jim_rush51
Well-known member
Mechanic swaps parts, technicians are paid for actual diagnosis. The terms are interchangeable according to who you talk to, but thats how i, and many people i know use them.
Mechanic vs Technician
- Thread starter Shipfittin
- Start date
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Different thing entirely.
richfinn
Well-known member
Depends what job you are applying for Moose, if you wanted to move off the tools and work in R&D (my mate did for Ford) or Forensics or for an insurance company or as a teacher the letters after your name might get your foot in the door.
I,ve done some interesting things in my career, and I always take any qualification I can. You never know where you might end up one day.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Horse ****.
ZRX61
Well-known member
ZRX61
Well-known member
ZRX61
Well-known member
Once had a body shop owner ask me if I was ICAR certified, I told him I couldn't paint that badly...
anthony666
Well-known member
i got an class A, interprovincial mechanic's license in 1991 up here in canada .. then they switched the way they categorize trades and issued me an automotive technician license and a truck & coach technician license
so by that logic a mechanic is worth two technicians
so by that logic a mechanic is worth two technicians
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Here's another spin, think of a mechanic as the person who fixed cars before they became computer controlled. A technician repairs modern computer controlled vehicles. A technician today may repair more cars with their laptop computer reprogramming various modules than they do with actual tools. A technician also has to interpret various parameters on a scan tool screen. Something that the mechanics of yesterday didn't have to. 
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
where do they work like that ?
Here's another spin, think of a mechanic as the person who fixed cars before they became computer controlled. A technician repairs modern computer controlled vehicles. A technician today may repair more cars with their laptop computer reprogramming various modules than they do with actual tools. A technician also has to interpret various parameters on a scan tool screen. Something that the mechanics of yesterday didn't have to.
Couldn't say it better myself.for example wheel alignments in the past you just align and get it out.well today and tomorrows alignments you have to recalibrate the steering angle sensor.cars are being more sophisticated and weeding out all the backyard bobs.todays tech are highly skilled and computer literate.
As times change so do the meaning of words. A Pmec says it very well in his post. As to those who say a mechanic just changes parts and a tech is something more or visa/versa its all how you look at it. When was the last time you did or watched a modern tech remove the head, grind the valves and seats and reinstall? The old mechanic did but not many today do. How many modern repair shops have a lathe or mill to fit parts to the rig? Thats how the old mechanic did. As technology changes so does the repairman who keeps it going. The day of the old master is gone. His skills have been divided up amonsk the many specialists who rebuild the parts that the modern tech uses. This is not unique to to auto repair but perty much standard throughout industry and where ever the old masters did everything. Whatever title you have for your job you know who you are.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
mtkst19
Well-known member
way i see it, calling guys techs is trying to NOT call them mechanics. It was the dealers way of trying to say "hey, our guys are better--they are techs! the indy down the road, they are mechaincs who do not have factory training etc"
with that said, the general public perception is tech-knowledge/savy. mechnainc-- greasy fingers and says **** every other word. Trust me, i got this 1st day on the job when i was working in a high end indy shop. We are not "mechaincs", we are techs. it is all about perceptions.
to be honest though, it is a shame. As when i think of mechanics--i think back to pre ww2 era when there was pride in your trade. guys were proud to be mechanics. didn't matter if they worked on machines or trains cars etc. Yet in a way, i see how the trade and the term mechanic got drug down to low levels.
in modern times, I see shops who operate and have no clue wtf they are doing. yet they still are in business. those guys are deemed as mechanics by the public. to a knowledgeable wrench--they are hacks who need to get the **** out of the field. yet the general public don't know the difference between a hack and a mechanic/tech until after the car is paid for and the results are in.
from what i see--there are more hacks and parts changers out there than there are knowledgeable wrenches who take a methodical approach and fixing things. that's what is scary! put drive ability or wiring problems in front of most guys and they want to bail.
and just like larryg touched upon--most people wont rebuild parts anymore it is replace. even service manuals wont break down components to rebuild/repair. they want you to r&r whole assemblies. trying to take skill out of the job and make it to where you become a parts changer. dumb it down if you will
thats my 2 pennies worth
with that said, the general public perception is tech-knowledge/savy. mechnainc-- greasy fingers and says **** every other word. Trust me, i got this 1st day on the job when i was working in a high end indy shop. We are not "mechaincs", we are techs. it is all about perceptions.
to be honest though, it is a shame. As when i think of mechanics--i think back to pre ww2 era when there was pride in your trade. guys were proud to be mechanics. didn't matter if they worked on machines or trains cars etc. Yet in a way, i see how the trade and the term mechanic got drug down to low levels.
in modern times, I see shops who operate and have no clue wtf they are doing. yet they still are in business. those guys are deemed as mechanics by the public. to a knowledgeable wrench--they are hacks who need to get the **** out of the field. yet the general public don't know the difference between a hack and a mechanic/tech until after the car is paid for and the results are in.
from what i see--there are more hacks and parts changers out there than there are knowledgeable wrenches who take a methodical approach and fixing things. that's what is scary! put drive ability or wiring problems in front of most guys and they want to bail.
and just like larryg touched upon--most people wont rebuild parts anymore it is replace. even service manuals wont break down components to rebuild/repair. they want you to r&r whole assemblies. trying to take skill out of the job and make it to where you become a parts changer. dumb it down if you will
thats my 2 pennies worth
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sberry
Banned
Lets look in the dictionary and see what it says about mechanic.
Thats how i've always felt as well. Technician is the cleaned up version of mechanic for the 21st century.
What people think of when they hear mechanic [someone getting their hands dirty]
vs Auto Technician
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Already did, way back on page one, but I don't think anybody really read my post other than ZRX.
csargents1546
Well-known member
Here's another spin, think of a mechanic as the person who fixed cars before they became computer controlled. A technician repairs modern computer controlled vehicles. A technician today may repair more cars with their laptop computer reprogramming various modules than they do with actual tools. A technician also has to interpret various parameters on a scan tool screen. Something that the mechanics of yesterday didn't have to.
This is how I see it.
ibedayank
Well-known member
mechanic can fix or repair by reading the plugs wear patterns SOUND
technician needs a computer to tell them what is wrong...
be surprized on the amount of shops down here that won't work on anything pre OBD2
excuse they don't have the tools....
technician needs a computer to tell them what is wrong...
be surprized on the amount of shops down here that won't work on anything pre OBD2
excuse they don't have the tools....
7echo
Well-known member
In this area a lot of shops have 'mechanics'. Tile setter, welder, sheetmetal guy,electrician, etc are referred to as mechanics. When we contract an electrical job we pay for an electrician. He is often called the mechanic, to distinguish him from his 'helper'.
Pmech's comment, with the definitions, seems right to me.
Many years ago a local shop catered to euro cars, BMW and Mercedes primarily. The owner hired 'technicians' to work there, mostly from Germany. They even had diploma's from the factory with the title of 'master technician.' Some of them were good mechanics, but not all of them...
Pmech's comment, with the definitions, seems right to me.
Many years ago a local shop catered to euro cars, BMW and Mercedes primarily. The owner hired 'technicians' to work there, mostly from Germany. They even had diploma's from the factory with the title of 'master technician.' Some of them were good mechanics, but not all of them...
bgott
Well-known member
I don't blame them. Pre- OBD II cars are nothing but a PITA anymore. For most of them it's getting really hard to get parts. Then you figure in that you are going behind other people's repairs, sometimes four and five times over. The plastics and the wiring harnesses are falling apart and the shop owner usually doesn't have the balls to charge the extra money needed for the added PITA. You always hear " they don't have the money" when it comes time for the car owner to pony up to get it fixed right. New scanners don't even come with OBD I connectors anymore. When I get around to upgrading to a Solus Ultra I'm not going to pay the extra $350 for connectors to work on junk I don't even want to see again.
treasureseeker
Well-known member
I believe the term Technician became popular with the rise in labor cost, similar to Datsun changing to Nissan.
Vinko
Well-known member
richfinn
Well-known member
+1 on the Horse ****
I hold both titles and value the "Mechanic" one most. It took me 5 years to become a Motor Mechanic, 1 day to become a Master Technician. Guess what? I could use a scan tool and a meter and read wiring diagrams before I sat the exam. It is the same thing except I can weld/use a lathe/solder properly and when the tech info or computer doesn,t come up with the goods
I use my experience as a mechanic to fix the problem.
What did Smokey Yunnick refer to himself as?
diesel research
Well-known member
I find the term "technician" mildly insulting.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
not mechanic or technicians ..the world is divided into whipping boys and gravy boys
usually the gravy boy is a childhood friend or brother in law to management .life is easy
usually the gravy boy is a childhood friend or brother in law to management .life is easy
If it were me, I'd be wanting to be called a mechanic if I cared...it is clear what job you do. Tech / technician is used in so many fields and for some jobs that require little or no training, that I don't think it is an impressive title. Now, when I picture a mechanic and a technician in my mind, the mechanic is older and dirtier than the tech, but I'd rather have him fixing my car...
diesel research
Well-known member
Also insulted by the notion of not knowing how to diagnose or "use a computer"
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
I use either term, depending the people involved in the discussion.
Personaly, I'm old fashoned and prefer "mechanic". Growing up, I was under the impression a mechanic was someone highly skilled that could figure stuff out on all sorts of mechanical items so it didn't makes sense when I heard someone being called a "sheet metal mechanic" or something like that. What do you fix on sheet metal? You bend it and make into ductwork and **** like that. "Fabricator" made more sense for that.
I think my kids have been raised more like me and they allways refer to me as mechanic whenever the subject comes up.
These days, I understand a lot of the non-mechaincal masses seem to think "technician" is somehow better - more educated, more technicaly advanced, or something....I know any schmoe working any blue-collar job can get labeled either term by thier mangement, so it's all up for interpretation....whatever the person in question calls themselves, they have to show me something first and I'll make my own judgement on how good they are...
Personaly, I'm old fashoned and prefer "mechanic". Growing up, I was under the impression a mechanic was someone highly skilled that could figure stuff out on all sorts of mechanical items so it didn't makes sense when I heard someone being called a "sheet metal mechanic" or something like that. What do you fix on sheet metal? You bend it and make into ductwork and **** like that. "Fabricator" made more sense for that.
I think my kids have been raised more like me and they allways refer to me as mechanic whenever the subject comes up.
These days, I understand a lot of the non-mechaincal masses seem to think "technician" is somehow better - more educated, more technicaly advanced, or something....I know any schmoe working any blue-collar job can get labeled either term by thier mangement, so it's all up for interpretation....whatever the person in question calls themselves, they have to show me something first and I'll make my own judgement on how good they are...
Already did, way back on page one, but I don't think anybody really read my post other than ZRX.
I read it and thought it was a very interesting read.
Lotek
Well-known member
Here's another spin, think of a mechanic as the person who fixed cars before they became computer controlled. A technician repairs modern computer controlled vehicles. A technician today may repair more cars with their laptop computer reprogramming various modules than they do with actual tools. A technician also has to interpret various parameters on a scan tool screen. Something that the mechanics of yesterday didn't have to.
Back in the day we had to read a scope, use a dwellmeter, voltmeter, vacuum gauge, etc. We had to set the dwell and timing, and adjust the carburetor. Maybe recurve the distributor, rejet the carburetor. But you also had people who threw parts at cars back then. Now I have a laptop, MDI interface, labscope, etc. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I don't care what you call me, just show a little respect for someone who does a difficult job well.
ZRX61
Well-known member
When what they really mean is that without their little computer hook up, the "technicians" couldn't diagnose their way out of a wet paper bag...
ZRX61
Well-known member
Use em all the time to set points gaps
poprockcrusher
Banned
a scope ...the thing that collected dust in the corner ? we replaced with a 25,000 dollar CAMS machine ..to collect more dust
we bought an allen test machine ...lol it turned into a soda can holder
we bought an allen test machine ...lol it turned into a soda can holder
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I am a "technician" just not in an automotive background. To me they are the same thing. Some "technicians" that Ive seen are parts changers too, so I dont feel it indicates more or less skill. Just another word. Though I do call myself a mechanic, because when I was a young boy I didnt want to be a technician I wanted to be a mechanic.
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Alchymist
Well-known member
So, what do you call someone who is or was:
1) a certified auto mechanic,
2) qualified aircraft jet engine mechanic,
3) not only computer literate, but designs them
4) industrial electrician
5) rough and finish carpenter
6) working with 18 Ghz stuff and knows phase matching
7) can still build with and understand vacuum tubes
8) understands what modern computer power does for radar
9) worked the plumbing and hvac and welding trades
10) author
11) too much more to list....
Jack of all trades? Or, master of none? Some?