Anyone here work as a mechanic?

[Bitzer!]

Cheers, as they say - every day is a school day, always learning!

[VileZambonie]

https://www.ase.com/Home.aspx

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.  More than 350,000 automotive professionals hold ASE certifications in every part of the automotive service industry.

http://www.natef.org/NATEF-and-You/Industry/Industry-Education-Alliance.aspx

[Irish_Alley]

vile doesnt it take just one good ASE cert mechanic to be working at a garage for that garage to have one of those big "ASE" sitckers in the shops window even if they have 5 bad mechanics, that are probably working on your car

[VileZambonie]

Anyone can get one of those signs. The technicians credentials should be posted in the service area of any shop or dealership. The credentials display the date of expiration as well.

[greasemonkey54]

I work at a ford dealer and I am the only person with any ASEs, I have A1-8 & L1. I am also a Ford Senior Master, Diesel Master and a MD Inspector. When the work is there and the customers are willing to buy the work I can make good money, problem is its just not always busy. The last 2 weeks I have struggled to make 40hours a week, the 2 months before that I was pushing 60hours a week avg.  I like working on cars but the benifits suck, we have no AC in the shop, no retirement plans and its tough on the body. If you get a chance go govt. or something similar.

[VileZambonie]

Sounds like you need to update your resume and start looking for a better opportunity. No ac slows down production 70%

[Irish_Alley]

its been 8 or so years since i worked at autozone. and been driving the old roots again going to work and every shop that i used to deliver parts to has closed. except for the big dealers all the small shops are gone.

[greasemonkey54]

haha, a lot of older shops around here don't have AC. There aren't many shops with AC that close to home at all.

[VileZambonie]

It's not huge investment, not sure why anyone would be so cheap that they wouldn't invest in it. It'll be cheaper than a law suit from an employee who gets heat stroke and sues for unfit working conditions especially in today's work place. I've been there though and I know what it's like. Big fans are a must if no AC but cool technicians make productive technicians.

[Irish_Alley]

i would think wil the bay door opening and shutting all day the ac wouldnt really shut off. i know when i was working at a welding shop all we had was the big fans. but anyone who knows welding knows a nice breeze and gases dont mix very well. well i think they do mix very well just not in a good way

[VileZambonie]

I have a shop at work 5,000 + sq ft with 3, 4 ton units. If you only open the doors to pull cars in and out it stays very comfortable in there. If you get some knucklehead who opens the door and leaves it open (well first I'm going to yell at them) and then it lets all that humidity and heat back in then yeah it's kinda pointless. I put central air in my house a few years ago and let me tell you after this weekend, it's like paradise in here.

[Bitzer!]

AC is pretty much useless over here. We tend to buy more heaters!
If the temperature hits 70degs a few people moan but still get on with things.

[VileZambonie]

Screw that! I would like 80°F with no humidity every day 

[Irish_Alley]

lol i laugh every time i hear someone say "But its a dry heat" i dont care 110° with 0% is still 110°. but yeah vile 80% sounds good. wouldnt need ac or heat well unless you have powder coat in the over or keeping a couple beers cold

[Displaced_Txn]

It all depends on the person, vehicles aren't going anywhere and keep getting more complex year by year.  I was taught from when I was younger, AG classes in school, learning to keep our trucks in the Marines running because they didn't have a mechanic that new anything about our trucks.   After I got out I went to school to learn more than I had previously known and it paid off. That being said I am a certified diesel mechanic and and a.s.e certified in gas engines also but stuck to the diesel side more than the gas side. Going through school there were a hand full of "us" that actually wanted to be there to learn a majority of them were 18 year old honda kids cause mommy and daddy said they had to go to college and figured it was easy, they barely passed all the classes they took while there.  When I moved to Delaware the shop I worked at put a really bad taste in my mouth about how some shops are truely ran. customer service, overcharging, fixing more than was requested or  replacing parts that were not even broken, damaged, etc.  Scince then I've found a different job out of the field until I move again and know the shop owners, service managers personally and do the job correctly and efficiently.  Sorry for the long story but Mechanics will always be needed, pay can get really good with high end brands or class 3-8 diesel trucks.