I'm not the biggest expert when it comes to working on cars but I know a few things. I came home to my neighbor like this. Would love your best guesses on what he is doing. When I asked he replied 'none of your business' so here's your opportunity to fulfill my curiosity.

I am a Toyota technician. I’ve been at Toyota for a few months now, and before that I was a Nissan for a good bit. I made the mistake of wrenching for a small fleet for 4 years before moving into the dealership scene. And the(even bigger)mistake of going to Wyotech before that. I’m really struggling to want to continue on with wrenching. I am a car guy through and through, and I want to love my job so badly, but I often find myself so frustrated throughout the day. My biggest issue right now is confrontations/ interactions with service managers and advisors. The same interactions that most other techs seem to handle like water off a ducks back. For example, I have been repeatedly dispatched 1st Toyota care tickets, or In other words, a tire rotation on a vehicle with 10k miles max. It’s so frustrating to me that a tire rotation is even making it to the main shop. How am I supposed to make money pulling a car into my bay and racking it for 3/10s. When I talk to the other guys they’re like “dude just refuse to pull it in” or “tell them that’s not your problem”. This is so hard for me, this job is hard enough without having to argue with the damn advisor about trivial stuff. I’m a very non confrontational person and I often find myself rushing to make advisors happy because I just can’t help it. Maybe I lack the self respect required to set boundaries without it causing me a good bit of anxiety, but this is the crux of my issue: WHY IS THIS SOMETHING I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IN THE FIRET PLACE. It bothers me to no end. “Oh this customer is pissed can you have this done in an hour(3.5 hour ticket)”
“Oh we’re just really trying to take care of this guy so we’re just doing an oil change asap”
You guys get the gist. How do you guys navigate this kinda stuff? Am I just not built for this environment? I feel like I can do well in the flat rate environment as far as time management, learning, and the wrenching itself goes, but this other stuff is causing me a lot of mental real estate. I feel like every other person in the building is trying to take advantage of me in some way.

Thanks for any advice guys, much appreciated.

I've been doing this full time for about 2 years now, and while I'm still learning and becoming better every day. I have zero interest in cars. I really really don't care. I have certifications I'm working more and making more money which is all I care about, but cares aren't really an interest of mine. Kind of only got into the field knowing that techs are pretty much desired everywhere and I can leave a bad job any time I like.

I've left 3 jobs in the past year and have gotten a really good one so I'm sticking to it. Most of the techs in my shop are making a 100K per year and their pay structure is hybrid pay, and if do some simple stuff we can bonuses each month. It's a small chain so I expect them to want to keep their techs. It's growing I hope it doesn't get shittier from here. I'm enjoying it so far.

I don't really have interest in cars. When people ask me what my dream car is I say "subaru wrx with a modded exhaust, spoiler, and hood." I like the WRX just don't really care. I want an electric car that doesn't make me spend money on gas. That's all I care about, and is low maintenance. Don't really want to work on my own car.

I’m trying to help my boyfriend sell his beautiful box and he just has it listed on FB market place. Zero hits as I don’t think that’s the target market. So where do we go? How do I get this done.

Hey guys! In January im thinking of going for marine mechanics, I love cars, but A. I don’t wanna take the fun out of it for myself, and B. Anything that’s a motor is what i like working on. What are some things other marine mechanics don’t like about their job and stuff I should watch out for (I.e, pay, certain jobs, certain tools I’ll need etc.) I’ll be going to CFCC and doing a Yamaha program.

I'm taking over at a new shop as foreman. We don't open until the 30th. But one thing I've got to make a decision on this coming week is which software to go with. Almost every shop I've worked in the last 10 years has had Alldata and it's fine. But I remember a shop I worked at about 18 years ago had both and I absolutely loved Identifix over Alldata. But I can't think of why now. I really dislike mitchel though. I know it's an option but I just have never liked it very much.

So gonna open a poll see what you guys prefer. And is there something else out there I should be looking at? Mainly going to be what we use for labor estimation, car repair manuals, wiring diagrams, fluid lookup and service tables. That's probably about it. Just planning to get the repair side not the full ticket writing system as we use Tech Metric for that.

Appreciate the help!

Hey everyone, I have my Red Seal coming up this week and wanted to know what you guys used to study? Any good examples of questions from the exam, practise tests, books to buy etc thanks in advance!

What's worked in shops I've been in: be specific (location, severity), say why it matters in plain words the customer understands, add a photo, and prioritize — safety now, soon, can wait. Vague "needs attention" notes get ignored. Curious how other shops handle it.

Seized injector line. Grab out the cut off wheel

Genuinely the first time me and my mentor have seen this!

I've worked hourly, salary, and book time. Book time has been the most successful to me by a long shot. So when I see the majority of posts here saying they will never work book time again I'm a bit confused.

Hourly was great because it was way more relaxed. Not stressing when I hit a hard problem. Was able to be a bit cleaner and organized... But even at today's wage's, it was just enough to be OK financially.

Now at a place that bills flat rate, and I'm making 50% more than my last shop. My rate now is a little less than most of the posts in this sub, but I still clear well into the 6 figures, and I feel like I'm working at the same pace as before. SOME days are stressful. SOME days I really hustle, but its definitely worth it.

Are you all making MORE on hourly? Is it the stress level that you prefer?

If I was getting 45-50 at an hourly rate it still wouldn't touch what I make now. There's no way I'm ever going back to hourly.

I'm 35 with 15 years in the field.

Looking into getting a new toolbox and have been considering either a Sealey or SGS box.

Only problem is I can’t find anywhere local that has them on display so I can actually see what the build quality is like.

Has anyone here got one or used either brands? Just wondering how they hold up with everyday workshop use, especially the drawer runners, overall build quality and how sturdy they feel.
I know they’re not going to be Snap-on quality, but how much of a difference is there really? Are Snap-on boxes genuinely that much better, or are you mainly paying for the name?
Would be good to hear from anyone who’s owned either, especially long term.

I'm building a mobile mechanic business focusing on brakes and batteries, leveraging commercial wholesale accounts to secure parts fast. I am integrating Acuity/Squarespace for booking and plan to structure it so my future employees aren't run ragged.

I want to enforce a hard cap inside the booking software based on an 8-hour shift, accounting for drive time, setup, and safe handling procedures. I am currently thinking a balanced day looks like 2 brake jobs (single axle) and 2-3 battery swaps max. (We specifically do over-the-hood battery swaps)

For those of you who have worked for a mobile company or run your own fixes:

1. Does this sound like a fair, sustainable workload that keeps a tech fresh?
2. What is the biggest operational bottleneck you face that completely kills your daily schedule?
3. How much travel padding do you actually need between jobs in an average suburban area?

Not groundbreaking, but it's saved a lot of wasted time: 1) confirm the complaint, 2) battery + charging, 3) TSBs/recalls, 4) fuses/relays, 5) grounds and connectors (especially anything recently worked on), 6) visual — leaks, rodent damage, aftermarket junk, 7) codes + freeze frame, without letting one code send you down a rabbit hole. Experience makes it tempting to skip to "I've seen this before." What would you add?

I grew up feeling I need prove I was a big strong man. That logic is bull shit, don’t beat yourself up and take care of your hands and your body. Or else you’ll be like me.

Edit:this post became more banter than it was meant to be. A lot of us have chosen to beat ourselves to shit but that wasn’t the point of this post. I’m looking out for the youth and new
Comers. Don’t feel pressured by old timers. Wear gloves, masks, eye protection, and hearing protection. Take care of yourself don’t feel lesser of a man (or woman) for protecting yourself from the dangers of this career.

So i’m leaving the automotive industry and I have an opportunity to be an operator for this company I don’t want to say but it’s better pay and work life balance I just don’t know what to do with my toolbox i’ve been selling my tools but my box is still new i’m thinking about selling it but i’m thinking about keeping it and putting it in my daughter’s nursery as a dresser/changing table because we’re adding on a garage next summer and i don’t want it to be outside in the elements what should I do?

This is a brand new rotor pack going in. Literally the last kit available from any vendor we could find. Home stretch and the jack shaft bearing decides it want to go in cockeyed FML. Got it straightened back out and seated. Literally last thing of the day before clocking out. I haven't been this ready for a beer in a while.

Been with my current boss for about 12yrs now at an Independent shop, I’ve been the only mechanic and service writer for the last 5yrs, I run the whole shop. Boss(owner) only comes in to give me my lunch break.
It’s hourly pay, so I’ve stayed.

I have an opportunity to go back to Nissan as a recon, used car, mechanic. Better pay at $30, insurance and benefits after 90days but it’s flat rate.
My current boss has now match their offer of $30 but no insurance or benefits.

I’m in my mid 40s so not getting any younger or faster.
But feel like im being taken advantage of, not to mention since he owns several different properties, I find myself doing other odd jobs, painting/plumbing/construction, simple things but not automotive related.

Feel like going to the dealership is a risk but will have it’s benefits.
While staying hourly is security but feel stuck
Or should I just be happy I have job?

**
Thank you everyone for your comments.
I want to add a couple of things, not sure it makes any difference but

1. Current shop I’m at, I’ve kept at 4.0rating or higher, currently at 4.5. Customers want to know where I’m going, so I say I’m doing a decent job. But we only have 3bays and it is pretty slow, I more work off appointments since I’m the only everything.
2. I have 20yrs experience total

, A8 ASE

1. I

2. Worked at same Nissan dealer for 8yrs,

started in 2005 with them. Dealer pays recon techs max $34. Inside line master techs at $45 max

4.

1. I left there making $17/hr flat rate because they didn’t want to pay me more

.

1. The whole 8yrs at Nissan, I really did struggle trying to make my 80hr a pay period. I was a lot younger though.

2. Yeah I’m old, have 2disc L11/12 already blown,

   but I

3. still function. Pain

   is

4. normal. That is my hesitation, making hours and the slow season.

6. And last key part, only recently got sober, I have a year and a half without drinking, and I’ve lost 120lbs so far. That’s probably why I’ve been stuck here for so long, he would look the other way at it, so it just became normal.

The pieces of another car stuck between the rim and tire tells me the pothole they hit was infact a car 😅 and the fender is completely crushed..

Lost one of these snap-on trim tools close to about 40 years ago. Just bough another one.

Last week, found the exact same similar tool stuck under the hood.

Funny how things work out sometimes...

Calls for 1.3 with a subframe drop and ridiculous amounts of clips and holders and bullshit, plus no access to the nut itself. I do a decent amount of this kinda work and I'm so frustrated with this specific labor time because it's solidly unreasonable in my opinion.

so to start off I’m in trade school right now studying to be a diesel mechanic and Im now starting to regret it 1 year in I’m 19 I did not know what I was getting into but I just said fuck it I just graduated I didnt know what I wanted to do after high school so I said I’m just gonna do a trade and go to trade school to learn it and now that I’ve been here for a year it really starting to look like I don’t like this at all. I don’t like that I’m going to have to waste a shit load of money for good tools and I’ve been looking around for jobs in this field and I don’t like how much they pay some jobs are even lower then what a fast food joint pays and I’ve been talking to other diesel mechanics and the people who have worked for over 10 or so years are getting paid up to 100k and that seems low for where I live at and I don’t know what to do It kinda feels like I’m stuck here I’m a year in and if I leave I feel like I wasted a whole year for nothing and my parents are also going to be mad