Working on cars is hard

"Hey Julie" (hey-julie)
06/20/2019 at 21:58 • Filed to: None

I’ve been working at my new shop for a month now, I did a pretty big jump from express service at a dealership to full service at an independent shop and I’ve been getting my ass kicked. We work on mostly late model European cars a nd I’ve learned more in this month than I have in my entire life previously but I come home every day worn down and exhausted. The learning curve is intense, the amount of tools ($$$$) you need to work on all makes and models is intense. I used to talk shit about the parts dept and service advisors but now that I’m writing my own tickets and ordering my own parts I realize how hard it is. Everyone at my shop has been very helpful which I’m very thankful for. Flat rate pay is hard to start out in, I’m paying my bills ok but I have friends who complain about a 12 hour shift in the fast food industry and at least they get paid for every hour they are there. Too often I come across something I’ve never seen before and I end up working for free while I learn how to deal with it. I’m working a solid 60 hours a week and I’m billing 35-45. I think I have good job security but I always get scared when I struggle, my shop is small and my one bay is a highly valued commodity and I’m billing the least hours out of the techs here, it gets better every day but I’ve never been tired like this before

DISCUSSION (12)

VincentMalamute-Kim > Hey Julie
06/20/2019 at 22:19

Dang. I’ve had a fleeting thought of maybe it’d be fun to be a mechanic. Then I realized the physical muscle part would probably be too hard for me. I didn’t realize all the other crap you have to go through. I’ll stay where I am.

Most fields are going to be like what you’re describe when you first start. It’ll get better. You’ll learn.

Alfalfa > Hey Julie
06/20/2019 at 22:22

I know a bit of what you’re going through. I recently changed jobs to a much more high tech industry for my job (machining). So much new information made me pretty tired after every shift for at least a couple weeks. It's great that everyone is helpful, though. It shows that they want you to succeed.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Hey Julie
06/20/2019 at 22:44

That's the catch about turning wrenches for a living; the first few years so much of your income goes to the tool truck every week. I never did flat-rate work, but I still remember the intense learning curve

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > VincentMalamute-Kim
06/20/2019 at 23:10

It’s generally not that fun. I mean I like it, but not everyone does. And it's a ton of work that really wears you down.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Hey Julie
06/20/2019 at 23:11

One you've been at it for a few years it starts to pay off. Seems like it takes a while, but if you're good six figures isn't rare.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Hey Julie
06/21/2019 at 03:15

Dont worry about the struggle. I’ve been doing this for 20 years and still g et bogged down on some things. Before you know it you get comfortable enough at it that it becomes second nature. And having 100,000 plus dollars in tools helps ;)

BTW, flate rate sucks and needs to go away. I regularly do 65-80 hours a week (6 days) and I am usually beat down by Wednesday. Your still young, at least you have a bad back and knees to look forward too. Find a good chiroprac ter asap :)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Hey Julie
06/21/2019 at 07:17

I used to work at a local production welding shop building dumpsters. http://www.poynetteironworks.com/ We usually ran 12 hour days M-F, 10 hours on Saturday. Our pay was on piece rate split between the whole line, with garbage hourly pay. So you worked your damn ass off all day. In the summer temps would get over 120 degrees inside the box, people who refused to drink water/gatorade usually dropped before lunch break.

There were days, depending on what we were building, that we would turn out a complete dumpster every 4 mins, most days were somewhere in the 5-10 min range. Yes you read that right, 72-180 dumpsters per day, cranked out by a line of 10 guys.

You go home black, drenched, and burned. I guess what I’m trying to say is: Look at the bright side, you’re in a great field, learning new things, hopefully getting better at them, you could have it a LOT worse. Once you get it down, you’ll be cranking 12 hr jobs in a few hours and making good money doing what you enjoy, don’t give up!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Hey Julie
06/21/2019 at 07:22

now you see what i have to deal with on a daily basis win the parts dept

VincentMalamute-Kim > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/21/2019 at 10:15

Most things are probably a lot more fun as a hobby - I’ll keep it that way.

WiscoProud > Hey Julie
06/21/2019 at 10:54

I understand using the flat rate system for experienced mechanics, but its asinine to put new techs on that system. There needs to be a learning curve to get new people up to speed.

My job uses a similar system for billable hours, but its only for our bonus system. Even then, new people aren’t put on the system until they’ve been here a year or so and are able to keep up.

The whole mechanic pay structure and requirement to supply your own tools is ridiculous. I can understand people at indy shops needing to supply their own tools, but at a dealership the bays should be standardized. I don’t want my repair job to be compromised, because the mechanic i got doesn’t have the tool he needs.

Khalbali > Hey Julie
06/21/2019 at 18:50

Hang in there, I know it’s hard but you’re investing in yourself right now and it won’t pay off for a few years. But once you get some good tools and get the hang of things you can have a good career for life, I kind of miss wrenching but my life has taken a few turns and I don’t really see myself getting back into it. I hate euro stuff though so you’re in my prayers, I’ve only worked on Mazda/Honda/Kia aside from used cars here and there.

Hey Julie > WiscoProud
06/21/2019 at 22:51

I interviewed at a Mercedes dealership and they provide boxes and tools to every tech, everyone gets exactly the same stuff, they paid much less though which is understandable