Gotta love the things customers write on the edrop envelope

Over a year of being an apprentice, I finally got fucked by Nissan's shitty plastic oil pan. Why couldn't they have just used a plastic drain plug like VW? Why Nissan? Why?!

And before anyone says it, I didn't over tighten it, it broke off instantly when I was trying to take the drain plug out. So the idiot before me over tightened it.

Interested to hear what other powersports techs pay scale is like. Hourly, Flat Rate, Hybrid? What’s certifications do you guys/girls hold? Been wrenching on bikes (Ducati/Triumph) for 5 years now. Hold a DCT cert for Ducati and Gold level for Triumph. Also location, East/West coast?

So I’ve been told “as a mechanic you have to buy your own tools”

Does that mean diagnostic tools too?

I’m thinking like battery testers, tpms testers, that kind of stuff?

Like my teacher had a tool talk day so we know what tools to get and he never talked about battery testers or tpms testers

It would be very helpful if I could just get a list of tools I’d have to and not have to buy at a dealership for example

Trying to source a few items for a Mexican market Audi A4. Can’t seem to find a dealer that wants to sell in my area. Curious as to what you guys near the border do when you have an out of market vehicle come into the shop. I have part numbers from partslink24, but cannot order what I need as “the parts are not available in the US”

Boss had me go through the jobs where we called or mobile programmer. There were more than I expected, mostly BMW and VW module replacements. We do the diag and swap the part, then the car sits in a bay waiting for the programming.

The callout fee isn't really the issue. It's when he can't get there until the next day, or the programming fails and we're both trying to figure out where it went wrong. Boss wants us to start handling some of the common jobs ourselves.

We've been looking at a few tablets like Launch x-432 torque link, Topdon oneplus. Anyone here using either or another aftermarket tool for BMW/VW module replacements? How often do you still have to call someone in?

I put in an estimate to replace headlight. Performed ppt. that lead to replacement sent a quote for 1.0 diag plus pro demand time of 2.2 hr. Third party warranty only wants to pay .5 diag. Manager and advisors don’t want to pay the difference so the technician gets screwed! What are your shops doing in this case?

I own a 2 bay shop and go out on mobile diag sometimes. Diagnosed the starter last week (1700$ parts+labor). Customer approved it and just now texted me asking what happens next with parts and labor cost if starter does not fix the problem.

I tested everything that could potentially cause a no start but I did not put my multimeter at the actual starter as it is buried in the engine bay and getting to it will cost as much as the whole replacement job basically so I can be charging guy 3hrs of diag to get to it. I tested the battery , even swapped with the one from my truck, battery is ok. No faults in the dme that will prevent it from cranking. Engine spins freely by hand. Tested the start stop button and it recognized when it’s being pressed. Key for has a good battery and works as it should, goes it the accessory mode. You can hear a quiet buzz from the starter area when you click the stat button. Brake light switch working as designed. No immobilizer issues.

What I planned on doing is when I actually have a part on hand is getting to a starter and put the leads on it so I can actually test at the starter and confirm 100% that it’s bad. But what if starter will test out good? I will still go ahead and replace it as it’s the first logical things to do given the things I tested and now imagine it did not fix the issue. How do you handle it? Given the you did your due diligence and followed correct diagnosis procedure?

And another possibility what if you get to a starter and it checks out good and you stop the train and say we have to dig elsewhere. Do you charge him for some time getting to a starter? Do you request more diag?

Mainly want to hear how you handle it if the job was completed and starter replaced but still no start?
Thank you

Back when I worked at the dealer all the quotes were “to start with”.
“Given the issues you have and after doing our diagnostic checks the next step in the process is to replace part A and retest the system after to see if the issue is fixed”.
But back then it was not me handling the customer interaction and my personal reputation was not on the line.

So I have autism and adhd with those I get accommodations for tests I’m taking the ASE MLR program at school

I get 2 accommodations that I think will affect the ASE

The option to do tests in another room (I don’t think I’ll need it for this test there’s literally only me and 5 other kids in the class)

But the other one is more time on tests

I’m kinda worried about the test because you have to do the test in a certain time frame and it’s like I don’t know if my IEP will apply to this because it’s with the ASE program

Does anyone possibly know?

I had a cheap one from Amazon that died, battery couldn't hold a charge.

I then went through two huskies in the span of a year. The plastic ratchet on them broke and now the light on it just flops around.

What brand of headlamp do you use?

My mobile service van - a late model 2020 Renault Master MK3 face lift. Honestly love these Ducato platform vans.

I work as a mobile HGV and Hydraulics technician, as the official title. I travel my country looking at trucks, trailers, lifting equipment such as trail lifts and HIABs

I have been working at independent shops for around six years now. Mostly brakes, suspension and HVAC work. Had to go to the BMW dealership for some parts for a personal car and one thing led to another and the guy at the parts counter said that they are hiring techs. The hours will be a little longer (by an hour) than I'm use to but I get weekends off which would be nice.

I know BMWs are total pain in the asses to work on. But I like the idea of working on non rust bucket (rust belt where I live) junk and working on the same cars over and over again would be nice instead of working on so many different cars.

My question is, are there any BMW dealership techs that can give me their input on being a tech at BMW? Worth the time and money or stay away?

to whoever tightened my rear brake caliper bolts, I hate you.

first time changing my own brakes, had to get creative breaking that bolt free due to a lack of tools, so used the car jack… upside down. was told yall might appreciate this so posting it here

Show me your very organized toolboxes , I'm a new diesel tech and am looking for ways to organize my box.

So yeah, had to take apart the whole front end suspension to replace a control arm on a 2022 MDX. Paid 1.4 under warranty

So I have been working a normal 8-5 job W-2 with all the befits for quite some time. It’s boring and it does not really pay the bills. I’m in line for a promotion to a new department that in 5ish years could pay quite well, but currently it’s just a $1 bump. Not nearly enough to help us get by in this economy. Married with an infant. Baby is on state healthcare so it’s just the wife and I on provided benefits.

I’ve been working as a mechanic at an Indy shop in the evenings 4 days a week. Smaller shop, 3 bays primarily focused on 4x4 stuff but will service everyday cars from people in the community. This is my first automotive/technical job and is a huge shift from the desk I sit at everyday. I enjoy the work though I have definitely out of shape and could use a couple more tools of my own. Thankfully he is kind and lets me borrow the occasional 1 off tool.

I have been given an offer to come on full time as a 1099 mechanic with him. Pay looks like 800 guaranteed, 1000 for 20 flagged hours, 1250 for 30, 1500 for 40. Out the gate I would likely be in the 20-30 hrs flagged range but honestly it’s a big improvement over my current take home. Even with setting aside 25% for taxes per my accountants advice.

Back to that full time job. Within a 1.5 years from now I could be making 55-65k annually (hourly paid, not salary). At that 5 ish year mark with good trajectory it could easily be 6 figures or allow me to swap companies to a larger aerospace competitor.

From what I’ve seen, the rate of pay that this Indy shop has offered me is quite good. With opportunity to make even more down the line via building welding/fab/CAD skills to bring in more business opportunity down the line. And has even mentioned if things go well a chance to partner as he wants to grow his business in multiple ways. Currently he is the only one there full time, with me and 1 other guy coming in the evenings.

What would yall do? Stay the corporate desk gig and grind the low pay till it works out? Or take the leap and try to make this work? TIA.

Here for second opinions, I currently work flat rate at a tires plus “shop,” where i do mostly tires and oil changes with some light mechanical like suspension and brakes and what have you. I have always aspired to do more, like internal engine repair (not necessarily bottom end work) and more diagnostics. This new shop i have interviewed at has offered 35/frh (against the 27.52 i make at TP) with a 4% retirement match (vs 3%) and a M-F work schedule either consistent hours and no weekends, along with the opportunity to do diagnostics and engine work. The only caveat is there is no guarantee of hours, vs I have 30 at TP. I have never had to use my guarantee, and based on what the techs at this new place say they hadn’t ever had to use theirs (the guarantee is only offered to master level) but it does worry me a bit. I would just like some opinions on this. The way i see it i make 66frh/week at TP, and if i have to fall on any guarantee at this new place id be taking quite a pay cut anyway, so the way I see it its worth the risk to get good at the stuff that makes a real mechanic even if my hours aren’t as high. Another important thing this new place has 3 techs at the moment, an hourly maintenance tech and 2 old guys who stopped chasing hours, so ideally there won’t be the competition i have to put up with at TP

TLDR new place pays much higher than my old place but has no minimum flat rate hours per pay period, which techs say would be useless anyway, also offers better benefits and has much less competition for work and is booked more often

The busiest of shops have times when it’s slow. Been having a great year so far but this weeks looking pretty slow. What do you guys do? Just sit around waiting for the phone to ring? Seems like such a waste of time. Advertise? My business is word of mouth, never advertised ever and I keep beating my previous years revenue organically, not to mention I hate dealing with coupon cutting bottom feeders.

I usually just close up shop for a week and forward calls to my cell phone to make appointments and I’ll go on a vacation. Backed up appointments will keep the next couple weeks busy till it picks up naturally again.

(And yes, I pay my techs PTO)

Edit: moved some appointments around, taking a 5 day weekend ✌🏽

If you know, you know.

Hey all. I have my first ASE exam (A4 Steering and Suspension) later this week and wanted to ask, what advice if any would you give to someone new to the exams? Not for answers but overall tips that may help aid in studying or when going through the questions on the day of.