auto tech

[slayerofthesea]

thinking about taking a auto tech class has anyone taken one? the class i want to take covers engine, electrical, tune up and ignition. any suggestions?

[jackelope]

Be prepared for a major investment. You will mostly have to own your own tools. It will take a long time to make money as a tech. You can but it will take a while. You will have to take a lot of classes to earn any clout unless you want to work at Midas. Then you will have to pay back your debt.

[slayerofthesea]

im okay with that. i just want to go back to school. auto tech is what i have wanted to do for along time. i love working on trucks and cars

[h20hunter]

Do you love working on other peoples? I agree....it is a hard start and will cost you. Look online and find out which manufactures offer apprentice type ops. Example...I know Toyota and Lexus offer a program that isn't easy to get in but you get hands on learning, schooling, and accredidation all at the same time. Those that know more than I do can maybe chime in on what it takes.

[Buckmark]

Electrical, Electronics, Diagnostics, Scanner/Labscope, CAN systems, this is were the money is, find a school or like h20 said an apprentice program that focuses on these things...The nuts and bolts part of vehicle repair is pretty easy to get down, the functions and communications portion is were it is at.....
The most valuable guy is the guy that can diagnose...

[h20hunter]

Another thing I just thought of....with all the hybrids out there don't discount being a specialty tech....hybrid systems is a good example.

here you go.....some reading material...

http://www.toyota.com/about/tten/

[Woodchuck]

Electrical, Electronics, Diagnostics, Scanner/Labscope, CAN systems, this is were the money is, find a school or like h20 said an apprentice program that focuses on these things...The nuts and bolts part of vehicle repair is pretty easy to get down, the functions and communications portion is were it is at.....
The most valuable guy is the guy that can diagnose...

x's 10,000,000,000

[Rudy]

Be prepared for a major investment. You will mostly have to own your own tools. It will take a long time to make money as a tech. You can but it will take a while. You will have to take a lot of classes to earn any clout unless you want to work at Midas. Then you will have to pay back your debt.

   i took auto tech classes when i first got out of high school, had to buy all of your own tools.  i know have a full set of automotive Mac tools in my garage, and am not in the auto tech field lol

[highside74]

Shoreline has a great program. I am an outside rep for a parts dist. and my customers are always asking me about finding new tech's. Plenty of jobs for a guy that knows a thing or two and isn't a bad apple. You should be able to make $50-$100k after you have proven yourself, depending on the shop. Good luck.

[owmygulay]

I did the program at Clover Park in Lakewood and really enjoyed it. I now do pretty well for myself. Just wish I bought more tools while I was in school. Most of the big tool brands have a school program that will allow you to get 50% off. Where are you looking to go? Looking to make a career of it or just because you enjoy it? If you want to work at a dealership, I would recommend looking into the courses that will get you dealership certifications while you are in school.

[slayerofthesea]

alrighty thank you

[Bowflinger]

If you want to work on cars and don't want to spend a ton of cash on tools, tool box, schooling, etc... try to get a job as a paint preper at a body shop. You won't have to buy a big box to put your tools in, just a couple paint guns, sanding blocks, and a DA sander. I love being a bodyman but between tools and my box it cost me about $10,000 and I learned from the ground up sweeping and taking out trash. Painting is relativity cheap to get in to plus there is alot of money to make with custom paint jobs. If turning wrenches is your passion, then go for it! You will save a ton of money fixing your own vehicles. If you go to wyo-tech, you get to keep your tools and toolbox.

[shadowless_nite]

I worked as a tech since I was 16 in 2004 through skills center here in clark county,  got a job through there and eventually ended up at toyota as a tech. I started in high times and stuck with it at toyota until they pickrd back up after the market crash in 07/08. The money was there but after recession society got more savy and so did employers. Good starting pay is hard to come by and takes long to get into nowadays. Most lifers in a shop will tell you to do something else if you want real money. Getting into the industry you will not make big numbers at all regardless of master tech status or having every ase you can have. That big money is usually going to someone who has the work experience and factory training certs and ase, unfortuantely that wont be you after graduating from school. However regardless of industry, hardwork and effort does pay off so I'm not saying great things are imposible.

If you are dead nuts on this please take thse words seriously!! DO NOT GO TO A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL SUCH AS WYOTECH, UTI, MMI ETC..." please go to an acredited school where you can get a real associates in automotive technology. Also be aware that though places, as a example, clark college here in vancouver, they offer Toyota t ten program.  It sounds like factory training is what you get but not quite. While it curriculum focuses partially on Toyota it is not dedicated to specifically that. What i mean in particular for example dont expect hybrid training, as that requires you to work at a Toyota dealer to even get into their factory training programs.

If you have any other questions let me know if I can help, while these are my particular experiences others may vary. I myself decided to go back to school for nursing before I was laid off, I am now finishing my transfer degree and am looking for a nursing school. Turning wrenches sounded like a good idea when I was 16 and had my first car... not quite so from my experiences though

[timberghost72]

Electrical, Electronics, Diagnostics, Scanner/Labscope, CAN systems, this is were the money is, find a school or like h20 said an apprentice program that focuses on these things...The nuts and bolts part of vehicle repair is pretty easy to get down, the functions and communications portion is were it is at.....
The most valuable guy is the guy that can diagnose...

Electrical, Electronics, Diagnostics, Scanner/Labscope, CAN systems, this is were the money is, find a school or like h20 said an apprentice program that focuses on these things...The nuts and bolts part of vehicle repair is pretty easy to get down, the functions and communications portion is were it is at.....
The most valuable guy is the guy that can diagnose...

x's 10,000,000,000

 


See a theme here? Become very proficient in electrical theory and application. Most tech schools don't teach but basic level electronics and maybe a bit higher. The mechanical portion of working on cars is not hard at all just takes a bit of time to learn the different manufacturers way of designing their vehicles. If you stick with one type of manufacturer it can be easier. DON"T get sucked in to the illusion that you need a $10,000 dollar + tool box and all Snap On tools. There are times when premium tools are a must but the other times buy smart because that will be your biggest investment after school. I would highly recomend anyone going into automotive to also take college level electronics classes as that will benefit you 10 fold. Which in turn builds your diagnostics skills and make you much more marketable and you will make more money. Anybody can do brakes, change tires, oil changes, timing belts, R&R engines etc.. Get the picture? Learn the diagnostic tools and understand them. Take pride in your work and you will have less comeback repairs. Attention to detail and efficiancy is also very important.

One last thing, make sure you love to work on cars for the sake of working on cars not as a hobby.