Tomorrow.ill.be.a.pro
New member
Hey guys I just got my first mechanics job a couple months ago. Any pointers?
New to mechanics
- Thread starter Tomorrow.ill.be.a.pro
- Start date
Work hard and learn everything you can about everything.
OP
Tomorrow.ill.be.a.pro
New member
So far I've pulled 2 motors and only put one back in and it took me 2 days to drop back in. Boss kept taking me off to do oil changes and other stuff. What's your tricks to swapping motors.
OP
Tomorrow.ill.be.a.pro
New member
If you don't mind me asking
DangerousDan55
Well-known member
Congrats on your job career!
Allways! Treat your cusomers vehicle & repair it, as you would want your own vehicle be be repaired by another mechanic.
When I worked for Shell Oil Refinery, I saw millwright/mechanics do half-*** quality work on the job, but during work breaks, they would complain about the sorry *** auto dealer mechanics working on thier truck.
There is a bible verse that relates to this type of treatment.
Trouble shoot yourself. Take the customers information on thier problem.Do Not just take the customers word & make repairs they say is the problem.
Be Respectfull to the cusomer, but "Be Right".
Be honest.
Give it back to the customer cleaner than you got it.
(you got to sell your craftsmenship)
Remenber, "it's all in the packaging"
Allways! Treat your cusomers vehicle & repair it, as you would want your own vehicle be be repaired by another mechanic.
When I worked for Shell Oil Refinery, I saw millwright/mechanics do half-*** quality work on the job, but during work breaks, they would complain about the sorry *** auto dealer mechanics working on thier truck.
There is a bible verse that relates to this type of treatment.
Trouble shoot yourself. Take the customers information on thier problem.Do Not just take the customers word & make repairs they say is the problem.
Be Respectfull to the cusomer, but "Be Right".
Be honest.
Give it back to the customer cleaner than you got it.
(you got to sell your craftsmenship)
Remenber, "it's all in the packaging"
Fixnair
Well-known member
When you are breaking loose a nut or bolt, use the box end of the wrench. Much less chance of slipping off and busting your knuckles. Once you get it loose, switch to the open end.
When you jack a car up to work underneath, put it on stands of course but also take the tires you removed and slide them under the car. They are out of the way and should the car come off the stands while you are under there they may allow you enough room to breathe.
After setting the stands under the car, remove the jack and shake the car as hard as you can. Sometimes while working you have to pull or push pretty hard. You don't want the car falling on you.
Always take time to remove any greasy fingerprints or dirt from the car.
Always take time to be safe. I've been wrenching on in distal machinery for 50 years now and I still have all my fingers and toes. Although I've had nine hernias in my life. I'm still recovering from surgery two months ago where I had 5 done.
Learn your trade well and you will never want for a job.
When you jack a car up to work underneath, put it on stands of course but also take the tires you removed and slide them under the car. They are out of the way and should the car come off the stands while you are under there they may allow you enough room to breathe.
After setting the stands under the car, remove the jack and shake the car as hard as you can. Sometimes while working you have to pull or push pretty hard. You don't want the car falling on you.
Always take time to remove any greasy fingerprints or dirt from the car.
Always take time to be safe. I've been wrenching on in distal machinery for 50 years now and I still have all my fingers and toes. Although I've had nine hernias in my life. I'm still recovering from surgery two months ago where I had 5 done.
Learn your trade well and you will never want for a job.
71blackcheyenne
Well-known member
No real tricks, but this a few things i like to mention to people, no matter how long they have been wrenching.
#1 - Keep your fasteners organized, this applies to size, length & head, especially important now a days with aluminum components, thread something to deep and it will usually crack
#2 - Check, & double check that all lines and wiring is disconnected, nothin like doin a simple swap and ripping that expensive ****** cooler line that was bracketed to an oil pan bolt
#3 - Compare both motors side by side, see what needs to be swapped over to the new one, check for the pilot bearing if it is going in a manual trans vehicle, check the fywheel or flexplate to make sure they are identical or ****** interference could happen.
#4 - If a bolt feels seized, try to tighten it a little, then loosen again, it saves alot of broken bolt removal, especially on manifolds
#5 - If in doubt, ask the boss, that way its his fault if it blows up
GYPSY400
Well-known member
I've been a mechanic for 15 years.. And I've seen a lot of apprentices come and go. One thing I hate is the kid who says " yeah I know".. Umm, no you don't! This is why I'm trying to explain it to you!!
God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.. Don't be afraid to ask questions, but listen to the answer.. And don't take unnessary risks, be safe so you can come to work tomorrow.
God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.. Don't be afraid to ask questions, but listen to the answer.. And don't take unnessary risks, be safe so you can come to work tomorrow.
Bolt99
New member
Love what you do, and take care of your body. Most old auto techs I know have learned to work smart and hard.
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
This trade can/will trash your body. That said, use ear/eye protection. Get a good pair of steel toe work shoes or boots. Use equiptment to lift the heavy stuff. Eat well and exercise outside of work.
Gary S
Well-known member
My trick to swapping motors is to try to find someone else to do it for me.
sdguy55
Well-known member
For me I became real good friends with my chiro. When you start to feel like somethin may be out. Stop. Make an appt. Go to it. Then afterwards do lots of stretching excersises and core workouts. Your core is your powerhouse for everything.
pmiranda
Well-known member
General job advice:
1. Always be on time
2. Always do what you said you would do
3. Never lie
4. Never steal
5. Always clean up when you're done
6. A place for everything and everything in its place
7. Don't bring your baggage to work: If you're having personal problems, leave yourself a few minutes before you walk onto the job site to focus your mind on work. Work at work, and deal with your problems on your own time. Same goes for politics and religion.
8. Think about how the customer or your boss views things: Even if you don't agree, be able to understand their point of view and remember who pays the bills.
9. Think before you speak, especially when you're angry
I'm still working on some of these myself, but I've only been working for about 20 years!
1. Always be on time
2. Always do what you said you would do
3. Never lie
4. Never steal
5. Always clean up when you're done
6. A place for everything and everything in its place
7. Don't bring your baggage to work: If you're having personal problems, leave yourself a few minutes before you walk onto the job site to focus your mind on work. Work at work, and deal with your problems on your own time. Same goes for politics and religion.
8. Think about how the customer or your boss views things: Even if you don't agree, be able to understand their point of view and remember who pays the bills.
9. Think before you speak, especially when you're angry
I'm still working on some of these myself, but I've only been working for about 20 years!
kamesama980
Well-known member
True dat ^
+safety gear. eye protection (can't get them back), ear protection (won't know till it's too late), gloves (your handss are how you earn your keep), steel toes (because that just *****). I was only in the shop working on cars a total of maybe 3 years and I feel it. Now I run computers for engine testing (and occasionally wrench on said engines) and have as many noises, aches, and pains as sone of the guys I work with twice my age.
+Don't worry about trying to be the fastest. Do it right. Doesn't matter if you swapped the engine in one workday if it comes back the next. Or if the customer takes it to the shop down the street to fix it because he's so pissed at your shop for screwing it up he never even tells you about it.
+Don't use power tools on every single fastener. Might speed up work but I prefer knowing how tight things are. I know a few people I work with that could follow this and not break stuff as much.
+Torque wrench, good tools. They don't have to be truck-brand, you don't need to have $40k invested in your box (I knew some guys that bragged about it. He also bragged that he disabled the safeties on all the lifts in the shop because they MIGHT get stuck, leaving a car stranded on the lift). I do great work with 2k (tops) of tools in my harbor freight box.
Listen more than you talk. If someone tells you how to do something and you don't follow it to the letter, don't get pissed at them when it doesn't work. Follow the repair manual. Same goes for following it's directions.
+safety gear. eye protection (can't get them back), ear protection (won't know till it's too late), gloves (your handss are how you earn your keep), steel toes (because that just *****). I was only in the shop working on cars a total of maybe 3 years and I feel it. Now I run computers for engine testing (and occasionally wrench on said engines) and have as many noises, aches, and pains as sone of the guys I work with twice my age.
+Don't worry about trying to be the fastest. Do it right. Doesn't matter if you swapped the engine in one workday if it comes back the next. Or if the customer takes it to the shop down the street to fix it because he's so pissed at your shop for screwing it up he never even tells you about it.
+Don't use power tools on every single fastener. Might speed up work but I prefer knowing how tight things are. I know a few people I work with that could follow this and not break stuff as much.
+Torque wrench, good tools. They don't have to be truck-brand, you don't need to have $40k invested in your box (I knew some guys that bragged about it. He also bragged that he disabled the safeties on all the lifts in the shop because they MIGHT get stuck, leaving a car stranded on the lift). I do great work with 2k (tops) of tools in my harbor freight box.
Listen more than you talk. If someone tells you how to do something and you don't follow it to the letter, don't get pissed at them when it doesn't work. Follow the repair manual. Same goes for following it's directions.
justanengineer
Well-known member
Whenever you can find a theory of operation section in a manual, or a system-wide flow chart, take the time to read it carefully. New technology is coming out all of the time, so youd best know how it works and how it affects each system on the vehicle. Similarly, learn to view problems on a system level not on a component level. Simplified example - A vehicle might have dead batteries, but the root cause isnt necessarily the cheap, decade old batteries, it might have a dead alternator. Understanding the entire system, you can simply go a component or two on either side of the obvious issue to find the root cause.
Axehandle
Member
Never stop learning. Listen to what others tell you but don't take their word for it. Technology changes rapidly, try to stay ahead of the herd. Do what you love and never work a day in your life.
Make friends and try and get in good with someone that'll take you under their wing.
Do >10X more listening then talking.
Learn the theory and practice 7 step problem solving techniques. (don't become a slave to canned troubleshooting charts).
Be a team player and help others when they're in a bind.
Stay out of the shop politics. Be positive/motivated even if you're having a bad day.
Be safe.
wiartonwillie
Well-known member
Take care of your body. Every night I must wear 2 wrist braces because of using my hands as hammers.
Buy a good dead blow hammer and a long 3/8 ratchet. They make life a lot easier.
Buy a good dead blow hammer and a long 3/8 ratchet. They make life a lot easier.
James Aiello
Well-known member
For engine removal and replace use your cell phone to take pictures before you pull it. Helps with hose and wire placement.
Always put the nut and bolts back on what ever they came off of.
If you can't, bag it with a note where it goes. Trust me the next day you will forget where it goes.
Clean what you pull off, same with fasteners.
Trans and coolant are very slippery.. Clean it up as soon as you spill it.
Always put the nut and bolts back on what ever they came off of.
If you can't, bag it with a note where it goes. Trust me the next day you will forget where it goes.
Clean what you pull off, same with fasteners.
Trans and coolant are very slippery.. Clean it up as soon as you spill it.
clarence wetzel
Active member
i just hired on as maintenance in my shop i've been there 12 yrs now and i will tell you this is all great advice!! but one more thing to do is learn to be a good leader. the day will come when all hell breaks loose and you will be there to handle it when others cant. p.s. just have fun with your job.
JMcFly
Well-known member
Wait, you're now a mechanic and asking us how to do the usual things any mechanic/tech should be able to do.
Little lost here, should t know know this stuff??
Little lost here, should t know know this stuff??
jethro29
Well-known member
1= don't cheap out on tools.
2=study,study,study.
3=if you don't know,ask.
4=research and understand the system you are working on.
5=never use brakeclean to check for vacum leaks.
6=always torque to spec.
7=never drain the oil before you get the hood up and fill cap loose
8=use eye and ear protection
9=always verify the complaint,ride with customer if necessary/possible
10=take pride in your work
11=don't trust hood struts to actually hold the hood up
12=never reach thru the steering wheel to start a vehicle
13=always put atleast one window down when you bring the car inside
14=always set the lift down on the locks
15=always look for and make a note of any lights on in dash and any body damage prior to working on vehicle.
2=study,study,study.
3=if you don't know,ask.
4=research and understand the system you are working on.
5=never use brakeclean to check for vacum leaks.
6=always torque to spec.
7=never drain the oil before you get the hood up and fill cap loose
8=use eye and ear protection
9=always verify the complaint,ride with customer if necessary/possible
10=take pride in your work
11=don't trust hood struts to actually hold the hood up
12=never reach thru the steering wheel to start a vehicle
13=always put atleast one window down when you bring the car inside
14=always set the lift down on the locks
15=always look for and make a note of any lights on in dash and any body damage prior to working on vehicle.
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DarrenF
Well-known member
I'm a tech, been doing it for many years myself, and a lot of what i know came from listening and watching the older guys.
Also, my theory is that a good mechanic isn't somebody that knows everything, or knows how to fix everything, its somebody that knows how to find the information to fix the problem, understand it, and use it. A good tech is resourceful and knows when to ask for help too.
Also, my theory is that a good mechanic isn't somebody that knows everything, or knows how to fix everything, its somebody that knows how to find the information to fix the problem, understand it, and use it. A good tech is resourceful and knows when to ask for help too.
Use the right tool for the job. It will save time and headache. A little oil goes a long way on fine threads on steel bolt.
Everyone's covered everything else.
Good luck. Oh, and sometimes if something "isn't working" or "fitting correctly" walk away for 5 minutes and come back to it.
Everyone's covered everything else.
Good luck. Oh, and sometimes if something "isn't working" or "fitting correctly" walk away for 5 minutes and come back to it.
nobody knows anything until they've learned it from somewhere, either themselves or someone else..... you act like mechanics were born with a wrench in one hand and a screwdriver in the other....
OP... don't be like this guy, talking down to someone who doesn't know something, or wants to know other opinions and asks about it, is much better off than someone who thinks they know it all and really doesn't.
when in doubt, ask somebody who has some experience if you aren't positive about your own. the last thing you want to do is put something back into service that might fail, when all you had to do was get a second set of eyes for 10 seconds on it, and 5 more minutes of work to do something you didn't know about yet
kamesama980
Well-known member
Good one there. I'm still working on training my wife to do that one. Whether it's gardening, electronics, video games, or the 4 month old she tends to focus on the problem and bash her head against it till she's so angry she's in tears. If I catch her and break the cycle: go figure, she comes back calm and "oh that's how to do it"
OP
Tomorrow.ill.be.a.pro
New member
I never asked how to do the stuff I asked for pointers. Like take a picture of it. Before I remove something that I might not be able to replace right then.
Advice never a hurts. Best place to get advice is from people with experience. I'm pretty sure you've had to ask for help when you first started.
And to Everyone we that doesn't have there head up there *** I appreciate you advise
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F-Bobby
Well-known member
-Buy what tools you can afford. If you can get a better tool and not break your bank, then buy it. But don't put yourself into debt just so you can say you have all Snap on stuff.
-If your shop sees a lot of Hondas then buy a GOOD Impact driver and make sure you can get new Bits quickly.
-No matter how much you THINK you know. You Don't know everything. Neither does anyone else for that matter
-Keep your Tools organized in a way that makes sense to you. The faster you can get the tool you need, the faster you can get the job done.
-Save your Knees. Get knee pads, or a foam pad to kneel on when you're doing work.
-Work Smart not hard. If you can't break a bolt free, find a way to use more leverage rather then straining yourself. If you can't get a socket into a spot try a wrench
-Buy a set of Ratcheting Wrenches, but ONLY if they have a reversing switch on them.
-Buy tools that feel comfortable to use. Some people prefer metal handles, some prefer hard plastic, some prefer soft grip. Know the advantages and disadvantages to each kind.
Lastly. The most important lesson I have learned is that It is NOT the tools that make the Mechanic. It's the mechanic that knows how to make the tools work for them.
-If your shop sees a lot of Hondas then buy a GOOD Impact driver and make sure you can get new Bits quickly.
-No matter how much you THINK you know. You Don't know everything. Neither does anyone else for that matter
-Keep your Tools organized in a way that makes sense to you. The faster you can get the tool you need, the faster you can get the job done.
-Save your Knees. Get knee pads, or a foam pad to kneel on when you're doing work.
-Work Smart not hard. If you can't break a bolt free, find a way to use more leverage rather then straining yourself. If you can't get a socket into a spot try a wrench
-Buy a set of Ratcheting Wrenches, but ONLY if they have a reversing switch on them.
-Buy tools that feel comfortable to use. Some people prefer metal handles, some prefer hard plastic, some prefer soft grip. Know the advantages and disadvantages to each kind.
Lastly. The most important lesson I have learned is that It is NOT the tools that make the Mechanic. It's the mechanic that knows how to make the tools work for them.