REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

03aspec · 11-20-2008, 05:23 PM

if you actually want to become a mechanic but are worried that your going to loose passion for cars after working on peoples "junk", head into the commercial transport trade. I have also taken the automotive eltt course, but i was worried that i would loose all interest in cars so i didn't get into the trade. now im just finishing up the commercial transport eltt course at bcit. the commercial transport trade actually makes a decent wage too, but work is slowing down right now considerably. but as stated above, theres a difference between a mechanic that just changes part and one that knows how to accurately diagnose problems. if you focus on the electrical aspect of it and end up specializing in it, you will always have a job that will make you a decent chunk of coin.

JSALES · 11-21-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03aspec

if you actually want to become a mechanic but are worried that your going to loose passion for cars after working on peoples "junk", head into the commercial transport trade. I have also taken the automotive eltt course, but i was worried that i would loose all interest in cars so i didn't get into the trade. now im just finishing up the commercial transport eltt course at bcit. the commercial transport trade actually makes a decent wage too, but work is slowing down right now considerably. but as stated above, theres a difference between a mechanic that just changes part and one that knows how to accurately diagnose problems. if you focus on the electrical aspect of it and end up specializing in it, you will always have a job that will make you a decent chunk of coin.

so would this be an automotive technician course? since it's dealing with the electrical problems and whatnot

03aspec · 11-22-2008, 09:33 AM

well, the course it self for automotive is called the, automotive service technician eltt. all this course does is provide you with the basics, so that when you head out into a apprenticeship you know how to use tools and do basic things like change oil. you will not be a mechanic after the course, you will only be a mechanic once you have finished your apprenticeship and have been a journey man for a few years. even after you have done all your schooling during your apprenticeship, expect the employer to constantly hand out books and texts for you to read because everything on cars is always changing, no one knows everything...

JSALES · 11-26-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03aspec

well, the course it self for automotive is called the, automotive service technician eltt. all this course does is provide you with the basics, so that when you head out into a apprenticeship you know how to use tools and do basic things like change oil. you will not be a mechanic after the course, you will only be a mechanic once you have finished your apprenticeship and have been a journey man for a few years. even after you have done all your schooling during your apprenticeship, expect the employer to constantly hand out books and texts for you to read because everything on cars is always changing, no one knows everything...

thanks for the info

KiDEclipse · 11-27-2008, 01:16 PM

Just want to let you know, I just finished IP exam, and received my red seal.

From what I was told by my teacher, they are changing the the course outline for the apprenticeship, and the exams.

They are making 1st and 2rd yr apprenticeship schooling harder, and more compact with info. The reason is to screen out the ppl who are most likely going to drop out after 1st or 2rd yr. Or to have a higher standard of tech in BC.

I do know that they are addin basic welding, and basic Air condition for level 2.

Basically from my experience of what I see in the 4 yrs I went to school is those who are not mechanical incline, or dont have a good understanding of how things works will most likely to drop out in 1st or 2rd yr. And if you pass lvl 1 - 3, then lvl 4 shouldnt be a problem.

The also changed the format of the IP exam. There is more wire diagram you have to figure out, & gear ratio, etc etc.

!Tigger · 11-27-2008, 06:35 PM

when i was at vcc they compressed the course by 2 months... from 12 - 10 and they also had the basic welding and air con... but now they're changing the curriculum to become shorter and also they are taking a lot of stuff out from what my friend told me

JSALES · 11-28-2008, 11:17 PM

so is it supposed to be getting easier or harder...?

alex.w *// · 11-29-2008, 09:32 PM

its best to own your own shop to make money. do the job yourself, or hire another mechanic, so things go more smoothly. maybe you should open a tire shop, they are pretty busy all year round, especially right now.

JSALES · 11-29-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.w *//

its best to own your own shop to make money. do the job yourself, or hire another mechanic, so things go more smoothly. maybe you should open a tire shop, they are pretty busy all year round, especially right now.

yeah i was thinking of doing that but that requires a lot of money and some business courses as well, right?

alex.w *// · 11-30-2008, 08:35 PM

i guess, simple business and financial management should be fine

ryanmacneil8448 · 12-09-2008, 01:52 PM

I'm a licensed mechanic and i hate my job just my expeirence seems like u get screwed 6 ways all day

JSALES · 12-10-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanmacneil8448

I'm a licensed mechanic and i hate my job just my expeirence seems like u get screwed 6 ways all day

seriously? why does it seem like you get screwed 6 ways all day?

ryanmacneil8448 · 12-12-2008, 01:40 PM

flat rate especially at a dealer can be your best friend or your worst enemy if i were to do it all over again i would never have gotten into this industry and am looking to get out soon

blacK20 · 12-12-2008, 06:28 PM

I'm a tech and I find people either love it or hate it. Could be a stressful job sometimes and if you suck at wrenching and diagnosing problems you'll go downhill very fast. If you're flatrate, it sucks sometimes to go home all greasy, sweaty, and beat after a 10 hour day but only make 5 hours of pay. However on good days, you'll go home laughing.
And to ryanmacneil8448, I know how it feels when we get shafted up the ass

JSALES · 12-12-2008, 07:53 PM

surprised at all the negative feedback, looks like no one has really anything positive to say haha

blacK20 · 12-12-2008, 09:09 PM

Don't get me wrong. I like it and it's a solid skill I will always have with me. There is definately money to be made in the industry as long as you're decently good at it. Just don't expect to be pulling in 6 digits a year(btw there are some guys out there).

alex.w *// · 12-12-2008, 09:27 PM

It can be stressful at time, especially with seized bolts. Imo i think its better working for a dealer with flat pay. you do w/e you can in a day. go home when the shop closes, and w/e the work is not finished, just do it the next day. I dont know if its the same for a private shop. you might have to stay late 2-3 hours just to get a single task done. I know at my job right now as a aircraft mech. i just do w/e is handed to me and go home when its time to go home. w/e undone i just leave it for the next day or someone else takes over.

carfreek · 01-04-2009, 08:40 AM

I'm a mechanic and welder... and MSA+ geek too haha! But I am happiest working on ANY and all types of cars, trucks, ATVs and marine too. No matter where I go I can either get a job in some kinda shop or even start my own show, which is what I intend to do when I move back to the west coast within the next few months.
The thing is tools bro: You need a full compliment of tools to make it work. I don't mean the SnapOns and Macs either. Just a good set of Craftsman, Mastercraft or the like is fine but you'll need full metric and standard sets. Hell I've boughten most of my tools used from auctions and 2nd hand stores, great deals too! It's my tool set that impresses whoever employs me. I've got em all too, hand tools, air and electric and testers and whatnot.
All I can say is go for it!

JSALES · 01-06-2009, 02:19 PM

^ yeah, i'm gonna attend the Automotive information session this coming wednesday to see if it'll really interest me or not..

rk604 · 01-29-2009, 09:43 PM

A job is a job dude...you work your hours and you get paid by the hour. Unlike in asia...its different...people here(canada) are considered working people, and there are few who make it past that. Anyways...i wanted to become a mechanic aswell...i did the tests and everything to qualify for BCIT...but then after working on someone else's car, it made me change my mind. Basicly...if your only doing mechanics cause you love cars, then you should ask if you love working on YOUR car or just working on cars in general. Remember that there are mechanics that work on nice cars at dealerships like MCL n such...but you can't expect to make it there until the right opportunity comes up, and you have enough experience. I believe a mechanic at jaguar made around 70,000 a year...this was i believe after many years of working there, sooooo the money aint bad.

I personally didn't wanna change oil for people's cars for the rest of my life. I mean eventually you would set a goal on owning a shop of your own...but that could take a while(building customer base...etc). Remember that its a labour job so you have to be SOMEWHAT physically fit aswell...and for me...ehh....i would probably get lazy and get fired before i get a raise :P

Best thing to do...go volunteer at a mechanic shop instead, i wouldn't go to those information sessions, they only say the good stuff about it. If you get yourself a good speaker...he might convince you to take the program by impulse :P..anyways...go volunteer and talk to the mechanics that work there...and tryen step up to do the dirty work...if ur not up to the task..then maybe u might want to look at a different career path....i did...and i don't regret it...but again...im not saying i don't have a passion for cars/modding cars any more

JSALES · 02-19-2009, 05:01 PM

^ thanks for the advice, i'll try and see if i can volunteer at a mechanic shop

nickmak · 03-09-2009, 09:41 PM

honestly man you have to really really love fixing cars. i just finished my 1st year at BCIT and, for me, it was pretty difficult. i suck at reading and understanding shit, and there is a lot of theory and concepts you have to understand. i've seen quite a few guys get jobs at shops because the job was available, but they had no passion for it. they were gone after a couple months! but for me, i love it (at least right now i do!). i would recommend working at a shop for a bit and/or doing the ELTT course so you can see if you like it.