Before you buy anything, post exact model numbers of what you want to buy so we can see if the tools will do you any good ( or are too much $ )

Good you want to gain skills, generally higher skills pay more $. If you follow what I had outlined in prior posts, you can move to a machine tech position at a factory post sutomotive.

Even at this point, contact a CNC machinery dealer like HAAS or Mazak to see if they have a future position for you / apprenticeship / what skills you need to attain / if they are looking for entry level help for machine installs. They will train you on machine specifics and , especially with HAAS , most all of the machines under a brand have the same basic electronics. Even across brands the basics are similar.

I'd play is as: Contact machine dealer asking " What are you looking for in a machine tech ? " Then ask, "What classes should I take from this CC brochure to fill your requirements. " Letting them know you are willing to work for a position but are somewhat down on funds so a 2 or 4 year degree isn't in the offing.


Take a basic _electronics_ course at the local community college ( nights / weekends ) you _need _ some electronics basics in order to become a proficient electrical mechanic.

Let the instructor know your goals, you need practical hands on knowledge not formula memorization. Don't be too concerned if you don't do well on a test that has piles of formulas or " name the resistor value by color code by memory. " , real life is open book and memorizing this kind of stuff doesn't do much in normal troubleshooting.

Terrific !
 

You guys are great ! offering him all this good advice .

When I started out long ago, many of the Mechanics I'd ask said " I already know that, you don't !" then turned away .

I learned much from my various factory and dealer training but the best came from Veterans who took the time to teach me what to know, what to look for and most importantly, HOW THINGS WORKED .

Knowledge is useless/worthless unless freely shared .

Have a look at the HAAS employment web site. Don't let the job titles put you off. Talk to someone at the dealership to see if there is a place for you.

https://int.haascnc.com/career_hfo.asp?intLanguageCode=1033

No matter what you finally pick, at least investigate a wide variety of careers with similar core skills so you know what is out there.

I just wanted to give an update, got Paul Danner's book, and it's so information dense while being concise it's amazing.

This might be the best investment I've made in my life. Me being completely oblivious to anything electrical, his videos are a god send because you're able to fully grasp the concepts in action. I'm only 14 pages in and learned so much, I'll start from the beginning and take detailed notes so I become fully competent. I'm reading it before going to work so I'm not really hitting the books full force yet.

I'll update again, good while from now (months, maybe a year from now) once I acquire some diagnostic tools and actually attempt to step foot in the trade, i'm willing to save a pretty penny for a good scope too.

FOG, when I went to school, I heard all about the scopes and the stuff that guy says in the book. In the real world, in the Mercedes dealer, you don't use any of that garbage. It's not at all like that. All you need is a multimeter, test light and the scan tool at the dealer and that is all you use. My job mostly consists of recalls, brakes, tires, A&B services and PDIs. The most difficult electrical things goes to the foreman and I've never seen him once use those overpriced tools and he has the problem figured out within an hour or two.

Don't waste your money man. Get a grasp on series, parrelel circuits and learn how to read a diagram and what your meter does and you will figure anything out.

I'll take your advice, I'm buying a test light (already have a multimeter ) once I get paid. I honestly don't want a scan tool nor do I want to work for or on one particular car. I don't need a scope yet, that's a long ways away, wouldn't even know how to use 5% of it's potential, but I think the Pico scope has huge potential since it isn't propitiatory like scan tools nor do they have costly updates. It will work on any car or vehicle, really anything electrical period. I just think it would be nice to have and know how to use one, you can test a lot (fuel, spark, compression, timing etc) without pulling or removing anything which can safe time.

Yes I know diagnostics isn't all engine, there's body controls, suspension etc.

Of course you don't break out the pico for every tiny thing when a test light and DVOM will solve most problems a lot faster, but they're are limitations of the test light and DVOM too.

I think it may be necessary to own a pico since cars are becoming extremely complex, and they can perform a wide array of tasks.
I forgot to add, my goal is i to be the "top dog" of electrical, I don't want anything slipping past me, which explains why I chose such a path.

A scope ( especially one with a recording function ) will allow you to:

Find a ABS ring that has a damaged tooth. ( The trace will have a missing / low bump in the sine wave. )

Watch a throttle position sensor for a glitch not otherwise found with a digital meter.

Find a coolant temp sensor that drops out for a brief period of time then stealthily substitutes a believable value in the OBD 1 data stream

See an open alternator diode.

A scope is more for finding those really difficult to find problems.

Oh believe me, I'm well educated on what they do and their uses, but all I was saying is most techs don't use them. Not even shop foreman. They're for electrical specialist, a.k.a. the guy you call in when your "best" tech can't find the problem.

They're great for doing relevant compression tests, testing IATs etc but I don't feel the need to invest in one at the moment with what my fluke does.

With what FOG plans to do, it definitely wouldn't be a bad idea for him to invest in one when he's established in an electrical trouble shooting shop.

RE: Scopes
 

As mentioned they're nice for dialing in older vehicles and for those issues that drive you bashyte .

The good news is : they're out there dirt cheap from failed shops and businesses ~ you have to beat the bushes because as mentioned good ones are $pendy when new but often go unnoticed un bankruptcy auctions .

When the local rip off for profit trade school went belly up, I made some amazing scores on top quality equipment and tools .

Literally pennies on the dollar, they auctioneer begged me to take all 40 engine stands @ $10 each *but* wanted me to take (IMO) worthless late model engines that were bolted to each one . no thanx, I have several engine stands now and they're hard to sell except to backyard DIY'ers....

Point is : learn how to use the tools first then go looking, pawn and thrift shops etc. can all yield bargains .

Never sell / toss your books ! . many "Mechanics" don't like to read (lazy) and so never fully understand what they're doing, if you take the time to learn, you'll be in demand, always .

I couldn't agree more.............