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Thank you for the interesting input. I didn’t do a good job making my original post clear. To clarify I am considering starting a mobile water leak repair business. That is all I would do is fix exterior water leaks. With the experience that I already have and the proper selection of tools and equipment I believe most water leaks can be found relatively quickly. In the vast majority of cases there would be no need for a lift, heck I can’t think of a single time I’ve ever needed to lift a water leak car. There would not be an excessive amount of tools and equipment needed so there would be no need for a trailer. A small truck or suv should be sufficient and it would be no problem to go to the customers location(as long as they had a water source) which would also eliminate the need for leasing a physical location for the business. I’m sure there are many other factors to consider which is why I am posting this here, you guys might think of something that didn’t cross my mind. In general I think it could be started for a relatively small investment. Building the advertising base and learning what gets you the most customers for the least money might take some time but putting yourself out there as a sublet option to the 25-30 local shops and dealers could form a backbone to help stay afloat until the number of more lucrative home customers gets built up.
I’m really on the fence about whether I should continue with them. Right now I am somewhat lucky that I have a shop manager who will find someway to get me some extra time on it. It wont be on that particular ticket but he will likely pay me for a couple PDI’s that the hourly guys do. That’s nice but in the long run I cant expect to always have a manager who will supplement the thievery like that.
The cars seem fairly easy to work on and I like the Hyundai product so I don’t want to leave but at the same time I need to make good money. The alarming part to me is that I really have to question the knowledge and processes that go on at the corporate level if a time like that is acceptable. It’s kinda like I’m scared that they may have a disease. A disease that will continue to get worse.I’m really on the fence about whether I should continue with them. Right now I am somewhat lucky that I have a shop manager who will find someway to get me some extra time on it. It wont be on that particular ticket but he will likely pay me for a couple PDI’s that the hourly guys do. That’s nice but in the long run I cant expect to always have a manager who will supplement the thievery like that.
The cars seem fairly easy to work on and I like the Hyundai product so I don’t want to leave but at the same time I need to make good money. The alarming part to me is that I really have to question the knowledge and processes that go on at the corporate level if a time like that is acceptable. It’s kinda like I’m scared that they may have a disease. A disease that will continue to get worse.Here are two websites that have helped me tremendously. One is http://www.circuitlab.com which allows you to diagram and test various types of circuits in a simulated environment. Another one is the PhET project from the University of Colorado Boulder which has dozens of physics and electricity simulators of various kinds that you can mess around with. For me sometimes being able to visually see the results of my actions really helps to cement my understanding of the concept. Something as simple as Ohms law just makes so much more sense to me now since I played around with their 12V DC Circuit simulator.
Here are two websites that have helped me tremendously. One is http://www.circuitlab.com which allows you to diagram and test various types of circuits in a simulated environment. Another one is the PhET project from the University of Colorado Boulder which has dozens of physics and electricity simulators of various kinds that you can mess around with. For me sometimes being able to visually see the results of my actions really helps to cement my understanding of the concept. Something as simple as Ohms law just makes so much more sense to me now since I played around with their 12V DC Circuit simulator.
We had almost like a combo of that going on at the Chevy dealer I used to work at. Rotor turning was included in the brake job labor and we were supposed to turn them assuming there was reasonable expectation that they would be in spec after turning. The most annoying thing to me was guys who were too lazy to turn them would convince themselves that there was no way the rotor would turn out and would just sell replacement rotors…..but then would still expect to get the full brake job labor even though they didn’t turn a single rotor.
We had almost like a combo of that going on at the Chevy dealer I used to work at. Rotor turning was included in the brake job labor and we were supposed to turn them assuming there was reasonable expectation that they would be in spec after turning. The most annoying thing to me was guys who were too lazy to turn them would convince themselves that there was no way the rotor would turn out and would just sell replacement rotors…..but then would still expect to get the full brake job labor even though they didn’t turn a single rotor.
One time our used car department had traded for an Impala and had it in the shop to be inspected before they put it out on the sales lot. During the used vehicle inspection I noticed that the passenger front power window was not working. A few minutes later the used car manager came strolling through the shop and wanted to find out if I had seen any problems with the vehicle yet. I told him the window didn’t work and he instantly started claiming he had checked the window when he traded for it and accusing me of somehow breaking it. So I take the door panel off to get a look at whats going on and surprise surprise the power window motor was gone!
One time our used car department had traded for an Impala and had it in the shop to be inspected before they put it out on the sales lot. During the used vehicle inspection I noticed that the passenger front power window was not working. A few minutes later the used car manager came strolling through the shop and wanted to find out if I had seen any problems with the vehicle yet. I told him the window didn’t work and he instantly started claiming he had checked the window when he traded for it and accusing me of somehow breaking it. So I take the door panel off to get a look at whats going on and surprise surprise the power window motor was gone!
For those of you who mentioned heater cores I can even take it to another level. On the new Camaro’s you have to remove the windshield to do the heater core!
I agree with Eric about the diff oil. I don’t know what it is about that stuff but its one of the most awful smells Ive ever been around.
One of the things I hate most is patching tires. Yes its simple and also easy from a physical standpoint but still it annoys the hell out of me. Also I am not much of a drum brake fan.
For those of you who mentioned heater cores I can even take it to another level. On the new Camaro’s you have to remove the windshield to do the heater core!
I agree with Eric about the diff oil. I don’t know what it is about that stuff but its one of the most awful smells Ive ever been around.
One of the things I hate most is patching tires. Yes its simple and also easy from a physical standpoint but still it annoys the hell out of me. Also I am not much of a drum brake fan.
1. A rookie service manager who insists that a multi point inspection sheet be filled out on every single car. No exceptions. The 500 mile Silverado thats been on the road less than a week and is back to get his step bars and bedliner installed…..MPVI. The 200,000 mile Colorado thats in for a recall but has butt cheek bald tires, busted windshield, broken door handles, CEL, ABS light, Brake light, Airbag light and barely runs…..MPVI. Or how about the DTS from our preowned lot that I did a full GM Certified 187 point inspection on 3 days ago that is back in the shop to get the wheel hub we ordered for it installed…..MPVI. Waste my time. Multi points can be your friend but a little common sense on when to let it go would be nice. Its not like im gettin paid to be here! 🙂
2. People who leave the stereo volume up at a ridiculous level so when I turn the ignition key I have a heart attack and crap my pants.
3. Managers and Service writers who ask me to do things for free. Maybe im a hardass but I dont feel bad about expecting to get paid for all of the work I do. If you want me to be hourly or salary then I can do all of the little things you need me to from sun up to sun down, but sorry guys if im flatrate im gonna expect diag for declined jobs, im gonna expect a tenth or two for wiper blades and bulbs, and im not going to wash any cars unless you figure out a way to pay me for it.
4. People who blame things on you that clearly are not your fault or arent even happening at all. Im sorry Mr Jones but all I did yesterday was fix your rear defrost grid and fix 2 door handles, I have no idea why your MPG has been cut in half.(lol has it?)
1. A rookie service manager who insists that a multi point inspection sheet be filled out on every single car. No exceptions. The 500 mile Silverado thats been on the road less than a week and is back to get his step bars and bedliner installed…..MPVI. The 200,000 mile Colorado thats in for a recall but has butt cheek bald tires, busted windshield, broken door handles, CEL, ABS light, Brake light, Airbag light and barely runs…..MPVI. Or how about the DTS from our preowned lot that I did a full GM Certified 187 point inspection on 3 days ago that is back in the shop to get the wheel hub we ordered for it installed…..MPVI. Waste my time. Multi points can be your friend but a little common sense on when to let it go would be nice. Its not like im gettin paid to be here! 🙂
2. People who leave the stereo volume up at a ridiculous level so when I turn the ignition key I have a heart attack and crap my pants.
3. Managers and Service writers who ask me to do things for free. Maybe im a hardass but I dont feel bad about expecting to get paid for all of the work I do. If you want me to be hourly or salary then I can do all of the little things you need me to from sun up to sun down, but sorry guys if im flatrate im gonna expect diag for declined jobs, im gonna expect a tenth or two for wiper blades and bulbs, and im not going to wash any cars unless you figure out a way to pay me for it.
4. People who blame things on you that clearly are not your fault or arent even happening at all. Im sorry Mr Jones but all I did yesterday was fix your rear defrost grid and fix 2 door handles, I have no idea why your MPG has been cut in half.(lol has it?)
One time an old man wearing a Vietnam POW baseball cap had his Tahoe in our shop. It was impressive how clean and empty the interior was. Not a scrap of paper, a kleenex, change, sunglasses or any of the normal stuff was there. There were only 3 items in the vehicle, a police scanner, a half gallon of Aristocrat vodka, and a .38 revolver. As I was getting into the truck so I could drive it into the shop he looked at me and said “Go ahead and get you a few pulls off that bottle if you want but dont touch my gun.”