interesting views, there are many good points, from passion to a job it is a long stretch. It is always a good point to see what you can do in 10 years or 20 years from now. I have been fixing my own for over 50 years and people always ask why are you doing it for $$$, then the fun stops... poorly heated space in the winter, or poorly cooled space in the summer will let you think twice when I visited the in-laws mechanice working in a wind tunnel.
Otherwise check these guys thinkings

https://www.indeed.com/forum/job/automotive-technician/AUTOMOTIVE-TECHNICAINS-DONT-GET-PAID-WELL/t32112

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Michel
74 wagoneer
79 450sl

Much less back breaking work than an auto mechanic and very little toxic fumes to boot! I have done all of my (and my 4 sister's) home appliance repairs ...TV's, washer/ dryers, gas / oil hot water heaters, heating system, refrigerators, hair dryers, microwaves etc. you name it, just about anything electrical or electronics.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

More info.

Just took a car to a new to me shop for an inspection and conversion from salvage certificate to a reconstructed title.

Told him what crash repairs were done and the general " change parts before they fail " reconditioning I typically do. " You must have a shop. " was his first reply.

Told him " used to, then went to a factory for machine repair now working at another factory in an machinery engineering position." He said " Good choice " after we talked about the troubles working / running an auto shop.

This was coming from a guy in his late 60's working a shop that his father started in 1940.

" All I have to do is stop talking and start doing. "

There you go .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I just purchased Paul Danner's (aka Scanner Danner) Engine Performance Diagnostics book, seems like a great way to learn the system inside and out, of course the book alone won't magically turn me into a master, but I should have a solid foundation. I plan on buying the power probe hook and an amp probe. That should cover a very broad assortment of tools for the time being.

I'll practice trouble shooting and diagnostics on all of my friends and co-workers vehicle's before I even apply for a shop job. That way I have something to bring to the table.

Getting sick of low wage jobs, I know being a tech won't make you rich, but at least I'll be comfortable and not living paycheck to paycheck.

Pity party over, time to hit the books, this is honestly the first time in my life I truly looked forward to studying.

Any other material you guys recommend I should look at when it comes to electrical and engine performance diagnostics?

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

This is how it's done ~ look at and learn on your freind's cars .

Avoid any for profit schools .

Many Adult Education Schools offer evening classes, take every one you can, begin at at the lowest level as the basics are more important and few Mechanics to - day really understand what they're doing .

No job is too small or un important to do well .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

As older professional mechanics retire, there will be a big lack of skilled labor that is able to maintain our nation wide vehicle fleet.

If you really want to make big money (high five or low six figure depending on market), learn your skill as best as possible, take a business management course, and start your own garage.

There are lots of perks to being your own boss. Setting your hours (if you have a well run shop) is one of them!

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I was thinking the same thing. I was draft age in '72. Vietnam was just too whack so I stayed out. But I've often thought that serving would have been a useful experience. I'm not the neatest mo-fo, not the best housekeeper. I gather that a stint in the army will inculcate the value of tidiness in a big way.

Aside from that I'd recommend a good Community College auto tech training program. I attended about 3 quarters, not full time at Alameda CC (a small island town near Oakland). Great learning experience. I was looking for more knowledge, was really too old to switch careers at that point. If you do a quarter or two at such a place, better chance that you'd get the mechanics assignment in the military that you want.

Or you could stay with a CC for a couple of years. I'll second what I just read above, be wary of for-profit schools. The CC I went to was a good scene. You were encouraged to bring in your own rig, put it up on a lift, a diagnose and fix problems. With good advice on hand. Good garages would come in asking for promising student to be sent over.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I have been on this forum since 2007, and as time has gone by, there are less and less posts from some of the smartest "mechanics" I have ever come across. Some no longer post because age has taken its toll and they can no longer work on their cars, but a lot no longer post because they can no longer work on their cars due to the complexity of the modern day automobile or truck. With todays modern vehicles, the only thing a shade tree mechanic can work on are the physical parts of the car. Front ends, mufflers, body work and anything else that can be fixed with a WRENCH. As far as engines, transmissions, and vehicle electronics, you need to own the software and machines that can get you the answers you need to make the repairs. The days of "guessing" at the problem and finding the answer are over. Brought my wifes 2012 versa with a cv transmission into the dealership with a problem. The check engine light was on, the code that I came up with gave about 12 different modules that could cause the issue. At the dealer, ten minutes after bringing the car in they had the answer and replaced the entire transmission under warranty. As some other posters have said, try to hook up with a DEALERSHIP that will put you through their training program so you can gain the knowledge you need to work in the automotive car or truck field.

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96 E300d

This is specifically if you want info on getting factory training, which I think is what you were asking.

I went to this show a few months back suggested by forum members.

Mega Meet in So. Cal on Sept 9 for all you Diesel Heads

The site was an MB west coast dealer prep and training center. There were a lot of students and instructors on hand to plug the training center. The teacher I spoke with was the vehicle electrical specialist (go figure). He was a young guy in his 30s.

I specifically asked what a high school kid needed to do to get training. He said graduate HS, go to a trade school preferably a public community college or trade school. Then after a couple of years of general automobile training apply with them at MB to get factory training. At that point you get sponsored by a dealership (not of your choice) and you train a year at the Long Beach facility. Then you are required to report for work at that dealership and work something like a year for them. As time goes by you’ll train periodically at the factory training center in Long Beach. They have these regional places all over the country.

You also could just be a regular tech working at a big garage and get sent there by your boss.

Personally I’d not take this path. But I’m not an auto tech type. It might work for you if you want to wear the blue and gray shirt with the star.

Just saying because this is the only place I met “factory techs” given my avoidance of the dealership.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

excellent choice, I dont have his book or anything but my educational background went through all that his book has, You can earn a very decent wage depending on how good you are at it.

Modern cars are all electric gizmos and computers on wheels and knowing the inner nitty gritty and being able to literally "see" a failure show up on an O-scope is jackpot in a repair.

To get the full potential of his book I would suggest you get an oscilloscope (even an old analog one at first) and hook it up to some VR or hall effect sensors on any old car to see what they behave like.

e.g. old GM fast start systems on a 3.4 litre v6 have two crank position sensors, one feeds the ICM and one goes to PCM direct, but the actual rpm info of the engine is generated by the ICM to the PCM as a 5V digital sine wave and is actually referenced by a VR sensor which is feeding the ICM with 7 pulses from the crank. The direct to the PCM sensor is just for idling quality surety, thats why those engines idle like glass.

The whole story is to say that once you have a scope in hand you can easily "see" the failure and decipher hows its built rather than just reading an OBD tool and shooting parts at it.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

[QUOTE=Father Of

Any other material you guys recommend I should look at when it comes to electrical and engine performance diagnostics?[/QUOTE]
Look up Jim Morton. They call the guy Sherlock homes with a wrench. He was my teacher.

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

I'll look him up too, I saw one of his videos so far.

I actually don't want to work for MB specifically, it also seems like a lot of work to do so if you wanted to.

Thanks, I was unaware of this, I'll definitely save money for a high quality scope too.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

This sounds pretty interesting. I'll look into that.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I did the tech school route going for a 2 year associates in automotive tech. Id recommend it personally. Yeah you end up with loans or whatnot, but chump change compared to a 4 year college, and most tech schools are well integrated into the field and are fantastic at achieving job placement for graduates. For instance Ford swooped in and grabbed numerous graduates and sent them immediately to factory training and placed them in local dealerships. Great first step to get into the industry.

Its also a huge draw for shops for employment during your education. Hire a kid, or hire a kid whos currently enrolled in automotive courses? One choice shows a lot more motivation and interest in the field. Another nice thing about most tech schools is they are organized around someone holding down a job. I held two jobs and attended school either very early in the morning, or late at night. It was a tiring few years, but very rewarding.

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