WHY is there a auto tech shortage in 2023!?

[@rustynut1967]

What other job requires you to have at least $10,000 in tools? You have to know mechanical, electrical, electronics, HVAC, hydraulics and well versed with computers. I think being a doctor would require less training and way easier with better working conditions than a good mechanic. I use to joke, the difference between a doctor and a mechanic is we wash our hands after the operation and have to guarantee the cure.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

md's have the exact same 2. not new models

[@Rusty-Metal]

Right on!

[@jasonleatherwood2172]

10000 might be enough for a lube tech ive inventories and insured my tools for 300k

[@mattmccain8492]

When I was in tech school, my instructors would say being a doctor was easier since the human body never outdates or updates.

[@ClumsyCars]

You're doing it wrong. $10,000 in tools to change oil. Haha

[@bethcook8582]

I need to tell you guys one thing once and for all. I was a master tech from 1975-1999. I worked at many shops and dealerships and it was tough work. I had thousands of dollars in tools, certifications up the wazoo and fixed many cars no one else could, or didn't want but in 1999 I got so fed up with the business, I left for good and never looked back. I can tell you horror stories that would fill KZbin. I got so tired of poor wages(flat rate is fart rate), poor benefits, and poor management. My wages being so bad my family suffered. From what I'm now hearing from you young guys its still the same way. There was a mechanics shortage back then.The automotive field HAS NOT CHANGED ONE BIT. Get it through your head- it never will! You can offer all the solutions and ideas you can muster but ITS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. Take my advise- in 2000 I changed careers and it was the best thing I ever did. Its said, "A wise man learns from his mistakes, but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others." Wake up guys and move on.

[@xgouldiex]

I hear you I quit a couple months ago and told my partner I'm never going back to it iv since got a night job in a garage and earn more and I'm pretty much sat on my ass watching movies all night

[@oneofmany1087]

let barbie fix their cars

[@-doggy-6670]

I've been a tech since 1993,its a great job but the pay is getting poor....I've needed to upgrade my tools this year at the cost to me of £2000,no holiday this year then

[@wealthyblackman2655]

Computer graphics "designers" and engineers program mechanical arms on assembly lines to assemble vehicles HORRIBLY! The end result is a pos that cannot be worked on by human hands because there is only a tiny hole for a long extension of a robotic arm that has a tiny camera attached to it... GM or (Government Motors) spearheaded "reverse engineering " ... On accident at first BUT the money they made turned the entire automotive industry down a very dark path of evil... While GM is most definitely the most evil, all the other automakers followed the GM plan to reverse engineer everything.

[@jesse75]

Us mechanics buy cars and trucks we can fix. I have a couple of purpose vehicles I won't even put a license on.

[@Koda-Kitikawa]

I bailed after about 8 years of experience, 50k in tools, and still have $8k in student loans. Everything he mentions is true. But what did it for me was when i turned to the old tech and asked, "Does it ever get better?" He said, "ive been doing this since the 80's and they have always said, 'it'll get better, it'll get better.' and it never does." Right then and there i made a plan to get out in one year. I was gone in 6 months. Told my service manager, "hey, my last day is Saturday." (5 days) Saturday comes, made it until lunch and said fuck it. Started packing. Was gone 1.5 hrs later. Best thing ive ever done. And the cool part, kept the skills and tools so i can keep old reliable vehicles running for cheap.

[@jtkrpm1]

After 8 years at the dealer I was so disgruntled that I absolutely didn't give a f and hated everything.

[@MikeMayneMusic]

what did you do for work after that?

[@GianLombardo]

What career path did you chose and how did you made it there?

[@jtkrpm1]

@@GianLombardo UTI, independent shops, Family independent shop, dealer, transit bus

[@joshuathomas4934]

Hmmmmm let’s see. Why is their a shortage? Because you gotta have 10 grand worth of tools and know everything about everything. You then need to be willing to make no money and be treated like garbage.

[@user-fc9iq6le2g]

Thats just BS You need basic tools..........thats a given. You then fix some vehicles and use that cash to invest in more tools and better quality. The tools help you make that money to make the job easier and faster. Example, i wanted a bi directional scanner, a good one. So about $1500........(not from tool truck). I used credit and to pay it off, i started getfing side work for diagnostics only, charging $75. Before my 1st payment was due, i made the cash to pay it off and had more left over. I wanted that scanner for personal use but i used it to make someone else pay for it. I didnt but it.......i didnt spend any of my personal money to pay for it. Thats how its done. If you had any common sense, you should of learned that by now.

[@heystarfish100]

My empty tool box cost ten grand. I own about another 40 thousand dollars in actual tools. This career sucks the life out of you, puts you into debt and doesn’t allow you to prosper. Management all suck and the car company treats you like dirt every quarter with reduced labor rate times. It hurts the experienced technicians and gives the new technicians no chance of earning a decent paycheck for all of the work, hustle and investment.

[@garyosborn3168]

Its free to start an LLC. A decent 7 figure liability insurance policy is cheaper than most standard health insurance payment. Once i realized this, i went independent. I do work on semi trucks and equipment so its a little more lucrative than passenger cars. Now, knowing what i do, ill never work for another employer like that again. I also, dont treat my mechanics the way i was treated. Some companies i know cant keep techs while i have guys literally begging to work with me. A little money and appreciation goes a loooong way. Thats literally all we ever asked for

[@abdul-kabiralegbe5660]

In your experience, why don't more techs go their own way? They already have the skills, tools and clientele.

[@user-fc9iq6le2g]

And thats how its done....... An employer who is understanding and willing to pay fair wages. But i bet you dont buy your employees tools........and i dont expect you to. Good techs have their own tools. You should only provide shop tools and equipment....lifts, jacks, stands, fluid containers....things like that. Now what about keeping up with the new technology? Pay increase for every certification? That doesmt mean you pay for them to get it......its up to them.

[@garyosborn3168]

@@abdul-kabiralegbe5660 if you have tools, a truck, and laptop (or net access) then you have enough to start. Every tech that I've ever met that wanted to go independent, had the same fears. -assuming it's expensive to start. (It's not) -assuming you need to get a business loan and rent a shop from day one (False) -thinking insurance will be too expensive (False) -assumed that you need either money OR good credit to afford parts and materials (False) -fear of not having steady work. (Thi is controlled by you and is somewhat easy to get work once you figure out how to use online services) -not having enough money for bills until work volume comes in. (Easy fix) -just being overwhelmed with the thought of the clerical, and legal requirements, and tax rules. +being terrified of what they don't know because it sounds like a lot. (It's not alot at all, and is super easy actually) Even with bad or no credit or money, there is an easy solution to every one of these fears, that'll resolve them without costing a dime for the 1st 60+ days. Literally, the hardest part of it all is managing the money properly. If you can't set rules and abide by them, you won't make it. Short story long. Basically, most guys assume that they aren't smart or capable enough to handle the business side of it. Like it's not even something that has ever been within reach. Like it's a textbook Pipe dream

[@darktruths9755]

I hope to be out in five years or sooner. Ever-increasing complexity of cars, but still made from the cheapest plastic crap possible. A broken and obsolete flat rate system, low labor times, rusted hardware, poor working conditions, low pay, expected to be a miracle worker, tool expenses, customers expect quality while management expects quantity, hard on the body, stressful to the mind, not respected while salesmen and service writers are praised, ill-equipped shops with inadequate space, not provided with adequate specialty tools, glitchy computers and diagnostic software, it goes on and on. Until the median earnings are at least $100K, this line of work will never be worth it.

[@TunerZen]

Well said, you nailed pretty much all the points wrong with this industry. I got a whole video coming later on tools too. I could talk about that for hours. Lol. I do hope you find something better within that time my dude.

[@farnorthhomested844]

@@TunerZen he was pretty good. dont forget insurance,(expensive),. also dont forget to mention no guarantee!

[@TunerZen]

@@farnorthhomested844 i was at a shop with a guarantee once. that was really nice for the slower weeks.

[@farnorthhomested844]

@@TunerZen thanks for replying. you said once you were at a shop with a guarantee. if your still in the buisness, i reccomend you find another one. i also forgot to mention flat rate shops that steal from you. check your doobie strips every day.

[@TunerZen]

@farnorthhomested844 I'm trying to get out but money is getting tight so I might have to take this offer I got from subaru. It's flag only at 20 per flag hour. Not really having a good attitude about it but I'm gonna keep looking around for something new

[@sergeantrandomusmc]

21 bucks an hour - holy crap. I made 23 an hour on flat rate in the late 80’s /early 90’s…. I was ASE certified master truck technician, but it’s crazy that after 30 years, people are making the same or less than I did back then. Switched to working on computers mid to late 90’s and now earn 6 digits.

[@TunerZen]

That's where the money is at. Trade is good but no matter what people say it is not as good as it was and it's because the world of tech is moving way pass it

[@RawLopez-s6c]

Toyota dealership, flat rate here $20. Hourly makes $16 can do over time. Which would you pick. Also each oil change is added $2.oo more. Note: warranty parts takes 2-6 days to get to you. While your bay is held hostage by your vehicles

[@Anthony-qj7qe]

There are more cons than pros and people are starting to realize that.

[@TunerZen]

100%. I doing maintenance at a water park/theme park now and being paid just a little less but I make the same woth 40 hours or a little more if I get some OT. Instead of cars I just work on roller coasters now. Lol

[@attiumeyami417]

I think we are past the realization part. we are now in finding a new career part.

[@Anthony-qj7qe]

Thats what I did ... its a crappy job no matter how you look at it.

[@gergatron7000]

I'm in Australia where we do a 4-year apprenticeship with incremental wage increases for each year. The first 3 years of that time also has a 1 day out of 5 college day. When you get to the end of that, you may be kept by your employer or tapped on the shoulder. I did my time at a Government bus depot. Afterwards, I worked in a car dealership, truck workshop, Range Rover specialist, another bus depot (private), until finally settling at an electricity company's plant and vehicle workshop. A few months ago, after me being 21 years there, management was starting to clamp down on us, implementing performance management and allegations of safety breeches, etc. I'd had enough. I moved on to a job doing facility maintenance including lawnmowing and vegetation management. I get a take-home truck, work off my iPad, dont get bothered, and am nearly $300 a week better off. Now, after a month in this new job, i can safely say that the mechanical industry is screwed. 4 years of learning at minimul wage, followed by a life of being unappreciated and underpaid, is just not worth it. The only positive now is that I have skills that most other people don't have. There is certainly no prestige in telling people that you're a mechanic, but there should be, given the knowledge you need to be one.

[@user-fc9iq6le2g]

I understand......i was at a fund raiser with rich peeps just there for tax write offs. When asked my profession, they looked down on me. But i stood my ground and told them, i get to charge you a good amount because i know you dont know jack about vehicles, especially electrical issues. They suddenly changed their attitude and got my number. I charged $200 for a loose connection on a battery. Mechanics is a great profession, you got to know how to use it to make that $$$

[@mwileyy112492]

I left ford as a master tech back in 2000 because of a change in the LTS (labor time standard) from ford. One week I was getting 7.2hrs to rebuild a transmission for a windstar, the next week I got 3.6hrs for the same job. I didn’t mind doing warranty work up to that point. After that LTS change, I took my skill and went into manufacturing making more money with much less stress. I still miss working on cars, but not the business.

[@shaggydogg630]

I hear ya! I worked for Ford 31 years. When I first started flat rate wasn’t too bad. Then came the time cuts. Had a general manager sit at the required monthly meetings pounding his fist on the table shouting” you guys got to do these jobs in the time allotted! I had ten years before retirement to get my pension. Worked one month longer to get more vacation time. I was 54 when I retired. Had nightmares for years after. It’s been almost 10 years and now life is great. I would NEVER recommend this career.

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

So the people that took your place accepted the 3.6 hrs?

[@darwinchapmam6343]

Left mechanics and moved to tool and die trade. Still had my tools so I did a good amount of cash side work for family and co-workers. Made it a point to do the jobs for half the cost of dealerships. I personally don't buy cars or trucks newer than 2005. Easy to work on and parts are available and cheap.

[@five12man]

12 yrs ase certified multiple dealer certs, making way more than that answering phones from home. The industry ground up me and my family for years, excellent skills but it don't pay the bills. Glad I left

[@TunerZen]

Very thankful for the skills myself too

[@theobrown1309]

I went to tech school after high-school. Not much mechanic training before that. I enjoyed the exposure to different cars and all the work around them. After being at a dealer, a roadside gas staition, a mom and pop shop, i decided that the industry wasnt for me. I male more money than a high level tech cutting lawns and the tools are cheaper and thats a truck and trailer and equipment

[@AATGStudios]

I tried my hand at autotech for a few months and the price of entry is just too steep. Tools cost way too much for how little pay you get in return the flat rate system fosters lazy work and rushed repairs. I'm working now as a carpenter and the reward for your work is just so much higher

[@TunerZen]

Exactly, the entry cost is extremely way to high for newer techs. Glad to hear that carpentry is going better. I've been looking at getting into welding

[@AATGStudios]

Edit: I hear your point about morality and that people know who they are. Maybe a better argument is that techs who are dishonest stay comfortable with flat rate because they can throw everything they can at the wall and see what sticks

[@AATGStudios]

@Tunerzen the power tools are very similar (drill/driver, angle grinder and other misc battery tools) but the sense of being part of a team is strong. I'm thankful of my time being a lube tech for building up a toolset that works in both trades. The other carpenters love that 1/2" impact gun 😂 they've never used anything like it before. Buy that harbor freight hobby welder if you haven't already. It just works.

[@TunerZen]

@@AATGStudios it is crazy going into another trade and showing off like a high impact like that to others. lol, I have noticed that too. yeah trying to maintain a decent job to afford that. only doing side work right now to pay bills.

[@TunerZen]

@@AATGStudios yes. I have seen that multiple times in this industry.

[@erty7012]

Body shop techs used to be 50/50 flat rate. The estimating software came along and cut the labor times back. Insurance companies control rates on their estimates and pay for what they think is necessary. Techs in that field had enough of the gouging there too.

[@jesse75]

I'm a retired frame and suspension tech. Done with the bull sh!t.

[@SUp3RpooP3r7698]

I was a tech for Hyundai for about a year, just quit recently. I actually enjoyed working there. I liked the shop, I liked my co workers, we were all kind of buddy buddy with one another. Good chemistry between technicians. But when your management is completely garbage, and you're under appreciated and underpaid, then you have to know when its time to go. Flat rate just doesn't work like it used to anymore. It's totally not worth it. Once I saw my bi-weekly income slowey get smaller and smaller, I knew I had to do something. Plus I started to absolutely HATE working on Hyundai, they're just literally straight garbage. 75% of the work I would get are oil changes and ECU updates (I said Hyundai are trash). Once in a while I'd get a good ticket with some gravy on it. I did full inspections on every vehicle, tried to recommend as much on each car I could so I could make my hours (I'd never recommend something a customer didn't need). Honestly the last straw was when management started going around telling everyone they needed to book 10 hours a day "or else". Well when you have 12 guys working in a shop, and mostly everything is pre paid oil changes and other simple stuff (and customers are cheap don't wanna buy what their vehicles needs) that's not gonna happen. I want to try and get into another place because I've had a lot of different kinds of jobs and I love working on cars the most and it's what I know best. But this whole industry is just one entire joke.... Something drastic needs to change. And as everyone knows .. TOOLS are fucking EXPENSIVE. I'm not gonna waste all my money buying tools I'll never use or use very rarely. I know what I need and what I don't need.

[@TunerZen]

10 hours a day or else type deal... that's not your concern as a tech. That's marketing, sales, and management. Tech is solely to fix a problem, you're not a salesperson. I would leave too cause of that. The field is already high stress alone. And yeah tools is a hot topic I planned to do a good video on. I have never bought more than I need. I never wanted the 50k tool debt cause I'm already working just to survive in today's economy trying to get my own cash flow going some other way

[@SUp3RpooP3r7698]

@@TunerZen yeah I never understood going into debt because of the over purchasing of tools and or toolboxes. I never understood why you'd want a 10k+ toolbox to store your sub 10k amount of tools or whatever the tech might have. I'd rather have nice tools and a cheap box. It does what it needs to. Stores tools. I'm not gonna drop that kind of money on one to do the same thing as the one I got for free 😂 but yeah the pay is the common denominator between all these videos. And the funny thing is we don't dictate what kind of work we do as technicians. We get what we're handed/told to do. Don't like my hour output? Give me more work or sell some of my shit. It's not my fault I'm not making my 40 hours a week. It's your guys' fault. Don't bitch at the technicians. Give me the work I'll give you the hours is what I say. It's true too. And then they'll tell you to not work too fast so you don't cause a problem with something, while at the same time indirectly telling you to work as fast as possible cause your flat rate. It's honestly not worth the drama and mental exhaustion sometimes I swear

[@splintercelloo7]

You ever notice the best times in life are when people get to do what they are best as and what they enjoy doing, without interference of business. Don't get me wrong, business minded people are needed to operate a business, but it's the imbalance of greed that kill the vibe for everyone who enjoyed what they did -hence those expensive tools you mentioned. Your counterpart is out there now saying how much they enjoy making tools that let people do amazing work. But some greedy hands came along and got fat.

[@Deadeye_Donny]

The best is when the GDS is being hogged by someone whos workin with techline. Btw, for the 132 and 123 recalls, we just kept a spare pan with flakes in the oil so you can just take a picture of that instead of pulling the pan to get that extra hour for it being "seized"

[@Clarity199]

Look into working on vehicles for you local city probably gonna be diesel and or median pick ups. from personal experience it’s pretty chill and laid back… although I’d inquire on what your pay would be

[@somedude4805]

No respect, sh|t pay, warranty always cutting times…no clue why all of us are leaving the industry.

[@HigginsHobbies]

My whole shop is salary. Very high quality repairs and we don't rush thru diagnostics. We work on everything from 2000$ cars to Bentley, Porsche , track builds ,performance upgrades ect. Not expected to know everything, but we are expected to fix everything correctly the first time. So salary helps in this situation.

[@00zero11b]

Private shop?

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

1. make an independent party decide the real flat rates based on reality. 2 eliminate team leaders. 3 random dispatch. 4 shop foreman who know how to fix cars and are required to intervene on troublesome cars. 5 abolish auto nation. 6 anti trust laws preventing corps from owning dealerships. 7 criminal penalties for companies refusing federal overtime pay. 8 hold manufactures liable for defective products. 9 laws preventing price gouging on dealer only parts. mb charging 1k for a key is imop wrong

[@JCpNK]

Great video man. I've been a mechanic for about 25 years now. Dealers and a lot of independent shops are the problem. Flat rate and Warranty times are killing young technicians getting into the industry. The favouritism stuff as you said is an issue also... I worked for the military for a while and that was great until we got laid off. Now I work as a fleet mechanic and actually run the shop. Getting paid by the hour (now I'm salary) solves a LOT of issues. Most heavy equipment and fleet mechanics are going to hourly and until the Auto dealers go to that they will continue to have issues

[@fishingmontana1564]

I work in a transmission shop and am hourly and love it some jobs I hate and I get all the shit jobs cause my boss can't trust the other guy to do the work so that sucks but at the end of the day I just think I get paid for the day so I doesn't matter what I am doing or how long it will take me I still complain really just talking shit but I would not want it any other way and I hope to open my own shop when my boss retire and I will run it the same way

[@telcobilly]

Truckers have the same problem. Stuck in an exploitative 1930s mileage pay. It's all about greed..

[@Billy_Built]

I'm 4 minutes in and Buddy.. YOU FREAKING NAILED THIS RIGHT ON THE HEAD. Hopefully some of these manufacturers see this.

[@dylanpulvermacher9970]

As a older tech I dont even want to do it.

[@tmtheasphaltgambler3709]

There's no shortage of Auto Technicians, just a shortage of people that are willing to work under the current FLR / warranty system

[@TunerZen]

I mean, that would consider being short on people willing yo be techs. I get that a lot of us are passionate about working on cars and such but that saying is the same as saying there is a short on techs..

[@fuckjewtube69]

Theres definitely a shortage of skilled technicians. Theres no shortage of shade tree mechanics who hang brakes all dah

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

There's a shortage of younger people willing to work period. They're all staying shacked up with older folks

[@fuckjewtube69]

@@BruceLee-xn3nn Spoken like a true boomer who has no idea whats going on in the slightest.

[@GregFeeney392]

I left the auto dealership life. Got into road service on semi trucks, got into towing and working on heavy equipment. The shop i got into does alot of different work. The skills i learned lead me to land a civil service job. There's no money working on cars. I started making money on big rigs especially after get my CDL.

[@davidortiz173]

I was a mechanic for 20 years. Now I'm a plant maintenance man and I am happier and have a 401k. Warranty and flat rate broke me. I will NEVER go back!

[@TunerZen]

I enjoy seeing the comments like this. Proud of you man.

[@Marks-Law]

Service Writers are making money for their 2-3 layers of management. Lube Rack guys made a fortune selling filters and brake replacement, tires, batteries. In the summer months we’d average $400,000-$450,000 in labor sales. Everybody made money. I would agree people are leaving. But I think it’s benefits and retirement wages. A 401 does not get close to what a retirement package is worth. A lot of guys have left the dealerships to go to work for the city and Post Office always needs a competent technician. It’s really great money followed by 2 months of squeaking by.

[@neilyounan3241]

Service advisors make money ??? Are you serious? Try it it’s the worst job in the dealership I know did it for 20 years horrible job !!!

[@boris9331]

One of the most underappreciated jobs compared to knowledge required

[@johnrpizzaguy]

When I started in 1984 the shop rate was $60 per hour and the technician got 40% of that. I went to dealerships after 6 years of working at an independent shop, the dealerships treat you like shit but I did get years of factory training in Toyota,Chrysler,Nissan and BMW. My at no cost to me has allowed me to now for the last 10 years have been a fleet mechanic at a commercial bakery with 25 delivery trucks,I’m paid $40 per hour plus overtime I’m very grateful and consider myself lucky to have been rescued from the dealership machine that eventually will spit you out when they’re done with you or hopefully you find a different way to use your skills. Good luck and wrench on.

[@csinalabama]

Back in the late 70's when there were service stations, the shop rate at an Exxon was $16 an hour and the mechanic made 8. It should still be 50/50 for an A level mechanic.

[@scrappy7571]

It would be awesome if I was paid 50% of the $200.00 shop rate here. Instead I get $30.00 per flat rate hour, and lucky if i can flag 30 hours with all the labor cuts and free shit. Made more take home in 1997 than I do now.

[@Collindraker]

Like the video. I was planning on doing the same thing here soon. I’m debating on getting into a new trade after being a tech for 13 years. ( since I was 18 ) more techs need to come out and complain about what’s getting them to leave the industry. A remodel of the industry is way over due for a over haul.

[@TunerZen]

I agree 100%. It's gonna take a lot of time to make it better but I think it can be done. But until change starts I won't be back in it for someone else. I'll do my side jobs

[@Collindraker]

@@TunerZen i am right there with ya my man.

[@attiumeyami417]

complaining won't work. management and manufacturers are well aware of what the problem is and have been aware for many years. They have simply chosen to ignore it and blame the tech shortage on covid. now is the time to simply cut our losses and move on. u can either find a new career or go off on your own and do your own house calls. I did both. I started working as a mobile mechanic, posted some adds on instagram, FB and other places. got some signs and the work started coming in. wasn't. much at first but still better than what I was getting paid at the dealership. as I learned more about cars it got better and I also branched off into other lines of work got my licenses and now live better. trust me let them suffer they made this shortage. covid was just the last straw that broke the camels back. this had been a problem long before covid

[@attiumeyami417]

@@TunerZen no tech should earn less than 60k (unless ur a lube tech) in which case 30-40k is fair but the lube tech should also get other responsibilities to account for increase. government intervention is required on warranty work forbidding the manufacturers from paying whatever they feel like paying. a computerized system should determine who gets what job based on skill level and production. that way we can kill favoritism at least on the job distribution level. a clear standard needs to be made for training technicians. im not talking about bs ASE im talking about actual in-house training that followed a standard. last but not least fire those useless f*cks in white shirts. they don't need to make 200k and all they do mess sh*t up for everyone.

[@jamesboone3678]

I was going to be one until one of my friends who was a master tech while I was trying to figure out my life said do not do it. He's 8 years in the business and makes less than me 2 years into plumbing. Which is pathetic.

[@ericwitt4586]

I was a auto tech for over twenty years ase master tech my main was drivability, a/c ,engines, and electrical , I made a decent living I worked for Chrysler and ford and then went independently the tools are what make you money faster but I’ve got over 120,000 dollars worth in my shop at home im a millwright now and make 37.90 an hour every hour working on cars it was feast or famin that’s why I left for consultant pay I do miss it !!

[@lilricky5483]

Wait so you're telling me your a master mechanic and making just $ $37 wtf

[@GL0697]

@@lilricky5483 You can't master something that changes every six months.

[@Dan-oo1tm]

@@lilricky5483 If he's in Mississippi he is doing REAL good. On Long Island, he is begging for change on an off ramp

[@ericwitt4586]

@@lilricky5483 no I’m a millwright now have been for several years I closed my tool box in 2005 bud for a steady paycheck lol !

[@ericwitt4586]

@@lilricky5483 what do you draw in knuckle busting ? There at 50 now for top techs here in town in north Georgia

[@RikuHino]

Flat rate doesn't make dishonest techs. But it does incentivize that behavior.

[@crasher88]

The problem from my end is no one will hire me. I have the tools, the certifications, the desire to work, the desire to want to learn, but because a bad choice over a decade ago I am passed over for for every job I interview for. 70+ interviews over the past year and a half and still can't get a job. So for me I don't want to hear about how employees can't get help.

[@truthsmiles]

I'm sure you've already done this but keep trying with independent mom & pop shops. Assuming you have a record, the big companies will have policies they'll never make exceptions for, but independent shops have more flexibility to give you a chance. Maybe even offer to work for free for a week to see how they like you. Even if you're sweeping floors, it's better than nothing.

[@o0OBLACKIEO0o]

U dont need to work for a shop to be a successful mechanic bro.

[@quickturn66]

Lie , what are they going to do

[@Dan-oo1tm]

30+ years in the field, I started at a Dodge dealership and lost my shirt. Then I went to diesel school and got fleet jobs. Now I have my own shop with a municipality. Guess I was smart in my 20's because I'm set now.

[@ya472]

Early in my career I trained as an auto mechanic, because I enjoy working on machinery, and operating machinery and vehicles. That career did not last long because the working conditions sucked. We were expected to work on a hot engine in the summer, a frozen car in the winter and my wife wasn't pleased with my 'dirty hands'. I also enjoyed the 'cleaner' environment and working conditions when renovating homes. I excel in mechanics, and most trades, so I could take on nearly any project, and while self-employed, I could take time off whenever I wanted, between jobs. I have taken my vehicle into shops and experienced many incompetent mechanics and shop rip-offs. I think it is pretty bad when I have to 'teach' the mechanic. Granted, unless you specialize, the field of knowledge is huge, lots to learn and diagnostics is not everyone's cup of tea. (try solving a math word problem, many can not.) I was top student in classes, so it also worries me that many pass with the basic 60%. Well trained mechanics are always in demand, as are home renovators, but it isn't easy to get respect in fields that employ so many shady tactics, and incompetence, and rip-offs.

[@TunerZen]

I suffer from lack of education and that is definitely another part of this issue which I plan to talk about and share my thoughts on as well. You're correct though. It is really hard to find great techs and in my career I have met maybe 3. While I was around I did my best to learn all I can from them. It has made me a better mechanic but I still have a long way to go myself but now I am not sure if I wanna stay in this field any longer than I already am.

[@ericwitt4586]

I had the gift of being an auto tech instructor at a vocational college in my local area i always pushed honesty to those kids the more repeat coustomers u have the more successful you will be !!

[@TunerZen]

@ericwitt4586 it's great that you mentioned that. In one of my next videos I literally talk exactly about how shops thrive on repeat customers that can trust an honest shop.

[@Dhalin]

My dad was THE epitome of what all of these companies hate so much: He was a DIY guy who had a general background in pretty much everything under the sun except computers. He sadly passed away last year at the age of 73, but before then, in his prime, he could fix cars, tractors, he built two sheds and two decent sized barns, designed and helped build the basement the house sits upon, helped an uncle build his house, the two-story garage, and several pieces of furniture. He could pull the engine or the tranny out of a vehicle, take it apart, and put it back in, and he maintained his own cars, only going to a mechanic for extreme stuff like boring an engine that required special tools he didn't have. That said, when I bought my '93 Bonneville years back, he said that cars are starting to get too hard to work on and when I got my '10 Impala, he said that doing much of anything with the engine was nigh-impossible. Now, some of that might have been the cancer talking (he got real tired and lethargic in his final few years), but I remember helping and watching him work on these cars and I look in the engine bay of my '10 Impala, or worse... the '03 Chrysler he had before I scrapped it, and I just shake my head. Pretty sure they designed these cars that way on purpose to prevent DIY work.

[@jayztools4038]

I am a fleet mechanic. I have 8 cars and vans and 22 trucks, everything is a Ford. FORD WARRANTY SUCKS. The dealerships treat me like a third class citizen. We have has over 12 transmissions go down in the last 3 years. Half of them were under warranty. So funny you mentioned Ford. I have heard rumor that Nation wide we are ditching ford. Hello Freightliner.

[@TunerZen]

Being in the field the biggest topic inner circle is ford and yeah ditch ford's. They are not what they use to be anymore and a big reason why warranty is not going through or taking long is ford doesn't wanna do it or because of the shortage of techs around. There is so much more of ford I know about and I'm amazed they still sell cars.

[@internetpointsbank]

Never got why Ford is more popular for fleet when I seen so many Chevy Express vans with over 600,000

[@vqmedia7513]

As an IT guy for 10 years that got ran out from the population of college graduates, that recently went to a dealership as a lubie the last 5 months (I’ve worked on my own vehicles ever since I was a child) it kills me to see some of the other lube techs that will obviously miss things, or intentionally skip over things because the shop foreman is rushing everyone to hurry up, or they did this or that wrong. Then on top of that we had a service advisor that came to me about listing the rear brakes were drums, and asked what drums were! They are just hiring bodies to fill in the spot, how can a service advisor advise on anything that they don’t know about? How can our lube techs that make $17 an hour keep going harder and harder, when apprentices don’t make anything extra but now they are stuck with having to ‘make up hours’ but the two main techs are covering over 100k a year. But they even have comebacks because they have to get things done quickly. Right now I’m between a rock and a hard place. Because IT work has drained me mentally, but liked the pay. Where as automotive I love the job and the guys I work with, but hate the pay and the management.

[@1986Honda4trax]

One thing I like and sometimes don’t like about the independent shop is that I can usually talk to the customer

[@marksr49341]

In the late 60's my dad was getting 50/50 at VW in 92 when I left I was getting 33/66 why are techs not paid like other trades?

[@TunerZen]

That's a great question. I don't have a factual answer. But I believe the labor rate is too low. 140 seems like a lot but with the overhead cost of a shop it's a lot to maintain. And shop owners want the best for lowest cost

[@andrejsbondarenko7872]

I am just not getting why you are complaining about tech shortage as this is the BEST thing that could possibly happen. We don't need more technicians - we need less, much less of them. Only then does our work gets appreciated for what it worth.

[@123m-n5g]

I do body repair and i can tell you mechanics deserve better I wouldn’t dare to be a mechanic it’s a lot of bs

[@str8outtacontent231]

Sounds like the industry should unionize

[@al-eteos-imhotepheru-bey3271]

You're right on the money!!!!!!!! I'm a tech and went to school for it. You ain't lying.

[@rodhonco5681]

I’ve been in mechanics since High School. 45 years now. No flat rate. The complexities do wear on me but I like to be challenged. I still enjoy the career. Management always wants a quote. That’s why they are in management. What we work with today makes our job impossible to quote. For me to survive in this job, I comply with all their training and compliance, then turn a deaf ear toward that and do my job. If I didn’t, it would be all over. There is a path in this business. Getting to know Customers, put a smile on their face (yes that is possible), bring a good attitude everyday, learn to Serve (we are in Service), break down a job for the Customer (we all know money is super tight since Biden took over), don’t be afraid to ask for Compensation in line with Inflation. A very good shop tech makes $30.00 to $50.00 an hour.

[@jessestreet2549]

"We all know money is tight since Biden took over "? No WE don't. Money has inertia and the present is affected by trump, his daddy putin and the UAE screwing with the world. I won't bother mentioning trump's incredibly inept, even malicious mismanagement of covid. The present is heavily influenced by the past. "It's just a thought".

[@orquizagarage2795]

i quit my full time day job at wheelworks, and doing my own side job at home and selling cars + youtube. auto repair industry has become stressful to most technicians out there, with very little flat rate especially living in california. store manager becoming greedy hitting their targets and service manager. good point brother

[@TunerZen]

That's the path I'm on now too

[@jasontobola6272]

👍I agree !!! Thank goodness I got out after 27 years !!! ✌️

[@benztech2262]

September I will be a tech for 41 years and I think you have good grasp from a technician’s standpoint. Our job thankfully can’t filled by AI like many other jobs will be. But management sucks in many of the places I’ve worked. Thankfully I no longer work flat rate but I did for well over half my career. Flat rate all depends on the who is assigning the jobs and I refuse to be a brown noser! And you’re right, warranty work can suck especially if the manufacturer cuts the time for a repair. I don’t understand the term lube tech. I mean I know it’s an hourly guy who changes oil but there really isn’t any real technical knowledge needed to change oil. My brother changes his oil and he sells real estate. In my long career all techs got oil changes and did a thorough inspection to up sell. These lube techs are wasting money if they don’t know what to up sell. Im old enough to remember selling regular copper core spark plugs before platinum plugs were introduced and transmission fluid wasn’t lifetime filled. I saved copper plugs in a box for a year to count them and replaced over just over 400 plugs that year! Fortunately I’m blessed to have a job that’s just over a mile from my house where I work hourly wages. I’ve worked solely on MB for about 20 years and now I work at a small independent shop with a boss that doesn’t like to get his hands dirty and we also have a secretary. So I’m blessed to done with flat rate issues! Im also blessed the Benz cars need more work than many people realize. Sure I do services ( oil changes) and don’t like to, but I try to up sell. I even have to wash a car or two every six months but then I’m the highest paid car washer in town! Hats of to my fellow technicians! It’s not easy being a tech.

[@ymmij1973]

22 yr Benz Dealer tech here and thinking about making a change to something that pays hourly or salary. Fuck this flat rate BS. While Service advisors get all the perks and kickbacks bonuses for what I do. Everybody else's work ethic affects my pay. Everything works against us! Internet, software glitches, parts. Not everyone can be a technician but anyone can be a Salesman or an advisor.

[@juliussandor4355]

I got into the automotive business back in the 1970’s because I loved fixing and restoring cars as a teenager. I don’t see the young car mechanics having the same passion / interest in car culture that we grew up with. I am amazed how manny leave the industry within 5 years of starting. The pay compared to other trades is very low.

[@kurtiscal3msetccdwell618]

Something of note about brake pads. Alot of manufacturers are now manufacturing their brake pads where when the friction material is no longer as thick as the backing pad they recommend replacement at that point. Alot of people do not know that but it's true.

[@attiumeyami417]

I noticed that, they want to explode the gravey train. im at the point where im just telling people to learn to put on their own brakes. if I worked at a dealership I probably wouldn't be able to afford to do this, but since I work independently and barley do any basic maintenance work (I do mainly heavy sh*t ) I can afford to tell the customer how bad they get ripped off when they ask for a brake job

[@06Machine]

Yes if you’re thinking about becoming a tech in the auto body or mechanic industry don’t do it the only way to make it, is with your own shop.

[@smitty2jones]

Hopefully the lube techs take the criticism as a learning experience. I did a 20 hour rear main seal the other day, but the lube tech didn't even recommend the ball joints that were loose, or the lower control arm bushings that were completely torn out.

[@TunerZen]

Man, I'm all for the lube guys learning. We all started somewhere. But the reality is that they just have no idea what they are really looking for visually.

[@Aaron-or6ov]

I was an auto tech for 25 years and left the industry. I started as a lube tech. l lucked out and was put right next to my team leader. and he was an amazing guy and teacher. He got paid also in a way where he could teach and get paid for it while doing repairs. This was back in 1996. Then things changed. The dealerships got greedy and just had cheap entry level lube techs come in and pay them minimum wage to do it. The incentives to teach were gone because flat rate warranty times were getting cut and techs are scrambling to make money. So there is no one left to teach. I worked at Toyota and the lines For oil changes I swear sometimes were around the corner. The advisors and manger tells lube techs hurry and get it done. So guess what change the oil rotate tires on to the next. The dealers need to evaluate lube tech’s positions and start to value what they do and tech them before they get burnt out and leave.

[@attiumeyami417]

as an ex lube tech I can tell u that when I was a lube tech at a Hyundai dealership, I didn't learn what a ball joint or control arm bushing was until after I got into line work. no joke. the there is no real training sometimes at these dealerships. my training that I got was the most useless for the the job I was gonna perform. I got to learn about the theory of Atkinson engines and how efficient they were and every little nook and cranny gadget each of the cars had on the inside of the car. but not even in the main computerized training did it ever mention how to even do an oil change.

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

I considered joining the field a while ago but came to the conclusion it was not worth it, and the car thing remains a hobby which i am totally fine with, besides, i don't want to work on modern cars, i am oldschool, i want my cars analog.

[@garystillman2724]

Dave Vizard has a video that proves Carbs are more efficient than EFI🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

@@garystillman2724 Even my body can't run right without carbs, it's a sign from god.

[@raylamp4505]

I enjoyed my job and customers but the warranty dependent, recall plaqued trash and the flat rate system was costing me to much money in the end.

[@tallicafan85]

Yes im tired of this field and wish i never did it. I just wanted to learn how to work on my own truck and that was it then made stupid mistake of going into it. I’m looking for a night job that would be better for me. Our dumb shop has guarantee of 30 if you don’t make 40. So stupid, its so great working 50 hours to be paid 30 or so.

[@bigboyzguns8164]

I was a Nissan tech for 20 years from 1993-2015. I worked for several dealers in two states over that time. One thing was constant. Every shop had a favorite, dispatching was never fair. Pay did start at nearly half the labor rate. I started at $15/hr in 1993. LR was $35/hr. In 2015 it was $120 I received $27. Warranty always paid half the time it took unless you were doing the same thing over and over so you could find "shortcuts". The biggest issue for me was maintenance. Back in 1993 you did lots of CP service, timing belts, tune ups, brakes wore out in 15k miles. In 1993 it was a nice balance of warranty work and CP. In 2015 I was doing nearly 100% warranty work struggling to make 8hrs/day. In 1993-2005 I could burn 16hrs in a day working hard. The labor rate was to low to be killing myself for 8hrs per day if I was lucky. Shop made $100/hr on me. Left in 2015, started a gun store and I'm thriving. Demand $40-$50/hr with full paid bennies like the labor unions are getting for installing wiper blades on the assembly line. Until you do you will always be fart rate.

[@TunerZen]

A gun store now. Quite the change. I had it in my mind a few times to be a gunsmith.

[@RussLittlejohn]

Using the tech with the least amount of experience to do the inspection of a car is a failure. Most shops do this, so most will keep failing. We don't use privates to recon the enemy objective. Your best talent must be used to find the issue and explain that issue to the customer. Here's another way to look at it. The medical assistant does not examine the patient. That's done my the doctor for diagnosis of the patient. But in the auto world we trust the examination of the patient to a brand new lube tech and then wonder why we're not getting any work or leads to the service writers to sale. Your right though...flat rate is a disaster and has killed quality of the mechanic world.

[@TunerZen]

Man, what you said is a great way to think about it and now that's another way I am gonna explain it to others. You're 100% right about that too.

[@3PumpChumper]

I worked at a dealership for 4 days. They hired me on as a lube tech in spite of 5 years in motorsports building cars from ground up and doing all the work a line tech does, just on a car with a number on the door. The service manager said because I wasn’t factory certified, all I could do was oil changes and tires until I get my certs. 3rd day on the job I get a drivability diagnostic and repair. 4th day I talk to the manager about it and he said they try to do as much work on the quick lane side of the shop as we can to boost our numbers. When I asked him about me being paid lube tech money to do B tech level work he cringed and spouted some verbal diarrhea about training and experience and blah blah blah. I loaded my tools and haven’t looked at a dealership since. I’ve since found my niche in fleet maintenance. Better pay, better quality of life and very little stress.

[@TheAussieincalgary]

Started my apprenticeship 42 years ago. The industry has gone through several changes. As of about 3 years ago it seems the focus is to make purely luxury mobile entertainment packages rather than just good solid reliable long-lasting vehicles. I plan on retiring in about 5 or 6 years... but I can see the next round of tech being shoveled into every model and brand. I pity the next generation of both techs and owners that has to deal with out of warranty repairs. Like, when did it become OK to charge $3500 for a base model stereo player.

[@Thephotonguy]

I was a certified tech from 2016 to 2019. Was good for a while but I just got tired of dealing with the industry and the evolution of vehicle technology. I went into the transportation industry and never looked back.

[@michaelmustic6645]

Base hourly rate, plus hours turned bonus will be the answer. Plus we need to be making 100k a year minimum for level A techs .

[@TunerZen]

Well over 100k. I would 150 to 200 for A levels. I'm a B level tech but I tell you. 43k or less was BS for some of the diags and other shit I had to deal with. Schooling is outdated. I learned more then a lot of those that went to school for it.

[@GL0697]

Agree with pay structure, A level techs need to be proven, I have seen some horrible so called A level techs.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

@@TunerZen yep. 47k for me as a master mercedes tech

[@warrenlewis3977]

Mike everybody thinks they're a Level A tech... everybody.

[@MrFaceonline]

starting wage should be aleast 100 bucks a hour. its all about the moniez

[@TunerZen]

Lol, I charge that on side work

[@johnsadler6534]

I was I involved in the 50/50, but I was in the interior work. AC, speed control, dash instruments, and sometimes brake work. Also I was selected to work on the DeTomaso Pantara, no one was to work on it except me. Most of the work was correcting the overheating ( they all did that ). I did replace a clutch in one.

[@Texas2Step79]

Same for us drivers too .. pay is getting less and less ....fuel steadily going up .. profit margins are worst I've seen In 24 years of driving ..

[@johntrott1872]

Work on airplanes 2 years in school,,,,start 35 hr and top out 60 a hour

[@fredlong9745]

Worked at the dealership for 33 years- 20 as a tech- 13 as a shop Foreman. Started my own business 10 years ago. I charge a fair rate. Only regret - I should have done it sooner. Don't have to deal with any warranty.

[@aaron1992lee]

Flat rate versus hourly rate is a tough decision without limitations on the hourly rate. If a customer comes in to get a new alternator installed and a seasoned. Technician takes 1.5 hours and that customer is only paying one point five hours of labor. And then another customer comes in and gets a newer or slower working technician and it takes him 3 hours. Why should one customer have to pay more than the other at the same dealership for the same job. Hourly is the way to go but basic jobs definitely need time limits.

[@TunerZen]

I get what your saying and I definitely should have added this in the video. But labor times I think should stay the same. Customers still get charged 1.5 if it's that regardless. And to reward techs that are seasoned set up a monthly performance deal. I also don't agree charging one Customer one rate and other a higher rate. You made a great point though that I left out. I was more focused on the techs who would take advantage and milk the clock.

[@GL0697]

@@TunerZen What your forgetting is flat rate times are set when a car is new, twenty years later should the times stay the same for said vehicle? Heck NO.

[@kenchorney2724]

Sure glad I made the decision to get out when I was apprenticing back in the 80's. It's always good to see confirmation that I made the correct decision.

[@attiumeyami417]

u shure did. u probably could actually make money in the 80s today u only lose money until ur 4 years in.

[@kenchorney2724]

@@attiumeyami417 I only did 2 years and worked at small shops. Owners were hypocritical tyrants who routinely lied to customers. I was paid very low wages because I was an apprentice yet I was assembling engines because the owner knew I could do it correctly. Both applied flat rate to modified/damaged/dirty/rusted vehicles when it was not appropriate. Neither provided a living wage.

[@johnscerbo130]

I was an auto mechanic back in the late 80s when I was in my 18/20 years old I knew this wasn’t the field to stay in. I got out flat rate pay, warranty work screw that it’s not worth it for the knowledge and training and tools required. You can make more with better benefits at almost any city or county or state employment. Or another union trade

[@danielwoods5605]

Just changed from being a tech to an auto adjuster just gave myself a raise, sold majority of my pneumatic tools, Leo’s the smaller tool boxes, now otw to make 60-70k bass plus 16% gain share bonus. Guys… don’t stay were your not loved. You owe it to yourself to go out and make your life better… the life of a mechanic is stressful, low pay, degrading at times, dangerous, and not as rewarding as one will think.

[@johnvillanueva1240]

As a diesel mechanic student I never wanted to be an automotive mechanic just cuz pay is lower they spend more tools than us, and they’re harder to work on than ever just cuz you have multiple electronic components that Can fail a car

[@Rusty-Metal]

Dealers are scams. Everyone that owns one is mega rich. They don't even provide all the needed equipment to work on the cars. Biggest joke around.

[@attiumeyami417]

left the dealership life in 2022. started as a Hyundai lube tech and worked my way to being able to do basic main shop work (light line and more complex warrenties) The process to even be able to learn how to do those jobs was utterly painful. not painful because of the jobs or complexity. painful because every single new job that I attempted to learn or do was greatly and indirectly discouraged by management and 2 technicians in the most passive aggressive way. I would recommend a job such as brakes or alternator and as soon as the job was accepted by the customer I would see one of the 2 B*tch technicians run up to the office. and 5 seconds later the shop manager would come right out with a fresh oil change to substitute my alternator or break job and hand it off to these other 2 techs. thats when I found out why that shop couldn't seem to hold on to any techs they did get. first thing I thought was........ mabey this is just a bad shop so I started shopping around for another shop. took the time to do some intel and ask around other shops what it was like to work there. most techs from other dealers and shops complained about the same sh*t. favoritism seemed to be rather common in this industry. so I got a u haul and told the service manager to "go ride a big one" went off on my own started doing mobile mechanic work and built a rather decent clientele. I looked at what it would cost me to be a mechanic working at a dealership after I accounted for my tool box and tool expenses I realized that I would be in the hole for another 3 years. shure I would be able to pay rent and pay off the box and tools but I really wouldn't make any money for 3 years. instead I paid everything off the first year of being a mobile tech. honestly the job is amazing. learning mechanical, electrical and computer diagnostic skills is amazing. and being able to look at a system and figure out what's wrong with it and fix the issue is a rather satisfying skill. if only we could fire the sh*t managers and implement a computerized system that would hand out jobs based on production (aka the more money u make for the shop the more u earn/the better jobs u get) also f**k warranty.

[@hoonaticbloggs5402]

I’ve been a self employed motorcycle technician for 18 years. Done ok for myself so far. I’m in the U.K. 🇬🇧

[@dwtees]

Good video TunerZen. You have a lot of guys venting. Good job.

[@andrejsbondarenko7872]

If you are an automotive tech and not working for yourself in your own business - then you are your worst enemy. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever go back to employment in this business. The difference between being an employee and working for yourself in this business is more than just "dramatic", it is literally life-changing. If you can't do your own business - then get the hell out of this field, save yourself from this misery.

[@TunerZen]

Not everyone has the balls I shovel shit for months maybe years before making money. Also has to do with not many people think long term in life.

[@TunerZen]

I'm with you on this but you need employees for business otherwise you'll just work until you die. So the problem for me is there needs to be more awareness of the problem then find a solution to said problem. I am starting my own business. Whatever that may be but I'm focusing on repairs and fab work. But I know in 10 years I don't wanna be the one doing everything in the shop.

[@jackass72]

Just visited our local Lincoln Tech. today, to check out the school with our son, who says he wants to be an auto mechanic. Been there, done that. I wasted too many years of my life in that dead end career. I told him, "Don't do it. You can probably do okay if you take HVAC or electrical, but you DON'T want to be an auto mechanic!"

[@luiscamarilloperez3242]

I agree with this, although Im not a full fledged technician yet(Intern), The techs that I’m shadowing are paid hourly and do their work fast because they’re given time and help if needed,

[@RoadsEndGarage]

Flat rate has been around for ages as you stated in the video. Thus, it will not going away anytime soon. Lot of techs think cashing-out is the best answer, and probably truth be told, it is. But I doubt the dealerships or shops will suffer indefinitely because there will always be no shortage of entry workers willing to work for peanuts (especially if illegals can somehow gain employable status). BTW I was a automotive technician in my early 20's, but it didn't take long at all to see starting out that you were mostly supporting someone else's dream. One thing that left a huge impression on me was when I was dirty in pit cursing at this Dodge where the owner *goober* bent the transmission kickdown rod to hell. Right at that moment, the shop owner pulls up just outside of the bay in his new Mercedes sedan car he just bought. He steps out of the car, out comes his trophy wife from the office, she walks over wearing a coat and boots, gets in the car and does her makeup routine. The owner came to over to me and said "I know you have been working hard on this Dodge, but I really need you to get this Calais (POS GM fwd from 80's) done today". At that point I'd been in the hole hours on flat rate on this Dodge. I look at his new car, and I was like thinking in my mind "WTF am I doing, I should be the one driving that car, having that hot wife instead of being sacked with fixing garbage vehicles no one wanted to touch (I was the newer guy at that shop so I constantly got handed the shittiest jobs). That humbling experience was enough to make me choose a different career path taking skills and applying them to niche areas of employment that allowed better income and further education on the job. Never looked back. I honestly would never recommend anyone be an automotive tech working flat rate.

[@DK-nt1nn]

That's messed up. Basically, dealers have techs subsidize the Warranty work. The techs shouldn't be forced to work on cars for half the pay cause it's under warranty.

[@TunerZen]

Unfortunately that's how it works. There is also back flagging. So say you get a CP (customer pay) transmission job. 10 hours let's say. But later find out they have extended warranty. At the end of the pay period your sheet will be missing say 6 hours from that job. It will be called back flagged. And that hits efficiency. It's to not let techs over charge customers but a mistake out of your control it can bite you cause at the time of the ticket it was a CP but turned into a warranty cause someone forgot, or dropped the ball, or whatever the case may be.

[@mojavedesertsonorandesert9531]

Being a mechanic, your best bet is to get into a county, city, state, or a private fleet company with much better options, hourly pay, vacations- clock in then clock out!

[@petercook3143]

Im an engineer with a mechanical side, brought up working on cars, worked for GM after college, worked for NASA. Welding skills, fab, electrical, computers, paint. Not perfect on any of them, but decent. My conclusions after much analysis is to just say screw it, no more new cars and financing, no more cars newer than 2007, try to buy cars with less than 100k for 2000 to 4000 dollars, run them reasonably reliably for 100k or more, if rear wheel drive. Id like to get better gas mileage but I consider it a write off, cause Im already saving on interest, overly priced new cars, overly priced cars(with financing at dealers). I try to cut down on my driving, with more remote working. I travel for work, so IM not near home anyway, returning everynight, I stay in hotels near job, and cut down on driving or I took Uber for 6 months. its the only way to fly.

[@ravenrock541]

One of the biggest things I hated was being required to be on the floor every day of the week during Christmas, yet only getting ten or fifteen hours of work.

[@TunerZen]

I lost a few jobs cause I would not come in on holidays. Family is more important

[@CP-og4cu]

Warranty work is what nudged me out of the door back in 2000. Only gotten worse since then. The next biggest problem is politics, favorite techs get the best jobs….inevitably

[@mikesabin8568]

Im a tech. I could go on all day about why. Tools super expensive, flat rate pay sucks, customer pressure, customer complaining, liability, hard work, unbearably hot in summer, dangerous at times, technology getting more complicated, parts are hard or confusing to get, list goes on

[@brianandrews7099]

I agree with some of the other comments, you can come up with books of suggestions on how to improve the industry for the mechanic/tech but as long as those who control the industry are making record profits, it is never going to change. They’d love to have access to slave labor and are working hard to push things closer to that direction. As dealerships move more toward corporate ownership, they will only push pay down even more because they will soon completely control the market. I wouldn’t suggest anyone get into any careers in the new car industry these days (sales or service). There is definitely something going on there given the excessive prices and limited production. All signs point to the end being near and the last big chance to money grab before it is too late! As others have said, work for yourself but understand that the complexities of the modern automobile are just going to continue to get worse and, like most jobs today, don’t expect it to be a lifelong career. Between cars being engineered and built to be a disposable consumer product, the physical demands of the job, abusive customers, tool/equipment/educational requirements, liability, and ever rising facilities costs, even building your own independent auto repair business may not be a viable investment for that many people.

[@rustedhorsepower5132]

"Exploit" them and their skill, thats the most exact description. The industry came full circle, thats where we are again.

[@2010HarleyDynaFXD]

I went from being a mechanic to becoming a truck driver OTR pay is a joke out 7 days for $300 bucks it's not worth it they don't even show you how much each load is and full of empty promises. I'm going back to some sort of mechanics I have fibromyalgia so I'm very limited to what I can do in a shop.

[@gregwarren8583]

Training should be a priority, prior to employment. A higher wage per hour, without flat rate to draw techs that have been properly trained. Having worked in the industry and teaching automotive in a Community College for 57 years now I would agree that warranty work should be at least 1.5 times tmes labor time guides

[@approachingtarget.4503]

Started in mechanics 35 years ago. Flat rates are designed for the greatest profit to the shop owners. For jobs to be done properly and with attention to detail. They always take 3× the amount of time to get done. The dealerships will concentrate on repetitive jobs that can be done faster than at a flat rate. When techs can write off more hours than flat rate. They can double or triple their pay. Having your own shop or specialty areas is much more profitable. A custom exhaust builder can make thousands on one job. And take weeks on a project. Service stations or dealerships should be avoided at all cost. If you think your tool cost are high. Wait until you have machinery cost. A simple alignment rack cam cost $250000. One engine lathe can go for half a million. Working on abused or rusty cars is never profitable. Atleast not for any technician or mechanic.

[@warrenlewis3977]

If working on abused or rusty cars weren't profitable there wouldn't be a multi billion dollar restoration industry.

[@jesse75]

My daughter was in a ROP class in highschool. The auto shop teacher said the same thing. Cars will get to the point where they are unfixable. Sure you can give them a break job, change a broken windshield, but no engine work. Newer cars have problems the manufacturers never thought would happen. It's a nightmare some of these cars. I'm a retired mechanic. Thank goodness.

[@firstlast---]

I don't know why everyone thinks electric cars = extremely reliable. The amount of bad modules I replace is astounding. Now imagine the entire car is modules. I'm not against electric cars I'm against the current implementation strategy, people will be in for a rude awakening when they become the majority of vehicles on the road. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it

[@jesse75]

@@firstlast--- bad module ? To change one of those things in our family car required taking the rear end out, dropping the exhaust pipe, and gas tank. BS. I took the back seat out. Cut through the sheet metal and I was at it. Replaced the dam thing. Was sitting on top of the gas tank.

[@firstlast---]

@@jesse75 I'm not talking about fuel pumps I meant computer modules. There are now trailer light control modules that will set codes and cause issues if the resistance of the light bulbs inside of your trailer lights aren't the proper resistance. It's out of control

[@jesse75]

@@firstlast--- fuel pump is inside of the tank. And some cars come with an access plate you can take off from inside the car once you take out the back seat to remove the pump. Again. Our Mercedes has a module sitting on top the gas tank to monitor the evap system. I'm a seasoned mechanic. I know what I'm talking about.

[@pauls.2526]

I was a qualified car mechanic in 1992 left the trade behind after receiving my certifications. I could see the career was rubbish at the age of 23 and I would end up working for business owners that should be in jail. Thank God i never looked back. I must say a good trade to learn because you can work on other things after it.

[@pauldhiman8369]

Worst job ever…. I dont recommend that crappy trade to anyone…. Waste of ones time and money

[@glennmerriman8382]

My biggest upset is dealing with poor design. It is clear that most manufacturers do not care at all about the mechanic. It's not like it cannot be done better, as I have worked on that rare vehicle where servicing was easy due to good design. In some cases it looks like they have intentionally designed a vehicle to discourage servicing. I wonder why they would do that?

[@JenGM24]

I made a living out of fixing cars for about 2 years, After that i had enough, Customers whining about the prices and about everything, Now I'm just my old little car personal mechanic😊

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

The reason is simple , tech pay has gone down based on the shop rate.back in the day techs got 30/40% of the shop rate. These days they getting 12/16% of the shop rate. If your shop rate is 180 and your getting 28 your getting 16% now let’s say you were to be lucky enough to get 25% you be getting $45 the hour and you tip tech @ 35% $63 an hour. Let that sink in for a bit

[@hatertime]

This is an older video, but instead of waiting for diag time I would just do the diag and withhold the answer until it was approved. That way I could keep moving. 90% of the time it's something easy that you've done a billion times. Maybe if I had to remove a lot of stuff I would wait for time, but like I said that was so rare. My service advisors know how I do things and they would be sure to either sell the time upfront or let the customer know there might be a charge and if they're OK with it. That's the way I did things for years and I can count on one hand how many times I got bit. Just keep your feet going and you can make money

[@JuanGonzalez-th6iu]

Have been a technician for over 33years +. Times have changed in the 1990 I was making over 60k now it’s 2023 and a good tech makes the same or less. Shops got greedy don’t want to support their techs. Today’s vehicles absolutely suck. Too many engines removal. In my day we May replace an engine once every 3 months maybe. And that was a jiffy lube oil issue. Now some techs replace three engines in a week or more. The rise of the internet and the autozone diagnostic techs are called every name in the book.

[@thorsrensen3162]

Horrible business, young guys should be warned about this when they consider entering this field. I suppose a lot of younger people have a dream of working on fancy cars and driving them around and do upgrades and tuning of engines. But in reallity they are going to work on a lot of crappy daily drivers and get a lousy pay.

[@TunerZen]

You're preaching to exactly one of those guys...

[@thorsrensen3162]

@@TunerZen I wish you could change the system so you are getting a bigger part of the cake. Here in Danmark it is not as bad as in usa with the salary, but anyway the shop where I get my car maintained they are going on retirement very soon and no one will take over. The young mechanics are leaving the business and takes better paid jobs in factories etc.

[@mattfanslow]

Flat rate isn't inherently evil, or "bad". Many, many, techs have made a lot of money because of it. It's very meritocratic. But, it gets abused. Techs can abuse it, but often that's forced or unwittingly encouraged by management because of a lack of work forcing checks low. It really gets abused by management. You're treated like some bad combination of employee and independent contractor.