Auto Repair is the Future
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- Auto Repair is the Future
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The problem is the dealer can't even fix the cars. If the software doesn't tell them exactly what the problem they are almost clueless. We all EXPECT the dealer has the capability to read wiring diagrams, work with oscilloscopes, multi meters and test lights. Sadly that isn't the case, in actuality only about 2% of technicians can really diagnose complex electrical faults, but the dealer will be happy to guess with your money.
100%
I really though more guys new how to do all of the above but now I’ve talked to many and get stuff from other shops plus guys I’ve had work for me. Deer in head lights all of them when you get the lab scope out…..
Right to Repair. Every company is trying to make if much harder for us and independent repais to fix our own things.
@@jjuarez83 Especially TESLA, Who else Sucks like them?
You pay the dealer to f*** your s*** up. Because they pay techs peanuts, the dealership rent is sky high and they need to turn a profit to exist, so they overcharge you. Because of this there's a shortage of good techs at dealerships.
The problem you have in the US is the missing education. In Germany for EVERY job you are educated for 3 to 3.5 years. If you want to become an automechanic you work 4 days a week in the shop and 1 day you go to school. There you get teached all the theoretical and engineering stuff AND a little business stuff. At the end of your education you need to do 2 tests, 1 written and 1 practical (on a car). The test is done under a federal guy. If u pass u get your exam. That is why we Germans are so good at what we do. No "self learning" or "learn as you do". The US should REALLY do something similar. Because when I see workers in the US the most of them do a pretty bad job. (Either a mechanic, plumber, painter and so on....) and the quality of everything is crap. Especially with real estate! The windows, walls, doors, cabinets, floors, garage doors, tiles, roofs, flyscreens and so on!) Unfortunately!
Sad but true
I also believe our Young People need to start working much Younger, Have a good idea what you're going to do for a Career So You have a chance to get more Education before You're expected to Pay a House and Car loan off, Having a Great Work ethic helps as well, You should NEVER have a low IQ like 86 that's almost Retard level, Means you're not trying hard enough to get EDUCATED in the first place, Instead I see people WINE about people with Money and Great paying Jobs, This Stupid attitude isn't going to help anyone, Chose a Great Job and have some pride in your WORK already, I see Too many young people who don't give a 💩 Texting at Work on the Clock constantly.
A big cause of that has been the decline of trade unions. Almost all of them have an apprenticeship program. That's why you have quality craftsmen and women in your country, Dennie. good for you!!!
@@danryno sorry but u are wrong. This has nothing to do with the union's at all. This is a federal program that is supported by nearly all companys in Germany. It was invented back in the days 1969 like we have it today. But it all starter in 1897. There the dual system was invented
Did all that education teach u to say teached instead of taught?😂
I am a School Counselor and I talk to my students about all the trades. I have several students over the years that were “gear heads” and I got them into our local trade school. I see them from time to time and all of them are employed making bank. I wish I would have gone into the trade when I was younger because I wouldn’t have had to deal with student loans.
You're completely correct. However, the larger issue are the absolute garbage repair components, from both the OEM manufacturers and the aftermarket, that all service techs have to deal with everyday.
Huge problem when you have to "fix" a customer's vehicle twice because the "new" replacement parts are pre-failed before installation.
Half of all the new components out there today, for service and maintenance replacement in the automotive industry, are total junk.
Totally Right
So true. The techs get the bad rap for a crappy manufactured part sadly.
So true and so freaking frustrating! Alternators last year I had 5 in a row fail. Luckily the parts store I use warrantied every one with a labor claim but still sucks and looks bad.
Bad new parts are extremely rare. I don't believe anyone in this thread has gotten more than one bad new part in their life.
More parts from China seems like the answer. Ha! Ha!
I work at an auto parts store. create a commercial account. get a steep discount. you don’t even need a shop. we do home delivery. Furthermore: In my experience, Firestone is a complete ripoff.
that is all
Firestone shops have been a problem, since the 1970s that I know of.
My friend got a $1,200 estimate for brakes and rotors for his 2010 Lincoln at an independent shop. I bought the parts (Raybestos Element3 pads and coated rotors) for $280 shipped on RA. I've been working on my vehicles for 20+ years. Crazy how much you save DIY. It's the new vehicle tech that I don't know too much about.
That estimate wasn't just for pads and rotors though was it.
@@BlackJesus8463 Pads and rotors $1,200. At an independent place half way across NY state, just above PA.
With the money you saved just for DIY'ing pads and rotors, you can buy all the ICON tools from HF, and you will have all the tools you will eve need for the rest of your wrenching days.
@@fiily1 EXACTLY!!!! ICON stuff rocks, I have almost all the pliers.
Absolutely true, I am in my late 20’s and a lot of techs including me make upwards of 80k-100k+ with an additional 10-15k in production bonuses, and this isn’t even in high cost of living areas, this is happening as well in a lot of southern states. Great video Lucky!
There’s even more potential if you can branch out into a niche brand.
Looks like technicians will be getting the last laugh after being called “grease monkeys” for so long 😂
would love to know a local porsche indie tech, but WA doesnt get much love
They aren't grease monkeys now they need a electronic engineering degree- You will need a Mr. Carlson at every shop and he ain't cheap.
As a Diesel Mechanic You're 💯% Right 👊.
@@hcox1111 You don't need an EE to fix cars. Diagrams, specs and testing procedures are all easily available.
Where are living the last 3 teach job a had i could make maybe 2k am month.
Being a mechanic is a great way to make a good living and/or make a few bucks on the side too! It's a lot more high tech nowadays than it used to be so the quintessential "backyard" mechanic is a rarity in our modern era.
hi @josephweiss2271 whats the best way to start learning the ropes from zero knowledge?
You can always tell when someone speaks the truth. Thanks
Thanks 🙏
I’ve been a mechanic for 30 years started out working on cars. the last 15 years I’ve been a diesel mechanic making over 120K a year. About eight years ago I open my own small shop. The rent was only $800 per month. The problem I found is that there is a lot of competition depending on the location of your shop. Pick a good location don’t go to a side of town where the labor for auto repair is real cheap. Also think about doing state inspections it will boost your business also.
Good points ; when I get my cars worked on I always go to low rent areas ; not only do they charge less but they are also more experienced with keeping older cars on the road.
Ive already surpassed 100k this year working on cars. this is the best time to be an auto tech. those that started 5 years ago and kept improving should see amazing results this year!
Dealer or independent shop?
@@kdoesauto20 Independent. Been there almost 9 years. Started at $25 flat rate in like 2015 as the only tech at the shop. Now we have 2 locations and have 4 other techs. I average $65 per hour as shop foreman now. In Los Angeles for reference.
So you're not actually working on the cars, most of the time. You are a shop foreman. That's a very important detail you omitted in your original statement. I don't know any mechanics making over 60k/year.
@biometal770 if you don't know techs making more than $60k a yeah, you are either living in a rural area or small city/town, of you are bottom of the barrel. Southern California entry level techs make $25 per hour minimum wage. Roughly 52k per year
A level techs make $45 per hour. That's 93k a year. I just hired a 62 year old tech at 45 per hour.
I am actually a general manager now pulling in 195k from my position (excluding car flipping and side jobs).
I went from shop bitch, to tire boy, to entry, to B, to C, to lead, to Master, to shop foreman, to service writer, and now general manager. I went to UTI and dropped out of college (electrical engineer)
Spot on! I have been in business at the same location for 47 years and everything stated here is absolutely true! Especially don't be afraid of "firing" bad customers. Always go after "good" business and know the difference!
Awesome comment! Thanks!
4:25 Speaking of tire machines. WTF is up with mounting/balancing prices?!?! $35-$40 to mount and balance a tire on my 18" wheel (2004 F-150)?!?! It was $15/each a few years back!
Yeah, I paid $140 for all 4 wheels to he installed, balanced etc
Although I was able to secure it for $80 with a friend, the time constraint for my wife to drive home and then to work was not worth the savings to me that day.
Definitely try and make friends who work at shops or can help with little odds and ends jobs that can save you money but can help them out too!
and the techs still get paid book time, 0.3 hours per wheel.
Former service advisor…the smart technicians work for themselves. Stealership just f’ them over. That’s on top of the manufacturers cutting warranty times.
There is a massive market for straight up, honest repair shops that take care of their customers.
I drive a 20 year old Pontiac Vibe I paid $1,400 for and have spent a whopping $0 total for repairs. I just changed the oil once so far, and fill it up with gas. It gets 35 miles a gallon.
All facts👏🏾Finding a good mechanic is like finding a good doctor. The only thing I miss about leaving LA is my awesome mechanic😢
You re 100 % , basically we are money to them
They don’t even “repair” anymore. They only replace parts now.
Very true lol
The service centers, yes. That is their mandate. They are a cash cow, fleecing the suckers.
Lucky, I absolutely love and look forward to your videos!
This is the time for new Technicians to lead a new generation of transparent and honest service!
I have sons who are working their way up to starting their own shops and I will have them watch this. Mahalo nui!
Good video I could go on for hours on this topic. The only thing I was thinking of I didn't hear you touch on is tying up bays.
Right off the back I agree with you for instants I haven’t bought a new car in 20 years. I have the same Volkswagen TDI that I know know how to completely work on do everything on it so much so I bought another one that I’m restoring and I am not planning on by any new cars.
So good....
My father was a mechanic and Veraged 50k his entire carrer working for others...
He didn't want me to follow in his foot steps, however after getting into detailing and ppf we hit 450k last year with a 2 guy team and a midget...
Your preaching the truth
Where I reside a mobile mechanic operates coming to his customers. A great niche in today's world. Automotive repair is a wonderful trade and demand will increase as time passes by.
Lucky, I agree with you on the matter of technicians spending an actual HOUR inspecting/diagnosing the vehicle and charging the "hourly rate". Took our car to the dealership, told them it's the driver rear wheel bearing--we can hear it. They took the car into the bay and within 10 minutes confirmed what we told them. We were still charged the full $160 + tax (their hourly rate) for a diagnosis. This is but ONE of the reasons customers get frustrated and have attitudes.
Another matter, charging "book time". We declined them doing a job that they said was a 4.5 hour job to replace a part. I got the part and completed it myself. 35 minutes from start to finish. Seriously, in some of these situations, WTF. 😂
All money ain't good money! Thanks Lucky.
I made all the mistakes you warn about starting a small mobil mechanic business.
Good info & on point
I’m gonna try and raise cash and I would gladly invest in any auto repair company you start up. I know the returns take time. I love cars, always wanna be around them, buy them and all that. I’ve been learning to be my own service tech on my 4Runner. I definitely enjoy content from people that share the same passions or interests. That’s just wishful thinking right? Lol keep up the good stuff Lucky!
I was an ASE mechanic for 10 years, never cleared over $50k in a year. Working as a mechanic is TERRIBLE for various reasons. I decided that, if I needed an engineer level knowledge to be a good mechanic, I will just go to school to become an engineer. I shouldn't have needed to do that.
I’m working on buying a shop right now Lucky! I have the tools and lifts now so I’m almost there
I have one type of debt: a very small mortgage. Having said that, I will go into more debt to buy a new car as opposed to less debt for a used car. The saved money not spent on repairs will be worth it.
Not necessarily. Newer cars are not built to the same quality as cars from 20 years ago, and most have components that are inherently more failure prone and more expensive when they do fail, such as high pressure pumps and injectors in anything with direct injection, which is most modern cars. They also dilute the oil and cause premature oil consumption and wear.
There's other factors like often needing additional tools, like a scanner to change rear brake pads on anything with an electronic parking brake. Tires are also larger, which is more expensive. And body parts cost way more, even in the event if a minor accident.
I say this as a Honda technician who works on many brand new cars. Even for Honda, one of the poster companies for vehicle reliability, build quality is way down.
I replace a high pressure pump on a 1 year old truck that was $400 for the part.
@@crazeguy26 The injectors are usually 2-3x that
So you’re ok with sending a banker money month after month in the form of interest, but not ok with (maybe) paying a mechanic a couple times a year…or not at all? Look at your loan statement every month. See what you are paying in interest. Do the math.
@@swisschalet1658 i have done the math, and askec about shop rates. with new cars being just slightly more expensive than used and the fact I do most all repairs it makes sense to buy new rather than pay more in repairs to drive a beater. I can, for the most part, do my own repairs, but I'm not spending $2,000 to repair a $1500 car.
This is gold standard info!
Just be aware, to keep costs down, some guys only use &!it parts from the far east for their repairs. Always ask if getting OEM vs aftermarket.
I know it was crazy during pandemic but when dealerships are encouraging people to just buy/lease and then walk away from their negative 20K+ trade ins….just wow 🤯.
People thought it was going to be the end of times that it was gonna be zombie apocalypse people thought they were really gonna die any day from the pandemic.
@@planobest8120 nobody with any sense thought that.
I live in SoCal. Some mechanics will turn you away because they already have too much work or they just don't want to deal with your specific problem. They can pick and choose which cars they want to work on and how much they want to charge. I've seen the rates for repairs more than double in the past 5 years.
brilliant video, great idea, I am going to start looking into this.
I work at a marketing company that works with dealerships and this is what i see second on the list aside from selling cars. Super hard to find techs now and they are paying crazy premiums. If I wasn’t in my role now I would jump on that!
I remember when i would fix bmws on the side, people wanted 1 part replaced, and i made them buy every commonly broken part i remove. i never charged them extra to install, but i made my intent clear that all of these items will either break, or fall apart, or lose its integrity when its removed....bmws and plastics, and cooling systems.
SPOT ON LUCKY! Owned a repair shop for several years, Ford 5.4 plugs... Step 1, let engine completely cool. Step 2, spray plugs with WD 40 or PB Blaster and let set overnight. Step 3, hit with Milwaukee 1/4 drive impact. Almost always works, sounds a little spooky I know!
I really appreciate your content!!!
Repair and maintenance are also the most environmentally sustainable solutions as well.
The best thing to do is to specialize in one brand. Friend of mine was a volvo specialist. He knew everything there was to know , No learning curve can do the job right away new access to where to buy the best parts and very few come back. You don't want to learn on a complicated foreign car where you might fix it correctly. But it might take you a lot longer
Awesome video can you do more I own a car lot and just started a Mechanic shop Thanks Man!!!
Many areas in the country have to many independent shops and it becomes a race to the bottom , because most shop owners are not true busness men, now with 15 years of low interest rates ending fewer people will buy new cars and that may help independents, tecnology is designed to lock independents out and that is always a struggle.
Even customers should watch this video!
In my local area I need it a alignment. Appointments were to weeks out, I need to drive 25 min to another city.
As always great content. Please do an exotic car review as to current and next 12 month values, since the market is not the same. Hold or sell? Would you cancel your Tecnica and buy it for less later? As you know there are many cars on the market because of the rates being high. I am sure many people would love to see or hear what your thoughts are as the car industry is changing.
Great advice thank you
Managed a corporate store for 6 years. Record sales month with 12 bays, 13 techs, and four sales people was 320k. Net profit was 55k that month
You know what is sexy… paying your bills and having a life.
Facts!
Looking at your recent video and your always on target. I live in Las Vegas and I'm on fremont st traveling to Boulder Hwy, I'm hearing conflicting stories about there is still a shortage of vehicles and I would like to know where. It seems like these auto dealers have plenty of inventory, even with the car lots on sahara. So where is the shortage?
I can attest to this. My companies do millions a year. No competition and the overhead and inventory is why. I have millions in inventory, property to do the repairs and again no competition. The hardest part is the workforce and who to hire and fire.
i have a shop on my property i am going to put a lift in for my own use but i have been thinking about being a weekend warrier as i dont plan on quitting my trade as i do enjoy what i do. but would like to build it up for a retirement plan
Start with changing fluids like oil, washer fluid, and brake fluid. Then become a light repair like replacing brakes and rotors. Be knowledgeable like solving problems with a smile,
Where I live, being an automotive repair tech is way underpaid. Which is why I’m a computer tech instead. Once it starts paying more I would consider it.
I really hope in the future it does end up pay better as lots of my friends are auto techs and they are pretty good at their jobs and get paid what they deserve.
Thank you 🇺🇸
Identifix is awesome too.
Identifix is the best thing that happened to mechanics in the past 20 years lol
Wondering if there are any auto repair shops that sell memberships in exchange for lower rates?
Hi Lucky. Any chance you could do a video on how to get a title if your finance company is incompetent and repeatedly fails to mail you the title? Do dealers deal with the same problems?
Any thoughts on Shopmonkey, shop boss, identifix, chilton? Thanks!
Another truth to mechanics job is that old vehicles alway need more than owners think , change your water pump may show the hoses aren't reliable or a fitting is about to give up too , today's plastic fittings only have a decade before start to be a risky part and if water was used the problems are way more than just fittings ,hoses and a pump
What I found in my area is that the land lords don't want auto shops in their building.
So valuable. Thank you
I have been a shadetree my whole life. I am retired now but as a hobby I am getting into fixing them up and reselling them. Praying by end of summer to have a 2 or 3 bay shop built on my property, and I want to rent our a bay to a real master tech, for cheap. The discount will come with the stipulation that they act as a consultant to me as long as i do not take away from their time making money. I think a 50% rental discount is worth it. I am not sure yet but I plan on talking to some techs soon and asking them their opinion on this type of deal. I do NOT have the capability of dealing with people very well. I don't do stupid. So I have to hire a full time customer service person.
Thanks for sharing
With the used car shortage we have, there is an opportunity for huge savage yards to make money. If they have some cars that have interchangeable parts, they can put together cars and retitle them to sell. This may not be possible everywhere, but some states allow a salvage car to be titled again, once repaired.
I use to have a fleet of vehicles for a business and used the same vehicle model and bought entire salvage cars of that model for $100 bucks and stripped it for parts. In one day of work, we had everything broke down, engine, trans, seats, tires, batteries, rotors, fenders, down to the bolts. If a car lost a fender in a crash, we would get the insurance check, but swap another fender on and paint it for nearly nothing. If the engine blew, we would have another one to drop in.
A high production car could have interchangeable parts for years. You could get these salvage vehicles for cheap and reassemble them into both working order and cosmetically sound and sell them at these high market rates. I wonder if anyone is doing that?
I did it myself for my car…insurance said it was totaled after a small mishap. They wanted my car to salvage it and resell for profit. I said ‘no’…got a reduced claim from insurance, but kept my car. Got the salvage title. Got it repaired…then got it inspected and retitled. Best decision I ever made to NOT “sell” my car to the insurance company.
@@swisschalet1658 Smart move.
I’m noticing- With money being tighter these days. Oil changes and maintenance are being neglected more then ever. Hurts buying quality used cars down the road.
As a tech leaving the industry good luck getting techs. The time, money, and headache involved being a tech is not worth it. Why not go do another trade with less stringent work for more money, benefits, etc. Not even adding in the about cost of tools.
At least in my area there is a tech shortage and i just laugh because i can go work anywhere even fast food and make the same money.
Lucky you should have talked a little about liability and documenting certain issues you may find that are safety hazards and if the customer declines those repairs you need to get that in writing on the RO to cover your butt in this litigious world
I will next video
What is a good percentage to ask for from a vendor renting space in your shop?
excellent advice
One thing you did not mention, parts availability, china parts will be an issue in the future.
Nobody should use China parts :) I hope nobody has a Chinese car :)
Great advice. 😎
I may catch some flack for my comment but, I hate paying on repairs for older vehicles. I drive under 10K a year and trade my vehicles before they are out of warranty. No brakes, no tires, just normal service. I keep my vehicles looking new, get good trade values and always get factory incentives that I can use on the next vehicle. Some will say that my payment is like paying for repairs. It is true in some sense, I pay $241 for a 2022 Lincoln Corsair for 48 months at 2.9 percent. I put $750 down plus my trade and got 3K in rebates. It is AWD, nav, heated and cooling seats and can 30 mpg. Warranty for 4 years Bumper to Bumper and will be paid off when I am ready for the next one.
What do you think about Identifix instead of Mitchell on Demand or Alldata?
We're riding with ya.
Being a 33 year PDR master tech, this is really good info for mechanical shops with labor rates at dealerships around $200 per hour however, this is not true in the bodyshop biz because consolidators like Caliber, Gerber, etc are buying up almost every independent shop because they can. If they can't buy in certain areas they will simply built a new facility. Imagine owning and operating 1200 body shops! Opening an independent bodyshop today is probably a bad idea due to the deals these huge corporations can and do make with all of the insurance companies. Another caveot for mechanical shops are the number of computers, sensers, chipsets and proprietary software in today's vehicles. In order to even work on the car you must have the correct and very expensive equipment and pay big bucks to access the OEM software required to calibrate or recalibrate the many computers and sensors. I've seen simple windshield replacements cost over $2000 due to the caliberation charges!
Excellent , also be very informative with estimate’s details, if customers say ok fix this part but leave the others,detail that on the invoice, I would not except parts new or used from the customer full stop. I also wouldn’t deal with 60 day accounts, your not a bank. 30 day accounts offer small discounts if paid on time.
Does this mean that companies like moog and LKQ will do well also? Since they supply the parts. Gonna but their stocks. Lots of u pull and pat and aftermarket parts
My advice is do your research on any profession because I have Mechanic's that are friends and first it's tool and specialty tools my friends have a little over a hundred grand in tools alone and each auto manufacturers need some sort of specialty tool and some are pricey next check insurance and liability cost etc...do your research and talk to people and some are mobile mechanics they come to your home or business and have a small shop to store parts etc so there is a lot to it
Very True
LOL You are so right! I' noticed last year, in June 2022, when my 15-year old car required frequent repairs and maintenance. My Lexus had been reliable for 14 years. All of a sudden in the course of 1 year, I spent $9300 in repairs/maintenance. I realize service has gotten expensive to compensate for lack of new car sales, so dealerships nickel and dime customers like me for service. My service guy was shocked I had gotten rid of my car. He thought I'd continue paying the unethical and exorbitant prices Lexus charges. I bought a 2023 Camry SE, but plan to get rid of it for a Tesla Model 3 or Y next year for their cars being nearly maintenance-free. I'm glad to see other car brands going struggling to sell cars. KARMA for their unethical sales tactics with customers.
@@LuckyLopez39 Sorry, but I'm not into hook-ups.
No Thank you. You will never get lucky with me.
So you paid $9300 when you could have bought a used Lexus that runs just fine for that amount? So then you turned around and bought a NEW car…which is a really dumb financial decision…then you say you’re going to buy a Tesla…which is another bone-headed decision. Teslas are NOT maintenance-free…no car is. They are MORE expensive to repair than ICE cars.
Right now in Alaska on the north slope there are 12 openings for technicians that start at $80 per hr. Can't get anyone willing to work away from home.
hahaha guess they will have to increase the compensation further
@@biometal770 I guess. It's tough to listen to griping about "there aren't any good paying jobs." I am a bit jealous. I wish the job market was like it is when I first entered it.
I tell ppl all the time, you don't need to go to college to become wealthy. Trades ppl I know have nice houses, cars, boats, sleds, and work hard.
Sounds good for me Lucky 👍
do you need a license and bond as well for a shop?
Hey Lucky ... what's the best way to contact you about doing this ... Im gonna need some classes!
Regarding car prices - did anyone else notice that Ram is advertising 10% below MSRP on their trucks nationwide? Prices coming down!
all I need is a service writer. I have 4 good mechanics and a full equipped shop but struggling at front desk. any ideas?
Hire a old guy who wrenched around the 70s - 90s. He will have good knowledge, manners, and strong work ethic@
Wish u best.
If you’re not turning wrenches, I would try to run it yourself just because you put in more effort and be able to explain what’s going onto the customer is probably better than a trainee hire somebody young and start training them right away or find somebody that’s probably retired. It’s been in the car business for a while, but knows how to talk to people. I would either get an old mechanic 🚗 or an old sales guy and have him come in a few hours a week they usually tend to crush it at that position
at the minimum, get a salesperson that is good with people that has some knowldge of cars, and maybe let said person watch and learn from other techs from time to time.
nothing more annoying than a salesman that is selling me something he knows nothing about. im not execting a service writer to be a certified tech, but dammit have a clue. but a salesman type person will be good with people and know how to handle them...if they have knowledge behind them....perfect
Preventive maintenance is the key to keeping a car longer. Deferred maintenance kills a car. Pay me now, pay me later. I tell folks if you can't afford a car's maintenance buy a car where you can afford the maintenance. I budget every month for routine and maintenance that might pop up. Anything mechanical or electrical will fail at some point. Have the money put aside to cover the unexpected. Even if I could afford a d BMW or Mercedes, Lexus, etc., I won't buy one because I don't want to pay the maintenance. A Toyota, great.
Dealing with customers is the worst, I want to buy, fix and sell.
People tend to believe dealerships employ master mechanics, but that isn’t necessarily true. Many of these “mechanics” are little more than inexperienced trainees. Private shops are more likely to employ trained experienced mechanics.
Since the 2008 recession less people could afford a new car. So they repaired the old ones. As prices keep going up less people can afford new cars. Plus the quality of cars have gotten so good they can easily exceed 200,000 miles.
SOME cars can.....others need a 3k dollar water pump job because its driven by the timing chain COUGH FORD V6
or premature engine failures **cough** ecoboost.
Japanese cars were always able to exceed 200k miles :) It just took 20 years for people to realize that, that's why most cars in the US are Japanese now :)
What’s a good school to start with?
Funny this should come up. My oldest daughter just came back from her local CDJR dealer with her Fiat 500. They were trying to tell her she needed FRONT brakes at about 19k miles and wanted $1600 for pads and rotors.
Good grief. She could fly me across country and have me come do it and be money ahead.
I told her to check with her friends for a good, trustworthy independent shop as that is about 2x what a brake job should cost for that car.
They also wanted about $250 to change the cabin air filter and another $80 to change the engine air filter.
Good grief.
Trying to prey on perceived ignorance. Thinking "a girl won't know any better."
Nothing special needed for front brakes on a 2019 Fiat 500.
Just another attempt to overcharge the consumer and create bad will with customers.
Fiats are money sinks when it comes to repairs. And are built terribly. Your daughter is being overcharged less than you think.
@@OldManNutcakez I looked up the parts cost for high quality parts. I could do both front and back, new pads and rotors for $500 in parts using top shelf parts from NAPA, not white box chinesium parts.
I could even flush the brake system for another $20 or so.
They wanted $1600 for just the fronts and just pads and rotors.
I understand techs get paid and dealership labor rates can approach $200/hour.
Labor on a job like that is what 1 to 1.5 hours/axle. Let's round up and say 2 for 4 hours total to do both front and back.
I'm at $1300 for parts and labor to do both front and back, which is what most of the on-line service quote sites list for doing both front and back pads and rotors for her ZIP code.
She could fly me, maybe first class, from the Midwest to the West Coast, I buy some Hobo Freight tools and do both the front and back for less than this dealer wanted for just the front.
Nope, this was an atomic wedgie style overcharge.
They were hoping a 20 something woman wouldn't know any better.
Booyah 👊🏽 😁 👍🏽
So, can we know what happened with your 2nd shop?
These auto repair shops are stressing to find parts. And if they find them their garbage. My mechanic showed me an invoice and the parts came from Ukraine. Also, inflation has people spending less on fixing or maintaining their cars. Words from my mechanic who's been in business for years.
You mention a good amount of jobs to stay away from but it'd be great to see you talk about the behind the scenes on how you're able to get the highest ROI on the repairs you are doing (Vendor recommendations, Software Pros vs. Cons, Part cost Reduction, etc...)
None of that matters largely. If you run a repair shop with honesty and integrity, you will never want for work or money.
@@biometal770 It definitely matters in the long run. If you want to be self employed and basically create a high paying "job" for yourself with slim margins sure you might not need to pay attention to those items. But if you want to grow/scale a business in a high cost industry (like automotive) I'd rather reduce my costs to buy quality parts/software to create more margin for the business. That would allow me to purchase better tools, training, increase pay for my techs, and move to a location with more bays. I'd rather not spend $80 to make $100, when I can spend $50 and make $100. Business overhead is the silent killer of small businesses.
Very valuable information, even to me as a certified master toilet mechanic [plumber].
damn you are lucky i am just a glorified janitor aka refer / hvac tech
Sir Lucky, please tell me the two softwares.
It will be interesting to see what manufacturers start to make economy cars again i.e. Honda civic like they made them 15 years ago. If they don’t then they are going to run out of customers
no such thing anymore....government wont allow it, they want everything EV and connected.