like Ford or GM or maybe toyota... i was plan to try at independent shops but what i see, they offer a lower pays... i cant work below what i made at old job. like one shop text meand offered me 12.50 dollars hourly but it is 30 miles south from my home and that shop dont seem busy at all... it is small... my father an i discuss and my father said i cant work for 12.50 dollars a hourly and drive almost 60 miles a day as round trip... my father said just keep looking for a job as either near my parent's home or my brother's home...
i can work all model but i have more knowledge on GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, and honda... i won't work on BMW, or high dollars vehicles as i dont have touch before...
Deafautotech
Well-known member
i was not plan work for chrysler until my good friend who was service manager for chrysler asked me to come to work for chrysler. so i did and i love it! my family are strong with chrysler as my dad had two Grand Caravans as family vehicle and went out for lot of vacation as one grand Caravan got 150,000 miles before sold it because my father said time to change vehicle because my parents want get small SUV which is 2003 jeep Liberty... my mom love Liberty. i do but it is lot of easy repairs on liberty...
Anyway i know a lot of easy way to do repairs on chrysler and do a lot of diagnostic on chrysler. i just pick up fast and know a lot of chrysler... it is easy to work on one make like chrysler dealership.. but right now i am unemployed and i might have to change my career as maybe work for big truck?? or other dealership??
I tried go for city garage as they have two shifts as work full time 5 days a week.. i applied twice and they never contact me.... i did stopped by there and they said manager is out for a day... the problems is when i was worked at chrysler dealership, i got a lot of city vehicles come to my work and i do all repairs myself where city garage cant or they dont know what to do. i know and i did fixed it. no problems after that... but City garage dont want hire me????
so their loss!!