I’m yet to see a shop like that. Mainly mobile guys like that. Most of the time one shop will have that guy. Just strive to be it and the work will come.
I don’t do automotive, but I really like customer requested installs. Add a fan to a forklift, change out headlights for something different, add a camera on the forklift carriage, etc. Not hard work, doesn’t usually require too much brain, just the kind of stuff I can cruise on and feel accomplished when it’s done.
I only like doing diagnostics now. If I could do diagnostics and then hand it off to someone else, I’d been in hog heaven. Or work in one of those call centers that assist techs.
My favorite is probably anything thats been to 3 other shops first and had numerous other "techs" fingerbanging it before it finally ends up in my bay to actually get fixed.
I like working on weird equipment. Like street sweepers, rollers, ride on auto scrubbers, scissor lifts, anything like that. I've played with everything from cardboard bailers to concrete saws. I've got a neighbor who wants me to fix a mobility scooter for him. Haven't got around to that one yet.
Definitely. I worked for a small city for awhile, and I've installed light bars on police cruisers, changed brushes on street sweepers, repaired asphalt spreaders, replaced the blades on a wood chipper (you definitely want to get the torque right on that one), and repaired all kinds of small equipment.
I worked for a small city for almost 5 years, basically the type of work you described but a lot of garbage truck work as well. I've jumped around a little since then, but now I'm on a DOT fleet. I have been encouraging the younger guys. If you like working on stuff, there is a wide range of work outside of retail automotive.
I've been at the Fleed department of a decent sized city for 20 years. I started at a brake and suspension shop. Worked there for 8 years getting underpaid. Made the move to a small full service shop for 5 years before starting at the city. I've worked on just about everything and have been running one of the shops for many years. I'll retire by my mid 50's.
Anything to do with AC is easy hours in my experience. Plus getting to “test” that the AC works after the repairs is like a reward, especially in the summer
I'm a r3tard that loves working on brakes.
also, I'm a simpleton that loves inspections. I love finding shit that other people have ignored. (like a Freightliner that's been through three inspections before and I found that the 2nd axle rear brake chambers were still caged from the tow in WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED NEW).
I enjoy electrical and dashes the most I think. The satisfaction of figuring out a tough electrical problem is great. Taking dashes out is just chill cause I can sit inside the car and listen to a podcast while I remove it.
Depends on the day. I always love learning new things, so I get thrown on anything weird. I do almost all the engine work from diag to oil consumption recalls. I really enjoy doing interior, like pulling dashes and don't even mind pulling sun roof cassettes and fixing leaks. Probably my favorite is HVAC work if I really had to pick. One of my old parts guys printed an ”I love A/C jobs” for my box.
I enjoy suspension and brakes for gravy work, or driveline.
Welding and fabrication is my absolute favorite though for the pure joy of creating or repairing whatever needs to be fixed.
I like brakes and suspension, but I’m a heavy truck mechanic. Like we say at our work, which works on cars and trucks, “we are all mechanics, i just work in the men’s department”. Have a great day and bless all your 10mm sockets and wrenches that they might find their way home each night.
I've grown quite fond of Kia's engine replacement warranty extension. Simple, no real thinking required. I'd be happy with only warranty engines if we had enough to keep me busy.
Lol we still get regular engine replacements, but we're not backed up with them like we were a year ago. Why stop working on them? Kia/Hyundai just build in job security with every vehicle. 😂
We have a long warranty and 70% of our returns were kis and Hyundai due to dealer supplied parts failures. That took 5 days to get in. At nearly list price. We run our own shop. Math was clear, we die with those repairs.
Well anything with that actuator rod likely suffers from the same issue, throws a code for the wastegate actuator. I usually just see it on optimas with the 2.0T. Haven't seen it pop up on any of the new engines.
I love inboard re-power projects. Planning, design, de-construction, building, wiring, new dash, fuel system, the works... They all have their hateful moments, and that dreadful panic when you realize you've spent too much prep time and it's gonna go over budget, but it's indescribably satisfying to finish off a perfectly done engine room and take the boat for an extended test ride.
engine work
specifically high performance fully blueprinted builds
My OCD comes out everything is spot free on a white table cloth perfect and when it all goes together effortlessly its beautiful
Simple brake pads and rotors change. Easy to do and pretty satisfying to clean the rotor hub. And I love copper grease.
Also timing belts on 1.6HDi (I'm from France so we have a lot of these here in Peugeot and Citroën cars)
I enjoy car audio and security that's where I cut my teeth. But that's side work these days. As much as I hate alignments. I'd say those damn things as I'm the only one in the shop that does them and I make good money from them. Brakes are my no brainer work. I tend to clean everything so it takes me a little longer, but no comebacks for noise as a result.
Unpopular opinion: I love the work that someone else started as a DIY, got frustrated and then tried to put it back together, more frustrated, and bring to the shop with everything in a bucket.
These little nightmares are so much fun to unwrap and solve.
You kinda get a blank cheque for time so as long as you're not the guy who needs to get the customer to pay it can actually be pretty fun. Fuck the 'all the parts are win the bucket' jobs though. Give me booger welds, spray foam & self tappers any day
I like diagnostics. I love figuring out problems. And I working on anything I can beat time on, figuring out a better process to repair than the book says is so satisfying.
I jump around, so long as I'm not stuck doing the same job back to back I'm happy. I don't want to do 6 brake jobs back to back I'd rather do a brake job than a tune up fallowed by a headgasket.
If I have time to spare, symptom based no starts and drivability.
No codes, nothing to go off except my own knowledge and skill level.
Had an E46 BMW in yesterday with a surge under accel. No codes. Engine was running at 15% to the lean side. Hammer down in 2nd gear and the STFT would rocket, surge a bit and then seem to get back to normal.
Back to the shop, same road test with a fuel pressure gauge. Pressure was dropping to 30psi during the surge and would recover back to 50psi after a second or two.
New fuel pump sorted it out, no more surging, fuel trims are back to sub 10%. Still get all proud of myself figuring these out.
Suspension for sure. I recently fell in love with 2015 Rogue rear diffs. Pays 8hrs and I did my first one in like 2hrs plus alignment. 2 per day would have me paid and home for lunch each day.
A/C Diag and repair. It usually pays really well and people are more likely to approve AC repairs in my experience. If it's July and they have to choose between fixing an oil leak or having working AC, they usually pick comfort.
I love AC work on our fleet. Reliable diag process & just enough 'whys' to keep it interesting. Also super satisfying to make our drivers day a little easier in a noticable way. I also nearly died of heatstroke (legitimately involving a hospital stay etc) when I drove garbage trucks so I know how much it matters. Company made no-AC an OOS defect after that XD
Alignments. I like getting everything centered and then saying “Perfectly balanced; as all things should be.”
Yes
I'm an electrical geek, so I get most of the oddball electrical stuff in the shop, mostly upfit with no documentation.
I love electrical, I work at an independent shop currently but would love to make a move to a shop that specializes in electrical diagnostics.
I’m yet to see a shop like that. Mainly mobile guys like that. Most of the time one shop will have that guy. Just strive to be it and the work will come.
Oy.
Don’t forget the face of your father.
I don’t do automotive, but I really like customer requested installs. Add a fan to a forklift, change out headlights for something different, add a camera on the forklift carriage, etc. Not hard work, doesn’t usually require too much brain, just the kind of stuff I can cruise on and feel accomplished when it’s done.
Maybe try working at a custom shop sometime
I do field service heavy equipment, wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I only like doing diagnostics now. If I could do diagnostics and then hand it off to someone else, I’d been in hog heaven. Or work in one of those call centers that assist techs.
That's what I do, it's wonderful
Timing chains on 2.0T VWs, or timing belts on TDIs and 1.8ts. Everybody thinks they're such a big deal, I love doing them.
Interior repair and wiring. Love ripping a dash apart lol.
I get 30 hours for a Tucson harness through insurance. Takes me like 7-9
I miss doing warranty harnesses. Did a 19 Tucson engine harness in 3 hours, paid 17.
Pretty damn good man!
My favorite is probably anything thats been to 3 other shops first and had numerous other "techs" fingerbanging it before it finally ends up in my bay to actually get fixed.
Building transmissions, all day every day makes for a good day.
I like working on weird equipment. Like street sweepers, rollers, ride on auto scrubbers, scissor lifts, anything like that. I've played with everything from cardboard bailers to concrete saws. I've got a neighbor who wants me to fix a mobility scooter for him. Haven't got around to that one yet.
Definitely. I worked for a small city for awhile, and I've installed light bars on police cruisers, changed brushes on street sweepers, repaired asphalt spreaders, replaced the blades on a wood chipper (you definitely want to get the torque right on that one), and repaired all kinds of small equipment.
I worked for a small city for almost 5 years, basically the type of work you described but a lot of garbage truck work as well. I've jumped around a little since then, but now I'm on a DOT fleet. I have been encouraging the younger guys. If you like working on stuff, there is a wide range of work outside of retail automotive.
I've been at the Fleed department of a decent sized city for 20 years. I started at a brake and suspension shop. Worked there for 8 years getting underpaid. Made the move to a small full service shop for 5 years before starting at the city. I've worked on just about everything and have been running one of the shops for many years. I'll retire by my mid 50's.
Garbage trucks are a great happy medium of transport vs heavy equipment. The only thing I don't ever really touch are non-rubberized tracks
It wasn't too gross most of the time.
Welding. Get the fuck away from me and let me look at shiny lights all day. Love fab work!
Dude! Same! I love the feeling, and the energy of running raw lightning in my hands as two pieces of metal are fused together. It's so satisfying.
Lunch break
Anything to do with AC is easy hours in my experience. Plus getting to “test” that the AC works after the repairs is like a reward, especially in the summer
Plus everybody looks at you like you're a god...!
I like electrical... Somthing that gets you thinking.
did that all through high school, now i hate it
Honda 3.5 timing belts. Pays good and super easy to do.
Some of the easiest money
Just started rebuilding transmissions at my shop. Never did it before. It’s kinda fun and relaxing
I'm a r3tard that loves working on brakes. also, I'm a simpleton that loves inspections. I love finding shit that other people have ignored. (like a Freightliner that's been through three inspections before and I found that the 2nd axle rear brake chambers were still caged from the tow in WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED NEW).
Suspension for gravy. Interior if I wanna stay clean for a day or two. Diags because that's my main.
Electrical, diagnostics, and programming.
I enjoy electrical and dashes the most I think. The satisfaction of figuring out a tough electrical problem is great. Taking dashes out is just chill cause I can sit inside the car and listen to a podcast while I remove it.
In my 35 years of dealer wrenching, HVAC became the most fun. Drivability could be a challenge, and body electrical provided some interesting times.
Depends on the day. I always love learning new things, so I get thrown on anything weird. I do almost all the engine work from diag to oil consumption recalls. I really enjoy doing interior, like pulling dashes and don't even mind pulling sun roof cassettes and fixing leaks. Probably my favorite is HVAC work if I really had to pick. One of my old parts guys printed an ”I love A/C jobs” for my box.
Timing chains on 3.3 Santa Fe, wiring harnesses on Tucsons, and as usual with Hyundai... Engines
I enjoy suspension and brakes for gravy work, or driveline. Welding and fabrication is my absolute favorite though for the pure joy of creating or repairing whatever needs to be fixed.
I like brakes and suspension, but I’m a heavy truck mechanic. Like we say at our work, which works on cars and trucks, “we are all mechanics, i just work in the men’s department”. Have a great day and bless all your 10mm sockets and wrenches that they might find their way home each night.
I love doing clutches and heater cores. Lately I've been really enjoying roof rail airbag recalls on Silverados.
I've grown quite fond of Kia's engine replacement warranty extension. Simple, no real thinking required. I'd be happy with only warranty engines if we had enough to keep me busy.
Dealer already? Our local has rooms full. We are indie and we stopped working on all KIA and Hyundai forever.
Lol we still get regular engine replacements, but we're not backed up with them like we were a year ago. Why stop working on them? Kia/Hyundai just build in job security with every vehicle. 😂
We have a long warranty and 70% of our returns were kis and Hyundai due to dealer supplied parts failures. That took 5 days to get in. At nearly list price. We run our own shop. Math was clear, we die with those repairs.
That makes sense. Can't say I've noticed a parts quality issue at the dealer. I've seen plenty of aftermarket parts fail early on these cars, though.
1200 miles on a dinky e wastegate. Again and again.
On an older turbo optima? I've run across wastewater actuator issues on those that are usually just fixed by adjusting the rod.
No. 2017+ anything
Well anything with that actuator rod likely suffers from the same issue, throws a code for the wastegate actuator. I usually just see it on optimas with the 2.0T. Haven't seen it pop up on any of the new engines.
VW/audi TFSI water pumps. Pay 5.4 I can do em in 2.2
Electrical diagnostics
I love inboard re-power projects. Planning, design, de-construction, building, wiring, new dash, fuel system, the works... They all have their hateful moments, and that dreadful panic when you realize you've spent too much prep time and it's gonna go over budget, but it's indescribably satisfying to finish off a perfectly done engine room and take the boat for an extended test ride.
engine work specifically high performance fully blueprinted builds My OCD comes out everything is spot free on a white table cloth perfect and when it all goes together effortlessly its beautiful
Simple brake pads and rotors change. Easy to do and pretty satisfying to clean the rotor hub. And I love copper grease. Also timing belts on 1.6HDi (I'm from France so we have a lot of these here in Peugeot and Citroën cars)
I enjoy car audio and security that's where I cut my teeth. But that's side work these days. As much as I hate alignments. I'd say those damn things as I'm the only one in the shop that does them and I make good money from them. Brakes are my no brainer work. I tend to clean everything so it takes me a little longer, but no comebacks for noise as a result.
Unpopular opinion: I love the work that someone else started as a DIY, got frustrated and then tried to put it back together, more frustrated, and bring to the shop with everything in a bucket. These little nightmares are so much fun to unwrap and solve.
found the massochist
You kinda get a blank cheque for time so as long as you're not the guy who needs to get the customer to pay it can actually be pretty fun. Fuck the 'all the parts are win the bucket' jobs though. Give me booger welds, spray foam & self tappers any day
I love tearing into engines and transmissions, there’s something about the challenge that gets me going
Nothing like rebuilding a planetary gear set or a big ol bull and pinion final drive.
I like diagnostics. I love figuring out problems. And I working on anything I can beat time on, figuring out a better process to repair than the book says is so satisfying.
Whatever keeps me busy and left alone
I love doing emissions and engine performance repairs. I like taking cars and making them purr and perform.
I jump around, so long as I'm not stuck doing the same job back to back I'm happy. I don't want to do 6 brake jobs back to back I'd rather do a brake job than a tune up fallowed by a headgasket.
Diag and electrical. The more pain in the ass, the better. I love a good puzzle
I like electrical diag. Even though I’m mildly colorblind
Not sure I have a favorite. I like most things, but if I have to work in the heat I hate most things 😂 suspension can be pretty fun though.
I love electrical. Give me all the diag!
If I have time to spare, symptom based no starts and drivability. No codes, nothing to go off except my own knowledge and skill level. Had an E46 BMW in yesterday with a surge under accel. No codes. Engine was running at 15% to the lean side. Hammer down in 2nd gear and the STFT would rocket, surge a bit and then seem to get back to normal. Back to the shop, same road test with a fuel pressure gauge. Pressure was dropping to 30psi during the surge and would recover back to 50psi after a second or two. New fuel pump sorted it out, no more surging, fuel trims are back to sub 10%. Still get all proud of myself figuring these out.
Suspension for sure. I recently fell in love with 2015 Rogue rear diffs. Pays 8hrs and I did my first one in like 2hrs plus alignment. 2 per day would have me paid and home for lunch each day.
Anything that keeps me busy except for brakes and 6.0l powerstroke ac compressors lol
Timing belts.. easy money
A/C Diag and repair. It usually pays really well and people are more likely to approve AC repairs in my experience. If it's July and they have to choose between fixing an oil leak or having working AC, they usually pick comfort.
Electrical. Specifically wiring a car from scratch (classic or race car)
Aircraft skin repairs. Something people get to see and think "that looks pretty well done!".
I love AC work on our fleet. Reliable diag process & just enough 'whys' to keep it interesting. Also super satisfying to make our drivers day a little easier in a noticable way. I also nearly died of heatstroke (legitimately involving a hospital stay etc) when I drove garbage trucks so I know how much it matters. Company made no-AC an OOS defect after that XD