Any advice to a young guy becoming a mechanic?

I agree Pitts, my life is filled with riches. I wouldn't change a thing. I've wrenched half as long as some, twice as long as others, and I still love the challenge of new and old autos.

 

Marry well....

 

I hate to say it but here goes.

I grew up on a farm and learned to weld. Left the farm and went to work as a mechanic. Mechanicing for a shop was poor pay. I switched to welding, going into the ironwork field. A few years of standing at 20 stories and dragging leads all over up there, even i winter convinced me to do something else.

Drove a truck for awhile, 6 years, loved it and hated it.

I decided to go to college. Started in architecture, switched to engineering. Welded my way through school. Started my own shop during my junior year.

Closed my shop after I graduated and went to work as an engineer making a decent salary. (wish I had not closed it)

Changed jobs twice and now run a company in Louisiana and make a nice living.

I also build hot rods, have the ability to design some cool shit for my projects and for sale. Still know how to mechanic and still work on others vehicles from time to time for free just to help them out.

If you are mechanically minded, want a good living, want to enjoy mechanics, design, etc. Think about going to college and working as a mechanic at the same time. Get a good degree and let the money you make from that allow you to enjoy your passion.

Remember, college at a University isn't high school. You have a lot of free time on your hands to do something else. Work hard in all that you do, never go unemployed. Did I say work hard? and someday you will be able to do the things you love and make a nice living also.

 

being a mechanic and a tech are to entirely different things

im happy being a mechanic

you couldnt pay me to be a tech

 

i dont know if its been said yet, but dont ever give up, there will be days that make you wanna quit and there will be days that you will be glad you did it. being in the trade has it ups and downs. but its somthing that you will be happy in the end that you did. having a trade that has you work with your hands is a good feeling

edit: i had being a mechanic in my head, not a tech. you cant even call a tech a mechanic with out them geting pissed. depending on what you end up doing for school if you can get some other learning in for tractors and construction equipment it pays better but can beat you up but its good to have options

 

Agreed same here 30k in tools my certs are almost expired and at 28 I'm wishing I had just went to college instead of doing an apprentice program, not to mention wear on your joints and losing the drive to work on your own cars.

 

try looking in to hvac, thats what the mechanic at the desiel shop i was working at told me he said if he had some one tell him that when he was my age he wouldnt have got in to the desiel trade,

 

i am ase certified and have been a auto tech for 25 years .i am now a service and parts director for a multiline dealership.i have been a computer/drivability tech most of my career as well as a machinist.but i learned everything i could about every aspect of repairing vehicles,i got to see us go from points and condensors ign to hei and now coil on plug ecm controlled ign systems.carbs to throttle body injection to mpi to direct injection,most kids i get in here cant even run a timing light or set up a carburetor even after 30k plus spent for school.its kinda sad really..you cannot buy experience and you WILL pay your dues ( read low pay at first and crappy jobs).most are paid flat rate ,which means you get paid for what you do NOT what you know, if you are skilled at diagnostics and quick with the wrench you can beat the time guide.if not you will be hungry.i love fixing cars and everything about the service field.there is a huge difference on doing what you see here and working on cars in the real world,such as time lines and such.man i wish i was a mechanic in the 30s or 40s that would be so easy.consider this to diagnos an abs system today requires in depth computer knowledge as well as mechanical skill ,there are at least 50 codes the abs system can store to let you know were to start ,then the laptop comes out as well as the dvom and breakout box.dont know what that is?well its more than just scanning a code in the system and throwing on a part.if your wrong then you get to fix it right for free.if your serious about it you can make upwards of 80k a year i can prove it ,if you suck and dont get the training you need try on 20k.

 

Don't make someone's car run if it won't stop.
If it won't run, no one's going to get killed in it.
If it runs, but won't stop...

Check and repair the brakes first, then sell them a tuneup!

 

I am not spending a ton of money on school. Luckily the local community college has a great program with very experienced teachers with a good reputation in the field. I have a college fund that will pay for all of my classes, and have a few grand left over for tools. My question is after I get my foot in the door at a dealership, How do I get into specialization's? I'm very interested in engines and transmissions. I have done lots of engine work but not a whole lot of trans stuff. Do I discuss this with the dealer? Overall I know I am capable of being a mechanic with the training from school and getting experience in the field. I also have a very successful mentor to give me advice. He has owned a shop since his mid-late twenties and been very successful at it.

 

You'll probably get paid more than I will, unless I get my Ph.d and teach at the college level. But I mean, it takes all of us to run this crazy place. Best of luck to you man!

 

Exactly. Everything is going to be electrically controlled. If you don't understand how it all works, you will be lost.

 

I will definately look into this because they have a auto electrical specialization program.

To those trying to deter me, i completely understand where you are coming from. I have thought about it thoroughly and have talked about it with people who are in the field. If I thought, I couldn't be successful at being a technician I would do something else. I live in an area where someone who has all there ASE's should have no trouble finding a job. There are so many dealerships and successful shops around me. I just need to get my foot in the door, receive my training, and work my way up in the shop. If my body cant take it when I'm 50, I'll be a service writer, or have my own shop. There are so many opportunities in the field now because there is not a lot of young guys getting into the field. The average age of a tech is 48 years old in the US. Thanks for you're input everyone. And if you have anything to add please do, all input is appreciated.

 

If you want to eventually have your own shop and or run a shop, do not pigeon hole yourself in a "specialized part of the field". Learn as much as you can in a variety of settings. Specializing will get you paid more faster, but once your topped out in say electronics, and thats all you know how can you possible move on to run a full service shop without full knowledge.

 

Oh, and by the way, you have to have 2 years of school and 2 years of experiance, or 4 years of experiance for A.S.E. certs to be ligitament.

 

Go to school and learn as much as you can and open your own shop. Why make money for somebody else?

 

I like this but I will have to save some money up first. I just turned 18. i wont waste anytime though. As soon as I am ready I will start to get my own operation going.

 

"You must have at least 2 years' experience in the automotive service field. An applicant may substitute 2 years' specialized schooling for a year of work experience.' ....... This is what i found and what I was told by my school but either way i will get them.

 

if you are a mechanic , and a good one , they don't want you in management , you will be stuck forever

 

Another word of advice, dont take all the A.S.E test at the same time that way you dont have to recert all at the same time. If its 2 years not 4 thats great, I just remimber mine not being legit right after school, then again that was 17 years ago. Good Luck.

 

I'd say don't.

But if you do, be prepared to be in a rat race of constantly learning new technology to stay on top and buying tools that are soon outdated and, as stated, if you are really good, being held in your position as long as possible.

But I do have a buddy who is a heavy equipment repair tech with his own truck that does on-site repairs, and other than wallowing in the mud on 100 degree days, he's got a pretty sweet gig and gets to travel.

 

I own a Tire and auto Service Center for over 20 years, we need people like you to get into this business!! Iwould suggest that you find a dealer like myself, not a car dealer or a national chain store, they really don't care about employees as much as a family owned type of business. be prepared to start on bottom and work your way up, it will take a few years!! my top people have started out as tire changers/oil changers, moved to brakes/suspension and then to more mechanical and finally to electrical. which is were the good money really starts to come in, this would take 4 to 10 years, depending on good you become! As far as classes go, local school like you said earlier are ok, but don't waste your time and money on schools like Lincol Tech, UTI, Wyotech ect. I haven't seen a single good tech yet come out of those schools!!! Very GOOD Techs are getting in high demand, the ones that say you can't make good money are usally the ones that aren't that great of tech's, believe I know, my top tech will make $80 -$90,000 this year working M-F 8 to 5, I wish I could find another one that is as good as he is!!

So if it's what you want, do it!! Just be ready to take a few years to get were you need to be and as stated before, Craftsmen to start out with then little by little move up. Good Luck!!