Autos Repair

The automotive industry continues is one of the largest and most important industries in the world and new technological advances are creating numerous career opportunities. This growth is being experienced through the automotive industry, and graduates of automotive training programs can expect to land jobs in:

• New Car Dealers
• Retail Automotive Repair Facilities
• Custom and specialty shops
• Heavy Duty Truck Repair Facilities
• Organizations with Fleet Vehicles
• Owning your Own Automotive Repair or Specialty Shop
• Auto and Truck Rental Companies
• Insurance Companies
• Warehouse Distributors
• RV Dealers
• Marine Dealers
• Motor sport Dealers

Candidates with this particular skill set and training can expect to qualify for a varied number of positions. Auto mechanic entry-level positions may include Automotive Detailer, Tire Installer, Lube Specialist, Maintenance Technician and Apprentice Brake and Alignment Specialist.

However, skilled auto mechanics may also have a vast array of auto mechanic advancement opportunities, including positions as muffler specialists, front end technicians, electrical specialists, engine technicians and much more, including:

• Fuel Specialist
• Tune Up Technician
• Diagnostician
• Emissions Specialist
• Transmission Specialist
• Hybrid and Fuel Cell Technician
• Performance Specialist
• Automotive Service Technician
• Journeyman Mechanic
• Service Manager
• Assistant Manager
• Shop Foreman
• Shop Manager or Owner

Auto Mechanics are usually paid hourly, but some are guaranteed a minimum weekly salary. Some repair shops also offer commission incentives and performance bonuses to make this basic auto mechanic salary even more attractive. Automotive Service Technicians earn between $45,000 and 70,000 per year plus benefits on average

On a day-to-day basis, auto mechanics can:

• Inspect, test, and diagnose faulty operations and estimate repair costs.

I learned the hard way about how transmission repair shops work and how to avoid the pitfalls. I own a 2001 Lexus RX300 and the transmission had not been acting right. A friend suggested taking the car to an oil change place to get the transmission flushed and serviced. This was my first mistake. The car was having issues shifting and sometimes it would almost stop pulling. I ending up paying about $1825.00 for the service and my transmission just got worse. When your car has been acting up like this for a while, spending money on a flush is just throwing good money away.

Once you feel your transmission is not shifting properly, do not put off getting it looked at. The longer you drive it, the more damage you will create and the problem may just be a minor issue. Transmissions have clutches inside, when you feel it slipping the clutches are taking extreme wear and the damage will become permanent if you do not address the issue.

I took my car to a shop that rebuilds transmissions to get an opinion on the issue and see what my options were. The sales rep took us for a test drive. Sure enough he was having problems getting the car up to speed and the engine would rev above normal while he performing our test run. Once back at the shop I was informed the transmission had burned up clutches and needed a light over haul. The estimate was $1825.00 to fix the issue so I signed the work order and left my car for repair.