Question about tools I’ll need as a Lube Tech

[Collin]

Good evening everyone,

I was recently hired on at the new Volkswagen dealership near me, and I start next week. I’m excited and can’t wait to start, they have nice lifts and all brand new equipment. After applying, I didn’t have any formal experience in auto repair on my resume. But, I was able to convince them of my knowledge on working on vehicles after explaining what I’ve done on the side, and job shadowing for a few hours.

They told me that they will more than likely start me off as a lube tech, and gradually train and advance me from there, after showing what I can do. Question is, will I need any special tools or diagnostic equipment, even though I’m just starting off as a lube tech? They do have an A/C evap machine, provide a phone and computer, as well as a box and a rolling oil drain. When shadowing, I used an expensive looking battery tester that prints results, but don’t know if that was a tech’s tool or if that was dealer provided.

I’ve got a lot including ratcheting wrenches, line wrenches, oil filter wrenches, ratchets, sockets, and impact sockets of all sizes, specialty sockets, air ratchets, tire gauge, impact wrench, a/c gauges, breaker bars, torque wrenches, torque limiting sockets, screwdrivers, hammers, feeler gauges, etc.

Do I need any special diagnostic equipment at some point? I have a couple of OBD scanners, any tools I need to invest in? I’ve already been told many times to stay off the Snap-On truck….

Anyone have any tips for me when I start?

Thanks

Topic

[Keith]

VW is usually pretty good about supplying dealers with scan tools, special tools, etc. That battery tester is a dealership tool so you won’t have to buy one. When I worked Service Xpress at VW, they provided tools but I eventually bought my own.

I’d get some Torx and Hex sockets, as well as a 3/8 cordless impact and a cordless screwdriver for belly pans. If you have trouble with getting VW wheels back on the hub (they use lug bolts instead of nuts that thread onto a stud, there are alignment dowels that will help you put the wheel back up. Also, get yourself a test light and a set of oil filter sockets (Gearwrench and I think Lisle make a set of the ones you’ll need for the cartridge filters, and there is one for the 2.5 and 2.0TSI engines.

If your dealer has Service Xpress, then you’ll be working on a team with 2-3 other lube techs. Learn both sides of the process (I know, it sucks ass), but get used to it now. Whenever you guys have downtime, go shadow/assist a line tech, you’ll learn a lot more, but make sure when a car comes in for Xpress, that you’re back in your bay ready to get it done. Get familiar with ODIS (VW scan tool), as you’ll be doing a lot of flash updates if they choose to give them to the quick lube guys. A lot of the recalls that came in were able to be done by quick lube, so get familiar with those as well.

Make sure you get access to VWHub as well, there are video lessons and tests for Xpress that you can do, as well as some other learning resources.

[Rick]

KeithLG is correct VW has quite a bit of equipment for techs. I think HumbleMechanic said if you want to open a VW dealership you have to buy over $250k in tools.

I would just start with what you have, and the tools KeithLG stated. After that buy the stuff you use more than twice a week, or borrow more than once a week.

The Snap ON truck isn’t a rapist van like many of us like to joke. No one forces anyone to purchase their tools. You can get many many good buys on craigslist, offerup, letgo, amazon different sites that let people basically have an online garage sale.

[Collin]

Thank you both. Today was my first day and mostly everything went well. Moved all of my tools in, set up a bunch of logins, and worked on a few vehicles. It seemed like I had everything right off the bat, but I already see a couple of things that I will be looking at getting – a M12 hex impact for getting the underbody engine covers off, and a set of lug nut key sockets. Other than that, I seemed pretty set.

Things went pretty well for the most part, except being the new guy – I’m not used to the high end computer OBD scanner, fancy tire mounting machine, or alignment rack, or the Reynolds software as well as some of the other systems we use – and it seems like they’re throwing it all at me expecting me to know it all. But, I’m sure things will clear up as time goes on.

It’s nice because I have my own dedicated lift, tool box with keys, a rolling tool cart that rolls inside of the tool box, and my own computer and phone. I’m trying my hardest to show what I know, and respect the other techs that have been there for some time as I learn what they have to share. If anyone has any tips for me, I’m all ears.

Thanks

[Author]

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