MY STORY : I'm 21, started working at a little Shop just to clean. Cleaned, mopped, all that. After a month there I got called by a manager that actually had quit, and was at a new shop. So I started up there as a lube tech. Ive been working there for 5 months now and now know how to do struts, brakes, alignments, anything with tires, learned all of that, and continuing to learn. I like my route, learn as you go.
+Evan Wright I am in the IT field and I learned the same way. Everything I know about computers and networking was self taught. Once I got the entry level job, the rest was free training, either on the job or courses offered by an employer.
SinSiti Squid : you are the luckiest man alive. Nobody does that anymore. Everyone's too busy to teach or too worried about wasting time & money to teach someone how to as they go.
NothingSpecial I worked at a quality shop for three years ; till we got ATI who supposedly is supposed to help buisness and employees turned out we marked parts up 70% employees saw no raised cause they pay them 50 grand a year and the people in the office were the only ones who got raises. We talked to multiple shops and it's the same story.
Im 18 years old and I studied automotive mechanic for a year. It's hard to find workshops that can teach you. But I bought myself a car and I'm studying it and learning
@@gustavom7869 Hey there. 2 years later🤣🤣 but now I actually worked at the part department/tire guy for Mercedes and then I quit that job and I worked a week for free at a Mazda dealership as a mechanic and the boss was really happy with me there. So I got accepted as a car mechanic apprentice at last! I'm so excited to begin and the environment there is honestly very, very good. Don't give up and I wish you luck! I was 18 years old 2 years ago, now I'm 20
@Bunda Par Hi there and thank you! I just visited different auto shops around where I live with my CV and asked if I could speak with the one in charge. And since I studied automotive mechanic, I'm eligible to start as an apprentice. I really recommend to just ask a shop if you can work there a few weeks for free, so they can see how you work and that is a chance to show off your skills and interest in learning. That's how I got accepted. The negative about this is that they can use you to get some free work, but that's just how it is.
Over the past 9 months I’ve been learning to service my own cars as well as friends and family cars. I have 10+ year old mercedes and bmw so they need a decent amount of work to keep them going. The money I save from doing the work myself I use to buy tools. I almost always find that buying the parts and the tools is cheaper than going to a shop. I’ve built up enough tools at this point to tackle most jobs. At this point i’ve done air suspension replacement, brake pads, rotors, brake fluid, tire rotation, blower motor replacement, electrical troubleshooting, electric seat adjustment troubleshooting, spark plugs, ignition coils, walnut blasting intake valves, temp sensor replacement, coolant change, oil change, air filter, cabin air filter, transmission fluid change, serpentine belt, etc. I’ve mainly used youtube and manufacturer service manuals from places like identifix that have diy versions of their product. I’ve been thinking about buying a van and becoming a mobile mechanic and doing basic services, but until then I’m happy saving myself and those around me money while I gain more experience.
I started at a community college, about a year though started washing cars at a mom and pop used dealership plus going to college. Talked the boss into getting two lifts, and Autozone's tech starter tool kit. That was 5 years ago, now I have an automotive associates degree, am two test away from ASE master tech, have a 72 inch tool box full (tool debt free) and teaching two new techs. The big down side is the community college had no new up to date cars and tools. I tell new techs "If you take about cars on a date, then you have found an awesome job and one hell of a woman!"
I had the opposite experience at my community College it got a huge grant because maytag shut down and moved to Mexico and alot of older guys got grants to go to college. They eventually cut the program down but I guess I got in at a good time. They took the applied science course out and cut it to a year certification.
I went to UTI as well 2 years ago, graduated with just the auto classes and started at Nissan. Currently a B tech. honestly from what i see is you have to have a mind set to want to push forward to be a tech, ive seen alot of kids go through the school and they're just there to get away, others like me want to do this for a career and they excel quickly. to me school is a great way to get in the door and learn a good chunk of how to work on cars, but you learn so much from being on the job.
You know, I just wanted to get into a trade and I just so happen to have a ford that needed repairs. Did the repairs and found that maybe this will be the trade I get into. Took the tour at UTI but I really did not want to have 40 grand in loans. The way I got into the business is I wrote a very convincing cover letter to a Firestone Complete Auto Care, got an interview and now I've been working there busting my ass working as hard as I can and trying to learn all I can for the past 6 weeks. The job was part time but I just recently got "promoted" to full time already. And I gotta say, I love it so far. Yeah I'm changing oil and tires but when it's slow I help the flat rate techs with their jobs. Right now I'm on track to making 22,000 a year roughly but for being 20 years old with no college debt I'm happy with that. I already got a raise for my hard work and I think I want to grow with this company. By the end of this year I will hopefully be a service tech doing brakes and suspension flat rate, making 32,000 a year in 2016. I know I am young in this field but so far, I think I made the right choice not going to UTI.
I started out just buying an old truck which was a terrible DECISION!! BUT THAT TAUGHT ME A LOT. I have ton of wrenching experience and I work for myself as a mobile mechanic for other ppl. I don't bullshit ppl or lie to my customers. trying to get a position in a dealership.
I work at a concrete supply yard and on slow days I’ve been offering our mechanic to help him whenever he needs it. It’s great experience, especially with concrete truck as they have many different components: Diesel engine, pressurized water systems, hydraulic systems, lift axels, electronics galore. UA-camrs like you and doing things hands on has really sparked a fire in me I never knew I had!
I took an Entry Level Trades Training course (1 & 1/2 yrs long) after high school... I think I paid between $3k-$6K (back in 1990). The course covered all 4 years of an apprenticeship and was mainly comprised of Domestic vehicle hands-on in the shop. After that, I bought a $3500 craftsman roll cab with top chest (that included a decent amount of tools) and then went looking for work. Everyone was looking for someone with "experience"... found a little Mom & Pop VW shop that gave me a chance (my German language skills was what got me the gig). I can't say that I learned much from the older Techs (all aircooled / carb guys)... the following 4 years of apprenticeship re-enforced what I was introduced to in the Entry Levels Trade course ... and the on-going online research / learning (1998 is when I found the internet) is what helps me with things today. I started at $7/hr (it's much more now)
***** if you find a shop that mainly has newer cars in the parking lot... chances are that all the guys working there are up-to-speed with servicing them. If you see a lot of aircooled vehicles, then maybe skip that shop and look elsewhere. However, there are lots of top notch aircooled guys that will have no issue working on watercooled stuff.
***** For sure one of these days I would like to meet some fellow youtubers / subscribers / viewers... if an Automotive UA-cam gathering ever takes place, I'll be sure to attend. I'll be the guy wearing the black gloves!
working as an independent on all makes and models truly test your skill and wit.. I'm grateful that I work for a shop that truly cares for customers and their vehicles .. sometimes you get beat up on time but to see the smile, appreciation, or hand shake makes that struggle go away.. I'm grateful that I have the ability to test... test again... and learn how all makes systems function... it's great to interact with a customer first hand
The military is a great way to start/learn. Air Force is military light but mechanic heavy if you go in that field. A great way to learn, get paid, travel, and come out with a skill or stay and retire.
I’ve been watching UA-cam for a couple years, and have now done many 3 head gasket replacements, 3 clutch replacements, many oil changes, brake jobs and am refreshing my Audi A4 suspension currently. Have learned a lot and am still learning
I wouldn’t change a thing I went to a tech school for 3 years at a community college and got hired by vw right out for the program did express for 6months went to fast track now finally been on the main line for 3moths and I’m loving it are dealer is really good about making sure the new guys get good training and have a great support system around with all the vets willing to help
And you do know that as you said you were willing to be a teacher and or a mentor that many others aren't willing to do....TYSM for helping out guys like me!!!
Personally, I did 2 years of schooling for this and the amount of online module activities we had to do was exhausting. I'd rather watch a mechanic a whole shift and him not even say a word to me than that. Most of us have the mind set that isn't geared toward staring at a computer and answering questions. The real learning is in the lab and explanation while taking notes and using repetition to set it in stone.
I did exactly that. I received an Automotive Repair Technician Career Diploma from Penn Foster, which is an online program. I read the textbook and took the tests. I then applied for a VW job and it was sent to a dealer in my area. I just started, about a week and a half ago, as a Lube Technician at the dealership. I am learning by just doing the job. I have already interacted with some of the Technicians that do repair and have learned a few things. I think it is a great way to learn. I already pulled a Cylinder Head from my car, before I got the job, so I have a lot of tools already. However, I will be picking up more as I find out others I need. The online Penn Foster program was CHEAP, less than $800 and is a FANTASTIC way to learn without getting into debt. I recommend it HIGHLY!
I'm in my second year working at the dealer, i started exactly the way you said you would, crazy to think when i started i was worried cause i didn't go to tech school and now i see some of those guys come and go and i really am glad how i was able to start in the industry
I understand what your saying about the internet and when I first started out in the mid-80s i was mainly self taught and what I was able to gleen from available data and looking over someone else's shoulder when they weren't willing to share. Things have changed very much.
I'm a former OTR truck driver who is in the start of my online training to become an automotive service technician as a sole proprietor. Offering reasonably priced drivetrain maintenance specializing in HVAC. I'm just starting out with my automotive training and I'm using UA-cam content almost exclusively, applying the knowledge as I find needed repairs. Starting with the many repair needs of my immediate and extended family. Your referrals for online content are very much appreciated. Thank you...
I'm 35 and I've always loved vehicles. I've done my own tune ups and oil changes and various small stuff over the years. I just recently decided to quit my great paying job where I was miserable at and pursue being a technician. 2 months ago I started all the way at the bottom at Courtesy Ford here in Hattiesburg, MS working the quick lane. I busted my ass doing my job and taking all these certification courses online and as of next week I'm officially being promoted to an actual tech. I will be doing mostly CPO's and whatever overflow they have on recalls as needed. I'm super stoked and excited and I love my job. Cant wait to start my day next week.
I work in a smaller shop as a general service tech after school, mounting tires, oil changes, ect. I'm 16 and have been doing it for about 4 months now and I look forward to going to work almost everyday. Most of what I knew when I started were things I learnt working with/watching my dad who is a mechanic and from videos online. now working in a shop I have learned ton from the other techs. After I finish high school I'm planning on going to a tech school to work full time as a mechanic.
These days online learning and You Tube videos are the way to go. It's faster and cheaper than tech schools. I learn every day from watching UA-cam. When I was learning to be a tech nothing like this was available and in addition to auto repair I've also learned to flash ROMs to phones and repair computers. Thanks for the great videos man!
Thanks for taking the time to post this up. I'm in this stage now. Currently in tech school enrolled in the Audi/VW program. They assist in finding a job at a dealership. You have to be employed by a dealership in order to qualify for the program. The program itself is about 6k and about 18 months long but like you said it's full throttle 2 days a week school and 4 days a week at work doing 10 hour shifts. I started to watch your videos just so I can gain some extra knowledge. I am a big VW enthusiast (own three of them currently) it also helps that I know the brand from my days working for ECS tuning. But anyway just wanted to let you know I am a fan if you are ever in South Florida which you very well maybe since the VW school is 15 minutes away from me let me know and I'll buy you a beer. Thanks again for the videos.
I'm not a mechanic yet but I want to be when I'm older but what I've done so far is I got a job at an auto shop in my town cleaning and running errands and just watching and learning
My first job was at Jiffy Lube doing quick maintenance. I think that was valuable experience, seeing as I worked every position they had. After a year of doing that, I moved into a technician position at Sears where maintenance and repair work was much more frequent. It's been 6 years since I wrenched and currently considering a position to be in the back shop once again. I truly think if you're trying to get into the industry, you just have to be prepared for the breadth of knowledge that engulfs automotive in general.
(heavy personal lifting equipment mechanic for 1 year now) I think what was lacking in my school program (in canada) was all of the inconveniences like stuck fasteners, broken bolts and also diversity in what you repair every day. (ie; you fix all of the issues a single machine has, versus at school where you work on hydraulics for a few weeks, then engines...) It took me a little while to adjust and grasp every system and how it works then proceed to fixing/troubleshooting it, since they're completely different systems.
I was mainly a part changer growing up as a kid 16 to 25. Then I went to uti. I learned alot about how everything fails and they harped on electrical more than anything. Which I liked because I was horrible at electrical growing up. Now I'm working ford but I think I'm going to switch to gm. Parts people are slow and dont know what they have. Not that I would rush cars out but I shouldn't be waiting on a tire for 3 hrs. Or rotors for an hr and a half.
Been working in a motorcycle dealership for a couple years now and this makes me happy that I don't need to go to school and rack up tons of debt to become a tech. Thanks for the video and your willingness to help the rookies improve their work. A service department is only as strong as their weakest link.
This is what I'm planning to do once I graduate, I'm in 2nd sem senior in high school. How would you go after taking an automotive program at community college?
+CloudGamerz if you are interested in blue collar work, have you considered being a union plumber, pipe fitter, elevator repair man, or electrician? you can go to school for free, get paid while you go to school, and once you become a journeyman you make minimum $30. It's a good career, and plenty of work, and if work gets slow, you can always get a side job! look into that. If you're in Atlanta Google local 72.
+Bigchuck678 I'm from Cali, I'm not sure if what have a program like that. And I already got accepted for grants :) can't wait to graduate and start taking auto classes
i went to school for electronics and then started at a small shop and moved up to a dealership as a diesel tech, ford and gm have great training programs for techs don't know about other brands, I thinks it was a really good route for me and the electronics background is huge
I am growing up as a mechanic. I already know more than the people that work with my dad do about cars and trucks. I love automotive mechanics and working on my own dirt bike.
I mainly grew up working on cars with my grandpa and I had started building my tools about 4-5 years ago and has been looking for a job that would hire me on that lasted about 3 and 1/2 years but I go in for the pee test Monday and couldn’t be more excited to finally get my foot in the door but no college or anything like that just a lot of backyard experience and UA-cam but I’m really glad that the lord gave me this opportunity I thank him for that and many of the other blessings he gives. But I don’t really know what would be next after I onboard and I’m a little nervous but that’s okay.
AWESOME video!!! I started as a lube tech and just got the on the job training from a senior master tech. Three years later I've moved 1,000 miles away from home to continue my education under the same guy. I'm now the number 2 line tech in the shop. I know more than most of the guys fresh outta UTI. I personally wouldn't change a thing. I also feel like I got lucky. The guy that trained me took his time, trained me well, has infinite patience with me (to this day) and has been super supportive. If you get the right teacher they will train you the true tricks of the trade. Time is big too. Being a great tech takes drive, will, motivation and most importantly, time.
Fleet Maintenance. Start in the Maintenance department and then work your way to the Repair and Diagnostic department. I did inspection and maintenance for a year. Miss those days!
I started at a small family owned shop that does tires/oil but also has 3 full time techs so it's a good mix of quick lubes and actual repair. When I'm not busy doing tires I get to shadow a tech and learn some stuff. It's a good deal
Just started my heavy duty mechanics apprenticeship here in edmonton alberta! ive been watching a bunch of your videos and im really enjoying them. thanks for sharing your experience!!
Thank you so much for this. My son is just starting down this path and there isn't a lot of information out there on how to make this happen. He's always been a car junkie, and is now 16 and working at a Goodyear Tire. They do full auto repair on every vehicle imaginable and he LOVES it -- he loves the variety of issues and the challenge of knowing each vehicle... and the problem solving. His title is "automotive apprentice" and the shop has six guys and an owner who all are investing their time in him. It's really amazing. He is doing the bare minimum to graduate from high school (because he HATES school), and will graduate at 16 in the spring. We were looking at UTI and the local community college as options -- the cost of UTI is prohibitive, so we are going to aim for College of the Canyons program. We'll add the online training this year. Thanks for the names of who is good online!
I live in Belgium and i'm actually going to take the same path, 1 or 2 days at school and the rest of the week at work learning as i go, i start in a few months so i try to learn as many things as i can by fixing small things on my car by watching you, ChrisFix, EricTheCarGuy and Jason, i'm really looking forward to learn a lot and start this career nicely Your videos help me a lot to understand the industry, thank you so much 💪
I am currently in a Tech school now 2yr course and im half way thru Cost is aprox $12,000. As you like you Charles i knew the basics about cars when entering school and that's about it.I have to say i feel it was a GREAT decision to go school. All of my teachers are ASE master techs and teach us alot of tricks that aren't mentioned in our text book. The one downside is the selection of cars we have to work on. We end up fixing cars that numerous students have worked and they get so messed ups sometimes that even if you fix it correctly it wont work cause someone ripped a wire out of broke a bolt off somewhere.But the one advantage i like for school is you get to learn all the different systems on cars to where your working in a dealership starting off your not going to be working on HVAC systems or doing any electrical diagnostic.I just feel its great to have an idea on how it all operates instead of just knowing oil changes or just brakes. My last thought is im not sure about all TECH schools but our school gets 50% off tools with MATCO and Snapon and 60% off Mactools. I have purchased over $10,000 worth of tools for about $4,000 ish if its lie this across the board i would say that would be one HUGE benefit going to school for someone who is wanting to get into the automotive industry.
Im considering going into the industry, but my parents want me to go to a 4 year college. I got to take a fuel tours of some tech schools and i really liked it
College is unbelievably overrated. Be a tradesman. If you like cars, work on cars. I'm a film major who works in television. My dad was a mechanic and a Snap-On manager. I wish every single day that I had spent more time learning from him and less time going to school, because what I really love to do is get covered in grease while underneath a car. Your parents want what's best for you, sure, but if you like cars, don't waste four years and countless dollars on college. Unless you want to engineer cars. Or design them. Then go to college.
Love the channel and watch this frequently. Nice to see what it is like in the real world. Im going to the BMW program offered at CPCC here soon to learn and work for bmw. Im not clueless when it comes to car, not saying i know everything no one doesnt. But working on cars, fabrication, making turbo kits, swapping motors and transmissions, and what not ive got deeply interested in cars. Im attending school in the fall and hope everything goes well. Again appreciate your videos they are cool to watch and informative.
Looking to pivot into the tech world as a career, your video are amazingly helpful and you calm demeanor feel like your words are trustworthy idk like the videos man going to keep watching
Down here in Australia I got my cert II (which is a pre apprenticeship qualification) for free as part of a program in my last year I highschool. This program was accompanied by a 30 day work experience program to give students an insight to the industry. By the end many students left and the other students such as myself who were passionate in continuing to be a tech after school were helped by councillors to find jobs in dealerships around our local region.
in high school my junior and senior year I took automotive classes at a different school. I've learned a lot from those classes. even before I took those classes I knew a little more than a basic amount but it sharpened me up quite a bit. I've done countless brake/suspension/tires/oil changes in that class and in my own garage. at my highschool we even pulled engines out and back in ether timing belt or a rod punched threw the block. however the one thing that lacked in those classes were the computer side of cars and how scan tools worked. my school had a fancy snap-on cart for the scanner but I rarely had the chance to play with it. atm I'm out of high school and searching for some type of job in the automotive field. it's been a few months after highschool and still have yet to find a place that will except me even with my known experience. I may just work at harbor freight or some jiffy lube for a few months just to boost pocket change and say I have experience under my belt. I've been off and on about tech school if I should go or not. I feel like I would learn more and add on to what I know know but it wouldn't be much, just for the piece of paper saying I did the thing. I've been into cars my whole life and this is the only thing I'm good at.
I was in sales in my current dealership. And a few techs left for another dealership and my GM asked me if I was willing to move to the shop knowing my dad ran a Mobile mechanic operation. I agreed to do it and I love it. However I got a good chuck of my tools bought for me to start as part of the incentive for me to commit.
I did it the online way. I already have a BA and couldn't afford more school to switch careers. Started working on my own cars out of necessity and found out it clicked with me and I liked it. Found ETCG and watched those. Started at a small shop a year ago and then to a GM dealer in express service. Now im back at the small shop as an apprentice tech doing EVERYTHING that comes in. Fun stuff. For education, I've started online school with Penn Foster. It's no UTI or WyoTech, but it's under $800 for everything and it's self paced.
there are two other ways around my area we learn to work automotive. first we have a tech school for high-schoolers that they spend half a semester at the tech school and half a semester at conventional school. i would recommend that to anyone in high school. the second is to just buy a vehicle and teach yourself. that is what i did and it really helped because i figured if did not like mechanic work i could always just sell the car and have very little invested.
I am currently a student at Gwinnett Tech halfway through the auto program right now. So far the program is great but it does lack some of the hands on experience that you can probably only get from working in the industry anyways. They do teach a great understanding though about components, concepts, and how stuff works basically.And we have a large shop where we can practice different removal and replacement procedures on multiple different brands. I have also been working at a Nissan dealer but I am leaving this weekend for the exact reason you laid out. Training while in express is virtually not there. I have asked when we are slow to help a line tech but am sent to clean and empty trash instead. I am starting at a mom and pop independent shop that specializes in one brand in Alpharetta next week where I will get to shadow and learn from the owner while I finish school. Tech school so far has been the stepping stone I needed though that opened the doors to many opportunities. So my overall thoughts on attending a tech school to begin is a great idea. (I started learning before school though watching a ton of ericthecarguy videos. That is what pushed me towards tech school). Thanks for all the videos. They really help out and give a lot of insight into the industry that you can't really get from work or school.
I have only watched a few of your videos but I want to thank you a lot for this one. I'm 18 and haven't been able to decide where I want to go next. You really opened up my mind and have me some great ideas and information to move forward with my life in the career aspect
Hey man, thanks for these videos. I'm new to the industry. Started messing around in my driveway on an old VW 1.6l Mk2 Golf diesel, bought the Bentley book, then took a few community college classes, and my instructor, knowing I was hungry for learning but didn't have the luxuries of time or money, pushed me to a local Ford Dealership in NC to get trained and work quick service (pretty much the advice you give). Been at it for 4 months. Spent some money on tools (because Ford doesn't provide them), and am making jack shit of course. I've learned a lot and definitely gained some knowledge from both online training and turning a wrench, though Ford's online training program hasn't been updated in 4 years or so. My biggest complaint is that I am not getting the chance to shadow any experienced technicians in diagnosis or repair, and mentorship seems largely nonexistent between line techs and quick service. I get "gravy work", inspecting used cars, doing oil changes, tires, alignments, fluid flushes, recalls, etc. and I'm learning how to be more efficient there. Maybe I'm impatient, but I know there's a constant 3 week backlog of technician work in the foreman's desk, and yet, they don't seem truly interested in growing more technicians in house. Obviously, its all about money, but I guess I'm wondering which Make offers the best and quickest training. I don't hate where I am (though I do hate fucking F-150s), and really I don't have a lot in common with most of the guys in the shop, so part of me thinks jumping ship after 6 months might not be bad if its gonna take Ford 3 years to send me to school, and Nissan or VW 1 year.
I learned on the job as a Goodyear quick service guy. If I passed a ASE test, my company would reimburse me for the cost. If we were slow my company would not let me train or read study material. I had to learn myself out of work. All the technicians I worked with had no interest in training me. I am an engineering student so this was a temporary job, but I had the choice I would go through a training program like UTI.
I think you missed the most obvious (and free) way to get started in the industry. Trade school (it was called The career center in my area) while still in high school. I was able to take auto classes in a certified Toyota shop and get training from pros. Had access to all the best tools, and make connections all for free. While still in high school.
You know what I sure did miss that. Mostly because I don't know how much it is geared towards getting in the field vs basic auto knowledge. But yeah a good program like that can be a great thing. Hell I would have liked it just to be in school less when I was in HS.
+jhitt79 While I'm not in the auto repair field, I whole-heartedly agree with you. I went to trade school for industrial maintenance back in 1989. Best decision I ever made in my career. Cost was very low and the training was great. Got a great job with a great company and love it still today.
+HumbleMechanic I hear you on the time crunch with working 40 hrs and school. I did that for 2 years. 5hrs of trade school and 8hrs of work made for a looong day. I would hate to have to go through that again!
I just started about two months ago, I first applied a jiffy but was turned down and then in a angry rage applied and got hired on at a local automotive place. Luckily for me its one of the highest rated in the city i live it. Its not a massive shop but its got 6 bays including the alignment rack with the youngest other tech who has been there for 5 years. I really enjoy my experience- I started with a small toolbox of old junk and now I've got a larger roller cart from harbor freight. I'm learning so much about tools, machines, cars engines inspections and now today my vocabulary for car part- i think- its pretty darn good. I've also done a certain lot of personal growth at this job to and I enjoy it alot. but what I feel lacking in my position is guidance for career jobs. I do not plan on being at this play forever because it doesn't pay much and I want to make good- good money. No, of course its not going to happen right now but i mean in the future- I want to make a lot of money. I just dont know where or what i can do besides ASE stuff and years behind me to make that a reality. I want to have more fun and make more money doing it. I just don't think that will happen in a simple auto repair ship and i dont know where it would. Additionally, my people and teams skills have grown. I've made a few mistakes- broken tpms and oil pan bolt loose- both fixed no issues. I've rebuilt trust after loosing it.
Got a different perspective for you guys... Went to the Army at 20 years old (2007). Qualified to be a helicopter pilot but wanted to work on cars. Choose wheeled vehicle mechanic 63B, i wanted to at least "know" how to fix my own car. I was National Guard so i didn't do it but once a month and i worked as a purchaser and waiting tables the 6 years i spent in the Army. Soon after separation i hit a rough spot in life and decided that if I didn't go to school now and use my education benefits i would never use them. I liked UTI. I felt it did a good job filling in the gaps from the Army training and experience. I also took the Nissan Program. Overall, i only took out about 4k in loans just to cover the last part of Nissan but that was nothing compared to what other tech's are paying (whew) Anyways, now I've been out of school for almost 2 years, been at the same Nissan dealership in my home town and i started out as a lube tech. I've now worked my way up to level 2 tech and went from 10/hr to 18 flat rate with my dealership sending me for additional schools/training as soon as they can. I'm next in line to get promoted to main line. I've got a couple ASE's as well with more scheduled next month. I've really enjoyed my experience. Hard work and dedication have really been paying off. Does it suck? Hell yeah it does but this is my life, my career. This is what i want to spend the rest of my life doing so I'm going to make the best of it and continue learning every day. Looking back the only thing i would have changed is not taking so long to go to school. I'm 30 now and still have way more to go. If i would have started when i was 20, I'd be a Master Tech for sure by now. Most likely GTR, Leaf and Titan certified as well. If you're still reading, thanks. I hope this helps any of you guys thinking about a career in automotive.
Great video. I started from the quick lube shop and quickly moved on because I had gone as far as they wanted techs to advance. I took a demotion to lube tech in a more full service shop that promised advancement after the 90 day probation. Unfortunately they never had any work and I made more than most of the techs that cycled through. I remember watching this a few years ago when I was in still there and unsure if I wanted to stay in the industry. I'm now at a privately owned shop that specializes in certain cars and like you said it is so much easier to pick things up working mostly on one brand. I've learned more in the past 6 months than the previous 3 years. Also there are a lot less tools to buy.
Thanks for sharing Charles. I might enroll into college in the future, who knows? For now, I'm just a home garage DIYer teying to learn as much as I can. Thank God for channels like this.
I started in a quick lube. I knew I didn't want to spend my whole life there, so I used it to learn about cars and build up my tool collection. When I went on to work in an actual shop I only had to drop like $500 for a cart and an impact driver. Everything else I already had in my garage. One thing quick lubes will teach you is dealing with the unexpected or when something breaks. And you will most likely never work in a more stressful or rushed type environment than a busy quick lube with the service writers breathing down your neck as to why car X isn't done yet.
See that was always my main motivation; I hated NOT knowing about anything! My brain was and still is a sponge ready to soak up and and all knowledge. That's why I watch your stuff even though I'm not a Mechanic anymore.
Great video! I've just recently graduated w/my BA in automotive management and worked at independent bmw specialty shop for a couple of years. Now working for the city repairin fleet vehicles. Complete different world coming from luxury cars to working on Fords and Chevy's all day long. I worked express at a dealership for sometime, didn't have the best experience. Alot of it like you said has to do with the dealership itself. Again great video! Thank you
The school I attended had too little hands on training tons of classroom but when it came to working in the shop we didn't have a ton of modern vehicles and did very little with them. I would still go to school if I did it over for me the classroom material gave me a lot of knowledge to get a jumpstart I had prior experience in the mechanical field so the two combined made an easy start in the industry for me.
I have recently started in the automotive repair trade as a general service tech and I got started in one of the ways you described, through the family business in a mom and pop shop. I should mention that over the years I've watched this mom and pop shop grow into six shops spanning the Maryland and Pennsylvania area and the business itself has been around for over 75 years. sparing a long story I needed to find a job fast and asked the fam for help. I got a job as a GS in the shop and over the past few months I've been slowly but surely learning the trade from skilled techs that have worked for dealerships and jiffy lube type places.our company has hired quite a few untrained guys with some technical skills and not a lot of automotive experience. the point is that it may take a little longer to learn the trade but i am making money in the mean time and still get to learn from seasoned veterans while I work. I just thought I would share my story for anyone looking to find a job starting in the automotive field.
thanks for your videos! I've been a service writer at an independent shop that works on audi and vw and my boss is just awesome he has been showing me how to wrench and im happy to be learning from him Ive been using your channel as a great guideline and i just purchased my first tool box last week. Loving the independent shop vibe just got done doing my first brake job yesterday and i'm looking into ase certs
Just graduated tech school a couple months ago, UTI of Long Beach! Came from zero automotive background and loved every moment of it and did great as far as learning/grades. One thing I wish they could do better is the lab portions. Labs are great and you do learn a lot, but none prepares you for real life so to say. All the trainers are clean and been taken on and off thousands of times. Great to learn the premise of what ever it is you’re learning, but out in the real world you deal with rust, stripped and seized bolts, all other wear n tear parts of cars that cause common issues. It’s for sure one thing you’re only going to experience out in the field!
Im a 1 year tech working in an indy euro shop i have fallen in love with this job and really want to climb the ladder. I have applied at UTI and should start in March, but i guess it couldnt hurt to go down to the dealer and just at least ask what they have available. Love your vids! Thanks a million
I'm 20 , not even a level 1 apprentice , I'm in a CVE (Co-op program) offered by a local highschool and I was sent to a toyota dealership and have a really good trainer. Finding a good teacher is part of the difficult process. Some mentors want you out asap and some mentors really likes having a student to teach.
Hi. I love your channel. I am 45 and started at WITC in Wisconsin, last Aug. 2015, in the Ag power and equipment 2 yr program. I love every part of it. Even the generals and attending school with 40 teenagers! I knew nothing about engines, splitting a tractor,electrical, hydraulics, power trains. I learn new things daily. I agree with your opinions about tools. And i like quality usa made tools if possible. Later Chad
Your videos make me want to become a tech. I've been working retail for 6 years and if I didn't have a good sales job lined up I'd be seriously rethinking my future. Hell, it may be something I want to do a few years down the road anyway. This video in particular is super helpful.
This is the first video I've watched of yours and you seem like an Awesome guy. I'm currently in the gain more knowledge stage for me own benefit to work on and maintain my own cars. I already have a career as a network engineer. I am subscribed.
Great video. Thanks for posting. Like several have posted, community college is a great way to go. I had an auto instructor who went to UTI and regretted it. He felt he could have gotten the same education from a Jr. college at a fraction of the cost.
Personally started in GM dealer quick lube after a year I went to a mom an pops shop half to say I learned more from the small shop slower pace an was able to take the time to understand repairs rather than just get it out. After 4 years returned to a GM dealer ship 10 years later fully trained an full certifications in many areas Diesel, automatic transmission, wiring, communications, recently returned to a independent shop because of flat rate that all dealers push. Chasing communication issues an wiring (mostly what I got stuck with) will kill any chance of beating an time to make a decent payday! That said start at a small shop time to learn an get a understanding of all vehicals. After few years at possably a tec. School of some sort or dealership training .
I took the auto tech major at chaffey college in rancho Cucamonga CA and it was great, learned a lot and even though i ended up in autozone (its something right?) I still can turn a good wrench. I paid practically nothing thanks to financial aid but even with out it cost are about 2500 a year, compared to uti thats dirt cheap. The uti guys I've met barely know their ass from their elbow but i think uti is what you make of it. Im not exactly a sucess story of the auto program but i definitely have the skill to maintain and modify my cars which can only lead to more knowledge.
i graduated from there too with the same major. i was actually looking into autozone aswell but got an internship on fridays in montclair. they do engine and trans swaps on hondas/acuras so ill see how it goes.
I'm relatively new to the industry and I just got out of tech school a few months ago. Tech school was definitely the way to go for me. My dad agreed to pay for it because it was much cheaper than a big university like I went to straight out of high school. It also gave me a very solid foundation of knowledge when I had pretty much nothing before. It was probably halfway through my time at school before I got a job in the industry but not for a lack of trying. It can be very difficult to get a job with no experience and it was made a little harder for me in that time being a girl in a male dominated field. My first job in the industry was an express tech at a dealership. I ended up getting frustrated and quitting because things were constantly changing with management and it was a fight to simply be treated well as an employee. There was also no real avenue for learning more than express because main shop techs were dropping like flies. Then I went to a Goodyear shop and hated it. When I was hired I thought I would get a great learning experience but I was only allowed to do a fraction of what I did at the dealership and the main techs didn't like me asking questions. After that I got a job paid under the table but it was good pay when I got the hours. I was helping a guy rebuild classic cars and he would give me a list of what he needed done while he did his main job working from home. Then on the weekend I'd work with him on the car. This was the best learning experience I've had so far. After work slowed down with him due to his expenses I got a job at a hyundai dealership and at first I was hired for express but on my first day of work as soon as I walked in I was offered an apprentice position due to my experience. I feel like the industry is lacking ways to bring up beginners because often it requires too much luck. Sure you can make it starting out as a lube tech but moving up requires availability for training in main shop and availability for you to leave express without leaving them stranded. Then once you get there your learning is in the hands of your mentor. I have heard over and over that the industry has a shortage of technicians and I believe the way to fix that is training programs from the manufacturer paid for by the manufacturer. About 9 months ago I was accepted into a Mercedes program paid for by Mercedes benz as long as I work for a Mercedes dealership for at least a year but it was postponed due to covid.
I like that training program you mentioned, school one week shop 3 weeks. I think that is a great way to learn. After all that, I am switching into the industry and decided the best way was to still get a Master Tech degree. So here we go!
When I went to high school I spent half the say at a vocational school that was paid by my school district to learn automotive repair. After that I joined the army and worked on military vehicles. The training was 13 weeks then off to Germany to fix trucks, Humvees and APC (armored personnel carriers), never spent a penny on tools, became the go to guy for electrical troubleshooting in my battalion. I loved the work but wanted more from my life at the time. Joined the National Guard as a mechanic so I could still play with all the cool Army toys and worked a 9-5 for a small family business, that is when things went awry. I family business had very flexible morals both with billing customers and the way work was performed. If I knew now what I know then I would have reported them to the B.A.R. (Bureau of Automotive Repair) instead I just quit the industry. But kept working on vehicles in National Guard. Nothing like taking out a 1500 hp M1 Abrams out for a test drive to verify the repair you just made fixed the vehicle then turning it back over to the driver who has to clean it. But I like the idea of apprenticeship, working under someone. It would be great if each manufacturer got together with a top master tech and used an apprentice to shoot videos with the master tech showing how each repair is done, with all those crazy questions from the apprentice put in and answered by the master tech. So that way when you know you have a certain job to do the next day you can tell your apprentice, to go home and watch this video so he already has a general idea of how to do the repair and the master tech just needs to provide minimal supervision. Oh and then the manufacturers could release the videos to the general public along with the tool and part list required to perform the job. That way people who want to get into the industry can watch these videos and get a chance to see what a day in the life of a technician is like. Also for the hobbyist mechanic, if the job is within his skill set he would have a step by step video reference explanation. But I guess a manufacturer does not need to do this just a master tech who likes to shoot videos could do something like this if he had a good apprentice.
I've been goin to a trade school, Francis Tuttle, and I love it!!! I just got hired at a dealership, too. But the thing about school is I learn everything about that specific subject, whatever it may be, and I slowly forget about it because of the next subject in the class. I wish school was still set up the way the humble mechanic said.
+Josh Harrison It is tough. It happens in the field too. Things you don't think about everyday, or things that you may run into once a year tend to get forgotten. Something you can try is making notes on repairs and keeping a book.
My friend and I sat in an office at Lincoln tech at age 22. I didnt want the bill, he completed the program. We turned 30 this year and not only do i have the same or more experience, i have more tools for working on all systems. He got me an interview for the express tech and from there i learned and watched youtube and listened to old master techs(love old guys they have no time for BS they make money). Ended up at a mom and pop shop with a very methodical owner. Postal trucks were 90% of my job and i became a pro at drum brakes, gear boxes, flywheels and throttle bodies. My advice learn all you can from REPUTABLE youtubers and put it into practice. Doesnt matter who you start working for if you can do different tasks. "Toolboxes have wheels for a reason"
iam 16 years old i was studding out sens had been quarantine i am loving this industry but the problem is the lack of tools and resources to practice and lack of positive mind set in peoples is the major problem but man never give up iam trying all my best using those free resources
Excellent advice I went to the same campus and finished in 2004 with a 34 thousand dollar bill. My story is similar to yours I had zero knowledge. prior to school I would like to add I feel classroom and lab time is very important I would suggest there are schools just as good as uti check out your community college I have worked with guys that have only spent around 6 grand. As for your second question real world experience uti did not prepare me for what was really in-store. I had no idea how hard it was really going to be but I can say now that the rough times and hard work have paid off very well for me.
What I would do different is getting a job in the industry(part time) while going to college. Something that I am glad I did is that I bought most of my basic tools with a student discount. Impact gun, sockets, wrenches, ratchets, etc.
Sometimes I think I want to be a mechanic, but I really don't want to go to college because of the debt afterwards; forget that. I also don't exactly have the 100% passion for it, so I'm really stressed about what I wanna do for a living. I'm only eighteen, so I guess it's normal to be this way.
+Zackasee_ I get the feeling you wouldn't need to spend a lot on education. You can teach yourself a lot by watching videos here and wrenching on your own and your friends'/family members' cars. Get your foot in somewhere and get paid to work. Learn on the job. That has got to be worth something. You just need to convince the shop to give you a shot. One you have experience under your belt the rest is easy. Education is just a what you have to do to get noticed if you don't have experience.
***** Very true. I work at a used car lot as a detailer and I've been trying to convince my boss, also my step-father, to let me get started doing simple things but he's just too worried I'll mess something up.
Hey I'm 18 and I go to Lincoln College of Technology the previous NADC and before that i took a year of auto tech in high school and then I worked in the field for over a year at a small independent shop and I was doing everything from simple brake jobs to complicated motor work and diag, I would say that having that job gave me a major heads up from the other students a Lincoln. Ive noticed that a lot of students here are book smart but really dont know how to turn a wrench, they simply dont have experience. If I was talking to someone about getting into the field I would tell them if they wanted to work a dealership doing what you explained in the the video but if they wanted to work in an independent shop id do what i did, but me personally i want to get into High Performance so that is why i went to tech school to take a high po classes and to get more training. I knew how to work on cars and trucks but i simply werent trained as well as i believed i should be
I started in 2007, I work at Tire Kingdom, Nissan, Toyota, and now Infiniti. I went to a college for automotive service management technology degree. I did a few months at Tire Kingdom, that's when I made the decision to go to the dealership and make a career. I have work on the line and in preowned, I found the line is easier one product line.
I started as a technician in 1974 for Dodge dealership after three years of schooling. Since then I've worked at dealers that were combination dealers Dodge/Fiat/Mitsubishi. Chrysler/DeLorean and the Volkswagen authorized repair center/all imports and independence dealership where I did mostly all European cars. Kia dealership which I retired from in 2016. Worked at a few independent dealers. In high school (in 68-72) I would repair cars on the street and in the parking lot of the school mostly import cars for it was hard to find someone to work on them in our town. Well to answer your question about what I would do differently now if I started over. First as much as I like working on cars I would keep it a hobby and wouldn't do it for a living. Some of the places I worked at I was either the shop foreman or the service manager and I can tell you as time as went on there's been less capable people to perform the repair task in the dealerships. Dealerships do not seem to want to pay for quality people to perform repairs. The dealerships are more concerned about selling cars and they are about repairing cars in most cases they do not care, really (They Don't Really Care) that cars are actually repaired properly. They are more concerned about how many parts you can sell and put on the car and make more money for the dealership. I truly feel that all technician should have at least 3 years of schooling to learn basic Theory how of a car works and how the parts work and all comes together and customer relations and 1yr in dealership training. After that they would receive a 4 yr degree and become a licensed technician. Well that's how it would work to me in a fantasy world but we don't live in a fantasy world. The easiest way to fix what's going on in the dealerships and outside the dealerships with training is make everybody have to be licensed technicians. I've seen over and over again the tool salesman taking advantage of the young mechanics selling them way more tools and way bigger toolbox then they actually need. I will bet that 90% of Automotive technicians and mechanics could get by with half the amount tools that they have. I could go on for days so I will stop here. Onething more I must say is I was paid more in the 70s then any other time working as an automotive technician. I was paid 50% of the labor for my pay at Dodge dealership.
I am in Lincoln Tech Institute for the Audi accelerated program. I was approached by the campus president today and asked if I would be interested in switching over to the Volkswagen program. I understand that there are a lot more Volkswagen dealerships then Audi and my chances of landing a job after graduation would be greater with Volkswagen. I`m still undecided. i still would have to take more certification classes in order to start as a entry-level tech. With Volkswagen after graduation I would be coming out as a entry-level two tech. I`m 52 years old and don`t have time on my side. Just looking for a little advice to help me with my decision
I think a school like UTI is a good choice if you have money to burn and aren't willing to learn on your own, but it really isn't all that hard to get into the industry. I started out working at a quick lube / tire shop and while yeah, that isn't a great place to be, it gave me shop experience - how to handle tools, how to work on cars, etc. That experience, even though it was from a shitty shop, was enough to secure me a spot at a bigger dealership where I was then able to grow as a tech. Yes, I didn't have a classroom environment to study how various automotive systems work, but using ASE study guides and UA-cam videos I was actually able to learn a lot. So now I look at some of my current colleagues who have $20-40k in debt that got them to the same place as me, a guy who instead saved money and now knows just as much.
I'm actually just getting into the industry myself. I wanted to see what it was like working in a shop before actually investing money and time into the education and certification for it. But I found lots of places willing to teach the basics in terms of maintenance and care for others vehicles. So far its a lot of fun and honestly hasn't gotten boring!
Thank you so much for this video, really made me feel better about the decision i made: About 3 weeks i started my new job at a dealership. i was originally going to go to UTI as well (Automotive and diesel program = $41k) but i spoke to several graduates that mentioned it being a waste of time and money. that id learn more in a shop while getting paid to do. 3 days before my orientation day at UTI i got the job and they wanted me to start asap, so i made the decision of holding off on school and start working. the first 2 weeks were great, had some knowledge on regular inspections and maintenance by working on my own car before, but i have learned some new tricks while being here. and unfortunately, I've also had to deal with the horrible trainer. i ask a question and instead of answering it or demonstrating, snatches the tools from my hands and does it himself.. great, task is complete but i still don't know how to do it or what to do when i hit that same wall.. its definitely becoming a struggle here, but hopefully i can turn it around soon. great video man!!
There is a way to combine tech school and starting in the express lane at a dealership. In my case, I was able to go to a local community college and take Toyota's T-TEN program. I knew absolutely nothing about cars when I started. The school placed me at a dealership to work when I wasn't in class. Classes ran 3 days a week for 8 weeks, then we had 8 weeks of full-time work at the dealership. The dealer gradually increased the level of work as I went along the program. In class, you learn the general automotive theory as well as the brand-specific implementation. In the end, I ended up with a 2 year degree and Toyota/Lexus/Scion certification for under about 10 grand. Highly recommend going this route. Before this sounds like a commercial made by Toyota, there are some drawbacks to doing it this way. First, it's intense. I would call it full-immersion training. You will eat, sleep, and breathe cars for two years. Secondly, it can be overly brand-specific. You will learn things that are only relevant to that brand. If it doesn't happen on a Toyota, it doesn't happen. They do get to dictate the curriculum to a large degree, for better or for worse. The worst example was their steering and suspension class, where you would think the most important thing you can do on a car is measure ride height. Steering wheel vibration? Better measure ride height. Overall though, I'd say it's a great way to start.
I went to the same trade school you did and yes they moved UTI. the only thing that I didn't like about trade school was the huge cost and debt. I wouldn't change much of that I think the best way to learn is first off, (want to learn). but I learned more when I had hands on doing it in the field and off of other techs that been around, I would learn the things I liked off them but put my own twist on it to make it mine. I've now been working on cars for 15 years and own a shop in Palos hills. the down side to new techs trying to get into the profession is they lose the drive because they don't make much @ first and the $$ they do make has to go towards buying tools.
Hey man new to your channel saw something shared today on my Facebook about a time lapse video of your day at work and I was intrigued. I am also a volkswagen technician from Arizona and I love the videos. I just graduated from the fast track program two weeks ago but I was a flat rate tech for about 9 months before that and I spent about 8 months before that in the service express so I've basically followed your advice to a tee unknowingly lol. I really like your insight on the industry and look forward to watching more of your videos so keep it up!
Nipola Macintov AWESOME! I always get excited when fellow techs watch my vids. It is even cooler when they are VW techs. Congrats on taking a great path. If you ever think of a topic you want me to talk about, let me know. Thanks again!
dealer mechanic here. graduated from UTI at Glendale in 04, BMW STEP grad 05. I would go to a community college and apply to manufacturer specific auto program like Step while working as a lube tech at a dealership. in 4 months I got promoted to apprentice at my first dealership. to be honest I learned more there than UTI. that's how I would do it over.
My old story: I'm a retired analytical chemist. I worked on my own VW Beetles to save money and for fun. Now I work on my Honda and Subaru. It's not hard to start with the basics, $100 worth of tools, and learn as you go. I would not have chosen to be an auto tech until nearly 20 years after being a chemist. I would have gone to technical school or community college had I not gone into teaching. I would have loved being a tech about as much as a teacher, I think. Probably more. Employees went from personnel to human resources and are viewed as cost centers. Company paid training stopped and anytime they could close a position they did, either through lay-offs or attrition. Employees with experience are no longer valued. They cost too much, even though pay is pretty stagnant, and use too much medical care. But education and training are extremely valuable and experienced people are too. It would benefit them in the long run to provide training for employees. When I was in high school, I graduated 40 years ago, there were shop classes. Wood shop, metal working and machine shop, and auto shop. The local community college offered training courses and maybe certificates for completing them for many skilled labor positions, including automotive. They also had relationships with dealers and local mechanic shops to help place their students. I'm sorry shop classes are no longer easy to find in high school and middle school. They helped a lot of people learn skills and helped them to decide what career path they might want to take. About the only place I know of to work and get training in a large number of skills is to go into the military. When you get out you have a useful skill. If you stay in for 20 years and retire between ages 38-40, you still have 25 or so years where you can put your skills to work, and receive your military pension as base pay no matter how much you make working. There was also college prep, but not everybody went to college back then, nor did they need to for a fair number of jobs. Now hardly anyone can out right afford college, or even a 2 year program at a community college. You could work your way through college 40 years ago and get out with no student debt or at least extremely little. Work-study actually paid enough to get you by, and then working holidays and summers paid the rest. When I started LSU, tuition was $50/semester. When I graduated it had gone up to $1200/semester (in state). I have no idea how much it costs now, but it's far higher than that.
I went to the diesel program at Lincoln tech and then stated as a tech at a dealership while I was still in school and opened the hood on a newer truck and was totally lost because the equipment I was learning on in school was so old and out of date
MY STORY : I'm 21, started working at a little Shop just to clean. Cleaned, mopped, all that. After a month there I got called by a manager that actually had quit, and was at a new shop. So I started up there as a lube tech. Ive been working there for 5 months now and now know how to do struts, brakes, alignments, anything with tires, learned all of that, and continuing to learn. I like my route, learn as you go.
+Evan Wright I am in the IT field and I learned the same way. Everything I know about computers and networking was self taught. Once I got the entry level job, the rest was free training, either on the job or courses offered by an employer.
+Evan Wright awesome dude, do you mind sharing how much you make? This job looks great, but I'm worried about the pay and living in America.
CRAM on ELECTRICAL and you'll go far. Don't get stuck in the service menu rutt.
SinSiti Squid : you are the luckiest man alive. Nobody does that anymore. Everyone's too busy to teach or too worried about wasting time & money to teach someone how to as they go.
Lucky bastard
What's lacking in this industry is quality shops to inspire and motivate employees.
NothingSpecial and pay them accordingly....
NothingSpecial I worked at a quality shop for three years ; till we got ATI who supposedly is supposed to help buisness and employees turned out we marked parts up 70% employees saw no raised cause they pay them 50 grand a year and the people in the office were the only ones who got raises. We talked to multiple shops and it's the same story.
@@stilltrying2gopro829
Well it not horrible
Thats exactly right. Trade schools put out some great grads but these lazy shop owners don't want to train and develop entry level techs.
@@forevertwowheels69
I think most shops are good about that. There always gonna be bad apples out there
Im 18 years old and I studied automotive mechanic for a year. It's hard to find workshops that can teach you. But I bought myself a car and I'm studying it and learning
It really is. Yet most shops complain they can't find good help. It is a vicious and stupid cycle.
I’m thinking of sowing something similar. How are you doing so far? What car are you working on?
yeah yeah yeah
@@gustavom7869 Hey there. 2 years later🤣🤣 but now I actually worked at the part department/tire guy for Mercedes and then I quit that job and I worked a week for free at a Mazda dealership as a mechanic and the boss was really happy with me there. So I got accepted as a car mechanic apprentice at last! I'm so excited to begin and the environment there is honestly very, very good.
Don't give up and I wish you luck! I was 18 years old 2 years ago, now I'm 20
@Bunda Par Hi there and thank you! I just visited different auto shops around where I live with my CV and asked if I could speak with the one in charge. And since I studied automotive mechanic, I'm eligible to start as an apprentice. I really recommend to just ask a shop if you can work there a few weeks for free, so they can see how you work and that is a chance to show off your skills and interest in learning. That's how I got accepted. The negative about this is that they can use you to get some free work, but that's just how it is.
Over the past 9 months I’ve been learning to service my own cars as well as friends and family cars. I have 10+ year old mercedes and bmw so they need a decent amount of work to keep them going. The money I save from doing the work myself I use to buy tools. I almost always find that buying the parts and the tools is cheaper than going to a shop. I’ve built up enough tools at this point to tackle most jobs. At this point i’ve done air suspension replacement, brake pads, rotors, brake fluid, tire rotation, blower motor replacement, electrical troubleshooting, electric seat adjustment troubleshooting, spark plugs, ignition coils, walnut blasting intake valves, temp sensor replacement, coolant change, oil change, air filter, cabin air filter, transmission fluid change, serpentine belt, etc. I’ve mainly used youtube and manufacturer service manuals from places like identifix that have diy versions of their product. I’ve been thinking about buying a van and becoming a mobile mechanic and doing basic services, but until then I’m happy saving myself and those around me money while I gain more experience.
I started at a community college, about a year though started washing cars at a mom and pop used dealership plus going to college. Talked the boss into getting two lifts, and Autozone's tech starter tool kit. That was 5 years ago, now I have an automotive associates degree, am two test away from ASE master tech, have a 72 inch tool box full (tool debt free) and teaching two new techs.
The big down side is the community college had no new up to date cars and tools.
I tell new techs "If you take about cars on a date, then you have found an awesome job and one hell of a woman!"
Travis Jones how is it going so far bro
I had the opposite experience at my community College it got a huge grant because maytag shut down and moved to Mexico and alot of older guys got grants to go to college. They eventually cut the program down but I guess I got in at a good time. They took the applied science course out and cut it to a year certification.
I went to UTI as well 2 years ago, graduated with just the auto classes and started at Nissan. Currently a B tech. honestly from what i see is you have to have a mind set to want to push forward to be a tech, ive seen alot of kids go through the school and they're just there to get away, others like me want to do this for a career and they excel quickly. to me school is a great way to get in the door and learn a good chunk of how to work on cars, but you learn so much from being on the job.
Dude... $26,000 sounds hella good when you work at Chipotle.
thats a lot of money still.
No job
@@domingodeejayable bro🤣
You know, I just wanted to get into a trade and I just so happen to have a ford that needed repairs. Did the repairs and found that maybe this will be the trade I get into. Took the tour at UTI but I really did not want to have 40 grand in loans. The way I got into the business is I wrote a very convincing cover letter to a Firestone Complete Auto Care, got an interview and now I've been working there busting my ass working as hard as I can and trying to learn all I can for the past 6 weeks. The job was part time but I just recently got "promoted" to full time already. And I gotta say, I love it so far. Yeah I'm changing oil and tires but when it's slow I help the flat rate techs with their jobs. Right now I'm on track to making 22,000 a year roughly but for being 20 years old with no college debt I'm happy with that. I already got a raise for my hard work and I think I want to grow with this company. By the end of this year I will hopefully be a service tech doing brakes and suspension flat rate, making 32,000 a year in 2016. I know I am young in this field but so far, I think I made the right choice not going to UTI.
+Jacob Haas Right now you're also on track to become the kind of tech that people ask for when they bring their cars in for repair. Great Attitude!
What was the letter to Firestone like? How did you write it?
Great attitude. Keep working and learning. No matter where you end up later, this is the only way to move your life forward.
Yes you did because UTI shut down
reyelfather no it didn't
I started out just buying an old truck which was a terrible DECISION!! BUT THAT TAUGHT ME A LOT. I have ton of wrenching experience and I work for myself as a mobile mechanic for other ppl. I don't bullshit ppl or lie to my customers. trying to get a position in a dealership.
I work at a concrete supply yard and on slow days I’ve been offering our mechanic to help him whenever he needs it.
It’s great experience, especially with concrete truck as they have many different components: Diesel engine, pressurized water systems, hydraulic systems, lift axels, electronics galore.
UA-camrs like you and doing things hands on has really sparked a fire in me I never knew I had!
THANKS AWESOME!!!
I took an Entry Level Trades Training course (1 & 1/2 yrs long) after high school... I think I paid between $3k-$6K (back in 1990). The course covered all 4 years of an apprenticeship and was mainly comprised of Domestic vehicle hands-on in the shop. After that, I bought a $3500 craftsman roll cab with top chest (that included a decent amount of tools) and then went looking for work. Everyone was looking for someone with "experience"... found a little Mom & Pop VW shop that gave me a chance (my German language skills was what got me the gig). I can't say that I learned much from the older Techs (all aircooled / carb guys)... the following 4 years of apprenticeship re-enforced what I was introduced to in the Entry Levels Trade course ... and the on-going online research / learning (1998 is when I found the internet) is what helps me with things today. I started at $7/hr (it's much more now)
***** There is something about working your way up, that is so rewarding. :) Thanks for sharing.
***** if you find a shop that mainly has newer cars in the parking lot... chances are that all the guys working there are up-to-speed with servicing them. If you see a lot of aircooled vehicles, then maybe skip that shop and look elsewhere. However, there are lots of top notch aircooled guys that will have no issue working on watercooled stuff.
***** For sure one of these days I would like to meet some fellow youtubers / subscribers / viewers... if an Automotive UA-cam gathering ever takes place, I'll be sure to attend. I'll be the guy wearing the black gloves!
working as an independent on all makes and models truly test your skill and wit.. I'm grateful that I work for a shop that truly cares for customers and their vehicles .. sometimes you get beat up on time but to see the smile, appreciation, or hand shake makes that struggle go away.. I'm grateful that I have the ability to test... test again... and learn how all makes systems function... it's great to interact with a customer first hand
+mtlloyd89 Na I LOVE this comment!!! Thank you.
The military is a great way to start/learn. Air Force is military light but mechanic heavy if you go in that field. A great way to learn, get paid, travel, and come out with a skill or stay and retire.
I’ve been watching UA-cam for a couple years, and have now done many 3 head gasket replacements, 3 clutch replacements, many oil changes, brake jobs and am refreshing my Audi A4 suspension currently. Have learned a lot and am still learning
I got very lucky to have a knowledgeable and patient mentor from a mom and pop shop.
It lead to a lasting friendship too.
I wouldn’t change a thing I went to a tech school for 3 years at a community college and got hired by vw right out for the program did express for 6months went to fast track now finally been on the main line for 3moths and I’m loving it are dealer is really good about making sure the new guys get good training and have a great support system around with all the vets willing to help
And you do know that as you said you were willing to be a teacher and or a mentor that many others aren't willing to do....TYSM for helping out guys like me!!!
Personally, I did 2 years of schooling for this and the amount of online module activities we had to do was exhausting. I'd rather watch a mechanic a whole shift and him not even say a word to me than that. Most of us have the mind set that isn't geared toward staring at a computer and answering questions. The real learning is in the lab and explanation while taking notes and using repetition to set it in stone.
I did exactly that. I received an Automotive Repair Technician Career Diploma from Penn Foster, which is an online program. I read the textbook and took the tests. I then applied for a VW job and it was sent to a dealer in my area. I just started, about a week and a half ago, as a Lube Technician at the dealership. I am learning by just doing the job. I have already interacted with some of the Technicians that do repair and have learned a few things. I think it is a great way to learn. I already pulled a Cylinder Head from my car, before I got the job, so I have a lot of tools already. However, I will be picking up more as I find out others I need. The online Penn Foster program was CHEAP, less than $800 and is a FANTASTIC way to learn without getting into debt. I recommend it HIGHLY!
Thanks for the feedback. We had a guy ask me about that, and I didn't really have an answer for it. Glad to hear you're kicking butt!
I'm in my second year working at the dealer, i started exactly the way you said you would, crazy to think when i started i was worried cause i didn't go to tech school and now i see some of those guys come and go and i really am glad how i was able to start in the industry
+Evan Ericksen That is awesome. It sure doesn't take $45k and a year in tech school to get to turning wrenches!
I understand what your saying about the internet and when I first started out in the mid-80s i was mainly self taught and what I was able to gleen from available data and looking over someone else's shoulder when they weren't willing to share. Things have changed very much.
I'm a former OTR truck driver who is in the start of my online training to become an automotive service technician as a sole proprietor. Offering reasonably priced drivetrain maintenance specializing in HVAC. I'm just starting out with my automotive training and I'm using UA-cam content almost exclusively, applying the knowledge as I find needed repairs. Starting with the many repair needs of my immediate and extended family.
Your referrals for online content are very much appreciated. Thank you...
I'm 35 and I've always loved vehicles. I've done my own tune ups and oil changes and various small stuff over the years. I just recently decided to quit my great paying job where I was miserable at and pursue being a technician. 2 months ago I started all the way at the bottom at Courtesy Ford here in Hattiesburg, MS working the quick lane. I busted my ass doing my job and taking all these certification courses online and as of next week I'm officially being promoted to an actual tech. I will be doing mostly CPO's and whatever overflow they have on recalls as needed. I'm super stoked and excited and I love my job. Cant wait to start my day next week.
Hell yes!!! Finding a place where you can make money and be happy is something i wish for everyone.
Christopher Thrash I’m from Mississippi also and trying to get started
Where at in Mississippi?
Great insights. I started at a tire shop, doing tires and oil changes. Definitely a good starting point. Thanks
I work in a smaller shop as a general service tech after school, mounting tires, oil changes, ect. I'm 16 and have been doing it for about 4 months now and I look forward to going to work almost everyday. Most of what I knew when I started were things I learnt working with/watching my dad who is a mechanic and from videos online. now working in a shop I have learned ton from the other techs. After I finish high school I'm planning on going to a tech school to work full time as a mechanic.
These days online learning and You Tube videos are the way to go. It's faster and cheaper than tech schools. I learn every day from watching UA-cam. When I was learning to be a tech nothing like this was available and in addition to auto repair I've also learned to flash ROMs to phones and repair computers. Thanks for the great videos man!
Thanks for taking the time to post this up. I'm in this stage now. Currently in tech school enrolled in the Audi/VW program. They assist in finding a job at a dealership. You have to be employed by a dealership in order to qualify for the program. The program itself is about 6k and about 18 months long but like you said it's full throttle 2 days a week school and 4 days a week at work doing 10 hour shifts. I started to watch your videos just so I can gain some extra knowledge. I am a big VW enthusiast (own three of them currently) it also helps that I know the brand from my days working for ECS tuning. But anyway just wanted to let you know I am a fan if you are ever in South Florida which you very well maybe since the VW school is 15 minutes away from me let me know and I'll buy you a beer. Thanks again for the videos.
I'm not a mechanic yet but I want to be when I'm older but what I've done so far is I got a job at an auto shop in my town cleaning and running errands and just watching and learning
My first job was at Jiffy Lube doing quick maintenance. I think that was valuable experience, seeing as I worked every position they had. After a year of doing that, I moved into a technician position at Sears where maintenance and repair work was much more frequent. It's been 6 years since I wrenched and currently considering a position to be in the back shop once again. I truly think if you're trying to get into the industry, you just have to be prepared for the breadth of knowledge that engulfs automotive in general.
(heavy personal lifting equipment mechanic for 1 year now) I think what was lacking in my school program (in canada) was all of the inconveniences like stuck fasteners, broken bolts and also diversity in what you repair every day. (ie; you fix all of the issues a single machine has, versus at school where you work on hydraulics for a few weeks, then engines...) It took me a little while to adjust and grasp every system and how it works then proceed to fixing/troubleshooting it, since they're completely different systems.
I was mainly a part changer growing up as a kid 16 to 25. Then I went to uti. I learned alot about how everything fails and they harped on electrical more than anything. Which I liked because I was horrible at electrical growing up. Now I'm working ford but I think I'm going to switch to gm. Parts people are slow and dont know what they have. Not that I would rush cars out but I shouldn't be waiting on a tire for 3 hrs. Or rotors for an hr and a half.
Been working in a motorcycle dealership for a couple years now and this makes me happy that I don't need to go to school and rack up tons of debt to become a tech. Thanks for the video and your willingness to help the rookies improve their work. A service department is only as strong as their weakest link.
I good start is at community college. In Georgia with grants you can go for free and most have automotive shops.
This is what I'm planning to do once I graduate, I'm in 2nd sem senior in high school. How would you go after taking an automotive program at community college?
+CloudGamerz apply for the hope grant, not the hope scholarship. You get your tuition paid. all you have to pay for is books, and various fees.
+CloudGamerz if you are interested in blue collar work, have you considered being a union plumber, pipe fitter, elevator repair man, or electrician? you can go to school for free, get paid while you go to school, and once you become a journeyman you make minimum $30. It's a good career, and plenty of work, and if work gets slow, you can always get a side job! look into that. If you're in Atlanta Google local 72.
+Bigchuck678 I'm from Cali, I'm not sure if what have a program like that. And I already got accepted for grants :) can't wait to graduate and start taking auto classes
+CloudGamerz way to go congrats to you. and yes they have union apprenticeships in California as well.
i went to school for electronics and then started at a small shop and moved up to a dealership as a diesel tech, ford and gm have great training programs for techs don't know about other brands, I thinks it was a really good route for me and the electronics background is huge
I am growing up as a mechanic. I already know more than the people that work with my dad do about cars and trucks. I love automotive mechanics and working on my own dirt bike.
I mainly grew up working on cars with my grandpa and I had started building my tools about 4-5 years ago and has been looking for a job that would hire me on that lasted about 3 and 1/2 years but I go in for the pee test Monday and couldn’t be more excited to finally get my foot in the door but no college or anything like that just a lot of backyard experience and UA-cam but I’m really glad that the lord gave me this opportunity I thank him for that and many of the other blessings he gives.
But I don’t really know what would be next after I onboard and I’m a little nervous but that’s okay.
AWESOME video!!! I started as a lube tech and just got the on the job training from a senior master tech. Three years later I've moved 1,000 miles away from home to continue my education under the same guy. I'm now the number 2 line tech in the shop. I know more than most of the guys fresh outta UTI. I personally wouldn't change a thing. I also feel like I got lucky. The guy that trained me took his time, trained me well, has infinite patience with me (to this day) and has been super supportive. If you get the right teacher they will train you the true tricks of the trade. Time is big too. Being a great tech takes drive, will, motivation and most importantly, time.
Fleet Maintenance. Start in the Maintenance department and then work your way to the Repair and Diagnostic department.
I did inspection and maintenance for a year. Miss those days!
I started at a small family owned shop that does tires/oil but also has 3 full time techs so it's a good mix of quick lubes and actual repair. When I'm not busy doing tires I get to shadow a tech and learn some stuff. It's a good deal
Just started my heavy duty mechanics apprenticeship here in edmonton alberta! ive been watching a bunch of your videos and im really enjoying them. thanks for sharing your experience!!
I'm an ASE certified graduate from UTI and I've been doing this for 10 years myself. I love this video
AWESOME!
+steve king thank you.
Thank you so much for this. My son is just starting down this path and there isn't a lot of information out there on how to make this happen. He's always been a car junkie, and is now 16 and working at a Goodyear Tire. They do full auto repair on every vehicle imaginable and he LOVES it -- he loves the variety of issues and the challenge of knowing each vehicle... and the problem solving. His title is "automotive apprentice" and the shop has six guys and an owner who all are investing their time in him. It's really amazing. He is doing the bare minimum to graduate from high school (because he HATES school), and will graduate at 16 in the spring. We were looking at UTI and the local community college as options -- the cost of UTI is prohibitive, so we are going to aim for College of the Canyons program. We'll add the online training this year. Thanks for the names of who is good online!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!
I live in Belgium and i'm actually going to take the same path, 1 or 2 days at school and the rest of the week at work learning as i go, i start in a few months so i try to learn as many things as i can by fixing small things on my car by watching you, ChrisFix, EricTheCarGuy and Jason, i'm really looking forward to learn a lot and start this career nicely
Your videos help me a lot to understand the industry, thank you so much 💪
I am currently in a Tech school now 2yr course and im half way thru Cost is aprox $12,000. As you like you Charles i knew the basics about cars when entering school and that's about it.I have to say i feel it was a GREAT decision to go school. All of my teachers are ASE master techs and teach us alot of tricks that aren't mentioned in our text book. The one downside is the selection of cars we have to work on. We end up fixing cars that numerous students have worked and they get so messed ups sometimes that even if you fix it correctly it wont work cause someone ripped a wire out of broke a bolt off somewhere.But the one advantage i like for school is you get to learn all the different systems on cars to where your working in a dealership starting off your not going to be working on HVAC systems or doing any electrical diagnostic.I just feel its great to have an idea on how it all operates instead of just knowing oil changes or just brakes. My last thought is im not sure about all TECH schools but our school gets 50% off tools with MATCO and Snapon and 60% off Mactools. I have purchased over $10,000 worth of tools for about $4,000 ish if its lie this across the board i would say that would be one HUGE benefit going to school for someone who is wanting to get into the automotive industry.
Im considering going into the industry, but my parents want me to go to a 4 year college. I got to take a fuel tours of some tech schools and i really liked it
College is unbelievably overrated. Be a tradesman. If you like cars, work on cars. I'm a film major who works in television. My dad was a mechanic and a Snap-On manager. I wish every single day that I had spent more time learning from him and less time going to school, because what I really love to do is get covered in grease while underneath a car.
Your parents want what's best for you, sure, but if you like cars, don't waste four years and countless dollars on college. Unless you want to engineer cars. Or design them. Then go to college.
Love the channel and watch this frequently. Nice to see what it is like in the real world. Im going to the BMW program offered at CPCC here soon to learn and work for bmw. Im not clueless when it comes to car, not saying i know everything no one doesnt. But working on cars, fabrication, making turbo kits, swapping motors and transmissions, and what not ive got deeply interested in cars. Im attending school in the fall and hope everything goes well. Again appreciate your videos they are cool to watch and informative.
Looking to pivot into the tech world as a career, your video are amazingly helpful and you calm demeanor feel like your words are trustworthy idk like the videos man going to keep watching
Down here in Australia I got my cert II (which is a pre apprenticeship qualification) for free as part of a program in my last year I highschool. This program was accompanied by a 30 day work experience program to give students an insight to the industry. By the end many students left and the other students such as myself who were passionate in continuing to be a tech after school were helped by councillors to find jobs in dealerships around our local region.
in high school my junior and senior year I took automotive classes at a different school. I've learned a lot from those classes. even before I took those classes I knew a little more than a basic amount but it sharpened me up quite a bit. I've done countless brake/suspension/tires/oil changes in that class and in my own garage. at my highschool we even pulled engines out and back in ether timing belt or a rod punched threw the block. however the one thing that lacked in those classes were the computer side of cars and how scan tools worked. my school had a fancy snap-on cart for the scanner but I rarely had the chance to play with it. atm I'm out of high school and searching for some type of job in the automotive field. it's been a few months after highschool and still have yet to find a place that will except me even with my known experience. I may just work at harbor freight or some jiffy lube for a few months just to boost pocket change and say I have experience under my belt. I've been off and on about tech school if I should go or not. I feel like I would learn more and add on to what I know know but it wouldn't be much, just for the piece of paper saying I did the thing. I've been into cars my whole life and this is the only thing I'm good at.
I was in sales in my current dealership. And a few techs left for another dealership and my GM asked me if I was willing to move to the shop knowing my dad ran a Mobile mechanic operation. I agreed to do it and I love it. However I got a good chuck of my tools bought for me to start as part of the incentive for me to commit.
I did it the online way. I already have a BA and couldn't afford more school to switch careers. Started working on my own cars out of necessity and found out it clicked with me and I liked it. Found ETCG and watched those. Started at a small shop a year ago and then to a GM dealer in express service. Now im back at the small shop as an apprentice tech doing EVERYTHING that comes in. Fun stuff. For education, I've started online school with Penn Foster. It's no UTI or WyoTech, but it's under $800 for everything and it's self paced.
Shawn Seeley That self paced model is something I am really interested in. I have taken other online study things, and found them to be great.
there are two other ways around my area we learn to work automotive. first we have a tech school for high-schoolers that they spend half a semester at the tech school and half a semester at conventional school. i would recommend that to anyone in high school. the second is to just buy a vehicle and teach yourself. that is what i did and it really helped because i figured if did not like mechanic work i could always just sell the car and have very little invested.
I am currently a student at Gwinnett Tech halfway through the auto program right now. So far the program is great but it does lack some of the hands on experience that you can probably only get from working in the industry anyways. They do teach a great understanding though about components, concepts, and how stuff works basically.And we have a large shop where we can practice different removal and replacement procedures on multiple different brands. I have also been working at a Nissan dealer but I am leaving this weekend for the exact reason you laid out. Training while in express is virtually not there. I have asked when we are slow to help a line tech but am sent to clean and empty trash instead. I am starting at a mom and pop independent shop that specializes in one brand in Alpharetta next week where I will get to shadow and learn from the owner while I finish school. Tech school so far has been the stepping stone I needed though that opened the doors to many opportunities. So my overall thoughts on attending a tech school to begin is a great idea. (I started learning before school though watching a ton of ericthecarguy videos. That is what pushed me towards tech school). Thanks for all the videos. They really help out and give a lot of insight into the industry that you can't really get from work or school.
I have only watched a few of your videos but I want to thank you a lot for this one. I'm 18 and haven't been able to decide where I want to go next. You really opened up my mind and have me some great ideas and information to move forward with my life in the career aspect
+Colby Russell thank you! That means a ton to me.
Of course, and awesome to get a response from someone with 81,000 subscribers
Hey man, thanks for these videos. I'm new to the industry. Started messing around in my driveway on an old VW 1.6l Mk2 Golf diesel, bought the Bentley book, then took a few community college classes, and my instructor, knowing I was hungry for learning but didn't have the luxuries of time or money, pushed me to a local Ford Dealership in NC to get trained and work quick service (pretty much the advice you give).
Been at it for 4 months. Spent some money on tools (because Ford doesn't provide them), and am making jack shit of course. I've learned a lot and definitely gained some knowledge from both online training and turning a wrench, though Ford's online training program hasn't been updated in 4 years or so. My biggest complaint is that I am not getting the chance to shadow any experienced technicians in diagnosis or repair, and mentorship seems largely nonexistent between line techs and quick service.
I get "gravy work", inspecting used cars, doing oil changes, tires, alignments, fluid flushes, recalls, etc. and I'm learning how to be more efficient there. Maybe I'm impatient, but I know there's a constant 3 week backlog of technician work in the foreman's desk, and yet, they don't seem truly interested in growing more technicians in house. Obviously, its all about money, but I guess I'm wondering which Make offers the best and quickest training. I don't hate where I am (though I do hate fucking F-150s), and really I don't have a lot in common with most of the guys in the shop, so part of me thinks jumping ship after 6 months might not be bad if its gonna take Ford 3 years to send me to school, and Nissan or VW 1 year.
I learned on the job as a Goodyear quick service guy. If I passed a ASE test, my company would reimburse me for the cost. If we were slow my company would not let me train or read study material. I had to learn myself out of work. All the technicians I worked with had no interest in training me. I am an engineering student so this was a temporary job, but I had the choice I would go through a training program like UTI.
I think you missed the most obvious (and free) way to get started in the industry. Trade school (it was called The career center in my area) while still in high school. I was able to take auto classes in a certified Toyota shop and get training from pros. Had access to all the best tools, and make connections all for free. While still in high school.
You know what I sure did miss that. Mostly because I don't know how much it is geared towards getting in the field vs basic auto knowledge.
But yeah a good program like that can be a great thing. Hell I would have liked it just to be in school less when I was in HS.
+jhitt79 While I'm not in the auto repair field, I whole-heartedly agree with you. I went to trade school for industrial maintenance back in 1989. Best decision I ever made in my career. Cost was very low and the training was great. Got a great job with a great company and love it still today.
+HumbleMechanic I hear you on the time crunch with working 40 hrs and school. I did that for 2 years. 5hrs of trade school and 8hrs of work made for a looong day. I would hate to have to go through that again!
Me and you both!
Lucky you. The high school I went to had the option to go to a trade school, but it didn't have mechanical programs.
I just started about two months ago, I first applied a jiffy but was turned down and then in a angry rage applied and got hired on at a local automotive place. Luckily for me its one of the highest rated in the city i live it. Its not a massive shop but its got 6 bays including the alignment rack with the youngest other tech who has been there for 5 years.
I really enjoy my experience- I started with a small toolbox of old junk and now I've got a larger roller cart from harbor freight. I'm learning so much about tools, machines, cars engines inspections and now today my vocabulary for car part- i think- its pretty darn good. I've also done a certain lot of personal growth at this job to and I enjoy it alot.
but what I feel lacking in my position is guidance for career jobs. I do not plan on being at this play forever because it doesn't pay much and I want to make good- good money. No, of course its not going to happen right now but i mean in the future- I want to make a lot of money. I just dont know where or what i can do besides ASE stuff and years behind me to make that a reality. I want to have more fun and make more money doing it. I just don't think that will happen in a simple auto repair ship and i dont know where it would.
Additionally, my people and teams skills have grown. I've made a few mistakes- broken tpms and oil pan bolt loose- both fixed no issues. I've rebuilt trust after loosing it.
Got a different perspective for you guys...
Went to the Army at 20 years old (2007). Qualified to be a helicopter pilot but wanted to work on cars. Choose wheeled vehicle mechanic 63B, i wanted to at least "know" how to fix my own car. I was National Guard so i didn't do it but once a month and i worked as a purchaser and waiting tables the 6 years i spent in the Army. Soon after separation i hit a rough spot in life and decided that if I didn't go to school now and use my education benefits i would never use them. I liked UTI. I felt it did a good job filling in the gaps from the Army training and experience. I also took the Nissan Program. Overall, i only took out about 4k in loans just to cover the last part of Nissan but that was nothing compared to what other tech's are paying (whew) Anyways, now I've been out of school for almost 2 years, been at the same Nissan dealership in my home town and i started out as a lube tech. I've now worked my way up to level 2 tech and went from 10/hr to 18 flat rate with my dealership sending me for additional schools/training as soon as they can. I'm next in line to get promoted to main line. I've got a couple ASE's as well with more scheduled next month. I've really enjoyed my experience. Hard work and dedication have really been paying off. Does it suck? Hell yeah it does but this is my life, my career. This is what i want to spend the rest of my life doing so I'm going to make the best of it and continue learning every day. Looking back the only thing i would have changed is not taking so long to go to school. I'm 30 now and still have way more to go. If i would have started when i was 20, I'd be a Master Tech for sure by now. Most likely GTR, Leaf and Titan certified as well.
If you're still reading, thanks. I hope this helps any of you guys thinking about a career in automotive.
Great video. I started from the quick lube shop and quickly moved on because I had gone as far as they wanted techs to advance. I took a demotion to lube tech in a more full service shop that promised advancement after the 90 day probation. Unfortunately they never had any work and I made more than most of the techs that cycled through. I remember watching this a few years ago when I was in still there and unsure if I wanted to stay in the industry. I'm now at a privately owned shop that specializes in certain cars and like you said it is so much easier to pick things up working mostly on one brand. I've learned more in the past 6 months than the previous 3 years. Also there are a lot less tools to buy.
Thanks for sharing Charles. I might enroll into college in the future, who knows? For now, I'm just a home garage DIYer teying to learn as much as I can. Thank God for channels like this.
I started in a quick lube. I knew I didn't want to spend my whole life there, so I used it to learn about cars and build up my tool collection. When I went on to work in an actual shop I only had to drop like $500 for a cart and an impact driver. Everything else I already had in my garage. One thing quick lubes will teach you is dealing with the unexpected or when something breaks. And you will most likely never work in a more stressful or rushed type environment than a busy quick lube with the service writers breathing down your neck as to why car X isn't done yet.
See that was always my main motivation; I hated NOT knowing about anything! My brain was and still is a sponge ready to soak up and and all knowledge. That's why I watch your stuff even though I'm not a Mechanic anymore.
Great video! I've just recently graduated w/my BA in automotive management and worked at independent bmw specialty shop for a couple of years. Now working for the city repairin fleet vehicles. Complete different world coming from luxury cars to working on Fords and Chevy's all day long. I worked express at a dealership for sometime, didn't have the best experience. Alot of it like you said has to do with the dealership itself. Again great video! Thank you
Angel Garcia THANKS :D
The school I attended had too little hands on training tons of classroom but when it came to working in the shop we didn't have a ton of modern vehicles and did very little with them. I would still go to school if I did it over for me the classroom material gave me a lot of knowledge to get a jumpstart I had prior experience in the mechanical field so the two combined made an easy start in the industry for me.
I have recently started in the automotive repair trade as a general service tech and I got started in one of the ways you described, through the family business in a mom and pop shop. I should mention that over the years I've watched this mom and pop shop grow into six shops spanning the Maryland and Pennsylvania area and the business itself has been around for over 75 years. sparing a long story I needed to find a job fast and asked the fam for help. I got a job as a GS in the shop and over the past few months I've been slowly but surely learning the trade from skilled techs that have worked for dealerships and jiffy lube type places.our company has hired quite a few untrained guys with some technical skills and not a lot of automotive experience. the point is that it may take a little longer to learn the trade but i am making money in the mean time and still get to learn from seasoned veterans while I work. I just thought I would share my story for anyone looking to find a job starting in the automotive field.
The Highlander Thanks for sharing. Keep on working hard,and keep learning!
thanks for your videos!
I've been a service writer at an independent shop that works on audi and vw and my boss is just awesome
he has been showing me how to wrench and im happy to be learning from him
Ive been using your channel as a great guideline and i just purchased my first tool box last week.
Loving the independent shop vibe just got done doing my first brake job yesterday and i'm looking into ase certs
Just graduated tech school a couple months ago, UTI of Long Beach! Came from zero automotive background and loved every moment of it and did great as far as learning/grades. One thing I wish they could do better is the lab portions. Labs are great and you do learn a lot, but none prepares you for real life so to say. All the trainers are clean and been taken on and off thousands of times. Great to learn the premise of what ever it is you’re learning, but out in the real world you deal with rust, stripped and seized bolts, all other wear n tear parts of cars that cause common issues. It’s for sure one thing you’re only going to experience out in the field!
Im a 1 year tech working in an indy euro shop i have fallen in love with this job and really want to climb the ladder. I have applied at UTI and should start in March, but i guess it couldnt hurt to go down to the dealer and just at least ask what they have available. Love your vids! Thanks a million
I'm 20 , not even a level 1 apprentice , I'm in a CVE (Co-op program) offered by a local highschool and I was sent to a toyota dealership and have a really good trainer. Finding a good teacher is part of the difficult process. Some mentors want you out asap and some mentors really likes having a student to teach.
Hi. I love your channel. I am 45 and started at WITC in Wisconsin, last Aug. 2015, in the Ag power and equipment 2 yr program. I love every part of it. Even the generals and attending school with 40 teenagers! I knew nothing about engines, splitting a tractor,electrical, hydraulics, power trains. I learn new things daily. I agree with your opinions about tools. And i like quality usa made tools if possible. Later Chad
Right on man. Best wishes in your new career.
Your videos make me want to become a tech. I've been working retail for 6 years and if I didn't have a good sales job lined up I'd be seriously rethinking my future. Hell, it may be something I want to do a few years down the road anyway. This video in particular is super helpful.
DONT FORGET CHRISFIX!
Just noticed this was back in 2014
So Abel
By far the best mechanic channel out there
soapy WOOTER!
This is the first video I've watched of yours and you seem like an Awesome guy. I'm currently in the gain more knowledge stage for me own benefit to work on and maintain my own cars. I already have a career as a network engineer. I am subscribed.
AWESOME!!
Great video. Thanks for posting. Like several have posted, community college is a great way to go. I had an auto instructor who went to UTI and regretted it. He felt he could have gotten the same education from a Jr. college at a fraction of the cost.
Personally started in GM dealer quick lube after a year I went to a mom an pops shop half to say I learned more from the small shop slower pace an was able to take the time to understand repairs rather than just get it out. After 4 years returned to a GM dealer ship 10 years later fully trained an full certifications in many areas Diesel, automatic transmission, wiring, communications, recently returned to a independent shop because of flat rate that all dealers push. Chasing communication issues an wiring (mostly what I got stuck with) will kill any chance of beating an time to make a decent payday! That said start at a small shop time to learn an get a understanding of all vehicals. After few years at possably a tec. School of some sort or dealership training .
I took the auto tech major at chaffey college in rancho Cucamonga CA and it was great, learned a lot and even though i ended up in autozone (its something right?) I still can turn a good wrench. I paid practically nothing thanks to financial aid but even with out it cost are about 2500 a year, compared to uti thats dirt cheap. The uti guys I've met barely know their ass from their elbow but i think uti is what you make of it. Im not exactly a sucess story of the auto program but i definitely have the skill to maintain and modify my cars which can only lead to more knowledge.
i graduated from there too with the same major. i was actually looking into autozone aswell but got an internship on fridays in montclair. they do engine and trans swaps on hondas/acuras so ill see how it goes.
I'm relatively new to the industry and I just got out of tech school a few months ago. Tech school was definitely the way to go for me. My dad agreed to pay for it because it was much cheaper than a big university like I went to straight out of high school. It also gave me a very solid foundation of knowledge when I had pretty much nothing before. It was probably halfway through my time at school before I got a job in the industry but not for a lack of trying. It can be very difficult to get a job with no experience and it was made a little harder for me in that time being a girl in a male dominated field. My first job in the industry was an express tech at a dealership. I ended up getting frustrated and quitting because things were constantly changing with management and it was a fight to simply be treated well as an employee. There was also no real avenue for learning more than express because main shop techs were dropping like flies. Then I went to a Goodyear shop and hated it. When I was hired I thought I would get a great learning experience but I was only allowed to do a fraction of what I did at the dealership and the main techs didn't like me asking questions. After that I got a job paid under the table but it was good pay when I got the hours. I was helping a guy rebuild classic cars and he would give me a list of what he needed done while he did his main job working from home. Then on the weekend I'd work with him on the car. This was the best learning experience I've had so far. After work slowed down with him due to his expenses I got a job at a hyundai dealership and at first I was hired for express but on my first day of work as soon as I walked in I was offered an apprentice position due to my experience. I feel like the industry is lacking ways to bring up beginners because often it requires too much luck. Sure you can make it starting out as a lube tech but moving up requires availability for training in main shop and availability for you to leave express without leaving them stranded. Then once you get there your learning is in the hands of your mentor. I have heard over and over that the industry has a shortage of technicians and I believe the way to fix that is training programs from the manufacturer paid for by the manufacturer. About 9 months ago I was accepted into a Mercedes program paid for by Mercedes benz as long as I work for a Mercedes dealership for at least a year but it was postponed due to covid.
I like that training program you mentioned, school one week shop 3 weeks. I think that is a great way to learn. After all that, I am switching into the industry and decided the best way was to still get a Master Tech degree. So here we go!
When I went to high school I spent half the say at a vocational school that was paid by my school district to learn automotive repair. After that I joined the army and worked on military vehicles. The training was 13 weeks then off to Germany to fix trucks, Humvees and APC (armored personnel carriers), never spent a penny on tools, became the go to guy for electrical troubleshooting in my battalion. I loved the work but wanted more from my life at the time. Joined the National Guard as a mechanic so I could still play with all the cool Army toys and worked a 9-5 for a small family business, that is when things went awry. I family business had very flexible morals both with billing customers and the way work was performed. If I knew now what I know then I would have reported them to the B.A.R. (Bureau of Automotive Repair) instead I just quit the industry. But kept working on vehicles in National Guard. Nothing like taking out a 1500 hp M1 Abrams out for a test drive to verify the repair you just made fixed the vehicle then turning it back over to the driver who has to clean it.
But I like the idea of apprenticeship, working under someone. It would be great if each manufacturer got together with a top master tech and used an apprentice to shoot videos with the master tech showing how each repair is done, with all those crazy questions from the apprentice put in and answered by the master tech. So that way when you know you have a certain job to do the next day you can tell your apprentice, to go home and watch this video so he already has a general idea of how to do the repair and the master tech just needs to provide minimal supervision. Oh and then the manufacturers could release the videos to the general public along with the tool and part list required to perform the job. That way people who want to get into the industry can watch these videos and get a chance to see what a day in the life of a technician is like. Also for the hobbyist mechanic, if the job is within his skill set he would have a step by step video reference explanation. But I guess a manufacturer does not need to do this just a master tech who likes to shoot videos could do something like this if he had a good apprentice.
I've been goin to a trade school, Francis Tuttle, and I love it!!! I just got hired at a dealership, too. But the thing about school is I learn everything about that specific subject, whatever it may be, and I slowly forget about it because of the next subject in the class. I wish school was still set up the way the humble mechanic said.
+Josh Harrison It is tough. It happens in the field too. Things you don't think about everyday, or things that you may run into once a year tend to get forgotten.
Something you can try is making notes on repairs and keeping a book.
that school sound familiar is that in Oklahoma city becos im looking to get back in to mechanics but i frogot what i learned in hs
My friend and I sat in an office at Lincoln tech at age 22. I didnt want the bill, he completed the program. We turned 30 this year and not only do i have the same or more experience, i have more tools for working on all systems. He got me an interview for the express tech and from there i learned and watched youtube and listened to old master techs(love old guys they have no time for BS they make money). Ended up at a mom and pop shop with a very methodical owner. Postal trucks were 90% of my job and i became a pro at drum brakes, gear boxes, flywheels and throttle bodies. My advice learn all you can from REPUTABLE youtubers and put it into practice. Doesnt matter who you start working for if you can do different tasks. "Toolboxes have wheels for a reason"
iam 16 years old i was studding out sens had been quarantine i am loving this industry but the problem is the lack of tools and resources to practice and lack of positive mind set in peoples is the major problem but man never give up iam trying all my best using those free resources
Excellent advice I went to the same campus and finished in 2004 with a 34 thousand dollar bill. My story is similar to yours I had zero knowledge. prior to school I would like to add I feel classroom and lab time is very important I would suggest there are schools just as good as uti check out your community college I have worked with guys that have only spent around 6 grand. As for your second question real world experience uti did not prepare me for what was really in-store. I had no idea how hard it was really going to be but I can say now that the rough times and hard work have paid off very well for me.
What I would do different is getting a job in the industry(part time) while going to college. Something that I am glad I did is that I bought most of my basic tools with a student discount. Impact gun, sockets, wrenches, ratchets, etc.
Sometimes I think I want to be a mechanic, but I really don't want to go to college because of the debt afterwards; forget that. I also don't exactly have the 100% passion for it, so I'm really stressed about what I wanna do for a living. I'm only eighteen, so I guess it's normal to be this way.
+Zackasee_ grab a part time job at a shop and give it a test drive.
+Zackasee_ I get the feeling you wouldn't need to spend a lot on education. You can teach yourself a lot by watching videos here and wrenching on your own and your friends'/family members' cars. Get your foot in somewhere and get paid to work. Learn on the job. That has got to be worth something. You just need to convince the shop to give you a shot. One you have experience under your belt the rest is easy. Education is just a what you have to do to get noticed if you don't have experience.
***** Very true. I work at a used car lot as a detailer and I've been trying to convince my boss, also my step-father, to let me get started doing simple things but he's just too worried I'll mess something up.
Hey I'm 18 and I go to Lincoln College of Technology the previous NADC and before that i took a year of auto tech in high school and then I worked in the field for over a year at a small independent shop and I was doing everything from simple brake jobs to complicated motor work and diag, I would say that having that job gave me a major heads up from the other students a Lincoln. Ive noticed that a lot of students here are book smart but really dont know how to turn a wrench, they simply dont have experience. If I was talking to someone about getting into the field I would tell them if they wanted to work a dealership doing what you explained in the the video but if they wanted to work in an independent shop id do what i did, but me personally i want to get into High Performance so that is why i went to tech school to take a high po classes and to get more training. I knew how to work on cars and trucks but i simply werent trained as well as i believed i should be
I started in 2007, I work at Tire Kingdom, Nissan, Toyota, and now Infiniti. I went to a college for automotive service management technology degree. I did a few months at Tire Kingdom, that's when I made the decision to go to the dealership and make a career. I have work on the line and in preowned, I found the line is easier one product line.
I started as a technician in 1974 for Dodge dealership after three years of schooling. Since then I've worked at dealers that were combination dealers Dodge/Fiat/Mitsubishi. Chrysler/DeLorean and the Volkswagen authorized repair center/all imports and independence dealership where I did mostly all European cars. Kia dealership which I retired from in 2016. Worked at a few independent dealers. In high school (in 68-72) I would repair cars on the street and in the parking lot of the school mostly import cars for it was hard to find someone to work on them in our town.
Well to answer your question about what I would do differently now if I started over. First as much as I like working on cars I would keep it a hobby and wouldn't do it for a living. Some of the places I worked at I was either the shop foreman or the service manager and I can tell you as time as went on there's been less capable people to perform the repair task in the dealerships. Dealerships do not seem to want to pay for quality people to perform repairs. The dealerships are more concerned about selling cars and they are about repairing cars in most cases they do not care, really (They Don't Really Care) that cars are actually repaired properly. They are more concerned about how many parts you can sell and put on the car and make more money for the dealership. I truly feel that all technician should have at least 3 years of schooling to learn basic Theory how of a car works and how the parts work and all comes together and customer relations and 1yr in dealership training. After that they would receive a 4 yr degree and become a licensed technician. Well that's how it would work to me in a fantasy world but we don't live in a fantasy world. The easiest way to fix what's going on in the dealerships and outside the dealerships with training is make everybody have to be licensed technicians.
I've seen over and over again the tool salesman taking advantage of the young mechanics selling them way more tools and way bigger toolbox then they actually need. I will bet that 90% of Automotive technicians and mechanics could get by with half the amount tools that they have.
I could go on for days so I will stop here. Onething more I must say is I was paid more in the 70s then any other time working as an automotive technician. I was paid 50% of the labor for my pay at Dodge dealership.
I am in Lincoln Tech Institute for the Audi accelerated program. I was approached by the campus president today and asked if I would be interested in switching over to the Volkswagen program. I understand that there are a lot more Volkswagen dealerships then Audi and my chances of landing a job after graduation would be greater with Volkswagen. I`m still undecided. i still would have to take more certification classes in order to start as a entry-level tech. With Volkswagen after graduation I would be coming out as a entry-level two tech. I`m 52 years old and don`t have time on my side. Just looking for a little advice to help me with my decision
I think a school like UTI is a good choice if you have money to burn and aren't willing to learn on your own, but it really isn't all that hard to get into the industry. I started out working at a quick lube / tire shop and while yeah, that isn't a great place to be, it gave me shop experience - how to handle tools, how to work on cars, etc. That experience, even though it was from a shitty shop, was enough to secure me a spot at a bigger dealership where I was then able to grow as a tech. Yes, I didn't have a classroom environment to study how various automotive systems work, but using ASE study guides and UA-cam videos I was actually able to learn a lot. So now I look at some of my current colleagues who have $20-40k in debt that got them to the same place as me, a guy who instead saved money and now knows just as much.
Tech school is not for everyone. For me it was worth every penny I spent. I have seen others waste the entire time. Good on you for making it happen!
I'm actually just getting into the industry myself. I wanted to see what it was like working in a shop before actually investing money and time into the education and certification for it. But I found lots of places willing to teach the basics in terms of maintenance and care for others vehicles. So far its a lot of fun and honestly hasn't gotten boring!
Thank you so much for this video, really made me feel better about the decision i made:
About 3 weeks i started my new job at a dealership. i was originally going to go to UTI as well (Automotive and diesel program = $41k) but i spoke to several graduates that mentioned it being a waste of time and money. that id learn more in a shop while getting paid to do. 3 days before my orientation day at UTI i got the job and they wanted me to start asap, so i made the decision of holding off on school and start working. the first 2 weeks were great, had some knowledge on regular inspections and maintenance by working on my own car before, but i have learned some new tricks while being here. and unfortunately, I've also had to deal with the horrible trainer. i ask a question and instead of answering it or demonstrating, snatches the tools from my hands and does it himself.. great, task is complete but i still don't know how to do it or what to do when i hit that same wall.. its definitely becoming a struggle here, but hopefully i can turn it around soon. great video man!!
There is a way to combine tech school and starting in the express lane at a dealership. In my case, I was able to go to a local community college and take Toyota's T-TEN program. I knew absolutely nothing about cars when I started. The school placed me at a dealership to work when I wasn't in class. Classes ran 3 days a week for 8 weeks, then we had 8 weeks of full-time work at the dealership. The dealer gradually increased the level of work as I went along the program. In class, you learn the general automotive theory as well as the brand-specific implementation. In the end, I ended up with a 2 year degree and Toyota/Lexus/Scion certification for under about 10 grand. Highly recommend going this route. Before this sounds like a commercial made by Toyota, there are some drawbacks to doing it this way. First, it's intense. I would call it full-immersion training. You will eat, sleep, and breathe cars for two years. Secondly, it can be overly brand-specific. You will learn things that are only relevant to that brand. If it doesn't happen on a Toyota, it doesn't happen. They do get to dictate the curriculum to a large degree, for better or for worse. The worst example was their steering and suspension class, where you would think the most important thing you can do on a car is measure ride height. Steering wheel vibration? Better measure ride height. Overall though, I'd say it's a great way to start.
SuperFishbomb Great advice! That is a hell of a lot of training for that price..
I went to the same trade school you did and yes they moved UTI. the only thing that I didn't like about trade school was the huge cost and debt. I wouldn't change much of that I think the best way to learn is first off, (want to learn). but I learned more when I had hands on doing it in the field and off of other techs that been around, I would learn the things I liked off them but put my own twist on it to make it mine. I've now been working on cars for 15 years and own a shop in Palos hills. the down side to new techs trying to get into the profession is they lose the drive because they don't make much @ first and the $$ they do make has to go towards buying tools.
Hey man new to your channel saw something shared today on my Facebook about a time lapse video of your day at work and I was intrigued. I am also a volkswagen technician from Arizona and I love the videos. I just graduated from the fast track program two weeks ago but I was a flat rate tech for about 9 months before that and I spent about 8 months before that in the service express so I've basically followed your advice to a tee unknowingly lol. I really like your insight on the industry and look forward to watching more of your videos so keep it up!
Nipola Macintov AWESOME! I always get excited when fellow techs watch my vids. It is even cooler when they are VW techs. Congrats on taking a great path. If you ever think of a topic you want me to talk about, let me know. Thanks again!
dealer mechanic here. graduated from UTI at Glendale in 04, BMW STEP grad 05. I would go to a community college and apply to manufacturer specific auto program like Step while working as a lube tech at a dealership. in 4 months I got promoted to apprentice at my first dealership. to be honest I learned more there than UTI. that's how I would do it over.
The lube tech route is one that I am fond of. As long as you are at a place that will train you.
Yes I would still picked this carrer. 20 years later like love it
My old story: I'm a retired analytical chemist. I worked on my own VW Beetles to save money and for fun. Now I work on my Honda and Subaru. It's not hard to start with the basics, $100 worth of tools, and learn as you go. I would not have chosen to be an auto tech until nearly 20 years after being a chemist. I would have gone to technical school or community college had I not gone into teaching. I would have loved being a tech about as much as a teacher, I think. Probably more.
Employees went from personnel to human resources and are viewed as cost centers. Company paid training stopped and anytime they could close a position they did, either through lay-offs or attrition. Employees with experience are no longer valued. They cost too much, even though pay is pretty stagnant, and use too much medical care. But education and training are extremely valuable and experienced people are too. It would benefit them in the long run to provide training for employees.
When I was in high school, I graduated 40 years ago, there were shop classes. Wood shop, metal working and machine shop, and auto shop. The local community college offered training courses and maybe certificates for completing them for many skilled labor positions, including automotive. They also had relationships with dealers and local mechanic shops to help place their students.
I'm sorry shop classes are no longer easy to find in high school and middle school. They helped a lot of people learn skills and helped them to decide what career path they might want to take. About the only place I know of to work and get training in a large number of skills is to go into the military. When you get out you have a useful skill. If you stay in for 20 years and retire between ages 38-40, you still have 25 or so years where you can put your skills to work, and receive your military pension as base pay no matter how much you make working.
There was also college prep, but not everybody went to college back then, nor did they need to for a fair number of jobs. Now hardly anyone can out right afford college, or even a 2 year program at a community college.
You could work your way through college 40 years ago and get out with no student debt or at least extremely little. Work-study actually paid enough to get you by, and then working holidays and summers paid the rest. When I started LSU, tuition was $50/semester. When I graduated it had gone up to $1200/semester (in state). I have no idea how much it costs now, but it's far higher than that.
I went to the diesel program at Lincoln tech and then stated as a tech at a dealership while I was still in school and opened the hood on a newer truck and was totally lost because the equipment I was learning on in school was so old and out of date