question about becomming an auto mechanic?

Question

I am a female but was wondering what being an auto mechanic would be like. does the person have to go to school? I have heard that its not that physically demanding anymore because everything is hooked up to machines. how much physical stanima does the job take? it sounds like a lot of fun to be outside and fix something up. idk. do feel free to leave comments.

Answer 1

It can be very physically strenuous. You will need to be able to lift 50-75 lbs at least. Most mechanics are also not lucky enough to start out in a nice enclosed establishment and are working in harsh weather some months of the year. Also you will most likley be starting out in a shop as an oil changer or tire buster. You will be rated on your speed and attention to detail. As you prove capable you will be trysted with larger tasks.
For best results you should attend a trade school especially if you have no or limited knowledge of cars. Remeber, just replacing a part doesn't make you a mechanic. A thorough knowledge of what your replacing and what made it fail is important to prevent repeat failures.
It can be a very frustrating business. You will be constantly learning and updating your education to keep up with the changes in the industry.
People will be irate that there car broke and it so expensive to fix, so of course it is your fault.
It is also a rewarding career. Good technicians are a rare commodity today and truly good ones can find work anywhere, anytime. You will save money on your own repairs and suddenly will become very important to your family and friends (when there car breaks down) "Side Jobs" can be a signifigant source of extra income.
It does take its toll on the body though and you will be working with toxic substances and in hazardous conditions.
And remember also that there will be the sex barrier standing in your way. The automotive repair industry is a predominantly male oriented career. Many out there will unfairly judge your abilities by your sex. It's not right but that doesn't exclude the truth that it exists and you will be facing it constantly. I've been in the business for over 13 years and I have seen and worked with women and there numbers are increasing.
Whatever your decision good luck and stick to it.

Answer 2

There's always pros and cons. If you can musclefuck a couple of rusted bolts off, understand electricity and computers, and tolerate an unbelievable amount of bullshit, then auto repair is the field for you.

Get your ASE certifications, it will be the best thing you can do for yourself. Buy Snap On tools, they're expensive but they're the best tools and will never break. Work for a dealership if you can. If you work for a dealership, you'll be good at working on that line of cars. You'll understand that car completely. You'll understand the engine specifications, electrical and computer communications, the powertrain, literally everything about that car company. It will be flat rate and will completely suck *** at first, but after doing the same job 30 times, you'll be able to do it in your sleep and make a great deal of money.

Answer 3

Sara, I am a female in the mechanic trade so to speak. I've worked for my father for the past twelve years doing everything from answering the phone and making appointments to rebuilding transmissions when he recently had to have open heart surgery. No matter what anyone has told you, anyone that has worked on cars every day for any amount of time will tell you that it is physically demanding. Lifting, pulling, beating are daily repetitive occurrences. Don't get me wrong though I absolutely LOVE it. It is fun to me because I have a mind that likes to figure out things. But no matter how much you love it, it is a very aggravating job also. Vehicles are more computer oriented now, and most mechanics will tell you that they wish they weren't because those are the most aggravating problems there is to fix. I wish more females would get to learn a little more about what makes a car go besides gasoline though. It would make my job much easier when I have to give them a call and tell them what is wrong and they don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Hope this helps you decide. Oh and by the way, not all great mechanics have went to school, they have what I like to call a mechanical mind and have learned from watching, listening and by just plain ole doing it themselves.

Answer 4

I think its great that a female is interested i say more power to you, but it is a hard job, think blue collar all the way. im 25 been doing it since i was 17 its hard on my back and knees, you get cut alot and burned and very very dirty and i tend to find that females do not respect my job. the ASE tests are great you get more money when you certified and respect from employers. The only real downside other than the hard work is the tools cost they cost so much to buy im in over 6k and i still dont have everything i need. But all in all its a good job, i love cars as much as i love beer and women lol and also you get to work outside and pretty much are your own boss, i mean we have a service manager but we pretty much do whatever and i love the shop enviroment and hanging out with the guys, I would reccomen you go to a trad eor tech school and get some schooling maybe take an ase or 2 and then try being an apprentice and see how you like it. good luck if you have any other ? feel free to ask,


Hey music guy you must be a dumb guy or just a freakin liar if it took you till 40 to become a master tech you must suck i passed all my ase tests at age 25 , it takes talent and skill not age.... get a clue.. and no most master techs work with dealers and not in thier own shops..

Answer 5

It is a very demanding career to get in to, and yes you have to go to school a lot to become a certified mechanic. Then you must go to school every year to keep up with the new vehicles that come on to the market. If you become a good mechanic, you can make pretty decent money. Its dirty work, and you have to enjoy it to want to do it. There is not much physical demand on one since having the proper tools to do any job is the ticket to how hard it is. Some things you might be limited to doing due to the weight of the parts you might encounter. If you just get into the diagnostic end of mechanics, then you wouldn't have to do much physical work anyway. You would have to go to school for at least 2 years to even be able to get a job with a reputable company anyway, so if that doesn't scare you away, you would make a fine mechanic, or technician if you will. Hope for the best. I see some of these guys hanging the title of Master Tech on their source, and I would challenge them to come clean here. Personally I have never saw anyone under the age of 40 become a master mechanic. It takes many years to learn that much about this business to pass that test. Most master mechanics don't work for someone else, they own their own business, and invested years into it to pass the test in order to claim they are a master mechanic. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

if you want to learn how to use those machines you need to go to school. as far as demanding. if you want to make any money you got to be good and quick about finding problems and fixing them. most of us make what they call flat rate. so you might be on the clock for 8 hours and at work but if all you did all day is change someones oil and rotate some tires you are only getting paid for 1 hour. with no ase certification all your going to be is a oil changer. with a ase you will be able to do bigger jobs and make better money. lets say you got to replace a transmission [they are heavy and there is no machine but a jack and your muscle power to get it out] and the flat rate pay on that job is 12 hours and you do it in 8 you just got paid for a 12 hour day and only worked 8. that's how you Make your money as a mechanic. i get paid for a 50 hour work week sometimes and only physically worked 40. but your on standing on concrete all day and you always get burned once a day. constantly breathing in harm full fumes. but if you love cars and can handle the downside of turning wrenches go for it. we need more females in this job force.

Answer 7

To become a "modern" mechanic is still physically demanding, but if your interest is more towards hooking them up to machines, then there are some classes available for Electrical Auto Diagnostics. You should check into your local college. :)

Answer 8

Oh really! And what book did you read for that information? I can only say the last time I changed out an engine, or a tranny, or a clutch, etc it seemed to be pretty demanding! OH, maybe I was just halucinating from hunger or lack of sleep!

Answer 9

i LOVE working on cars and im only 14! my dads a mechanic at Texas Transportion and he works on heavy mechinery. the only thing was he had 2 go through a lot of training

Answer 10

Well you dont have to goto school, but if you want to make any money then you would need to get ASE certified. As long as you can use a Torque wrench up to about 150 lbs. then you could do the job.