[Barz51]

Originally posted by Dubz

I have oil and gas in my blood,

Sounds like you may have a blown head gasket!

[k2mooch]

If I had to credit any one class to making me understand cars the way I do, I'd say take a class in physics. Pay attention wtih Newton's Laws and Thermodynamics. It's all relative and it will all make sense from inside the engine, through the forces of gears in the transmission, and friction at the wheels. Applying all this to the car takes a skill you can't learn in a classroom though, so stay in the field. That's my problem, little experience.


MoocH

[Dubz]

Originally posted by Dubz
...Compupter Science Major, Physics minor....

[bullheimer]

no ***** brodda's finish that science degree, it's one of the few where you can actually make some real ducats with a B.A. if it's any kind of bio science or chemistry go to pharmacy grad school and start at a lousey 100,000 US!

[1965-Mustang]

I have the same problem. I am now taking a tech class about computers in a seperate school than my High School. I love computers but also realized the small chance of doing something fun for good money. Then I got into cars as do a lot of teen guys, then got into mustangs, then bought one! My 65 has got me reading everything I can about cars and I am thinking about switching to an Automotive tech class. I think there are a lot more possibilities in the auto field, things that would be more fun and less cubical office work

[Dubz]

Originally posted by 1965-Mustang
I have the same problem. I am now taking a tech class about computers in a seperate school than my High School. I love computers but also realized the small chance of doing something fun for good money. Then I got into cars as do a lot of teen guys, then got into mustangs, then bought one! My 65 has got me reading everything I can about cars and I am thinking about switching to an Automotive tech class. I think there are a lot more possibilities in the auto field, things that would be more fun and less cubical office work

well try and decide before you spend 3 years of tuition at university like i did. The job market in computers isn't as good as when i got into university but i guess that's what happens when you hire a bunch of 25 year old people, they won't be retiring or swiching from thier well paying jobs unless they really hate it.

And also think if you'll enjoy working on someone elses car on a schedual, cause it's alot different than toying with your own car. I'm debating if i'd like it as much as sitting in a cubical or something similar....plus it would proably take the fun out of working on cars as a hobby.

My mothers cousins both had fun toying with cars when they were younger then they went to a mechanics course and opened a garage. One still has the passion for cars, you can tell when you talk to him about car stuff, and the other broke loose and got into a different line of work (fed up with it I think)

[DeslDan]

I agree with 4 Jaw. Complete your Science degree, then look at something else. Your earned degree's can never be taken away. Being a mechanic requires that you have good health all your working years. As time goes by, I speak from experience, you may or may not continue to be in good physical health. As long as your brain works you can always go back to your Science Degree for a non-physical type of job. Getting your Science Degree first is good insurance for the future.
There are several good acredited technical schools in every state that can get you pointed in the right direction. After attending a one or two year technical program you will have a good "basic" knowledge. Getting beyond the "basic" stage requires hands-on experience combined with additional specific training such as OEM technical training, or after market supplier training.
I started out as a diesel and heavy equipment mechanic, then went back for my teaching degree to teach diesel mechanics. If you like the automotive industry, you should be able to transfer many of your Science Degree credits towards a teaching degree.

[animalgn]

Do your last year of school but work into design and engineering like a Chip Foose you can work on design, create, or anything from there. Oh yea Chip has a contract with GM for consept cars and is the genral manager at Hot Rods by Boydes and hes not 40 yet.

[tetzlaff]

I love the information that Dubz is getting. However, with the salaries that are being tossed around, I must have chosen the wrong field. I have a BA, 2 MA's, a Ed. Specialist, and a Doctorate, and after 25 years of teaching in only make 51K. It pays to be a teacher!! Son, get your degree, work at it while you pursue other avenues. I know that you will make the right choice. Good luck in what ever you do. From one muscle car fan to another.......t
Pro Street 65' Chevelle

[jmcrosby]

There are many fine Technical colleges. The two most well known are probably UTI (Universal technical Institute) and WYO Tech (Wyoming Technical Institute) both have schools all across the states. Both offer ASE training and a chance to take the tests. To be master certified you must have at least two years experience and pass the eight areas of ASE, such as brakes, suspenison etc...

[Idontcare.net]

...

===========================
Sorry this took so long
-Croz

[1931 steve]

Originally Posted by Idontcare.net

You are all a bunch of <bad word>

Idontcare.net, we do not put up with these type of comments, either chang you attitude or yo will be dumped.

Steve

[predator carb guru]

seen this thread, and thought i'd add my two cents worth. being a mechanic myself, i have to agree that it's not a glamorous job at all. i bust my but for the money i earn, and i often wonder why i didn't do something different. let's face it, there are lots of career fields out there that will beat you up less, and pay you more. granted, there are alot of mechanics that make alot of money, but it's hard earned. don't want to dampen your spirits though. i do this because it's what i'm good at, what i like, and what i know. i've done it long enough that i really can't see myself doing anything else. but like was mentioned earlier, i've got my share of "signs" from my job..........scars here, smashed fingers there, that sort of thing. i have even invented new swear words at times for things i've done...........but believe it or not, i'd probably do it all over again.........as far as schools and certifications go, i'm going to make a comment that might piss some people off, and others might agree, but it's how i feel. i hold ten ASE certifications currently, and have an associate's degree in automotive and diesel technology. i've completed several correspondence courses, and attend advanced troubleshooting and diagnostics classes monthly, in addition to my personal studies on my own time. out of all of that, i still see the same thing repeated over and over again. there is no school that will make you a mechanic. being a mechanic is something that a person has to have a "knack" for. going to school only provides you with the knowledge and information you'll need to perform the job. whether or not the person receiving that info can put it to use is a completely different story. i've met MANY people that are ASE certified Master Mechanics, and a few others with a similar educational background to myself that are basically DUMB AS A ROCK when it actually comes to doing the job. Don't take this wrong. i believe in ASE testing, as it shows that a tech is concerned about his job and his performance. other education as well is not only good for the tech, but essential in today's shop because of the complexity of the newer cars. but there are some out there that can pass a test with ease, yet can't apply what they have learned well enough to change the oil without assistance. with that said, there are some really good techs out there. there are also some really great students in school that are well on their way to becoming great techs too. as i said before, it all comes down to how well you can apply what you have learned, and how well you use it to get the job done. take the advice that others have given you here and do your research. if this is what you decide to do, arm yourself with all the knowledge you can get, and take every opportunity to apply it that you can. best of luck in whatever you decide.

[farna]

I'm not a pro mechanic, but can certainly empathize with them due to my craeer choice -- USAF for almost 23 years. Nothing to get rich at, lots of aches/pain/scars over the years (I'm in construction field, which also trains for base defense, convoys, etc.). Finish your degree! If nothing else it will be something to fall back on. Get a job, then you can take a shop class in a local community college if you have little mechanical knowledge. If you're pretty familiar with cars in general, know where everything is and basically what it does and how it works, then you should be able to take a correspondence course for the general stuff, and take some of the night courses for more advanced training. You'll know if you want to really be in the automotive field after a few courses, or you just want to pursue it as a hobby. With a background in computers you might like new EFI systems, and could specialize in that. Look at something like the Simple Digital Sytems EFI (www.sdsefi.com) and the MegaSquirt (www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html) systems. Get familiar with them and advertise installing in cars once you get some basic mechanical knowledge and install one for yourself. You might be able to corner the local market in aftermarket EFI installations...

[JamieK]

Heres my .02...

First of all, finish the degrees you started. And always keep up to date in that line of work. You never know when an injury may force you to change careers 10 years from now.

Go to your local community college. The local college here has a two-year daytime degree, or a four year night degree. I worked in a Mercedes dealership and did the two year thing myself and worked afternoons in the shop. A friend of mine is working fulltime and taking the night cl****es. That can make for a long day! I decided I didn't like turning wrenches for fun & profit, so I moved into the parts dept. Still here after 10 years

Try combining your skills. With Mercedes, pretty much every car that comes into the shop gets hooked up to a laptop. Other carlines are the same way. Even with oil changes, the computers have to be reset. Anymore, dealership techs needs to know more about computers, fiber optics, electronics, etc. than most ofther career fields.

Also, go talk to some local service managers at dealerships and get their
opinions. Try to see if you can talk to some of their techs. Try to help out part time to get a taste of being a full time mechanic. If nothing else, this may help you get your foot in the door.

Jamie