Job ideas, any ex mechanics?

[brans72]

I am getting little tired of all crap from local automotive dealerships and was wondering ideas for work? I love working on cars but hours are getting longer and pay is getting less. So I ask you guys what you have done if you have been a mechanic and decided to change jobs? What fields can I look into,any automotive things I should look at besides service advisor or parts person? I am just fustrated right now and wanna try to get back on track with everything. Brandon

[mone]

I decided to work for myself..

[Booah]

Why not try gas and oil. I was a car mechanic until I finished my apprenticeship and then started doing rebuilds on large natural gas engines and compressors. You'll have all the concepts down pat already, get to travel the country side and the work is cleaner. Google distributorships for Waukesha, Cat, Cooper superior, etc. I did and haven't looked back, except when working on the car when I want to.

[dadto2jays]

I dont know what brand you work for but I would look into foreign cars dealerships toyota,lexus,honda even in this slow time we still take over 100 cars a day and my avg tech works five days and flags over 40 hours.

[brans72]

I worked for Honda and it was great but issues with the service dierctor made me switch lines to Toyota but we work in teams and also have crappy service writer that total sucks at his job but they keep him still. I like the Honda line much better in my book. I turn over 40 a week but still low pay even though worked in dealers 9 yrs (lack ASE test make me forget everything for some reason). Since at Toyota (9 months) I have done 3 engines all AWD, and 2 trans both AWD also, with no come backs. My teamleader is a MTD and passes all bs to me like engines,trans,pulling dashes for wiring harness or body shop,and any body shop cars. I just feel like in a dead in job and the service manger and director don't plan on making any changes to help benifit me, so I wanna seek ideas for better jobs. Hope I have not bored you.

[Tucks69]

I was an auto mechanic for 10 years for local goverment. I got tired of the low pay and started looking also. I got a job with the power company( Progress Energy) as a mechanic at a Hydro Electric Plant. The principals are basically the same. I also travel a little and get to work at steam plants also. I have worked there 7 years now, and stll love it. It has some rough days, but there is no perfect job!

[avewhtboy]

After I quit working as a mechanic, i went to a two year technical school for Electro mechanical technology, basically repairing automated machines. It was a good fit for me given my mechanic background.

I worked as a service advisor recently, a couple years ago, the hours are real long, probably 60 at least a week, but the pay is good, of course a lot of bull to put up with.

I personally crewed on a IMSA race team for several years. Theres no money it in, but I traveled to almost all the race tracks in north America and had some great experiences.

[sniper]

I worked for Honda and it was great but issues with the service dierctor made me switch lines to Toyota but we work in teams and also have crappy service writer that total sucks at his job but they keep him still. I like the Honda line much better in my book. I turn over 40 a week but still low pay even though worked in dealers 9 yrs (lack ASE test make me forget everything for some reason). Since at Toyota (9 months) I have done 3 engines all AWD, and 2 trans both AWD also, with no come backs. My teamleader is a MTD and passes all bs to me like engines,trans,pulling dashes for wiring harness or body shop,and any body shop cars. I just feel like in a dead in job and the service manger and director don't plan on making any changes to help benifit me, so I wanna seek ideas for better jobs. Hope I have not bored you.

This is not a personal attack, just an observation and some comments.

I just wonder when people complain about their superiors and their jobs, why they think that those same issues are not at other companies or professions?

I really don't understand the last part of your post about getting all the BS jobs handed down to you. Do they pay? Do they give you hours? Does it keep you employed?

I hate when people say "back in my day" but going back to my parents era, people would get a job, and KEEP THE JOB. It seems like now the younger generation is continually searching for "something better". It also seems that younger people think they should be earning big money right off the bat.

As far as careers go. Find what you are passionate about and then find a way to make money doing it. Simple right? You could also get hired by Brown and root or a like company, as a contractor, working overseas for a year making a lot of tax free money, which could give you something different, and a change of pace.

[brans72]

When I say BS I will get a job that the other the team leader will give to me that maybe a big wreck,or diag problem etc and is like well the other guy i am not sure can figure it out etc. I am thinking he has been here like 7 yrs and gets paid more then me. Why pay someone who is not worth it then? he can't even pass the nc inspection class for obd2. Yes i wanna vent and yes I get paid for my work and yes i know bs is everywhere just seems dealerships are more getting worse. Anymore ideas?

[zerotofear]

Propane and Natural gas conversions are getting ready to explode, 12 states are considering 2 years of road tax exemptions for newly converted vehicles. Just a thought.

[ZZ430]

After more than 30 years at dealerships and indepedent shops turning wrenches,, I have found the way to go is an insurance adjuster, the kind that authorzies extended warranties. (GMPP)

They can't BS me on repairs.

[brans72]

lots of energy ideas from you guys and insurance never thought of that. Keep the ideas coming. Don and Zero anymore info from you guys before little searching?

[DocJr]

I'm not an ex-mechanic, but my Dad is...I remember being real young, toddler age, dad coming home and telling me...Do not turn wrenches for a living.

My Dad will admittedly say he's paper dumb (Has problems taking the ASE tests) so he's always been stuck with joe blows down the street (non dealerships) But amongst our classic car family he's one of the best in our hometown.

He worked on cars 17 years, buying thousands of dollars worth of tools, and working for pennies gave it up going on 8 years ago. He will never go back to it. (All the tools are simply amazing for the hobby!!)

Right now he builds heavy duty lawn equipment, he's an assembler on an assembly line, making more money than what he was, and it comes without a headache too. Try that route...any good manufacturing facilities in your area?

[Bsporty]

Some really great suggetions here...Im just gona throw this one out there but have you thought about teaching? There are lots of schools out there that teach automotive classes.Im not sure how much of a demand there is for it but teaching has always seemed to me to be a very rewarding thing.

[kobuzz]

I did auto repair for quite a while ASE certs and all. I now work on commercial floor care equipment and actually make better money. Way less headaches than the dealerships although I still get aggravated from time to time. It's mostly from fixing equipment that other "repairmen" have "fixed" before it was brought to me. I actually enjoy working on my projects again since I'm not under a car all day anymore.

[dadto2jays]

I worked for Honda and it was great but issues with the service dierctor made me switch lines to Toyota but we work in teams and also have crappy service writer that total sucks at his job but they keep him still. I like the Honda line much better in my book. I turn over 40 a week but still low pay even though worked in dealers 9 yrs (lack ASE test make me forget everything for some reason). Since at Toyota (9 months) I have done 3 engines all AWD, and 2 trans both AWD also, with no come backs. My teamleader is a MTD and passes all bs to me like engines,trans,pulling dashes for wiring harness or body shop,and any body shop cars. I just feel like in a dead in job and the service manger and director don't plan on making any changes to help benifit me, so I wanna seek ideas for better jobs. Hope I have not bored you.


I can understand your frustration, I require minimum two ase's to work in my shop, however if I give someone a chance because of their mechanical skills I will pay that person top dollar regardless of the ASE's. I send these guys to ASE's prep-classes that I pay for and pay him to go to that training then they take the tests and must pass the tests.
If I was you I would approach your service manager first and discuss your issues and if he does not do anything then go to the director I am sure that if you have a valid arguement and you are a valued technician they will fix it for you as I know I would. We are on lateral support with super teams I have teams of nine guys with three asms per team. There are always and will always be issues when it comes to dispatching the work fairly. If you want to relocate to Miami let me know plenty of work downhere for good technicians...

[T_Raven]

This is not a personal attack, just an observation and some comments.

I just wonder when people complain about their superiors and their jobs, why they think that those same issues are not at other companies or professions?

I really don't understand the last part of your post about getting all the BS jobs handed down to you. Do they pay? Do they give you hours? Does it keep you employed?

I hate when people say "back in my day" but going back to my parents era, people would get a job, and KEEP THE JOB. It seems like now the younger generation is continually searching for "something better". It also seems that younger people think they should be earning big money right off the bat.

As far as careers go. Find what you are passionate about and then find a way to make money doing it. Simple right? You could also get hired by Brown and root or a like company, as a contractor, working overseas for a year making a lot of tax free money, which could give you something different, and a change of pace.

I know you're not attacking what he said, but I'd like to comment on this as well. I worked for a Honda dealer for a few years. Flagged decent hours considering we were never super busy. Worked for a independant for a little while. Flagged 40/wk but I was working 60 and we were always busy. As a young tech it's partly my lack of experience especially with all makes like we worked on at the independant, there are reasons to complain with any job but if you haven't been a tech then it's easy to think people are just whining. OP as every right to complain if he feels he's getting all the lousy jobs while other people get the gravy. And sadly sometimes service writers will be unfair like that.

I currently work in Iraq as a civilian mechanic. I was 24 when I was home working at that independant and the money was good for a 24yr old, but not for the 60hr/wk I put in and the lack of benefits. And I didn't see me making significatly more down the road. That's why I've been in Iraq for the last 4 years. I'm either going to go back to school or do a few other things I have in mind.

If anyone wants to come over seas don't waste your time with KBR (Kellogg Brown and Root). They pay half what I make and treat you like garbage. I know because I worked for them at first. I can recomment some websites for companies over here if anyone is interested PM me. Heck I'd even get a bonus if I refered someone to this company and they got hired lol.

[JJEH]

I was a Mercedes-Benz mechanic. Then I joined the German Army and spend for 4 years. After the Army I joined the “master craftsman school” and worked as a service advisor at a Mercedes-Benz car dealership. After this job I was also a Service Manager as well as a Service Trainer for Mercedes-Benz.

Then I changed my job and become a Testdriver for Mercedes-Benz.

Currently I work for the US-Gov. in Germany.

Next year we wanna move to the states. Then I have to look for a new or rather other job…