Employment Blog: Joe's Mobile Auto Repair

I met with a admissions representative for WYOTECH on Monday 2nd of November. He had a lot to say about training automotive technicians, after high school ages 18 and on. For those of you that E Mail me from all over the Country and then some. Yes I did get your message and E mails even from overseas. WYOTECH has a very nice 9 month program, and to much more to list. Plus they can help place you in a job. I have written about other automotive training schools in the past, they also have good programs. WYOTECH teaches custom automotive interior, and much more in 6 different States including Daytona Fl. Needless to say they impressed me very much, as a fellow trainer. Darrell Pfiffner is the rep, give him a call if you are looking for training, he will send you a DVD of the school and programs. Very cool stuff if you love cars and hot rods like me. Check out the web site. www.Wyotech.edu Darrell Pfiffner 813-789-6505.

Basic automotive training can be another springboard for a career in selling automobiles. Having the knowledge to take good care of a car can have big returns, when you are ready to sell it. A lot of very good people around the world do want to buy certain, very nice automobiles to have across the world. Our business has sold one to Finland, one to Sweden, and we are getting ready to sell a C5 Corvette convertible to Norway. Just advertising right, and having kept the cars nice. With good automotive work habits it can mean the good feeling, of knowing your car is going to another part of the world. Someone else can enjoy what you had taken care of.

On a Thursday night about 10:00pm I was visiting to the ER of a local hospital and I ran into a former automotive student of mine. He was now a paramedic in fact he had his hands full with a car crash victim. I watched him working very serious on the trauma this person was enduring. He looked at me thinking I forgot who he was. It has been a few years, but he also was a trainee of mine for some time. Needless to say after he released the patient to the hospital we talked. He told me after he left my training he completed auto body and paint school. Then worked in the paint industry for a bit, but business was slow. So he went to firemen school and completed that. Then wanted to be a paramedic so he went on and here we are. I was very happy and proud to see his happiness and success. What better person to pull up on a car crash then a complete car / paramedic health professional. He is also and artist Long ago he drew this picture of my dragster.

I do advise, to do any repairs in small parts. If its a tune up, remove and replace the spark plug and wire that is the hardest to reach first. Then the second hardest one. The job gets progressively easier if you do the hardest part of the job first. Because you can work your best at the beginning of the job, when you have the most energy, then the job will not be so stressful. Break it up into smaller jobs, one plug and one wire at a time. Replacing brakes the same way, leave the right side of the car together, to use as a reference to repair the left side of the car. Never take both sides of the car's brakes apart at the same time, unless you are very good on that model car. It never hurts to do the tough stuff first.

Yes ladies also work in automotive shops. ASE will certify anyone if they pass the test. All of the ladies that are trained in automotive are highly intelligent individuals. I have seen them run the whole shop. They can sell auto parts or run the auto parts store. I have seen them pull engines apart and put them back together with out a glitch. I have trained some personally that are great at alignments, brakes, electrical systems and more. So do not be surprised if the young lady with her nails done, is the one working on your car not just running the office. The parts person on the phone, might be a highly trained lady in the field just selling parts. So times are changing, I will trust my trainees looking up parts, or with any of the work.

I went to the Total Performance automotive machine shop today.  I always use them to machine my engine parts. I found that the owner had two new employees running the cylinder head machining part of the shop. I was very impressed because they were two of my best trainee's of 4 years. Trained in automotive, and hi performance. They both had training from family members over the years, also in the business. It was impressive to see them running the big machines, knowing that, they not only can do the machine work, but they can build and install, then tune and so on. It is a good thing for someone to do your work that  knows what the end result will be of what they have done. So that means there are other avenues to go down, if you can find a job turning wrenches you might try automotive machine shop work. It never hurts to increase your knowlage of the industry. Also learning to network, as we always say. Meet people and be nice it my be your next business.  

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS CAN ALSO WORK IN THE AUTO PARTS SALES END OF THE BUSINESS. I MET WITH TWO OVER QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS TODAY, THAT SELL AUTO PARTS AT A BIG NEW CAR DEALERSHIP. I was very impressed with the way they do business. I did inspire them both with years of my training. I am Always happy to see them using the skills. If you sell parts to shops you get to network, meet people that may be your next employer or business partner. Sell parts for a year and network, make money while you network. Auto parts stores, Dealer ships, Performance stores, Online stores they all need qualified help at times. Even Master technicians sell parts, some manage the whole store. It is worth a try in the times we live in. Help people with parts it may help you in the long run.

If you are a ASE Technician or ASE Master Technician out of work. Your hobbies or passions might be your career. There are a lot of job opportunities in automotive Hi performance repair. Yes people still race, and have very hi performing automobiles. Check out the builders and chassis shops. Again as I tell everyone they need to be on time and dependable ( I stress dependable ) employees. All of the hot rod shops have dead lines for hot rod builds. Like you see on TV. Most shops will hire you, if you love your work and you want to be there. So if it is what you love to do. Just shop around, even if they are not looking for an employee. Show up and tell them you will be dependable and on time and love your work. The 68 Camaro picture above is a result of 2 years hard work, just my son and I on weekends with friends. So if we can do it so can you. Your work is a self portrait. So always do it with excellence. 

If you want to view more pictures of the finished 68 Camaro go to WWW.MENDOLA.ORG

Good automotive repair shops are still very busy. If you are a great dependable employee you are still needed. Starting you own business is also a good thing. Someone just wrote in and told me they started a mobile auto repair service. That is a good business to be in. I have done it for many years. It is a chance to network with people and other business owners. I do specialize in drive ability. Automotive computer problems, check engine lights, ect. So other small auto repair shops & big auto auctions have used my service a lot over the years. It is a chance to meet people, also a chance to help people in need that can not afford big auto repair franchise shops. So be neat clean and dependable and you will find work. There are a lot of automobiles out there so keep up the good work.

AS a graduate of automotive technology you must meet or exceed the requirements of the job interview. Your certificate tells them your qualified. But they are really interested if you are going to show up on time, and have the enthuseasem needed to work well with others. Show them you can uplift everyone that you come in contact with, on the job. Show them that you are excited to work for their company. Remember now is also the time that everyone is servicing that new car, they presented to their graduate.

Good training is a must for technicians. Spending 3 days with diagnostic equipment to find out that the car has a bad set of spark plugs, or dirty hall effects distributor can be costly for the shop owner and the technician. On the job training is a must. You must use customer based information, before hooking up all kinds of time consuming equipment. Old fashion common sense has to be used, before you waste customers time or shop time. Getting the right training and learning good shop habits is a must. Don't be in a rush to think computer problems look at the basics before you spend other peoples time and money. Apply for a job with a place that has a good reputation in auto repair and you will learn from good technicians. Always take every training class you can get.

I have been doing business with UTILITY BATTERY CO. for 15 years. They have been in business since 1930 in the Tampa bay Area. Herb Hoover is the owner and he will stop what ever he is doing to help someone. He listens to everything you say and cares about people. His staff always makes you feel important like you are thier best customer. Even if you see them 1 or 2 times a year. I was in there Friday and they gave me the red carpet treatment as always. That is why I want to tell everyone about them. They always impress me. Steve and the guys there are a team. They sell battery's of coarse, but they also sell starters, alternators, and water pumps, custom cables for golf carts, boats, race cars, tractors, ect. They can rebuild any starter alternator, or water pump. Believe me they have built Rolls Royce starters and very rare alternators for me many times. On some automobiles its better to have the one rebuilt that comes off, because then you know it is going to fit, like custom hot rods chrome water pumps and parts. They also can match the one you took off exactly, water pumps starters, alternators, battery's, ect. They also work on big semi trucks, motor homes, elect diagnosis and repairs. But the main thing is they save you money and always treat you like family. So if your car or truck is in need call the professionals at UTILITY BATTERY CO. 5621 E. ADMO DR. (Hwy 60 )TAMPA FL 33619 Ph# 813-621-8261 or click on this link.  WWW.UTILITYBATTERYCO.COM

That is the objective, keeping hot rodders young and old from STREET RACING. The only way to do that is to educate everyone about the dangers of street racing. Then show them how much fun the Drag strip is. The strip gives you a run ticket that proves how fast you go, and shows if you won or lost. Bragging rights on paper. If you get out of control the wall is there to help you straighten it out with out putting others in danger. Until hot rodders try it they will never know what it is like. Check out our local Tampa area drag strips soon the cost is $10.00 or less to get in Friday or Saturday nights at Bradenton drag strip here is a link for information www.Bradentonmotorsports.com or Sunshine drag strip, Largo - St. Petersburg. I recommend the heads up madness show. It is a top shelf show at sunshine drag strip www.sunshinedragstrip.com or Lake land drag strip www.Lakelanddragstrip.com You can take your friend and enjoy just watching the show. Don't knock anything till you try it. You might fall in love with it. Remember it is time for the N.H.R.A. Gator Nationals in Gainesville Florida, March 12th - 15th for information go to the link www.nhra.com they have pricing info and maps to get to all of these drag strips. Check it out and spend some time on these web sites and look around. Then go to a drag race please try it. Also check out the video of this 69 Chevy pictured above, on the web site of Mendola's Motorsports click on the movie at the bottom of the main page. www.Mendola.org

If you have a teen getting ready to drive. It might be time to send them to a school that focus's on teaching them  right. I have worked with the owners of TEEN SCENE DRIVING ACADEMY, and they care about what they are doing for the public. If you have a teen driving, or getting ready to drive send them to this school. Florida leads the nation in people under 20 Years of age dying in car crashes. If you want your teen to stay alive, have Teen Scene teach them to drive. You can contact them at.

www.TeenSceneDriving.com I am pushing this because I do care, about every ones family staying alive. They do teach adults also, so sharpen your skills take the class.

Can automotive technicians use Evidence Based Diagnosis on your automobile? Yes they can! And most of the highly trained ASE tested and certified technicians do. After all the tests they do on your automobile, they concur with Master Technicians in their shop and on line through website based programs. Technicians all around the world use these programs. They list the symptoms, and let others comment on them. They read what other technicians that have had the same problems write, take thier advice,  and then they read the outcomes of those repairs done by other technicians. They post the successful repairs as well as unsuccessful repairs. This also helps shorten diagnosis time for all technicians. The web based programs cost about $200.00 a month to use. But it is worth it in the diagnosis time saved. So we do use Evidence Based Diagnosis, and that's the best way to get the answers. It also enhances training. Because automobiles are now very complex everyone needs continuous training in the industry. My favorite saying is, If your not getting better, your getting worse! Any one that needs info on the web based automotive diagnostic info contact me.