new tech advise

[gallagher83]

i am soon to be leaving school and am going to be a tech hopefully at a dealership i have some state certifications im just looking for tips when it comes to tools,experience and just how it is to be a tech day in and day out i have watched all the etcg1 videos about it which where very good but i want more info

Topic

[James O’Hara]

Respect others and their tools when you borrow them. Return other peoples tools cleaner then when you borrowed them and ask them either when you borrow it or put it back where they want it. If another tech is doing something that requires attention wait before you ask a question. Listen to all advice given and if they tell you to do something different from the way you may have learned in school there is normally a reason. Ask to look in other peoples toolboxes and bring a pad and a piece of paper write down the stuff that looks specialty or different and ask why they have it. As you look in each guys box you will notice trends in tools there is a reason everyone has that specific tool.

When buying Hand Tools buy the best you can afford but, also realize that just because it says Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell, or Matco does not mean it is the best. If you plan on doing this as your career buy tools meant to last your career. Realize right now that every tool can and will break eventually. I don’t care if it is Snap-On or was forged on Mt. Olympus or in the fire of Hades by Heaphisto himself its going to break. You need to realize you are going to be paying the tool trucks a portion of your paycheck every week for more then likely the rest of your career normally 10% of what you owe. Find out which one of them is the least like a con man and use him primarily. Things you use every day need to be very good quality ie your wrenches, sockets, ratchets, and pry bars. Things like inspection mirrors and pocket magnets buy cheap because you will loose them. I would suggest buying impact sockets over chrome but, ask around and see if you really need the thin wall chrome sockets to do your job or if impacts fit all the time. Extensions there is virtually no reason to own chrome extensions for regular extensions. Every ratchet you buy must be fine tooth it will make a huge difference in accessibility and speed of work. Try and buy ratchets that are dual pawl with multiple tooth engagement. I suggest getting long handle fine tooth flex head quick release ratchets with a bolt/screw at the flex head not a pin. Mine are pinned and flop around also make sure the quick release if you choose to buy quick release is a zero or low profile button. I prefer quick release because the the socket will not pull off the wrench without ridiculous amounts of force. Buy a breaker bar for every drive size you own plus 1 size larger. If something is obscenely stuck putting a pipe on a breaker bar is a much more sound choice then breaking your ratchet which you will need for the rest of the day/week till you can get a new one. Wobble extensions are a very good idea but, they break often so be aware. When I buy tools I find who makes what for whom. Just because it has tool truck name on it does not mean they made it regardless of what the truck guy says and btw not everything snap-on is made in the usa. Simple example is Snap-On taps and dies are Irwin. Matco Air guns are Ingersol Rand. Craftsman professional driving head prybars are made by Mayhew. So what I do is look at stamping impressions, part numbers, the overall look of the tool, and look around on ther internet and buy the stuff from the manufacturer that makes it for the tool trucks for certain tools. Normally the tool truck guys will also warranty those respective brands because they make it for that company but, do not rely on this ask first. Not every tool has to be the best of the best to work day in and day out. Things like brake pad quick depth gauges and tire tread depth gauges do not need to be snap-on.

You are new expect everyone to be sleeping with your mother to constantly remind you of that fact and how much they paid for sex last night. While this is more then likely not true you are the new guy. You are going to be ridden regardless. Be aware this is all part of being in a shop its like a fraternity. If you go complain to the boss its only going to get worse and/or get you fired though they would find a legitimate excuse ie he was late to work once.

Being a tech day in and day out. Well it can be fun at times like people using straws and dum dum and shooting them at each other bent over a car. Or having creeper races down hill. It can also be hell where you are under a car completely covered in grease and oil to have a coolant line burst on your head. It is like any job there are good days and bad days and your fastest is never fast enough. Just do a good job every time especially when you are new. Remember someones family is relying on the vehicle you are fixing and that doing a crap job can cost lives. You are going to make mistakes own up to them at least to the other mechanics and if you get stuck or mess something up ask for help don’t make it worse or try and hide it. You are going to have days where customers complain see example:

then there are people that are really this clueless

when you get a know it all person that is really clueless quote some stuff from this

Being a technician/mechanic is awesome and horrible at the same time. You know a lot especially with school but, you are going to be handy capped by customers and what they are willing to do, foreman telling you to do or not to do certain things, parts department not having the right part, getting the wrong part, or swearing that is not what it is called even though it will be black and white in the service manual. At the end of the day you yourself will be handicapped because you will want to fix everything and never throw anything away but, at the same time be too tired and/or busy to fix it. You will have everyone begging for you to fix their vehicles but, not be willing to shell out for you to fix it. Every day is interesting and try not to piss murphy off or he will show you his law over and over and over again. Try to adhere to the KISS rule and the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it rule. This will keep you out of trouble more often then get you in.

[gallagher83]

thank you MDK22 i still have the student 50% discount on tools but i have a car payment rent etc and i dont think i could afford the 10k-30k loan for tools do you think that will hurt me if i wait

[Mike]

You absolutely don’t need a loan for starter tools. In my earlier years making less money I would go to sears once a week, maybe alternate between a couple different stores, and look over the tool depts looking for tools I needed. Open end wrenches are the only Craftsman tools I’ve found to be truly inferior to a Snap-On counterpart, and their thing with 12pt sockets makes no sense to me, but that’s the bulk of any criticism I have towards them.

Unless you find you actually need to, never buy expensive SAE/fractional tools except for Snap-On flare nut wrenches. Brake line fittings are the only SAE fittings on cars for the last 30 years, except for some oddball domestic engineering abortions.

Stick to Craftsman or Harbor Freight tool boxes for at least the first few years. You have to have a major shitload of tools and/or live at work to have tool truck boxes make you any more efficient or justify their cost in any way (unless of course you fall into a giant money pit). I did not get into expensive tool storage until had been regarded as “having everything” for quite a while and had no small tools left to buy.

I would recommend keeping even a small $20/week tool truck account going with Snap-On and maybe another too. That will put you in a position to not only grow your tools/abilities automatically, but to usually be able to get whatever tool you need without it changing your payment. It also makes a tool guy way more interested in providing you service if you are a reliable customer. A extreme example of that kind of thing is my Snap-On guy allowing my interest-free truck account to get over $12k a while back when a welder and puller set were on sale and I already had a huge balance, but I’ve been paying him $120 a week for 4 years.

It’s tough to add to MDK22’s advice on workplace manners, he’s become a real asset around here, but there is one general rule that I live by for everything that I’ll tell you because it applies especially to being a tech:

If you can’t explain (to yourself or others) why you are doing something the way you are doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong and definitely could be doing it better.

By the same basic logic, If someone is telling you to do something a certain way and they can’t explain why to do it that way, take that with a grain of salt.

Something else MDK22 already said that should be re-stated, own up to your mistakes. The expereiced guys will know what really happened no matter what you say. Only the biggest asshole bosses won’t love you for telling them outright that you fucked something up (especially if you can say you know what you did wrong so it won’t happen again). When you’re new it’s going to happen, and hiding them is a skill that takes time to be learned and rarely should be used.

[James O’Hara]

I said that you can afford. 30k on tools when you are first starting out is not a good idea. You won’t know what you really need till you get there with the exception of staples. I also don’t know whether you are doing marine, diesel, industrial, or automotive. All of those put different requirements on tools. Most places are going to expect you to come in with a starter set like a 300 piece one from sears, a good 1/2in impact, some lugnut sockets, and that is about it. I have spent a lot of time just researching what tools to buy. If you don’t do manufacturer specific training you are most likely going to start out with oil changes. Look for posts by Pitt. I gave him a lot of the same advice I gave you and then some. Here is the previous post on tool advice http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/11-Tool-Talk/54340-recommend-tools-for-a-new-tech#116843

[sergio]

some quick advice…listen more than you talk when it comes to working next to a more experienced tech..even if you disagree or would do it differently..don’t be scared of doing bigger jobs when they are offered to you,its the way you learn and grow..always stay busy..meaning if you see someone that needs help doing something do it for him or help him instead of standing around.dont stand around!.he will then return the favor by helping you when you need help,or just watch them work if theyre ok with that..the shop is your real world schooling so absorb as much as you can

[Nik]

If you go dealer they will most likely start you changing oil. In that time you will learn the way they do things, you may also do some light duty work and light warranty work. When I was at Honda everybody started as an “express tech”, we did mostly oil changes and work that called for 1 hour or less flag time. They had each express tech paired up with a “Line tech” as a mentor. Some mentors are better then others, I was lucky enough to have a very skilled mentor that was a great teacher. After about 18 months I moved up to the “line”, it’s a completely different game. Build relationships with your advisers and parts people. Some people get fed gravy and others get crapped on. I always helped the advisers with small things in the service drive that nobody else would help with because it didn’t pay. In turn, it wasn’t uncommon for me to be HANDED services. Scratch peoples back and hopefully they’ll scratch yours. Don’t be afraid to step out of what you’re comfortable doing. If you think you’re in over your head, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now that I have apprentices under me, I’d rather they ask a question then mess something up. Always try to help yourself before you ask somebody else, I refuse to help people who don’t attempt to figure things out on their own. As far as tools, my general rule of thumb is if I have to borrow it twice, then I need to purchase my own. When you clock out, leave work at work. If you don’t, you will burn yourself out on this career very fast. Good luck in the future.

[Rick]

I’ve been at a Dealership for about two weeks now and all of the advice MDK22 has given me on the forum along with Fopeano has literally been worth it’s weight in gold. There are others and please forgive me if I miss you. I’m headed to the dentist so I’m trying to be quick.

Some examples.

I don’t stand around. Even when the techs don’t need help I grab a broom and sweep. I sweep their bays for them when it won’t get in their way. Want to make a tech love you? Sweep his bay for 45 seconds so when he drops a bolt he’s not crawling on a semi non dirty floor, and it’s easier for him to find small nut and bolts that were dropped.

Tools: Again great advice here. I started with a small craftsman starter set. Granted I’m doing LOF and flag work under 2 hours, but this is a perfect starter set. Upgrade pieces that you borrow a lot, or need to be high quality for specific jobs. I have ratchets from sears but I spent the money for ONE snap on ratchet because it made my life easier. And didn’t hurt like hell in my hands.

I got on the snap on truck and because I used my head, and didn’t ask for a $1k truck loan (he told me all the new techs ask for outrages truck credit) the snapon guy offered me a truck credit about $300 higher than anyone else just starting. I graciously declined and only took a flashlight, and half-in impact. Both I literally couldn’t do my job without. Now the snap-on guy is happy because he knows I’m not going to over extend and have trouble paying him and I get to keep the parts of my check the gubment doesn’t take with taxes hahaha.

Having $30k in tools as an entry level tech is like having your own restaurant, you’re the head chef and you can barely cook macaroni. Literally.

I can go on, but honestly the advice I have gotten here from these guys has made me a super star at work.

[Author]

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