ASE master tech

[surfcam]

“ASE master tech with L1â€

[bottleworks]

By being a ASE master Tech it means you have passed the following ASE certs:

• (A1) Engine Repair
• (A2) Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
• (A3) Manual Drive Train and Axles
• (A4) Suspension and Steering
• (A5) Brakes
• (A6) Electrical/Electronic Systems
• (A7) Heating and Air Conditioning
• (A8) Engine Performance

The L1 cert is the ASE advanced engine performance specialist cert. These require 2 years of full time experience before you can be certified. You can take the tests and pass, but your won't get your papers until you have the required experience.

Can unlicensed people work on your car for money in the US

Yes. That's why you shouldn't go to the bum shop on the side of the road.

More info can be found at http://www.ase.com

[JRM]

although i know of a Toyota Dealer shop that only employees the best of the best with at least 4 years of Tech college and they could not figure out why my toyota truck ran rich and idled high unless it was above 100F outside. with it only being OBD I there were no trouble codes so they repalced everything from the mass airflow sensor to the thermostat.... even the power stearing idle advance... they gave up and only charged for 50% of the labor and parts, then one day years later in the shower I figured id ask if there was 2 temp sensors as on hot days it idled down to 300 RPM and sure enough there is a second one for the guage only, since the guage read correct I replaced the other- $48.00 later everything was perfect and idle was spot on.
Amazing
I have zero college experence and sell AT&T phones for a living and figured out the issue

[bottleworks]

although i know of a Toyota Dealer shop that only employees the best of the best with at least 4 years of Tech college

4 years, Sounds like they had to repeat all their courses at least once?

[82vdub]

My general opinion of dealership mechanics is this: when the warranty expires, find a better shop to work on your car. I don't mean to offend anyone that works for a auto dealer or degrade anyone no matter where they work or what they do. There are many fine mechanics working for dealerships. However, it's been my opinion (and opinions are just that) that it seems the dealers hire people with school knowledge, not real world knowledge. I have always searched out a mechanic that has seemed to have gotten in the business because he worked on his own cars, then started to work on others cars, then decided to turn it into a business because he had so much to work on. Basically, the school of hard knocks. The mechanic that I take my cars to for things that I can't fix or don't have some special tools is one such person. When you can go talk to him about the overdrive transmission lockup torque converter not working right on your 84 Chevy truck and he starts to tell you how the electronics work and what switches/devices the wiring goes through all in his head, you know that this person knows the basics of the particular system that you're questioning. If you don't know the basics, everything else, IMO, is just guessing - but guessing is where a lot of us backyard mechanics started from.

[bottleworks]

My general opinion of dealership mechanics is this: when the warranty expires, find a better shop to work on your car.

I disagree. The dealership should be the best place to take a brand specific car. There are a lot of bad mechanics, so I say "should". Dealership techs have three major advantages. First are factory service manuals/dealer online network - hands down the best source of information. The second is factory service training. Each time you go, you take a week at the regional training center learning on the new and old models. Thirdly is the fact that the mechanic is working on one line of cars. Problems tend to repeat. It can give you a jump start, but you still need to diagnose the problem. Anything else is just guessing.

I have always searched out a mechanic that has seemed to have gotten in the business because he worked on his own cars, then started to work on others cars, then decided to turn it into a business because he had so much to work on. Basically, the school of hard knocks.

That's a cute school, however, it only teaches you how to make your car "darlll-right". Proper schooling teaches proper diagnostic technique. Then after your basic schooling - ASEs. Any mechanic who I would consider competent have them all. If you fully understand how to diagnose automotive systems, then passing the certifications should be no problem.

The mechanic that I take my cars to...
When you can go talk to him about the overdrive transmission lockup torque converter not working right on your 84 Chevy truck and he starts to tell you how the electronics work and what switches/devices the wiring goes through all in his head, you know that this person knows the basics of the particular system that you're questioning.

Thats great. Do consider this, a good mechanic is someone who can correctly diagnose something - NOT know everything.

Say your mechanic were to work on...say a 2002 Acura TL automatic with a T/C lockup failure, would he know the answer or know the system at "the pop of the hood"? Maybe not. But, because he is a good mechanic, he whips out the manual and finds out how the system works and what is not working. Problem solved through diagnosing.

but guessing is where a lot of us backyard mechanics started from.

If your step one is to guess, then stop. You don't know what you are doing. And if you do get it to work right, you're just building false confidence in yourself.

Sorry this is so long, but I hate misinformation on the internet and the post was borderline. The point is:

• A proper mechanic knows how to read, learn, and diagnose
• Guessing is NEVER a step when working on anything!
• Mechanics are there to diagnose problems. The repair is stage II.
• The best mechanics have a manual on the left side of them and a torque wrench to the right of them.

Well, my rant is done.

[82vdub]

I agree that the dealer should be the best place to take your car. They are the one's that are supposed to be the best trained and most knowledgable to fix your car. However, just because someone has gone to school and has passed exams, it doesn't mean that they have what it takes to be a good mechanic, engineer, doctor, or whatever else. There are many times in whatever you do that a simple book, manual or computer program won't tell you what is wrong. You need to rely on your training, background and your past experiences to assist you. I believe it's these people that make the best people in their particular field of work.

The first time any one of us has ever worked on our cars without any prior training, we are all taking our best "guess" at what we're doing no matter how many books, manuals or anything else we've read. I've always had a good mechanical aptitude and was able to look at an item, take it apart and put it back together again and energize the item and it would work again. I think this good mechanical mindset gives me an advantage over someone that doesn't have this mindset and these are the types of people that make them the best at what they do. Some of the best inventions, technologies, etc have been created by people with minimal schooling or training ever. This is what I was trying to convey in my previous comment. As I said, this was my opinion and opinions may or may not be worth anything to others.

[A1-2-A3]

Well I myself am a Volvo master Tech and I work on semis for a Volvo dealership. Here in Canada you have something called journeyperson certification. You have to work 4 years in the trade and then go to school four times for level 1, 2, 3, and then write your level four then your interprovincial Red Seal cert. and your provincial test as well. Thats how you get your Journeyman's cert. I have my Red Seal in Truck and Transport. It deals with power units, buses, semi trailers. Then there is automotive(cars), heavy-duty(graders and such) and Agriculture(Tractors) School is two months a year.
I am now 30 years old and repaired trucks for 13 years. I have enough Certificates to cover a wall in my basement. I am Volvo and Cummins US'07 certified. I also have many courses in Eaton, Rockwell, Espar, Mertitor Wabco, Air Cert., Gov Saftey Cert. and so on. Way too many to list.
Each year I train 2-3 weeks to stay on top of things. Every fours year as emmisions requirements are stiffened I train for about a month just for that.
I can get a job in any town in Canada over the phone or directly after seeing my resume they will be taking me for dinner. Sometimes following me home from work.
The pay is not the best ranging from 57k-70k thats working on a hourly wage with no overtime. If you work in the oilfield expect to make well over 100k.
Some people will think dealers have dumb people there?Hmm.. Maybe for these old VW's the backyard guys might care enough to fix it right. If you have a old VW and take it to a shop expect to get raped and the quality of work to be far from good. Why? They don't care, they see a old rusty POS and have to go back 20 years of technology. But other than changing oil and wiper blades you can not do anything without a laptop and a couple hundred thousand dollars of tooling to repair todays trucks. They have 8 ECU's, 7 miles of wiring, two datalinks, the DPF alone costs 7k, and if your not a dealer and certified you will not be able to repair much of the electrical systems because you won't be supported by the programs, interfaces, tools, manuals.
Also the dealer is the end all of everything. We don't say no to nothing. If its broken ,it gets fixed period. Many back yard shops pass the repairs to us because they can't do it. When they are out of warranty and they can't afford to keep the trucks up they buy new ones or they live with check ecu lights on and run wires all over aimlessly trying to solve there problems. I have seen it all.
I think many of you DIY people on here are great mechanics and can and should be called mechanics or Technicians is the proper word becuase you have shown great skill in repairing and maintaining these almost 20+ old cars. Some could be engineers with the inventions that are close to genius. What I am trying to say is not all dealers and shops have stupid people working there, its like saying all people that drive VWs are right handed, it don't make sense. Sometimes bad experiences makes a guy bitter and thats the bottom line.

[A1-2-A3]

Also try and fix five trucks at once(while you make parts quotes, order parts, look up diagrams, help and train other techs) all on the clock with every second counts, each 5-10k jobs. Your mind is here and there and soon you wonder why you second guessed yourself and could not remember if you tightened that bolt on the white one. Its not easy being a "greasy-monkey" for a living. Also if you make a mistake it's recorded and at the end of the year its pulled out of a folder and you will be reponsible for any error in your wage. You become a machine. Break a bolt anywhere on your car I will get it out, break anything I will fix it. Hear a clink clink, a rattle, a boom, a bang, a whatever I will figure out what your talking about and repair it in the estimated amount of time while you watch Dr. Phill and drink coffee.
Honor Thy Mechanic. A doctor only has two models to work on how many do I have? When the doctor looks for the elbow its still on the arm. In the mechanic world next year it could be located on your foot.
The first thing a Mechanic should be able to do with wiring problems is go to the book and make it work on paper. Taking a testlight or shaking wires is guessing. It won't work in todays world.
I think a mechanic is #3 for most wanted job in North America. Too bad it wasn't the highest paying. Maybe I wouldn't whine so much

Sorry I could not leave this one alone guys. I give a hell ya to anyone learning what a wrench looks like and how to use it. If it wasn't for the DIY backyard they would need probably 300% more shops. I am talking about the guys that will even check the air in their tires, Some people pay 90+ a hour to do simple tasks like that and then complain about how much it costs. Gee, where is their logic? I knew a guy that could not even put gas into a jerry can when his truck ran out. I asked him how do you survive being that dumb?

[bottleworks]

Well said A1-2-A3!

[JRM]

I second what A1-2-A3 says, I did not mean to call Dealer mechanics idiots as they defently are not, I just wanted to bring light that Not all mechanics are A+++ plus my Toyota was a tough one to figure out, heck I drove it for 5 years with it running rich and ideling high because I too could nto figure it out.
Anyway- everyone here on this board shairs one same personal goal to fix it right and that one awesome value to have!

speaking of that, I better get to work on my new fixer- a 1991 Infinity G20 with a bad 5th gear, little did i know its a common issue on its B-13 tranny before I bought the car

[82vdub]

I certainly wasn't trying to say that all mechanics at dealerships are idiots, I was just saying what my experience has been with them. There are great people and terrible people involved in every trade everywhere across the world. I appoligize if this has bothered anyone in the trade, as it was certainly not my goal to put any specific person or trade down.

[3Bunnys]

Surfcam the Canuck asked

Can unlicensed people work on your car for money in the US.

.. To which the answer is YES... and I might add ...thank God
BTW... I'm an Unlicensed Uncertified Untrained:
Mechanic
Welder
Concrete Finisher
Electrician
Plumber
Roofer
Sheetrocker
Brick Layer (Mason)
Framer
Cabinetmaker
HVAC mechanic
Shooter (although I do have a conceal/carry permit)
and a few other things I can't think of at the moment... most people are blessed with innate skills.... some more than others

I Can Not sing, play the piano, read music, dance w/the stars, orate, learn foreign languages and probably a few (lot) of other things....
Oddly we call great musician's Virtuoso's but don't use the same word for skilled tradespeople, I guess we call them "Masters"

The point is: in the real world if you're going to hire somebody they may or may not be good at what they do no matter how many certifications they have...Remember...somebody always graduates at the very bottom of the class... Just pray it's not your Doctor!!!!!

If you're lucky or blessed you might get an innate virtuoso/master..

I always seem to get the beginner at the checkout counter, so I always do everything else myself!!!!!!!

Richard

ps... the blond is an innate virtuoso, need I say more, I sing her praises and spoil her with Chanel Coco....

[A1-2-A3]

You don't need to be licensed in Canada to work on cars as well. IF you have tools and you are good with them your hired. Problem is today most people want to make lots of money and not really do anything. They see movies of guys with cellphones and bmws and going for drinks at 3. Laying under a car smelling like raw sewage and getting covered in oil with busted knuckles and seeing the chiopracter every couple of months cause you lifted that the wrong way last year is not in the fantasyland they are in. Thats why we are swamped with work and there are people on unemployment or asking if you want fries with that and what size of shoe you wear. Skilled labour is a dying breed. Not many have the work ethic like myself a concentration camp done yesterday man.
BTW no offense in what you guys were saying, I just needed to "add" my two Canadian cents.

[surfcam]

Other then changing tires and windshields. I believe technically you have to be a auto mechanic to work on cars for money in Canada. The automobile dealers association try to shut unlicensed people down but there was such an out cry they didn't bush it but its still on the books as being illegal far as I know.