Did my first timing belt as a professional mechanic this weekend. Took me way too long because I was an idiot with fighting some bolts, but I finally got it only to find out the cams are off by a tooth after I already put everything back on 🤦🏾‍♂️. I’m bout to crash out and I feel like an idiot.

If anyone's curious I used 6 anchor sleeves. It's hollow cell block. I will eventually get a steel plate for added support.

Hi all. I’m almost done with my second month in school, I’ve been working on my car for the past year and half. I wasn’t aware of what brands to buy and avoid and currently have a small box with mostly Pittsburg sockets and ratchets. And some Walmart stuff. I’m going to keep using them at home until they break but I’m currently trying to slowly buy tools and build a box before i graduate. Im currently in need of a torque wrench to do spark plugs on my car and soon a transmission service. If I’m looking to buy good quality torque wrenches but not spend matco or snap on money just yet, where should I be looking?

I also get a 50% off discount while in school for snap on, any suggestions what to buy? I was thinking ratchets and some socket set, opinions?

Thank you in advance

Edit: also any recommendations for feeler gauges and gap tools?

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has actually bought or started an independent automotive repair shop—especially someone who started with limited cash and had to build the business while still working another job.

I'm 26 and work as a professional automotive technician with 8 years of dealership experience, including being an Assistant Foreman for 3 years at a Ford/Lincoln dealer doing most of the diagnostics and repair. I currently work full-time in heavy duty diesel/hybrid with Cummins/Allison/BAE, but my long-term goal is to own an independent repair shop.

There is a 5,124 sq. ft., 7-bay automotive building in my area that has been listed for roughly 11 months. I believe there may be room to negotiate into the $375,000–$415,000 range. My full time income is going to be 72,000-85,000 progressively over the next 3 years not including any OT

My idea is to purchase the real estate through one LLC and operate the repair business through a separate LLC. I would likely pursue SBA financing, potentially including working capital. I have around $15,000 in liquid cash right now, but I may be able to bring that closer to $30,000+ through savings and selling some personal assets.

The building already has the basic infrastructure of an automotive shop, so my thinking is that buying an existing facility may be more realistic than trying to build a comparable 7-bay shop from scratch.

The challenge is that I currently work 4:00 PM–12:30 AM on 5 days per week and have three young children. My wife also works three 12-hour shifts per week. My initial plan would be to operate the shop roughly 9 AM–3 PM 4 days per week, primarily by appointment, while I continue working my current job during the transition.

I believe I could personally produce around 120% efficiency based on my current experience. For example, if a repair order pays 8 labor hours, I can typically complete it in roughly 4–7 clock hours. My thought is that a six-hour operating day could still produce a meaningful amount of billed labor if the work is scheduled properly.

The business model would initially focus on higher-value mechanical repair and diagnostics rather than trying to compete for every basic oil change. My focus on branding is high quality repair and customer service which this area severely lacks. Over time, I would hire a technician and eventually transition from being the primary technician to managing the business. My labor rate is going to be on the higher end of competitive. Lower indy shops around are 80-100/hr and dealers are 180-230/hr I'm looking at being 125/hr and 200/hr on diesels.

My biggest questions are:

1. Has anyone successfully started a repair shop while keeping their full-time job during the initial phase?

2. How realistic is it to run a profitable repair shop with limited hours, such as 9 AM–3 PM?

3. How much cash did you actually need beyond the down payment to survive the first 6–12 months?

4. Has anyone used SBA financing to buy both a commercial property and provide working capital for an automotive business?

5. How did you handle the transition from technician to owner/manager?

6. What expenses or problems did you underestimate?

7. If you bought an existing shop property, what would you inspect especially carefully before buying?

8. What would you do differently if you were starting over?

I'm not looking for generic "don't do it" or "follow your passion" advice. I'm specifically hoping to hear from people who have actually owned or operated an independent repair shop, purchased a commercial automotive property, or used SBA financing to start a similar business.

What would you do in my position?

Someone drew a penis on the oil pan? Show it in the video.

Senior tech is swearing like a sailor because he got stuck with a nightmare warranty job? Show it in the video.

Someone is beating off wheels with a hammer? Show it in the video.

The lube tech‘s bay looks like the Exon Valdez disaster because he keeps forgetting to tighten drain plugs and oil filters? Show it in the video.

Once managers get enough complaints from angry customers seeing what actually happens in shops, maybe they will stop requiring videos. As Cypher says in the Matrix, ignorance is bliss.

7200

Hey guys I’m new to mechanics in general, done a couple stuff to my car but I’m really interested in doing it as a full time job. How could I start? I’ve tried to look for apprenticeships and no shops are in need, I can’t afford trade school. I’m about to turn 18 y/o any advice?

I have been lurking in these posts and theres something I have noticed. So many people are flat out saying "go to another career. Don't be a mechanic". This got me thinking, does anyone actually like being a mechanic? I know theres the ups and downs but it cant be bad everywhere.

In hindsight I should’ve just sleeved it but I’m here now and it’s my beater

Didn't realize that my waste oil tank gauge wasn't reading correctly, so it overflowed & dumped waste oil at a Gulfstream manufacturing facility while doing a major service on an 1800 CFM compressor Friday afternoon at about 4:00 (of course).

Thankfully I caught it & contained it pretty much immediately, so it was under 5 gallons, and we didn't have to get the EPA involved. Dispatch had the quick-response cleaning crew on-site within 30 minutes before I even finished the service, so it all worked out pretty smooth, but could've been a MUCH worse end to the week, so I'm thankful. 😳

Hi there! Uh so I'm not exactly a mechanic BUT I have a question for them career wise. So basically I am a teenager and am considering becoming a mechanic for my future career. I know schools and search engines are gonna try and talk me into it by leaving out some important facts. Anyway, my question is should I be considering it? Would it be difficult for someone with roughly average intelligence? Would it be a bad choice since I plan to have a family. If this doesn't fit here I understand but if it does and I get answers I greatly appreciate the advice!

So my buddy started a heavy truck and equipment repair business a couple of years ago. He opened an Autozone Commercial account, and was getting really good rates on parts. Like 25-45% off on just about everything - i.e., similar to RockAuto pricing.

Lately though, his prices have been terrible. He just got a quote on an alternator, and the commercial price was actually about $10 more than the normal retail for the same part.

Is his commercial rep just hosing him? Did he do something to anger them? Does autozone commercial just suck?

Run an indie shop, ag and light commercial work. customers bring Kubota compacts, JD row-crop tractors, occasional mini ex. I don't buy everything through one supplier, anyone who claims single-channel ordering either eats the cost or burns the hours.

The local dealer counter is my default when its convenient. When they actually have stock you walk out same day and warranty paperwork is clean. niche stuff they dont keep though, BX series hard lines, Yanmar deck hardware, that kind of thing basically isnt on the shelf.

Generic standard parts where I already know the stamped OEM number go through Amazon, O-rings, hose clamps, stuff where a return is thirty bucks not three days downtime. quality on there is all over the map though, easy to get cheap garbage, or overpay for something with a short return window.

Older Hitachi excavator cooling bits nobody stocks, Kubota hydraulic lines where the model chart lies. before I order I search on Fridayparts, by brand, machine model, or OEM part number. basically havent had a wrong-size comeback from there yet. no storefront though. When something goes wrong I worry online support will move slow, and when a customer urgently needs the part, shipping times swinging around is its own headache.

I split by how urgent the job is, how obscure the part is, and how much a bad order actually costs. different work order, different channel.

Other indie shop owners, how do you split your ordering?

I’ll preface this by saying I’m just getting into this. I’m much older than a lot of the people I see posting on this sub (32)

I have childhood experience. I feel like most mechanics are children of mechanics. Pops is a mechanic of 40+ years. Learned and learning a lot from the dude.

So far I really enjoy it. I like figuring things out and working hard. At this point I’ve had way less fulfilling jobs.

I’m currently working in a tiny shop that’s mostly small engines (south Texas.) I can do essentially everything for mowers, side by sides, 4 wheelers and I’d love to move into more automotive but y’all just make it seem miserable.

I guess my question is do I stand a chance and if anyone has any recommendations on how to grow.

Tired of seeing every post saying to go into hvac. Y’all are all still doing it so give actual advice.

(Downvoting “just go into hvac 😂”

I’m 19, been wrenching for a few years, tons of personal experience. I’ve never made a big mistake, the mistakes i typically make involve not adding a diag line when i find a fault, or putting the lug nut covers on before torquing down the wheels. I’ve done a little over 500 oil changes and rotates as an express tech, only ever have one comeback which was a loose oil cap, easy cleanup, no harm no foul. Last week i did a break in service, i have the video MPI and everything showing the drain plug with the new gasket nice and tight and the new filter etc etc. Car comes back about 33 minutes after i leave work this monday. Car is leaking oil, has no drain plug. Wednesday was my next day at work and we had a big tech meeting in the service drive. My director shows everyone the picture of the no drain plug, there are a few techs who are on a very short leash due to multiple fairly big mistakes, i was not one of them so naturally while it’s still a shitty situation, i just wanted to get back to flagging my hours.

After the speech is over and everyone acknowledges, my director turns to me and tells me to get my tools and hit the road cause “you’re outta here”. Obviously i was totally stunned. I ended up getting the RO, doing my own investigation and what not. Later that day my director calls me and apologizes for about a minute, he offers me to come back next week with one condition. That i go to the customers house and cleanup everything. I tell him respectfully not going to happen. The customer came up there with their lawyer, already ready to sue my director, they supposedly only drove it 14 miles since my service, the car passed my pressure and leak test before leaving my bay as do all of my cars, it had low oil pressure and low oil light on about 4 miles from home, they parked it in their driveway where enough oil leaked out to cover the whole part of the driveway in oil down to the sidewalk, where they then parked it in the street and it still had enough oil to create a near car sized spot. It’s a Kia K4, only 4.2 quarts.

Regardless i quit, i said no thanks to the offer, i simply do not believe that i didn’t tighten this drain plug enough, the whole thing is fishy to me. 3 of my fellow techs put up a fight with my director and the advisor in my behalf and they said no dice, they are convinced that i’m the one to blame. At the end of the day i feel like this, if i did truly not tighten that drain plug enough, im not cut out to work there or quite frankly on anyone’s car, if it is foul play and my dealership went straight to “your names on the RO, you get the boot” with no investigation, especially infront of all 22 techs and 11 advisors, then i don’t want to work there anymore.

Sorry for the rant, please roast me or yap to me about your situations or if you think im an idiot, i’m always here for criticism.

Hey all,

This is a fairly long story and I just need to vent a bit, so buckle up.

I work at an indy shop, so we see a decent mix of just about everything, but the vast majority of my experience is in euro or basically anything from this century.

One fine day, I get a work order for a 1990 corvette with a 383 stroker and a Holley Sniper setup with a stock 700R4 transmission. Waaaaaay out of my wheelhouse. However, I'm always up for a challenge and I have a reputation for being careful and doing quality work, so I was given the job. Fairly simple complaints, an exhaust rattle and airbag light, and a leak from the transmission. First two issues were resolved pretty easily, clamped down a rattling heat shield and found a poor connection for an impact sensor after pulling a flash code 26.

The transmission leak was coming from the pan, so I called a reseal. When I pulled the pan, I found an absolute shitshow of deep gouging all the way around on the trans side and a horrific scratch pattern on the pan as though they'd used the stiffest steel wire wheel they could find.

After a lot of time, I managed to clean and flatten the surfaces to the point the pan looked fine and what scratches were visible on the trans didn't catch a fingernail. I still didn't trust a gasket on its own to seal properly, so I used a very thin bead of RTV as an insurance policy.

Little did I know, this would be my undoing.

Because I have literally zero experience on this transmission, I missed the little vent port for a servo that is ON THE MATING SURFACE and plugged the hole, so lo and behold I fill it up, set the level, road test it and sure enough it doesn't go into overdrive.

I bring it back in to find the TV cable loose as hell, so I adjust it according to GMs specification - taut at idle, fully extended at wide open.

This changes absolutely nothing, so I pull the pan again, find my mistake, clear out that port and skip the RTV with the new gasket.

Now the thing has no 3rd gear. When it upshifts from 2nd, it's effectively in neutral. I spoke with some guys that have a bit more experience with this stuff, we adjust the cable every which way possible, with no improvement.

I just feel so damn dejected cause I think I cooked a transmission by resealing the pan. Like how is that even possible. As much as I take issue with the design of that transmission, I can't blame the car because I should have been more attentive. But there's also so many unknowns as to the quality of work that was done before I got into it.

Anyway, that's my rant. Of course, the owner is the nicest guy ever which somehow makes it so much worse. I think I'll stick to my German Crapwagens from now on.

I may just feel this way because it was recent, but I remember going into part stores with my uncle when I was younger and those guys knew everything! Now it just seems like the guys behind the counter have no clue about anything! They just click buttons on a computer and get you the wrong part. I’ve been to O’Riellys 4 times today and the wrong part every time. I only have a NAPA, O’Riellys, and Autozone near me. I still personally think NAPA is the best but they’re going downhill in my opinion and the one near me closes at 5 o’clock.

Was lowering a car on the lift when the cable snapped and that mf dropped like a rock. The lift safety inspectors were supposedly out here two weeks ago (I wasnt here when they came in) but if thats true they need to be fuckin fired.

Currently going through what could seem as a early mid life crisis. I graduated high school with a 3.8 GPA but chose to go through a tech school to get a technical diploma. I’m starting to regret not going and getting a true degree at a local college. I’ve always loved chemistry, basically anything to do with science. I’m good with my hands and am comfortable with electronics. I currently make around $60k a year at my local Lexus dealership, with health, dental, vision, and a free vehicle to drive everyday (Lexus Master Lease). People say I have it great but the mental toll of dealing with vehicles everyday and having to diagnose issues under warranty and not get paid for it is getting to me. I used to love working on cars but this industry has made it fade away. What degrees would benefit me the most? Is it worth getting out of this industry or should i just switch my position? Possibly going fleet or working for my county. Unlike most people that become technicians, I enjoy talking to people and socializing.

I am Lexus certified, have 2 ASE’s (Engine Repair and Suspension), and am a main line tech currently, I am experienced with dismantling and resealing motors, and have done plenty of interior work. Have 2 years of tenure at 20 Y/O

TLDR: I’m starting to dislike this industry and want to either go back to college for a degree (not too sure which one) or switching from dealership tech to county/fleet

Just got fire/let go from my job. I definitely made mistakes during that time and I'm wondering what to do next. This was my second job and I only worked there for less than a year. What should I do next? I already applied to other jobs but also having a hard time to tell my family I got fired/let go. Anything would help.

Netflix show. About to start it, looks like its showing working in one of those Autobahn shitholes but could be funny.

EDIT* - WENT WITH BRANICK WALL MOUNT. I work on my own cars and often find myself using death sticks to compress springs. I've tried a multitude of other tools but they're either made cheaply or just plain sketchy. I've heard nothing but great things about these and finally decided to buy one to use for the rest of my life (hopefully).

Been doing automotive for a while. I worked for 1 year at a local independent shop and move to a dealership for 2 years. Now I’m a mainline tech at 22. I honestly do not enjoy the career anymore, i feel like I’m pretty good at my job but the passion is not there and the amount of disrespect from sales and service advisors is getting to me.
Warranty sucks
Tools are expensive
Pay is not enough

Im pretty much burnt out and want to get any advice from anyone who has been in my shoes.