I'm a third generation tech who left the field and went off to college. The truth is that cars have become so sophisticated that the people smart enough to work on them correctly (like me) don't want to deal with bad pay, outdated work environments and endless idiots that get into the field now. The field used to attract smart folks who could make a good living like my father and grandfather, but now it's a cesspool. If you're bright, go study mechanical engineering or business and get a six figure job at a car company with benefits in a cushy office. Being an auto tech now demands you work harder to keep up with the trade than any other field while being rewarded with the lowest pay.
@JamesSmith-xs7sr depend"s on who is smart and who is fixing your car bcos u are not able too and to add insult to injury we are overcharging you for it 🤔 Ps who is the smart one then ?
the biggest thing is knowing how to navigate service data, I know you brushed on the topic but it's such a drag to sit at a computer for hours to find the answer you need or what to search to get you to the answers you need. Jake over at his channel automotive diagnostics and programming has shown me so many tips on navigating service data
Fun fact is no school will teach you this because it's simply takes too much time so it's easier to just tell them to contact support and to just focus on the next subject
Just getting some of the younger "techs" to show up 5 days a week is a task. But searching and translating what many mechanics find into a diagnosis is not easy for many it seems. Things we take for granted can be overwhelming. But basic PC operation and troubleshooting is something people who aren't even in our industry should be able to do as well, but can't.
In 2000 it was determined that at that time it took a intelligence level of a person with a masters degree to work on automotive products, given the advancement of the industry I think we can safely say it’s probably likley it takes a intelligence level of a person with a doctrine degree!!!!and add the fact it’s for peanuts. And we wonder why the industry is not attractive to the work pool?? 🤦🏼♂️ plus to top off the whole thing the new business initiative to achieve 92% profit on every dollar collected.
My favorite is when the company has too many restrictions set up on their network that tech support at GM even says that the reason a program won't go through is because of that. Component naming does suck, service information says this, labor time calls it that, ALLDATA says something else, and then the parts catalog doesn't match any.
I really wish the industry would switch to Linux. When I started at my current shop I had to fix the WiFi network. They had one crusty old linksys wireless routers running the entire building with default passwords. I have to run around the parking lot and diag trucks with no WiFi reception. It was awful. I could believe how far behind they were. It was so bad I was able to login to the router, get the IP for the Security camera NVR , and log into that using admin/admin. I had to show them that a “stupid” mechanic was able to hack the entire network in less than five minutes.
You just fixed half the Teslas sitting at service centers. I hear rivian's having the same problem. They think when they hire these would-be master dealer technicians that they're going to have the technical side down and most these guys weren't properly using the software from the dealership they came from. And now that I'm mobile I see a lot more of this in shops. So many places operate on scanning codes and then they shotgun diag with a sawed-off snub nose pistol. To think I had to take the computer class three times to graduate high school and now I'm a keyboard and right click mechanic.
You forgot another skill techs need but don’t have….Ability to understand and use Ohm’s law. Most guys that come through our shop have no clue. It’s like math and its relation to electricity are black magic.
The topic is good, and know i could improve on keyword search term strategies and PC knowledge. What would be good resources for these topics? Like I said, can't Google too good. So, when I Google that question, I get P. Diddly. Literally.
I learned basic computer skills in general education school (K-12), by 5th grade it was standard that we typed at a high level. Never really learned actual stuff, like the whatchamacallit doo dad thingy’s he referred to in the video (I’m 26 btw)
Computers in particular desktop or laptop computers that tie you to a desk at home can become a hindrance. Except for students, home computers should be abolished. Even then, sitting at a computer for hours away from your family at home is not a good idea. Nothing good can come of it. The smartest computer guy I ever met had a degree in computer science. He didn't have any computers or Internet in his home. I don't think he had a TV at the time I was there. Smart man! Wonderful home and family. Perhaps you need a laptop to do something you can't do on the phone. I have one and a printer but I rarely use it. Probably shouldn't have bought it. Probably not a good idea to have home Internet either. You don't work a desk job, and if you did then leave the computer at work!
I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic that Mike discussed. He said auto techs should know how to look up service information at work and also how to fix network issues at work. Computers are required for modern cars. Having a PC or laptop at home is a different issue.
Maybe a few years ago. Won't disagree about being overpriced but they are no longer just overpriced PCs. Apple made the switch to using ARM architecture for their cpus using their own designs and they actually put out a lot of computational power in regards to how much electricity they consume, not to mention being custom tailored to their own software. They are ahead of the curve in terms of what direction the industry will be moving in. Contemporary X86 processors are starting to require way too much energy and cooling to be feasible for much longer. Not to mention just being built on an outdated architecture from the 1980s, Intel and AMD are still having to including obsolete instruction sets in their processors just to make the things work. I probably won't ever own an Apple computer, but from a pure technological standpoint their new computers are very impressive.
You lost me when you started talking about business networks and partitions. You may as well have been speaking Inuit. I can fix cars and research things on computers but aside from turning a computer on, I don’t know squat about them.
I'm a third generation tech who left the field and went off to college. The truth is that cars have become so sophisticated that the people smart enough to work on them correctly (like me) don't want to deal with bad pay, outdated work environments and endless idiots that get into the field now. The field used to attract smart folks who could make a good living like my father and grandfather, but now it's a cesspool. If you're bright, go study mechanical engineering or business and get a six figure job at a car company with benefits in a cushy office. Being an auto tech now demands you work harder to keep up with the trade than any other field while being rewarded with the lowest pay.
I'm very good at finding information
Very true! 100%
It's not for everyone sweetheart.
@TomPhilbin-e7j True! Smart ones avoid it all together.
@JamesSmith-xs7sr depend"s on who is smart and who is fixing your car bcos u are not able too and to add insult to injury we are overcharging you for it 🤔
Ps who is the smart one then ?
the biggest thing is knowing how to navigate service data, I know you brushed on the topic but it's such a drag to sit at a computer for hours to find the answer you need or what to search to get you to the answers you need. Jake over at his channel automotive diagnostics and programming has shown me so many tips on navigating service data
Fun fact is no school will teach you this because it's simply takes too much time so it's easier to just tell them to contact support and to just focus on the next subject
Just getting some of the younger "techs" to show up 5 days a week is a task. But searching and translating what many mechanics find into a diagnosis is not easy for many it seems. Things we take for granted can be overwhelming. But basic PC operation and troubleshooting is something people who aren't even in our industry should be able to do as well, but can't.
In 2000 it was determined that at that time it took a intelligence level of a person with a masters degree to work on automotive products, given the advancement of the industry I think we can safely say it’s probably likley it takes a intelligence level of a person with a doctrine degree!!!!and add the fact it’s for peanuts. And we wonder why the industry is not attractive to the work pool?? 🤦🏼♂️ plus to top off the whole thing the new business initiative to achieve 92% profit on every dollar collected.
man i work with so many season techs that cant search correctly it’s amazing.
cold hard truth. we all can grow into the future. learn it or loose it.
My favorite is when the company has too many restrictions set up on their network that tech support at GM even says that the reason a program won't go through is because of that. Component naming does suck, service information says this, labor time calls it that, ALLDATA says something else, and then the parts catalog doesn't match any.
Dont forget about using alldata library request. That shit can work while ya keep looking on the internet or other places
Some shop management and scheduling programs use msdos text only server based programs.
I have the same issue with my coworkers and I’m older than them.
I took some classes they were extremely helpful.
I really wish the industry would switch to Linux.
When I started at my current shop I had to fix the WiFi network. They had one crusty old linksys wireless routers running the entire building with default passwords. I have to run around the parking lot and diag trucks with no WiFi reception. It was awful. I could believe how far behind they were. It was so bad I was able to login to the router, get the IP for the Security camera NVR , and log into that using admin/admin. I had to show them that a “stupid” mechanic was able to hack the entire network in less than five minutes.
You just fixed half the Teslas sitting at service centers. I hear rivian's having the same problem. They think when they hire these would-be master dealer technicians that they're going to have the technical side down and most these guys weren't properly using the software from the dealership they came from. And now that I'm mobile I see a lot more of this in shops. So many places operate on scanning codes and then they shotgun diag with a sawed-off snub nose pistol. To think I had to take the computer class three times to graduate high school and now I'm a keyboard and right click mechanic.
Thank you Mike.
You forgot another skill techs need but don’t have….Ability to understand and use Ohm’s law. Most guys that come through our shop have no clue. It’s like math and its relation to electricity are black magic.
The topic is good, and know i could improve on keyword search term strategies and PC knowledge.
What would be good resources for these topics?
Like I said, can't Google too good. So, when I Google that question, I get P. Diddly. Literally.
Mitchell on demand needs polishing aswell not so user friendly
My suggestion is for up coming new techs is to take Some Computer classes. Your thoughts?
My suggestion is for upcoming new techs to leave the industry before they ever start so that they won't be poor their whole life.
I Suck at PC's. I pay for it daily
I still type with 2 fingers (:
How about something simple like typing. So much time wasted pecking at the keyboard.
I mean it's a pretty easy skill. Just get the hammer out and dictate your message.
Yes!!!
I learned basic computer skills in general education school (K-12), by 5th grade it was standard that we typed at a high level. Never really learned actual stuff, like the whatchamacallit doo dad thingy’s he referred to in the video (I’m 26 btw)
I built pcs before I become tech.
BASIC LITERACY!!! guys have trouble reading service information and then writing a story. It’s sad.
Get back to work man .
Computers in particular desktop or laptop computers that tie you to a desk at home can become a hindrance. Except for students, home computers should be abolished. Even then, sitting at a computer for hours away from your family at home is not a good idea. Nothing good can come of it.
The smartest computer guy I ever met had a degree in computer science. He didn't have any computers or Internet in his home. I don't think he had a TV at the time I was there. Smart man! Wonderful home and family.
Perhaps you need a laptop to do something you can't do on the phone. I have one and a printer but I rarely use it. Probably shouldn't have bought it.
Probably not a good idea to have home Internet either. You don't work a desk job, and if you did then leave the computer at work!
I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic that Mike discussed. He said auto techs should know how to look up service information at work and also how to fix network issues at work. Computers are required for modern cars. Having a PC or laptop at home is a different issue.
Apple macs are just overpriced PC's and apple iTunes are for the bin.
Maybe a few years ago. Won't disagree about being overpriced but they are no longer just overpriced PCs. Apple made the switch to using ARM architecture for their cpus using their own designs and they actually put out a lot of computational power in regards to how much electricity they consume, not to mention being custom tailored to their own software. They are ahead of the curve in terms of what direction the industry will be moving in. Contemporary X86 processors are starting to require way too much energy and cooling to be feasible for much longer. Not to mention just being built on an outdated architecture from the 1980s, Intel and AMD are still having to including obsolete instruction sets in their processors just to make the things work. I probably won't ever own an Apple computer, but from a pure technological standpoint their new computers are very impressive.
You lost me when you started talking about business networks and partitions. You may as well have been speaking Inuit. I can fix cars and research things on computers but aside from turning a computer on, I don’t know squat about them.