Mechanic? Try Automotive Technician.

[Beanmachine7000]

The old mechanics were called engineers. They got training. They had to do more with less than people do now. Take Henry Ford, for example. He was an engineer on a stationary engine and out in the field, you made that fawker work or somone that needed whatever it was doing done would kick your butt because you weren't picking up the phone and getting another one brought out or parts shipped overnight. With the skills he learned, he fabricated a car--including the engine and fuel mixer. Try that. An old mechanic could forge parts in the field, make a casting in the field--you name it. And lots of what you did had no precedents. There wasn't even electric welding--you had to blacksmith stuff out of nothing.

For us, the unwashed masses, the certifications don't mean alot. I did the airframe part of an AMT when I was messing around for a year in Columbus, Ohio. Certainly some of the students stood out, but it didn't exactly take a genius to pass the oral and written and be a certified AMT. You had to show up sober everyday and make sure your name was clearly marked on your lunch--unless you had money for the roach coach. We take our car in, sometimes it's not fixed. Sometimes the interior trim had the clips broken and were pissed because the kick panel is hanging out. We hope we get a guy like you all, but it just isn't the case that we always do.

Point is, I wouldn't fret over your title. You take pride in what you do and people in your shop defer to you when they are stumped, that's what counts. It only matters what people in your own profession think of you. The rest of us are completely ignorant.

Very true, I could give my self a nice long title, something on the order of Principal Field Research Assistant (what my position technically is), but what do I do? Whatever crap my adviser doesn't feel like doing... Honestly though, I don't have the knowledge, or experience to be doing what he is, I go out and get certain samples and specimens, and he actually does the brain work... I couldn't tell you half what he can (I could, but it would take way longer)... I don't have the skills to do it, but I am proud of what I do... Even though it sucks sometimes, I love it... I don't even know what his title is, he probably doesn't either... He doesn't care, and neither do I...

 

[DeanMoriarty]

I've noticed the longer a person's job title, generally, the more worthless the position. For example, Second Junior Assistant Secretary Technician in charge of Manually Masturbating Encaged Animals for Artificial Insemenation Representative.
I'd rather be called a mechanic. Better yet, CEO.

 

[jobar]

The old mechanics were called engineers. They got training. They had to do more with less than people do now. Take Henry Ford, for example. He was an engineer on a stationary engine and out in the field, you made that fawker work or somone that needed whatever it was doing done would kick your butt because you weren't picking up the phone and getting another one brought out or parts shipped overnight. With the skills he learned, he fabricated a car--including the engine and fuel mixer. Try that. An old mechanic could forge parts in the field, make a casting in the field--you name it. And lots of what you did had no precedents. There wasn't even electric welding--you had to blacksmith stuff out of nothing.

For us, the unwashed masses, the certifications don't mean alot. I did the airframe part of an AMT when I was messing around for a year in Columbus, Ohio. Certainly some of the students stood out, but it didn't exactly take a genius to pass the oral and written and be a certified AMT. You had to show up sober everyday and make sure your name was clearly marked on your lunch--unless you had money for the roach coach. We take our car in, sometimes it's not fixed. Sometimes the interior trim had the clips broken and were pissed because the kick panel is hanging out. We hope we get a guy like you all, but it just isn't the case that we always do.

Point is, I wouldn't fret over your title. You take pride in what you do and people in your shop defer to you when they are stumped, that's what counts. It only matters what people in your own profession think of you. The rest of us are completely ignorant.

I would have to agree with that. Im in the AMT program now. Just about to finish up Airframe and start Powerplant. It doesn't take much to get through the program. Like you said, just show up. We have some students that I would'nt trust with a tooth brush, but they still show up. It's kind of scary knowing that some of these people are building airplanes.

I really dont care what you call me. I perfer mechanic just because its eaiser, rather than calling somebody by there title. But, I can see why you would get worked up. To me Mechanic means somebody who has at least a basic knowledge of the vehicle.

 

[Capt Jay]

Look all you wrench jockeys. j/k

I agree with whom ever said that the longer the title the more worthless they are. I have friends that are mechanics and are very good at what they do. On the other hand I know guys that work at carX and basically do brakes and change oil and consider themselves technicians. If your good at what you do it doesn't matter what others call you. To me a custodial engineer is still a janitor. Be proud of what you do, not the title you hold. A fancy title doesn't make your personal worth or make the house payment.

 

[bobbywalter]

Figuring this is my toy for the past five years that I've built (hense the screen name), you bet your ass I can get things on the road.

I can say that there aren't really guys at my dealer that are book worms, need specs for everything, can't "make things work". Depends on the person, there are car people that are techs. And there are people that are techs for a career. The people you mentioned that can't think or do things outside of the box, are the people doing it because its work. To me, it's a daily challenge that I enjoy, yet it's far enough away from my hobby (muscle cars) to keep me from getting burnt out on it.

You need something to run and go, I can do it. Boat, RV, Quad, Lawn Mower, whatever. You need the MOST bus in your 760 worked on, I can do that too. lol

Also was on the crew for putting my Dad's Challenger together on Overhaulin'

yeah i knew your screen name had a meaning i would like when i first seen it.


i had a 70 cuda' with a 340 running low 12's in the late eighties, people laugh when i say that now, but at the time streeters in 12's were not falling off trees.

my favorite engine is a worked 340....now that is followed by the gm 6.0. then the current hemi.

i had a 73 challenger when i first started hangin here in 01 too. but thats gone.

i was real real close to buying a current challenger just a few months ago....

talk about arguements with the wife....


i can say for sure your not unique, but not the rule either. i have been to dealership service departments.....most guys are limited. (not that i am not limited...i am extremely limited)



but its the guys like you that keep my hopes up and i appeciate that.

my cuda was the same color too..with a lil different stripe..

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

340 is a good all around engine, new hemi is up and coming. That Challenger has a 525hp 6.4L new gen hemi. bad little (big?) engine.

-Mike

 

[Mutant Pony]

I'm a Michigan certified master automobile mechanic. The test is not auto technician, Is is an auto mechanics test.
I think of an auto tech as a dealer specific mechanic.

 

[Rarasranger]

If I go to your shop and you fix my problem and explain to me what you did... I call you "Sir." As in "Thank you sir, I sure appreciate it and I'll tell all my friends!" You can call yourself whatever you want.

 

[One Sick Puppy]

Call me ignorant, and hopefully no one takes too much offense, but personally, I like the label "mechanic" over Automotive Technician. Technician is thrown around too liberally these days and the word has come, for me, to suggest someone needing a title to attach to some paperwork, especially when it's used to replace a perfectly working and adequate word. I.e. mechanic. We all know what a mechanic is, don't we? It's the dude you pay to fix your car and you literally worship when you find a good, reliable one. "Anyone know a good mechanic?"

Our society is growing overly concerned with certifications and diplomas and other paperwork. I'm a computer tech and a pretty good one - but I have absolutely NO paperwork so trying to get a secure, cushy, high-paying job in this field is very difficult. Fortunately, people around here don't mind paying $85/h for on-site service, so that's the only silver lining. But I still resent the fact that I my application would never make it past the first level of screening in a cushy government job.

I can sympathize with "grease monkey", even though I wouldn't use it in a derogatory sense, myself. However, being a computer tech doesn't mean I'm a "nerd", if nerd and grease monkey are analogous.

As some have said, however, a title is just a title, and whoever explained the difference between fixing brakes, changing tires and some of that more mundane stuff vs. the dude who's doing some of that stupidly complicated work makes a very valid point to illustrate some highly complex and technical work. But, in the end, however you get your skill, as long as you do quality work, you should command some respect.

 

[wahlstrom1]

Bingo^ The technical name for my trade is Heavy Equipment Technician, but I'm just as happy being labeled a mechanic and kinda prefer it...

To me though, a grease monkey is the 16 yr old changing oil at Mr.Lube that couldn't tell ya the difference between the cummins in your dodge and the 3 banger in geo metro that just rolled through....

-andrew

 

[TinyBear]

HAHAHHAHAHA

up here we needed to Apprentice to become Techs. You work for around 4years under the wing of a Licensed Tech after witch you can write your C of Q (certificate of qualification) exam. You need to get 70% or better to pass and get your license.

But as for what i care about people calling me i dont give a flying poop as long as i get my pay check at the end of the day.

But if you intrested the title on my "mechanics" license is

"310T Truck and Coach Technician" witch is just a BS term for i fix big rigs LOL.

 

[sloue]

my new title Concrete Technician. i like it

 

[Ranger44]

Let me play devils advocate....again.

Isn't the term mechanic vauge?

Is someone who works on a bicylce is a mechanic? It's a peice of equipment.....simple...but still.

How about lawn mowers, generators, idustrial machinery?

Automotive technician is a little more straight forward, more precise at describing what I do. I don't want the title to feel important, or because I want to work at a dealership. If you feel the generic mechanic title is appropriate for yourself....by all means call yourself that. I just believe that this profession demands a little more respect and appreciation than what it gets.

It's like a nuerosurgeon just being called a doctor. He doesn't do heart surgery, or set broken bones. He repairs that noggen of somebodies that thinks that a car is safe to get under with just a hydraulic jack holding it up..

And to think the human brain/body has been the same for how long? A doctor learns this stuff once, and it stays the same. Automotive technicians deal with changing technology, systems, materials, and vehicle trends yearly. Constant self training and formal training are a must.

Another point.....doesnt ASE offer a Master Automotive Technician Certification?

 

[Shran]

My title is Rehabilitation Technician, which means that I hold the lowest position in my organization. It also means that I am not certified to do crap.

Point is, chill, forget about titles and what people think of you. It doesn't matter.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Yes , I can fix bicycles, lawn mowers, generators, and industrial machinery but, I'm not licensed to do so.
I also rebuild modern transmissions, repair wiring and EFI systems on present cars. Last week I rebuilt an Eco Tec motor.
I don't get mad if I'm asked to change oil in a customers car (usually).
I'm an AUTO mechanic.
My neighbor is an MRI tech. He doesn't know the slightest thing about fixing a car.
I think you have it backward (IMO). Technician can mean anything, mechanic only means one thing (in general).