Topic: How did you get a start in the Auto Mech trade? (Read 4060 times)

SpeedyJAY · « **on:** April 16, 2009, 02:19:26 PM »

Got laid off in February and since noone wants to design any schools anymore I cant seem to find architecture work anywhere, and probably wont for a few more months. So I thought that I would find a trade in the meantime. I would like a shop job, I know I wont get anything glamorous without experience, probably just replacing taillights, or flat rate crap.

So how did you mechanics get started? Get a job sweeping up and then worked your way up? go to school? Knew someone in the industry?
Just trying to get some ideas on where the best place to get started is

dvst8r · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:30:30 PM »

I didn't.

Too long for school, too much $$$ invested in tools, not enough $$$.

I was a welder for a few years though, Way less school, hardly any money in tools, and just as much $$$.

89shithatch · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:59:49 PM »

auto mech industry isnt doind very well right now. at least in the midwest i should say.

chris · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:03:23 PM »

Quote from: 89shithatch on April 16, 2009, 02:59:49 PM

auto mech industry isnt doind very well right now. at least in the midwest i should say.

+ the rest of the world

Spanish-rice · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:16:50 PM »

i never did and still dont plan to have a job wrenching but when i was in highschool i busted my ass on everything i did. i loved cars and graduated with a 4.0gpa. i had ALL of my ASE certs done when i was 17 and had a years worth of credits towards and automotive degree before i started my senior year in highschool. id taken every auto class offered and started TA'ing for my school in the shop. my part time job between junior and senior year was an engine electrical/ diagnosis tech for a genuine ford dealership. half way through my senior year i was ranked 5th in the nation among college for automotive aptitude.

right now im 20 going into my 3rd year for electrical engineering and i make 40+/year as a service advisor while doing it. i had no life in highschool at all but it seems to be worth it for the time being. well i still have no life cause i work any free time i have but still.

Spanish-rice · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:17:32 PM »

Quote from: 89shithatch on April 16, 2009, 02:59:49 PM

auto mech industry isnt doind very well right now. at least in the midwest i should say.

i know alot of the dealerships around here are going down but our sales for honda/chrysler are through the roof

d112crzy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:29:45 PM »

Independent shops seem to be doing well. I know I'm doing better than I have before.

brine04 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:07:30 PM »

If i did it as a job I think it would lose appeal as a hobby really quickly for me.

Spanish-rice · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:29:48 PM »

Quote from: brine04 on April 16, 2009, 04:07:30 PM

If i did it as a job I think it would lose appeal as a hobby really quickly for me.

thats exactly why i stay out of it

patsmx5 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2009, 05:01:07 PM »

Quote from: brine04 on April 16, 2009, 04:07:30 PM

If i did it as a job I think it would lose appeal as a hobby really quickly for me.

This.

darkelvis · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2009, 07:22:39 PM »

Quote from: brine04 on April 16, 2009, 04:07:30 PM

If i did it as a job I think it would lose appeal as a hobby really quickly for me.

you sir, are correct. Thanks to turnin wrench 50+ hrs/week the last thing I want to do is come home and work on cars some more, which is why my project is taking FOREVER!!!

As far as how I got into it..messed around with bikes as a kid, messed around with cars once I was old enough to drive, took some auto classes in high school, went to school for it, got a job as a tech while still in my first year of auto school. Now a few years later I'm an ASE Master Tech....I have close to $50K invested in tools (and i still buy $50-100 worth per week), I'm not making what I had hoped I would be by this point in my life and I'm thinking about going back to school...but I'm not sure what I'd go to school for.

As far as how you could get into making a few bucks in the industry for a while...go to sears, apply to be a Tech 1....you'll do batteries, oil changes, and tires all fucking day long and will be miserable quickly.

Conceptz-X · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2009, 07:36:48 PM »

Truth!

I used to love it, about lived in the garage, now I hate every fucking minute of it, well Gravy is just that, but its never usually all gravy. Made a killing last year, best year the shop I was working at ever had with only 2 techs, and they have had 4 at a time on before. Economy has made shit pretty unpredictable, Some days swamped, others We put up 1 car that needs a serp belt in the morning. Presently looking for some sort of side business, Right now I'm aquiring the stuff to recover platinum/palladium from converters. Going to see how that pans out, if it flops, The items I need less the chemicals I can use for other shit. Right now, I'm just trying to invest in stuff that can't fail completely.

magik123 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2009, 08:37:56 PM »

Went to school for it, its a great start when you have very little automotive background but guys that know the field pretty well do not seem to get much out of it. You will also realize that alot of the things you learn at a full auto tech school are pretty much obsolete, or will not be used unless you work in that specific field (auto trans, machine shop, etc.) Also realize that even after school if you have limited work experience in the field you will still prob start at the bottom ( I do alot of tires) but you usually walk out with at least an inspection license. I feel 50/50 about my choice but i still enjoy the field alot even if its doing tires i enjoy a hands on job.

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2009, 10:59:47 PM »

Spanish-rice, I'm calling bullshit on ASEs at 17. You need two years workplace experience (a two year AS degree counts as one year) and at 17 there's no fucking way.

Why the fuck do you want to brag about having certifications that have nothing to do with diagnosis or repair of automobiles, anyway? :1

turbogeek · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:59:58 PM »

worked on my own shit, went to tech school (community college - essentially free), worked at firestone while studying. etc. Then bounced around at a couple different indie shops
I've been doing this professionally for about 4 years now. Have never needed ASE certs cause it's a small town and word of mouth counts for a lot more.
As for economy, some shops are up, some are down. (why I left my last shop, business straight up died.)

Money can suck, it can be alright. but you have to invest a ton of money in tools, and HF chinky shit won't cut it.

Kind of killed my joy for working on my own projects tho.

spoonfedcrx · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2009, 12:26:30 AM »

Wasted however much money in school learning stuff that I will never use. Then had friends who worked at dealership and got started at the bottom slanging oil filters. Then when we were so busy with Odyssey recall transmissions they needed help from the hourly guys and I volunteered then made my move to flatrate.

But like said above when I was working I hate coming home and working on my car. If its fun as a hobby keep it a hobby, getting paid to do it ruins it.

I also agree with JD on 2 year exp with ASE. ASE's are stupid, dealer cert is where its at/

Kain · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:11:37 AM »

fuck all that mess, learn how to rebuild rotary engines. our lives depend on that shit.

caged · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2009, 03:31:45 AM »

I started by doing work x at a dealership while i was at school. Got an apprenticeship and have been in the trade for 7 years now and still enjoy it. We have had a good year work wise as everyone in the southern hemisphere cant afford new cars and are fixing there old shitters.

d112crzy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2009, 07:59:56 AM »

Quote from: Joseph Davis on April 16, 2009, 10:59:47 PM

Spanish-rice, I'm calling bullshit on ASEs at 17. You need two years workplace experience (a two year AS degree counts as one year) and at 17 there's no fucking way.

Why the fuck do you want to brag about having certifications that have nothing to do with diagnosis or repair of automobiles, anyway? :1

x2. One of my stupid ass friends always brags about how he's ASE certified in AC.(where's turbo D smiley). He works at a JY.

Spanish-rice · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:18:15 AM »

part of my schools certifications let us take our ase certs if we had finished all of our classes with good enough grades. i may not have had ALL of them done at 17 but i know i had A a good most of them going into senior year. i was working in a dealership the summer prior.

and that all probably came out wrong, im not trying to sound like im bragging or being cocky im just trying to say how i got to where i am in the automoticve industry.

d112crzy · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:20:53 AM »

Why are you apologizing? What kind of forum do you fucking this is?

Spanish-rice · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:27:11 AM »

o yea shit. fuck you fucking fucks i worked hard to get where i am and i dont need people calling me out.

onlyflash944 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:35:45 AM »

just buy egs and flip them like its your job

not a day goes buy in the state of va on craigslist that someone isn't selling a civic that needs a new alternator, timing belt, head gasket, or some dents fixed and they are dumping them cheap for 500 ish. buy 3 make 2 run good, sell for 2k a piece and have a parts car left over

highroller54 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 17, 2009, 10:03:46 AM »

I started as a apprentice the monday after grading (17) I'm 33 now and have been flat rate for 14 years. If I could do it all over again I would never be a tech but with that said I cant see myself doing anything else. I'm tired, I pray for death daily, I have 60,000 dollars in tools when every other jack ass just needs to show up to work to get payed, but when I'm on days off I'm still in the garage every day. As much as I hate this shit I fucking love this shit

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #24 on:** April 17, 2009, 11:49:55 AM »

I love dudes like Chad, they build some of the finest toys I have ever played with.

d112crzy · « **Reply #25 on:** April 17, 2009, 12:34:40 PM »

Quote from: Joseph Davis on April 17, 2009, 11:49:55 AM

I love dudes

SpeedyJAY · « **Reply #26 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:25:02 PM »

Sounds like being a mechanic is as much a bitch job as my regular career. I might do the car flip thing though. I have seen a few blown hg civics on craigslist.

89shithatch · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:55:26 PM »

i am graduating in four weeks with an assosiates degree in diesel equip tech. i have a pretty decent job at one of the higher end semi dealerships and i have to say i enjoy working on the bigger equip. payscale for diesel is also way higher than that of an auto tech. who knows what ill be doing in 10 years but right now im happy blowing all my money on tools, always being sore, and in a bad mood. oh welll. overtime is nice.

txdohczc · « **Reply #28 on:** April 17, 2009, 11:35:27 PM »

i started by changing oil at the local kia dealership then learned everything i could about those cars and watched the techs as much as possible. demanded a raise. got to do more and more work then i had to quit to move but once i moved i lied on my application and went to another kia dealership and told them i was a tech but never went to school. once they hired me i had to take all the tests and goto kia university and shit then demanded even more money. then i became miserable working on cars all day doing waranty work and quit. one thing i learned is fixing peoples cars really fucking sucks and drains you of all you motivation to work on your own

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Author Topic: How did you get a start in the Auto Mech trade? (Read 4060 times)

chris