Apprentice Mechanic

Kid Nothing

Mods feel free to move if this is the wrong place for this.


I assumed this would be the best place to find a few mechanics with opinions. Basically I wanna train to become a mechanic, have seen the FAS apprenticeship and am wondering if this is the main route people take or is there a different approach? From what I understand of that is it's a 4 year course with work experience, am I right there?

The main answer i'm actually looking for is regarding the work experience as my father is actually a mechanic with his own place so would I be able to "serve my time" with him or would I have to go to a specific garage?

(You'd think he'd know these things but, well he's old and stubborn!)

Cheers for any help

Graham_B18C

So will you be workin for the Da?

If so then get him to register you with FAS and that'll start off you're apprenticeship, 7 phases, 1, 3, 5 and 7 are workin. Phase 2 is in FAS and Phase's 4 and 6 are in an IT, Bolton st is the only one I know of in Dublin but maybe Tallaght or Blanch do it too.

It's the same 4 year thing no matter who you're workin for, and once you're registered you'll get called by FAS to go to Tec, you don't need to worry about anything.

Would love to be a Mechanic!

Darragh29

Steer clear is my advice OP, it's a mugs game!

Leadership

Darragh29 wrote: »

Steer clear is my advice OP, it's a mugs game!

I have to agree 100%

Graham_B18C

I assume this is a joke

Darragh29 wrote: »

Steer clear is my advice OP, it's a mugs game!

But for some reason I think this isn't!

Leadership wrote: »

I have to agree 100%

I'd really like to be a Mechanic, poorly paid though, thats the reason I didn't do it!

kippy

Tis not a bad job to be getting into in these recessionary times. Particularly if you can afford to have the premises and equipment to work for yourself.
Its one of the few apprenticeship based courses where I believe demand is increasing.

Kippy

Leadership

Its not the poor pay its the poor working conditions and the fact that in effect you are only a part re placer.

Graham_B18C

Leadership wrote: »

Its not the poor pay its the poor working conditions and the fact that in effect you are only a part re placer.

Part re placer? Dunno what ya mean.

I'm an Electrician and I'm only an Electrical installer, I wouldn't call it a mugs game because of that

Kid Nothing

cheers for the quick reply's lads. So i really just need to get in contact with FAS and tell them I wanna do it!

Yeah I was hoping to be able to do it with my dad. His business has done fairly well for the last 30 years so it's not a mug's game if you know what you're doing i suppose!

Graham_B18C

You're right, I can't understand what poor working conditions Mechanics have to deal with, plenty of people in the Building industry has to put up with far worse, I can't say that trench diggers or even plasterers have the cleanest most comfy job.

Think the owner of the business has to register you. Was told the other day actually that FAS are running some program to get Apprentices back to work and they pay half you're wages, dunno the criteria but tell your Dad to look into it

Lucifer

I would not consider myself to be a "part replacer". Anyone can replace parts, its knowing what part to change and diagnosing problems that not just anyone can do.

Kid Nothing

Cheers mate really helpful stuff, i'll get on to them in the morning so.

Hartyk87

Im not sure if you want to be a mechanic or be in the industry as such, but another way you could train is in college ful time, and get a degree.
There is a fantasic course in Cork IT (from what i can gather you are in Dublin so probably one there too) you can learn to manage and design and so with these courses and also do the mechanical side of it.

Just an opinion and an idea to look into thats all.

rob316

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Im not sure if you want to be a mechanic or be in the industry as such, but another way you could train is in college ful time, and get a degree.
There is a fantasic course in Cork IT (from what i can gather you are in Dublin so probably one there too) you can learn to manage and design and so with these courses and also do the mechanical side of it.

Just an opinion and an idea to look into thats all.

100% recommend this course im currently on the way into my 3rd year of it. I also previously had nearly 3 years done of an apprentice ship but packed it in for the college route. I'd strongly advise having a real passion for the motor trade if you wanna get involved it aint a easy business (what business is tho). Since i was 10 ive been hanging around my uncles garage doing everything so i always kinda new what i wanted to do. People aint buying new cars so garages are fairly busy at present so it aint a bad time to get into it.

Good luck anyway OP

Del2005

Grahamo999 wrote: »

You're right, I can't understand what poor working conditions Mechanics have to deal with, plenty of people in the Building industry has to put up with far worse, I can't say that trench diggers or even plasterers have the cleanest most comfy job.

Not them type of working conditions.

Row

In todays world a Mechanic is really a Car Technician.
With most cars from 02 upwards need a Dianostic tool to find
faults/reset faults codes.
Last year if someones car broke down most people would go out and buy a new one...from now on people will tend to keep the old cars maintained.
so i'd say go for it... a trade is a trade....:)

Kid Nothing

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Im not sure if you want to be a mechanic or be in the industry as such, but another way you could train is in college ful time, and get a degree.
There is a fantasic course in Cork IT (from what i can gather you are in Dublin so probably one there too) you can learn to manage and design and so with these courses and also do the mechanical side of it.

Just an opinion and an idea to look into thats all.

Cheers for that, you don't know the actual name of the degree by any chance do you? I'd assume DIT do it up here.

Hartyk87

amull87 wrote: »

Cheers for that, you don't know the actual name of the degree by any chance do you? I'd assume DIT do it up here.

If you go to the cao website and enter "DT007" into course search it will come up also one in LIT in limerick aswel. I would imagine there are plenty of them courses around the country. A small bit or research would pay off by finding the best course to suit your needs and the best to suit an employers needs.

Plug

amull87 wrote: »

Mods feel free to move if this is the wrong place for this.


I assumed this would be the best place to find a few mechanics with opinions. Basically I wanna train to become a mechanic, have seen the FAS apprenticeship and am wondering if this is the main route people take or is there a different approach? From what I understand of that is it's a 4 year course with work experience, am I right there?

The main answer i'm actually looking for is regarding the work experience as my father is actually a mechanic with his own place so would I be able to "serve my time" with him or would I have to go to a specific garage?

(You'd think he'd know these things but, well he's old and stubborn!)

Cheers for any help

well lad, im a an apprentice mechanic myself on phase 2. Just start working with your old man and get him to register you with fas, then when you are successfully registered they will bring a load of apprentices together for an induction.

If you get registered straight away you will get qualified quicker, I didn't get register till 6 months into the job so since I started I had to work over 15 months! My wages went up to second year rates after 12 months so it wasn't too bad. So Im just saying get registered straight away....

When you work with your father thats phase 1, 3, 5, 7 and when your shipped off to a FAS training centre thats phase 2, 4, 6. You get qualified after you complete phase 7 and then you get your FETAC training certificate.

Thats it really, if you need anymore help, give us a shout;)

ashdabash88

Guys whats the title of that manage and design course in Cork/Dublin IT??

Cheers!

Darragh29

There are several courses you can do here OP. First of all, if you want to become a mechanic, then you need to do an apprenticeship. I started my career doing an apprenticeship and qualified as a mechanic. I then went into D.I.T Bolton Street full time and did the DT150 diploma course for 3 years, as it was at the time. This course was replaced by the Bachelor of Technology degree in Automotive Management & Technology. I then went on to do an Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering at NUI Maynooth. You can do extra courses and exams along the way to qualify as a technican, I did extra exams that qualified me as an advanced automotive technican, these courses can also be done at night in Bolton Street and you get the award SIMI Tech. Dip. if you do the advanced exams.

If you do an apprenticeship, you get a good mechanical "hands on" education in automotive technology. If you were to do the full time DIT course above, you get much more into theory and less of a practical education in the craft. Now you still will get to see vehicle components and all the rest of it, but you will not be a mechanic at the end of the course. You'll see a lot of physics and maths and f*ck all getting your hands dirty.

If you do an apprenticeship and qualify as a mechanic, you'll get your hands dirty but you won't get the see the same depth of theory.

My problem with recommending the industry as a place to find a career is the mess that it is in. There is no career advancement structure within the industry, there is a lack of credible leadership within the industry, there is a problem with the industry attracting candidates of a high calibre and retaining them, the attitude in the industry is always one of chasing the quick buck.

You have main dealers charging over 100 Euro a hour labour and paying an apprentice less than minimum wage to do service work, AND THEY ARE STILL LOSING MONEY!?!?! So you'd have to ask what the f*ck is going on there...

Darragh29

http://www.dit.ie/faculties/engineering/schoolofmechanicalandtransportengineering/departmentoftransportengineering/whole-timecourses/btechdegreeinautomotivemanagementtechnology/

thethedev

Working conditionfor mechanics are woeful.
Working while lying on your back, shifting heavy things out of awkward places on trucks etc. Plant fitters have it worse than anyone in Ireland.
Look after yourself from the start and you'll be fine but if you have a lacksadaisy attitude towards safety and health expect to get bitten on tha ass.

Darragh29

thethedev wrote: »

Working conditionfor mechanics are woeful.
Working while lying on your back, shifting heavy things out of awkward places on trucks etc. Plant fitters have it worse than anyone in Ireland.
Look after yourself from the start and you'll be fine but if you have a lacksadaisy attitude towards safety and health expect to get bitten on tha ass.

Things have gotten a bit better on that front I think. A mechanic is not paid enough, the skill required is up there with an electronic engineer, the trade of mechanic should be upgraded to an honours degree with a stong mechanical & electronic engineering background. Consequently, the salary associated with such a job should be consumerate with the qualification.

Darsad

One tip I would give you ! Dont be a grease monkey all your life its ok in your 20's or 30's but starts to take a real toll on the body after that.
Study hard and concentrate on diagnostics rather than rectification by replacement or swapping of parts and make sure to fully understand the principals and basics of engine operation and combustion it is always the starting point and often over looked after all it hasnt really changed in over a 100 yrs.

Darragh29

Darsad wrote: »

One tip I would give you ! Dont be a grease monkey all your life its ok in your 20's or 30's but starts to take a real toll on the body after that.
Study hard and concentrate on diagnostics rather than rectification by replacement or swapping of parts and make sure to fully understand the principals and basics of engine operation and combustion it is always the starting point and often over looked after all it hasnt really changed in over a 100 yrs.

This is my point. To take on engine & vehicle diagnostics now, it's not like it used to be, using only a 12VDC multimeter and rooting around for a dodgy earth or an open circuit 12V live wire.

Now you need to understand digital systems, small circuit analog functions and waveforms, modulation, data processing, data conversion (ADC and DAC), just to name a few. Your into oscilloscopes now and interfacing with an on-board computer to get data and then knowing how to look at the data to close in on a problem.

Core engine technology hasn't changed much over the years, but where you used to have a carburettor roughly horsing in fuel, you now now have a complicated enough electronic control system sitting over the whole operation, using up to 20 or 30 different variables to calculate the fuel being injected into each cylinder, all going on in real time. You have the same going on for emissions, previously you had an exhaust pipe and "whatever you're having yourself" for emissions, now you have the whole operation managed by an electronic control system, again taking information from several locations and adjusting the fuel in real time to keep emissions within what are allowable values.

Unfortunately the folks who can successfully diagnose at this level are becoming increasingly few and far between.

thethedev

Darragh29 wrote: »

This is my point. To take on engine & vehicle diagnostics now, it's not like it used to be, using only a 12VDC multimeter and rooting around for a dodgy earth or an open circuit 12V live wire.

Now you need to understand digital systems, small circuit analog functions and waveforms, modulation, data processing, data conversion (ADC and DAC), just to name a few. Your into oscilloscopes now and interfacing with an on-board computer to get data and then knowing how to look at the data to close in on a problem.

Core engine technology hasn't changed much over the years, but where you used to have a carburettor roughly horsing in fuel, you now now have a complicated enough electronic control system sitting over the whole operation, using up to 20 or 30 different variables to calculate the fuel being injected into each cylinder, all going on in real time. You have the same going on for emissions, previously you had an exhaust pipe and "whatever you're having yourself" for emissions, now you have the whole operation managed by an electronic control system, again taking information from several locations and adjusting the fuel in real time to keep emissions within what are allowable values.

Unfortunately the folks who can successfully diagnose at this level are becoming increasingly few and far between.

Exactly, I know you said your Father would take you on, but this is why a main dealer apprenticeship can be good. Especially if its one of them places that deals in cars +tractors +trucks experience of big diesels is good too.

Darragh29

thethedev wrote: »

Exactly, I know you said your Father would take you on, but this is why a main dealer apprenticeship can be good. Especially if its one of them places that deals in cars +tractors +trucks experience of big diesels is good too.

I think you're getting my post mixed up with someone else's!

newmechanic

wondering if anyone can help I am an apprentice mechanic in Galway in phase one does anyone know where the first phase of college is held? Has anyone completed an apprentice from Galway that might know this?

If your Dad has a good business going and you are interested in being a mechanic it's win win for both of ye if ye get on and can work together. I wouldn't touch the 3rd level route, you'll end up a rep for turtle wax going that way