I've maintained straight A's in college (aside from one B) as an automotive student. I actually WANT to learn. I WANT to be the best. So, I put forth the extra time and effort. I can definitely say that me and one other student are the top dogs of the class.
*Still am in college for automotive, by the way. I'm part of an apprentice program with my dealership.*
I like working on cars. I like modifying. I like doing big jobs and then having it run perfectly after. I like being able to say that "I" modified my car and didn't pay someone else to do it.
However...I feel like the profession is a bit of a joke.
Yes, it's hard. It's damn hard. But, I feel like techs don't have to be as good as they used to be. Instead of using a DMM to diagnose a charging system, you just put a machine on it and it tells you what's wrong. Seems like that's how it is for everything. I feel like we're just pawns of the engineers...which makes me feel degraded and less respectable.
A car comes in the shop.
Put the scan tool on it, go online, and see if there is a post about it so we can fix it.
7/10 times, the problem has already happened, and we can go in and just fix it. That's how I feel the profession is. Look up what's wrong, print the instructions, follow the instructions, and fix it. Anybody can follow instructions and fix something...
Flat-rate is a joke. Tell me...who is the better tech? The one that can fix anything? Or the guy that can pull 50 hours a week because he does new car preps and brake jobs all week?
I'd rather do the tranny, engine, and electrical work for a living, because that actually takes a brain to do. However, it doesn't pay **** because it's usually warranty. So, why would I want to do that?
It's honestly stupid.
I don't know. Hoping someone with more experience can change my insight on stuff and make me not regret my career...especially since I'm $10k in the hole to it (from buying tools).
I've only been in this career for about 1.5 years...so, it's not REALLY too late. But, getting that 10 grand back would be rough.
*Still am in college for automotive, by the way. I'm part of an apprentice program with my dealership.*
I like working on cars. I like modifying. I like doing big jobs and then having it run perfectly after. I like being able to say that "I" modified my car and didn't pay someone else to do it.
However...I feel like the profession is a bit of a joke.
Yes, it's hard. It's damn hard. But, I feel like techs don't have to be as good as they used to be. Instead of using a DMM to diagnose a charging system, you just put a machine on it and it tells you what's wrong. Seems like that's how it is for everything. I feel like we're just pawns of the engineers...which makes me feel degraded and less respectable.
A car comes in the shop.
Put the scan tool on it, go online, and see if there is a post about it so we can fix it.
7/10 times, the problem has already happened, and we can go in and just fix it. That's how I feel the profession is. Look up what's wrong, print the instructions, follow the instructions, and fix it. Anybody can follow instructions and fix something...
Flat-rate is a joke. Tell me...who is the better tech? The one that can fix anything? Or the guy that can pull 50 hours a week because he does new car preps and brake jobs all week?
I'd rather do the tranny, engine, and electrical work for a living, because that actually takes a brain to do. However, it doesn't pay **** because it's usually warranty. So, why would I want to do that?
It's honestly stupid.
I don't know. Hoping someone with more experience can change my insight on stuff and make me not regret my career...especially since I'm $10k in the hole to it (from buying tools).
I've only been in this career for about 1.5 years...so, it's not REALLY too late. But, getting that 10 grand back would be rough.
