Any Career Mechanics in the house??

[cedgtp24]

I was thinking about taking up this as a career path and going to school to become certified ASE tech. But before I jumped in to spend this money I wanted to know how much opportunity is in this field? Does it pay well? Is it stable? And are jobs hard to come by? I want the full 411 about this position im thinking about. Thanks to all replies.

[EspanolaGuitarista]

Hey, right here...

...Yes, tons of oppurtunities. Spend the extra dough and become a deisal tech too. It's worth the extra money. Lots of employment there. If your going with a student loan make sure to get extra for a full set of tools and tool box. You DO NOT have to get snap-on or mac tools. Craftsmen has good tools for much lower price without the huge investment, and you can lay away anything you want. Look for sales and lay-away.

1)Two-level tool box nothing fancy but with roller bearings.
2)A ratchet type air wrench.
3)Two air guns. 3/8 and 1/2. Get the better ones, no the cheap kind.
4)Impact swivels from like 8 mm-22 mm at least.
5)Impact extensions of all lengths and in 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
6)Deep sockets impacts full set of metric. I would not worry about standards unless you're working on older cars.
7)Shallow impacts.
I would go with a 400.00 - 500.00 set. That will give you most standards and metric in 8-point and which are good for tight spaces.
9)Of, course you'll get ratchets.
10)Magnetic picker upper. Life saver!
11)A mirror on an extension is very useful.
12)Breaker bars.
13)A vacuum pump for brakes and EGR valves.
14)Brake tools. You'll be doing alot of these starting out.

I'm sure I left out alot of stuff, but the key is work smarter, not harder. Don't take things for truth that you hear other mechanics say. I've heard stuff that was completely wrong that was handed down from one mechanic to the next.
Lastly, do alot of reading. If your good at studying you'll have most mechanics beat. It's hard work so it's not for girly men.Hope that helps.

[Juglenaut]

Most mech I know that work at a dealership told me that the company supplies basic air tools, at least that is around here.

You will want a set of 6 point sockets in metric and standard shallow and deep impact and hand ratchet. Buy extra common sizes and make the walls thinner at the tip, and flush face a few common sizes. Use 12 points for less rusty bolts.

Buy a set of combo open and closed wrenches upto as large as you can afford, you can gang these together to make a breaker even with ratchets. Only get common double closed combos same with double opens.

Craftsman are good, but get a pro set of ratchets if craftsman, mac or snappy, standard craftsman ratchtes break often on the direction switch.

Personally I think impact tools should only be used on suspension and wheel with very limited used on the engine.

Elbows are a must, a decent torque wrench to learn on, crow claws are always handy. Brake drum tools, and full TORX set.

I am a Electronic Tech by trade, however I grew up on a farm fixing all kinds of stuff.

I used to have alot of specialty tools namely the DOHC from Kent Moore, and various other engines yes even fords. I still am contemplating going back to school P/T for Automotive. I still have a decent set of tools minus a roll about and chest. I have peg board all over my garage walls and store most of my tools on there.

[sharkey]

im not in school, but have been working for 3 years as a transmission re/re tech. there is good opertunity and there is demand in this feild. all the baby boomers are starting to retire, leaving another trade needing people. as for pay, depends on what you get into exactly. dealerships can make or break you financialy as you get payed by the job. if you are very good and have no combacks and can do jobs in a lot less time than book time, youmake lots. if you have combacks and are slow, you go broke.

im not gonna get into the tools thing. there are lots you need, depends on the feild. i started with crapsman and mastercrap, but you soon realise that spending money on good tools pays in the end. and there is some stuff that you can only get cheap offshore or expensive snap on/mac stuff, no inbetween

[prophiseer]

6 years in the field here, plus an associates degree in automotive technology and curently 4 ASE's. I'm working in the field while currently pursuing a masters in automotive engineering (much rather design 'em than work on 'em ).

This is defi a rewarding field. Most shops we deal with allow their techs to work on their vehicles in off time, order parts at shop cost (this can save you an ass-load of money!!), and there's a ton of other fringe benefits. Plus, like sharkey pointed out, the need for certified tech's is constantly growing and will continue to do so. I'll be the first to say we're not the best paid blue-collar field, but that also depends on where you go. Dealerships are where the money's at, but the work can be monotonous dealing with the same makes and models day after day. Certain specialized fields pay more also, Diesel techs, Hybrid techs, alternative fuel techs, etc. If you can recieve training or schooling in these systems, it's defi worth it.

I'd recommend maybe starting at some major chain repair shop like Merchants Tire or Sears, etc. and see what you think. Just remember, like sharkey also pointed out, that good tools aren't cheap but they're worth it, and it's the biggest commitment any of us make to our career.

[3.1POWER]

Not in the field... yet, but i have a 2 year degree for Auto technician and am currently going for a two year degree in auto collision repair and refinishing. If you enjoy working on cars and can make a living doing it (which you can) GO FOR IT!!!! Think of how much time people spend at thier jobs.... Even IF the pay isnt the best, being happy with you job is significantly more important. I personally dont want to spend the rest of my life working full time at a job i hate!!! I enjoy tweaking and tuning cars, so thats what ive decided im going to do for a living..... If you are passonate about it, do it!!!

[blackbombshell95]

I got 2 more quarters left until i get my AA in automotive technology. I started the class with never had done an oil change ever. Fun stuff

[grandprixgtp_91]

well all i have to say is here in canada where i live, the trade is dead, its pretty much all oil changes, nobody can afford to have there cars fixed, and theres not that much warranty work because there building the cars better now. honestly id say dont do it, yeah you like working on cars now, but if you wanna keep it that way then stay away from the trade, because it becomes just a job, and crappy bosses make you dislike your job, anyways thats my 2 cents worth, oh and the tools are very expensive, you need a few grand in tools just to start, and you might as well buy snap on or mac tools because everything else is shit.

Jake

[sharkey]

when i started my career, i had a tool chest and a few hand tools. $600 later, i had enough to get me going. after 3 years i could guess i have about $3000 in tools. not all my stuff is snap on. i bought cheaper stuff to get me going cause i didnt have the money to start off with big name tools, i upgrade as i go. also, i wouldnt recomend buying a box full of expensive tools to start, if a couple years goes by and you decide that automotive isnt for you, you now have a large pile of money sitting around.

i have heard the trade in eastern canada is realy bad right now. mechanicaly, a vehicle is lasting a long time, aspecialy with the 5 year warrenty. the biggest problem is vehicles dont last more than 10 years cause they rust to nothing, leaving people buying more new cars, and the older stuff isnt getting fixed.

[3.1POWER]

Yes. i do agree there.... tools are somewhat expensive. But even if you dont end up working in the field and just use them for your own purposes i fiend them to be a worthwhile investment. Especially seeing that any decent tool will have a lifetime warrenty. I have very few Matco, mac, and snap on tools... i have mostly craftsman and even at that i dropped $13K in my 3 years doing service work on cars. Granted i have alot of stuff that is for one specific pupose, but when you consider that my 9 flar nut wrenches from snap-on cost me over $300 its easy to see how one can spend a lot. But like i said, they are a LIFETIME investment, and even if you dont stay in the field you will always use them.

[Syn]

i am almost done with my associates in automotive, but thinking about doing a career change sadly i figured being so young (19) would make this happend but i don't feel liek doing manual labor forever

diesel tech is where the moneys at

there are many top schools in the eastern area

you got UTI,UNO,NVAD

depending on the college some give u a tool set when u graduate and some just give u a discount. alot of kids take mechanics thinking it will help them figure out how to make thier car faster. but in fact it really doesn't. but those colleges do have a high performance department which is real sweet

i went to UNO