A Day in The Life As A Toyota Technician 2023

IG @nick.nakai
#dealershiptech #toyotamechanic #dayinthelife #flatratemechanic #TTEN #worklife

[@4af]

Incredible that techs like yourself can mentally remember how the 50-100 parts you disconnect/remove during a engine or tranny job go back together in the proper sequence with the right gaskets/ sealers, etc.

[@josiahlinquist4043]

It would be awesome to see a day in the life as a fleet tech

[@LetsDriftMedia]

I wish man

[@Mr.Shifty]

My first time watching, You live a very wholesome life. Love the video, love the vibes. Subscribed bro

[@briansohncompaq]

Using those guide bolts to hold the transmission up so that you don't have to completely drop it is genius! Thanks for that tip nick! ill def be using it.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yea came in handy when that torque converter recall was popular.

[@BIG_doinks]

Doesn't the offset weight put a lot of pressure on the block and bolt holes?

[@angelcolin51]

@@BIG_doinkswas thinking about that myself

[@maddydog]

Bro you’re a master mechanic awesome! Loved watching you work ✌🏻

[@mikemata623]

That's one of many things that I can't stand about working at a dealer is the bullshit complains that customers have after you did a repair. Prime example with that Prius you replaced the headlights on.

[@ftwbreeze]

Hello Nick, enjoyed the look back in the day. Especially the food! Great group of coworkers helping each other when needed. I'm sure you miss those guys! Amazed at your talent for diagnosis and repair/replacement.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yea def a fun group of guys to work with. Good times

[@victorgalarza9296]

​@@LetsDriftMedia hey brother.. what's the symptoms of bad torque converter? Thanks

[@braydensaylor7599]

A magician never tells there secrets 😮

[@CrazyBlox1003]

@@victorgalarza9296 he mentioned them in the video when he hopped into the toyota

[@jalensimpson2247]

I know nothing about cars but I’m interested in going to school to be a technician. Keep the videos up !!

[@abdulmuis6991]

Wow mantap terima kasih sudah berbagi ilmunya kawan sukses dan sehat selalu sahabat 🙏👍

[@fredmo3584]

AS A MECHANIC I LIKE HOW MY DEALERSHIP WORKS WE MAKE HOURS IN TEAMS AND ALL THE HOURS GET PUT IN A BAG AND WE SHARE GET ALL THE SAME HOURS I LOVE IT LIKE THAT THERE IS NO JEALOSY OR ENVY !

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Thats a nice system if everyone on the team pulls their weight, but all it takes is 1 lazy team mate who hardly works to make everyone hate that system.

[@fredmo3584]

@@LetsDriftMedia yeah but honestly if you put in a a scale , i rather share my hours vs work with some spoiled techs sho loved getting all the work and screw everyone else

[@bobbydabutcha]

Looks like a dope dealership to work at! I wish I could find a nice cozy dealership up here in Alaska.

[@rtcar6990]

Ok that was a fun watch at the end of my busy day working my mechanic projects. Like the guide bolts tip. Hmmm nice. Tuck that one away. Now yeah let’s get the current day in the life of Nick !!! PEACE !!

[@TheRealoldcar]

Love the older video, glad you found it and posted it. Do you have do a wheel alignment after pulling the axles?❤

[@ezevallos426]

That Milwaukee under hood light is money. I’ve had mine for like 5 years now

[@joeteejoetee]

MAN, your work is hard !

[@renaultfan3013]

16 days to the interview for the car mechanic line to school and if it goes well, 43 days to the dismissal and 57 days to the time when I can say goodbye to the depressing, consuming and joy-taking care industry. I am so looking forward to studying to be a car mechanic. Besides, I'm starting to live my life! I hope it goes well.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Good luck man!

[@JC-dj5hj]

How’s it goin?

[@renaultfan3013]

@@JC-dj5hj i got in! I really like studying. 😃

[@aksub.4316]

Great to see a master mechanic at work.

[@Wac32]

Love this!

[@Wac32]

I hope to see more day in the lifes

[@pirihern9329]

Muchas gracias for the video

[@ammarsamara3948]

Hi, general question please. searching to be calm😅 prado 2019, yesterday when parked, hesitatse to go a bit backwards or stay in place, and held the gear stick between N and R (Fool i know) suddenly there was a strong kick from the transmission, or engine. Everything was ok after there was no issues, but I afraid that i caused any damage.

[@toromtb7288]

Love your content! I'm a new subscriber by the way. Curious, what Toyota Dealership did you work at?

[@jordonsengchanh7939]

Hey nick what scanner do you recommend for a garage mechanic? I need one for my EPB.

[@326th]

That Snap-On jacket costs more than my mortgage. 😂

[@juzi43]

Lmaooo the shop talk is real out here 🤣 my friends and I be acting hella sus towards each other too

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Def a dealership thing haha every dealer I worked at was like that pretty much.

[@warthhoh]

Awesome video

[@victorgalarza9296]

Where do you get the work lamp? Thanks

[@Wac32]

Hi nick I think your next video should be pros an cons of working as a fleet tec

[@jacker43ify]

Bro as a honda tech i just lost my shit that you got the torque converter out with dropping subframe OR THE TRANS🙃i need to try this

[@khmerxstylex781]

Great video I am a Toyota tech also. Where can I buy those long trans bolts?

[@davidcucchoc5557]

Im 17 and imma start my first day at Toyota as a entry level tech and Im kinda nervous but happy at the same time 😭😭😭wish me the best luckkk

[@SuperMan-uj7dh]

How did it go?

[@nacl2858]

@@SuperMan-uj7dhhe died in a fiery explosion (IDK)

[@iloveap83]

That food looked good!

[@mattsilver8519]

Looks a fun place to work at 👌 Or did 👍

[@atnfatality3026]

I just started my first job as a mechanic

[@miguvare]

Nick I need your help, regarding my 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE , start burning oil, my Camry only has a 49585 miles, right here in mexico we dont have a extended warranty or campaign on the 2AZ-FE engine, like you guys in the USA, I ask for your advice on buy half a block engine, or fixed pistons ? what you recommend ? Thanks a lot.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

If your doing it yourself I would rec just replacing the pistons and piston rings to save money.

[@miguvare]

@@LetsDriftMedia can you gave me the parts number for my engine 2AZ9210328 this is my VIN 4T1BE46K49U300913 and can you find out is this is one of the recall engines ? thanks a lot Nick, if you some time has plans to visit Mexico City you welcome to stay in my home.

[@dominator8u281]

what do you recommend to clean the plastic intake manifolds out?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Degreaser and water mix and a brush.

[@josesegura2170]

The video was dope, they had you bent with the head lamps tho and the fog lights 😭.

[@sdrifter13]

Where did you get those long guide bolts for the trans?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

They are head bolts I wanna say for a 22R motor from the old Toyota pickups. Not 100% sure

[@vgarciamvp]

Yo, jus subscribed, Looks like Glendora, about to start working there tomorrow.. 🤞

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Congrats say what’s up to papa Louie and Stan for me.

[@ruandyramos3464]

hey man I just started watching your videos and we appreciate all the info you give us in the word of an automotive tech, I just applied to an automotive technician program at my community college it’s sponsored with Toyota dealership, I would go and work with Toyota after completing the program let’s say in the future if I want to go and work for another brand like Mercedes or Audi will my experience with working in Toyota be enough?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yes once you get some dealership experience you can basically go anywhere. I went to community college for Toyota and started with Toyota. And had no problem getting hired at GMC and then BMW with just my work experience and ASEs

[@uknorlm1469]

I can see you as a mechanic at tccn automotive.

[@tombray3169]

Why won t the dealers near me change the trans fluid in my cvt .80k it's working perfectly

[@mayowaodus6310]

Hi. For the Camry 2009 with the U250E transmission. At the dealership do you guys replace transmission fluid while the transmission is hot. Thanks

[@LetsDriftMedia]

If the customer is a “waiter” then yea you kind of have no choice.

[@mayowaodus6310]

@@LetsDriftMedia am surprised about this. If I may ask do you put in back Atf with room temperature.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

@@mayowaodus6310 yea room temp trans fluid goes back in and you then get the trans to operating temp and then set the level

[@mayowaodus6310]

@@LetsDriftMedia strange though. We Usually don’t drain out atf on this type of transmissions (U family) when they are hot. We have witnessed some fail. Likewise we don’t pull out cv joints while these transmissions are hot. We wait till the next day in both cases

[@michaellozano320]

I work at that Toyota Dealer as a Lube Tech

[@tyronesmith3812]

What education, certifications, and/or experience do you need to have to start off as a maintenance/lube tech guy at Toyota?

[@jcmorales5881]

Just basic knowledge or willing to learn on site

[@tyronesmith3812]

And they give you a voucher to buy tools?

[@parkerwhitley380]

@Tyrone Smith Most dealerships will “provide tools” for maintenance guys starting out but you will still need to buy your own tools eventually

[@tyronesmith3812]

I heard the pay is low for maintenance guys since it’s hourly and close to minimum wage so I wouldn’t expect them to expect me to provide my own tools until after a few months of being flat rate

[@JorgeGonzalez-yp6ls]

None

[@adampetzke4283]

You should go to a dealership again, it’d be cool to see these again ford would be nice for the variety of vehicles but any of these would be fun to see

[@LetsDriftMedia]

I would if the money was there. I do miss making these kinds of videos.

[@adampetzke4283]

The money isn’t there initially but the money is in the videos people make millions a year in videos, you can grow and make the money on them and more it is a smarter long term option

[@LetsDriftMedia]

@@adampetzke4283 yea I’ve considered that portion of it since that’s where my most popular videos came from. But if it got to that point as far as income wise off the videos I don’t think Toyota corporate would be to happy and I can see them taking action against me if I continued to make videos for personal gain while working. But who knows.

[@adampetzke4283]

Go into an independent shop then and get permission from the shop owner

[@8gomerpyle22]

I thought there would be more Asian technicians working back there. What city is this is in?

[@adfhtgggfv]

Does it pay $50 a hour?

[@HatchetWarrior99]

so coolant service is drain the radiator from the petcock and refill? Aren't you Only getting a small portion out of the system? Do you have a different service for more of a flush or is that all they really recommend?

[@addacdd]

If you are draining it and the engine did not run for awhile,yes barely any will drain out unscrewing the petcock tab you will only get a little to come out. Also we have a coolant flush tool to suck out the coolant in the resavour. However it also depends on the resavour if there is a vent on it we cannot. Best method is to do the first mention refill using the coolant and distilled water. Drive it around for a bit then check the level and again to top it off

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yea for a complete coolant flush we had a machine that sucked coolant out while pumping new coolant in to completely flush the system.

[@miguvare]

Dear Nick, I need your advice, I'm willing to buy a 1997 toyota tacoma automatic, 4x4, 4 cilynder with 180000 miles in a great shape, what you recomend in maintanence understanding is a 1997 and with some mileage , Thanks !!!!

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Its a toyota so same as any other. Fluid flushes, Spark plugs and wires. Water pump. Hoses and T stat. and you should be good. Those trucks run forever with routine mait.

[@miguvare]

@@LetsDriftMedia thanks a lot Nick if you visit Mexico city, let me know, be my guest

[@LetsDriftMedia]

@@miguvare appreciate it!

[@NadaYo_]

hows the pay as a technicion at toyota aprenticeship

[@leyakathalikhankhan5289]

Good good

[@jeffgoetz7919]

will the new shop you're going to allow you to make these again?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Nah I wish

[@georgethezebra7496]

If you watch this video at .75% speed, it's actually perfect... if you're high.

[@fixitlinc3339]

youve made videos on Flat Rate vs Hourly but I just got done with an interview for a toyota dealership as a Lube Tech and he said they also get paid on a flat rate basis. Is this normal, is it good or did i hit the jackpot if i land this gig.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

If it’s CA it’s probably hourly plus bonus if you flag enough hours. If it’s not CA and actual flat rate that’s gunna be rough considering all you will be doing is oil changes that pay 0.3 and tire rotations for 0.5 your gunna have to really bust your ass in order to flag more hours then you are there for.

[@fixitlinc3339]

@@LetsDriftMedia yea im in NV.. were allowed to do brakes also which i thought was a good add-on

[@turbro7185]

Do I have to start off as a lube technician doing oil and multi point inspections every single day for an entire year before I can move up to getting trained as a line tech I feel like that's a waste of an entire year to just do nothing but oil changes everyday and not learn anything else is there another way I can use my time wisely and learn how to work on cars to get more experience instead of doing oil changes for a whole year in other to move up

[@LetsDriftMedia]

More than likely start as a lube tech and out in your time before moving up. Sorry that’s just the way it goes. If your good and management likes you you could move up sooner than a year. All depends on the dealer.

[@GusGotClout]

✅

[@robloxnootplayz2593]

i will become a mechanical engineer one day i will study hard😊

[@dutchmaster4309]

What’s the discord?

[@menardjohnalvarez6616]

how to apply bro?

[@mufffintop5355]

Hey I’m new to the channel did you need to go to school or have any certifications or experience when you where hired at Toyota ?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Went to a 2 year community college for automotive courses then got hired while going to school still.

[@mufffintop5355]

@@LetsDriftMediaah okay I was in the military as a desiel mechanic I just went to the Toyota dealership today n they told me I got to call the service manager tmr and try to set up an interview I hope that’s enough experience to get hired I know its diesel but most cars I work on are not diesel anyways. Thanks for the info

[@LetsDriftMedia]

@@mufffintop5355 np. You can get your foot in the door without schooling, work experience is more valuable to them than a piece of paper. so I think you got a good shot.

[@reddysteddy2030]

You guys don’t flush the coolant system? You just drain and fill it??

[@4af]

Toyota coolant stops rust and corrosion so there's no solid debris that need to be flushed out.

[@reddysteddy2030]

@@4af how do you get the old coolant out of the heater core and engine block and the head? All he did was drain the rad

[@4af]

@@reddysteddy2030draining from the radiator drain cock and/or lower radiator hose removes 60% of the old Toyota Super Long Life coolant and that's enough to prevent future rust and corrosion as long as the owner refills with Toyota Super Long Life coolant. And since Toyota coolant has no phosphates or silicates, mineral deposits do not build up inside the radiator and heater core tubes like they did in decades past when owners used high silicate auto parts store antifreezes and mixed them with tap water.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

If its a coolant flush service we have a machine that cycles new coolant in and old coolant out. This was just a torque converter job so I just drained the coolant to not make a mess pulling the trans out. But even a coolant flush service at toyota 99% of techs will just drain the radiator and add new coolant after.

[@cRaNk472]

I was a Toyota technician now I'm working at BMW

[@adriantomalik4556]

How you liking it?

[@cRaNk472]

I like both but little more Toyota

[@victorjay9586]

Well the new supra is basically a bmw

[@fredmo3584]

all dealerships have that those techs who spoil that dude who always trying to get the new guys fired , we all have the foremans who get along with the youngest kids that smoke in the shop. thats why i left the car bussiness too much dosrespect !

[@Cybrisk]

So I'm 30. I regret pissing away my 20s and I'm tired of doing meaningless unskilled labor. I wanna go back to school to be an auto technician, but at my age that means there's not gonna be any going back once I lock into a career path. My gf and I wanna start a family so I got people to take care of. Everyone online says not to be a mechanic and that being a mechanic sucks, but I know people love to bitch and moan no matter where you go. You seem like you know the work well so I figured I'd give it a shot and ask: would you recommend this kinda thing for a late starter, or should I look elsewhere?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

It all depends, if you are willing to get paid close to what a fast food worker makes for the first year or so and can afford to live with that then go for it, It takes a few years to start making decent money in this field, Even if you go to school for it you will still start out on the bottom most likely changing oil for abit. Im making well over 6 figures now but have been in this trade for 13 years. Not saying it will take that long for everyone but you can make good money in this field all comes down to the individual.

[@chidori662277]

Yo yo yo

[@B86RZ]

10:16 😂😂😂

[@halvorsonmx]

I'm confused. You back at the dealer?

[@LetsDriftMedia]

No refer to 0:15 of the video

[@halvorsonmx]

Oh I just skip around through these vids my bad@@LetsDriftMedia

[@halvorsonmx]

they're all gold though for sho

[@LetsDriftMedia]

@@halvorsonmx no worries ! Thanks for watching

[@speedsterspeedy2146]

Gravy work

[@johnathanc5072]

what should I do to be a mechanic like that

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Apply at a dealership as a lube tech and put in your time then work your way up to flat rate tech.

[@wesfields9322]

What is your favorite brand, bud? Personally I subscribed because of asian btand listed in the title of this video when you first uploaded it

[@LetsDriftMedia]

I enjoy working on Toyotas the most. But that could be because it’s the brand I started with and am most familiar with.

[@dabaydestrian437]

Must be private owned Toyota dealer, cause corporate ran dealership wouldn’t allow bbq lol

[@fraxkster1779]

I’m short, would this affect my career

[@mikemata623]

Shit I wish I was short for working on interiors

[@fraxkster1779]

@@mikemata623 then looks like I’ll be alright 😎

[@baileyhatfield4273]

@@fraxkster1779 If youre short, you're gonna get shoved in ALL the spots the others can't so...maybe job security to a degree, but the shit jobs possibly lol

[@fraxkster1779]

@@baileyhatfield4273 all cool with me 😂

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yea you’ll be fine plenty of short guys in the industry. Just means hitting you head less while under the car!

[@anytimeminutes3992]

I bet you don’t miss Toyota.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

I miss it every now and then, mainly my co workers though.

[@JokeMenu]

Me looking for supra mk 4😂

[@Magickiller13]

10:16 HUHHHH?????

[@Palmbeachrider]

it's not gay if it happens in the shop lmao

[@Wac32]

In some ways I bet you miss working here man

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Hell yea. One of the most fun places I worked at by far.

[@rickkinsman7400]

First time here. Won't be back - terrible camera work.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out 👍

[@zorohs1455]

Cirst

[@AmaO-pj8hj]

i would be afraid of accidentally get electrocuted

[@BigChilling.]

Go Vegan

[@dangerboy1111]

bro some body work 40 hour week. how much money he will make in toyota