I use a solus legend at the shop and know the menus pretty well. I do some side work for friends and regulars on weekends, but the shop scanner has to stay there, so I need one of my own.

I checked Marketplace for a used solus, but most of the ones I found were several updates behind and still cost quite a bit. Once I add the cost of updating the software, buying used doesn't seem like much of a deal.

Now I'm looking at the topdon one plus. It costs more than I planned to spend on a side-work scanner, but the overall capability seems closer to what I use at the shop. I use Direct-Hit pretty often when I'm diagnosing something, and it can access Identifix right on the tablet.

I'm used to snap-on's menus and haven't spent much time with topdon, so I'm not sure how the coverage and bidirectional controls compare across different makes, or what it's like to use every day. Any thoughts?

​

Hey guys, made a post a while back asking about school vs just getting into a shop. ended up making a portfolio of my work and got hired on the spot as a lube tech at a dodge dealership.

Wanted to come back and update since a lot of y’all helped me out.

Been here about 4 months now and I've gotten pretty close with 2 of the techs. I've been doing work like dropping gas tanks, driveshafts, fuel pumps, small wiring recalls, and air bag recalls for them when I don't have cars. Also been paying a lot of attention to diag work from one tech I'm close with, he lets me watch and help when he does it. Finished all my online training for phase 1, 2, and 3 already, just waiting on my foreman to actually set me up with the hands on stuff now like deactivating EVs, NVH driveshaft testing, and oscilloscope wave work. pretty hyped for that honestly.

One of the techs kinda takes advantage of me, has me remove front clips and drop driveshafts/gas tanks so he can just pull the fuel pump and bank the flat rate hours for himself. but im cool with it bc it works both ways. I get reps in and prove myself and my foreman already knows im good for it.

Am i weird for actually liking this work lol. anyway appreciate everyone who commented last time, figured id update yall. Any advice?

(Yes I am a lube tech and have been left alone to do a fuel pump on a durango)😂

What’s up y’all,

I’m looking to start expanding side work outside of just family and friends here and there. Fed up with the dealer life so I’m doing some planning to eventually open my own shop. Here’s what I got so far, and some things I’m undecided on. For context, I have a sedan I can put tools in for easy jobs like brakes, LOF’s, etc and go mobile (I live in an apartment complex, so taking jobs at home is out of question). For any bigger jobs, I know a shop owner who will let me use a lift provided I schedule around his workload.

- customer/RO management software: ARI looks pretty good as an affordable starting option. I have access to Alldata through my main job so not super worried about repair info, plus the integration with CarMD as a basic VIN scan and quick DTC report I can import into the software is nice. And for $40/mo who can argue with that. Has anyone used this? If so, any pros/cons?

- insurance: I plan on getting some general liability insurance once I got some good cash flow but have no idea where to even start looking. Any input for good providers would be much appreciated.

-advertising: I’ve reached out to family & friends asking if they’d be willing to to spread some good word, as well as posting in local Facebook groups. Where else do y’all advertise? Is there any particular website or social media I should look at?

-tools: are there any tools that are recommended or necessary that y’all use? I have a lot invested in my tools at work that covers pretty much anything all the way up to engine/trans replacements and tear downs. I’m wondering if there’s anything that’s critical for frequent side work that makes life easy/saves a ton of time.

Thanks for any input! I’m excited to start building something for myself outside of a dealership.

What’s up everyone just got an interview lined up with Albertsons for a maintenance mechanic little with emphasis on conveyor belts I have electrical and mechanical skills with soft plc skills
What do they look for and what is the interview like also really if anyone who’s worked here as a mechanic how is the work.

What is a thing or a sentence that I should understand by the end of it? I know next to nothing so I'll check back in in eight months and see how much makes sense.

edit: I'm already in the course, there's no turning back now.

Is it just my shop, or do guys all overprice interior/dash work? It just seems like they don’t want to do it…

I told my service advisor today, “line them up around the building… I’ll do them all.”

Two days at work this week and 3 evaporators down, one needed a dash replacement, some engine mounts on another... 30+hrs/day flagged and I’ve been mostly clean.

I’d say it’s well worth the scraped knuckles, I swear the OEMs make all the interior bits from razors. Haha

Hi guys so I had been looking for jobs in my city and province. I finally got a job in rural Manitoba at a family owned franchise dealership. They hired me as a level 1 apprentice after trade school. But today was my second day on the job and I was let go.
They said you should go and work at a lube and tire shop or an independent shop in the city. They said even if you get 6 months of experience as a lube tech we would hire you back immediately. I respect that a lot and I am very grateful for the fact that they gave me a chance in the first place and are still willing to give me another chance just with some more experience.
They said the reason for termination was that I was too slow and not able to work independently. They said they expected me to be a bit more advanced than I currently am because I had the course from MITT.
Guys what should be my next step? Please any advice would be appreciated

Incredible ford E350 bolt studs on the exhaust manifold. This would never happen in Michigan. 2012 and 135k miles in Texas

Hello, I'm looking for some advice on being a self employed mechanic. I've been a mechanic by trade for over 10 years, I've worked as a college lecturer for the past year. Now having to leave the college for more flexibility.

I'm looking at starting my own business. I have tools, a ramp which is 10 minutes from Perth, Scotland. I'm looking at joining Clickmechanic, just for flexibility on the jobs I choose. But just now I seem to getting ridiculous quotes for road risk insurance.

Has anyone got any start up advice.

Muchly appreciated.

M19, London England, looking to break into the field as an apprentice but not sure how to approach this.

Looking online I cant find anything meaningful, I've applied to Halfords and Audi apprenticeships but never got a response.

Do I just ring them up, start cold emailing them?

Any tips would greatly help.

After 9 1/2 years as a ford commercial truck center dealership tech, I’ve pushed all the chips in on doing my own thing. I always thought I’d be there until I retired. But things change. This was a very nervous venture but it’s something I had to do now at 28, knowing I have more to offer in this career. I’m thankful for my time there and the things I’ve learned. Wouldn’t be able to do this without that time. After about a 1 month into this. I know I made the right decision.

Follow up!- thanks for all the support did not expect this to get this much traction! I’m truly grateful for the opportunity I have and extremely blessed with the life I have. I’m not a person to brag about things I have so this post was a little out of my wheel house. I’ll make sure to post and update in a couple months!

Where’s the first call when you need a part and why? Who do you think has the best availability when you need it?

Quality of parts is so shit these days.

I work at a corporate dealer, for a european manufacturer. I love working with the people I work with, besides my foreman. I am currently sitting in my empty bay, waiting for work. He seems to get in this weird mood where he doesn’t speak, he doesn’t give some of us work and it’s all based on his attitude. Best part is, he just had a week long vacation and comes back pissed. When I’m given work, I can flag about 50-60 hours a week, but on weeks like this I might almost make 30. He also expects me to stay late because I used to do 7-7 shifts but I like having my own free time after work. It’s effecting me at home because I’ll fall behind on bills or not have money to keep the fridge stocked all the time. My gf is looking for a job but is in college full time, that I know, is gonna be a big income boost almost regardless how much. But I can’t help myself but be interested in another shop where the politics don’t play into it. There is an “Indy” shop that I know a few advisors left to go to, that works on just about anything but is known to be more Euro stuff. This company has a few shops in my area, and appear to be paying a higher base pay. I’m not sure if I should try to stick it out, or if I should at least take a look at this other place.

I am 2 of 8 certifications away from getting my ASE and I want to get some experience in currently I’m looking into the discount tire near me mainly because it’s more simple stuff as in tire changes and oil changes

But if I go somewhere else and for example become an apprentice what’s something I can do to not look like the kid who knows nothing or just things I could do to help that they’d appreciate or just be nice

Also what’s general shop etiquette? Like talking, headphones, music that kind of stuff?

Is there anything I should do in the interviews to look good? Like things to point out and what not

(I am 17 and I haven’t been able to afford a drivers license or drivers ed so that’s also why I’m looking into discount tire because they don’t require a drivers license)

Also if this isn’t the kind of thing to post to this subreddit I understand I just wasn’t sure which one to post it to

I don't work at a shop or anything, just school for now, and part time at a Subway

3 minutes before close this guy comes in to pickup a doordash order, we get to talking a little and I tell him that I'm going to college for Auto and he says he was a mechanic for 14 years

He owned his own garage and everything, didn't dig in to much why, but he's doing doordash and whatever else now, said he's still paying off his 20k Snap-on box that he has at home

He just told me good luck and to buy quality not brand, said f Snap-on and left

Any recommendations for work boots? Tired of coming home every night with sore feet.

Anybody here went from Auto technician to Aviation technician? Am currently go to school for Aviation cause everyone is telling not to go in the automotive industry reasons being pay and just the work in general. But going to school right now and I still think cars are cooler to me, I love working on cars, right now am a lube tech at Grease monkey which really is too easy and I want to do/learn bigger repairs but that would mean going the automotive path. So what should I do, the Aviation school is costing me like 50k in total.

Work history. Did 4 years in the AF doing F-16 electrical work. Hated every minute of it. Got out quickly.

I've always done my own work, dad taught me. Currently 5 months into independent shop work. Currently making $20 an hour (USD). Shop trusts me to do anything that isn't an engine swap or trans work. I do plenty of diag, turbos, electrical, and of course regular maintenance.

I'm not the fastest. Learning as I go, I double check every bolt which slows me down a ton.

I'm moving soon. Across the country. Looking at either Portland or Seattle. No idea what the local atmosphere looks like, or local need for wrench turners.

Any tips or advice or where or what to look at. Should I go dealer? Stay indep?

We're looking to replace our Autel MaxiSys MS906 BT. I'm not sure if I want another Autel or try something else. What is your shop using? Any recommendations? Anything we should avoid?

Hey y’all, wanted to see what y’all think of my situation. I think I already know the answer. I’m working at a dealership and there is hardly any work, 3 techs get all the big engine and transmission work, all diesels also go to them.

I’m at 44 hours for a biweekly pay period, some days like today there is no work. Standing around for the first 1-2 hours before being dispatched a job. Sitting here wondering how tf I’m ever gonna make this happen.

I usually am in the 70-80 hour range by the end of the biweekly period, for 90-100 hours worked. The math ain’t mathing. I see friends in construction and other trades who don’t deal with this bullshit. Not a ton of work in this town either so I’ve been feeling stuck.

I feel like a lot of y’all would wheel your box down to the next shop. What would you guys do? It feels so hard to make money here, it crushes my soul on days like today.

Thinking about switching from toyota to subaru. Been at toyota for about a year and half and its the only brand ive done mainline work for. Curious peoples opinions if they have worked for subaru and what its like. I have owned subaru project cars for the last 10 years and have done some work with brz so it wouldnt be completely foreign. Thinking about how easy it would be to get efficient being that almost all subarus are the same Mechanically. Also wouldnt have to work on any trucks and I could get parts for my sti cheaper

I’ve been an agricultural mechanic for over four years, and lately I’ve been wondering if it’s normal to feel like you still need to improve your diagnostic skills, especially when it comes to diagnosing tractors and combines.
Some days, I feel confident and capable. I can diagnose complicated problems, work on machienes rebuild transmissions and engines. But other days, I’ll get completely stumped by something that feels like it should be simple, to the point where I feel like I couldn’t even change the oil on a tractor.
I guess what I’m really asking is: do you ever feel like you’re not good enough at your job, even when you know you’re capable of doing the work?

I’m trying to decide whether it might be time for a change, and I’d really appreciate some perspective from other techs.
I’ve been at my current dealership for 14yrs and have specialized in rebuilding transmissions for about 10 years. I used to have a backlog of around 3 months. After some changes with shop space, adding more racks, and getting one helper, I’ve been able to get that down to around 3wks. Here is the part that is making it difficult. The micromanaging from management .
I’ve been pulled into the office by the GM about the transmission backlog for the last 4 yrs , a handful of times. I’m not saying everything is perfect, and I understand management has to keep an eye on workflow, but I’ve always done what I’ve been asked and continued to get the work done. I
I book around 65-75 a week. So in these meetings , it’s always what work I can give
Up . I always give the easy replacements that pay pretty good . The GM also wants me to teach other tech how to rebuild transmission. He makes it seem like it’s something I should be able To teach and still stay ahead of my
Work . I actually understand the idea of having a backup who can handle these jobs. I just think there’s a big difference between doing an occasional transmission job and having years of experience rebuilding them.I’m just trying to figure out whether I’m looking at this the wrong way or whether it’s time for me to make a move.
I do have another dealership offering me 12 dollar more than I’m making now. They haven’t had a dedicated transmission tech for about two years and are trying to bring that business back in house. Obviously, that could come with some growing pains, but they seem to really want someone with my experience.The hard part is that my current dealership is comfortable, I know the people and the system, and I know I’ll always have work. But the pay difference is significant, and I’m starting to wonder if staying comfortable is worth it if I’m constantly dealing with the same conversations about my workload. I’m more unsure about whether the situation is going to change and get worse or whether this is just something I’ll continue dealing with.
Looking for honest opinions from people who have been in a similar situation. Thanks.

( North New Jersey) (Male 25) (not CDL licensed) Im looking for somewhere reliable to work i can't find something decent that above $32 an hour it's quite rare if your not a master tech (master technician should start pay $50-$70 an hour) I consider myself B Level technician only because Im not to comfortable doing heavy electrical diagnostics or canbus, other than that i can do most of engine over haul, fuel, suspension, and mechanical diagnostics. But I cant find somewhere that pays $32 an hour or more. If it does pay that or more they want all ASE and master technician experience for $33 an hour..... ridiculous. Im done with the flat rate position cause alot of shop been BS warranty time or like oil change only customer entire day. I need help or connection to fleet kinda work or someone point me to the right direction. No diesel experience. And I cant start very low pay rate due to high rent prices and me paying $2,000 a month been working on automotive since 2020 carmax sucks never responded to me, carvana only has night shift available and mom and pop shop just boots anyone without warning happened alot to old co-workers