You Tend To Specialize

[EricTheCarGuy]

I got the idea for this video while looking at the vehicles I keep in my shop. I think we all tend to specialize in one area or another, especially when it comes to auto repair. What are your thoughts?

Topic

[David Roddick]

I generally do not go a dealership for service because they are just too high priced and they often use the cheapest replacement parts (like cheap oil filters). I not go to specialists based on make and model because I have been burned by extremely high prices and bad attitudes by the technicians (know it alls who actually don’t know it all). I go to a great general shop and for transmissions I go to a great general transmission shop. In my own work I am the go-to-guy for certain things but on other things, I will refer people to someone who knows mote. I know a lot, but I don’t know it all. My advice is go where you get good service whether it be a specialist or a general shop that has a great staff.

[dan]

even i think if you are working for a independent shop there tends to be a car you know best, for example once again i know the GM W Body cars and the 3800 engine because i have worked with a lot of them, have a passion for them, and heck all three of the vehicles i have ever owned where GM W Body cars, two of which had the 3800 engine, i know most of the pattern failures buy heart, i know a lot of the specifications and how to do diagnosis and tire rotations and crankcase capacities and all that jazz almost all buy heart because i have worked with them specifically and that is pretty much all i have ever owned myself.

however in Ionia there are not many specialty shops and dealerships in fact i notice more people trusting the local shops such as Edland here in Ionia, there is also Lillies but i go too Edland and they work on just about everything… trucks, cars, import, domestic, you name it if its car or light truck they work on it. i think it also depends on whats common in your area, here in Michigan once again GM W body cars are EVERYWHERE, and 3800 engines are super common! so naturally more of these vehicles will come into shops and get work.

[Petr Miskerik]

Thanks for the great theme of Eric.
I have always preferred specialist for the brand / model compared to the general technician.
It’s exactly as you say. And I need to know that the man exactly knows the weaknesses of this particular car / model.
Also, I try to specialize in Alfa-Romeo. This specialization is costing me some (more) “non Alfa” customers, but my “alfa” customers will be satisfied with what they will get.
Of course, i still trying do also different marks but just common things/tasks.
Also (as You say), just diagnostics tools (pc software, licenses, OBD cables) cost such a big money, about others tools i will not rather talk at all, especially special tools for one thing (timing belt fixer, some pullers and etc…).

[EricTheCarGuy]

I hope this video was not interpreted that you should only take your vehicle to a specialist. There are plenty of capable ‘general practitioners’ out there that do a great job. My point was that working in the industry I believe you tend to gravitate toward a particular part of the profession, and sometimes a particular brand. Sometimes both. That said, no one can be an expert at everything. So if you’re in a bind and no one can figure out the problem, a specialist is who you might try and seek out. Sometimes you can even find them on forums. 🙂

[dan]

i understand what you are trying to communicate, you tend too specialize and ill simplify my response buy saying its not only how you are trained, but i think also what you are exposed too, and what you take interest in and what makes you tick and what you have a passion for 🙂

when it comes too diagnosis its always been engine performance, how a engine works from the old days too mechanical fuel pump and distributors and carburretors, to todays electrical fuel pump PCM and ignition coils, fuel injectors and sensors… seeing finely crafted and machined peaces of material be shaped and machined and casted in such a way, that it all fits together and performs a function efficiently enough too drive a 3,000LB vehicle with haste has always fascinated me. so because i took it with such a passion engine performance which was the hardest coarse our school had i understood the best over all, and even today i find diagnosing engine performance issues easiest of all because for so many years my passion has left me with a desire too study and learn each and every single part of how it works, the end result is i tend too “specialize.” over all in that arena because that is what makes me tick, i am a Motorhead.

[none]

Even at a general service shop, you will tend to specialize anyway. At minimum, high production vehicles combined with pattern failures will really afford you the chance to become a specialist whether you intended to be or not. I specialize in Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep suspension repair because they have millions of vehicles out there with control arms, ball joints, and tie rods that are loose in 30K. Everybody specializes GM 3.1 intake gaskets because so many of them failed and then failed again later. Everybody specializes in struts on Ford Taurus because you know their rear springs are going to be sagging practically to a coil bind and at least one of the front struts broke a coil by now. Some have said they specialize out of passion. I specialize because that’s where my best chance of making money is. I’ll steal oil changes from the lube techs so I can try and find those pattern failures. That’s where you become a specialist by default.

[Author]

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