Sick of being a motor mechanic :(

Kevjdm123

Had enuff of working in this crap trade, shockingly bad pay for the work that has to be done nowadays, thinking of quitting after over 10 Years at it

J Mysterio

I just watched that show Car SOS or whatever it's called and was thinking how romantic :pac: Your man Pete Townshend is a cool guy.

I guess you have to have the passion and be able to sustain it through interesting projects. The environment you work in would have to be a big factor. You may just need a change of scene.

bucketybuck

Good mechanics with good reputations name their price these days. I should know, we have a constant battle both trying to retain our lads and to get new lads in.

It will never be a glamorous industry and there are plenty of badly run garages out there, but if you are a good worker then there are plenty of good positions as well.

boardsuser1

Whatever you choose next make sure it ain’t truck driving.

Tails142

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

Would you ever consider setting up your own business?

Del2005

Tails142 wrote: »

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

Would you ever consider setting up your own business?

The same ****e with you having to chase payment to pay the bills never mind make any money instead of a wage at the end of the week.

LollipopJimmy

Del2005 wrote: »

The same ****e with you having to chase payment to pay the bills never mind make any money instead of a wage at the end of the week.

No pay no car. You won't get rich as a mechanic while working for somebody either.

jsd1004

Tails142 wrote: »

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

Would you ever consider setting up your own business?

Friend in the business. All dirty work now. With all the diesels it is horrible work. All injectors turbos dpfs dmf and people cant afford to pay for them and shocked at the repair costs.

EPAndlee

It's just a job that's full of hardship for sh!te pay

uck51js9zml2yt

An independent set up beside me a few years ago. They built up the business and are now doing really well. Don't envy them in the workshop on cold days though.
I can leave my car with them and be confident they will do whatever is needed and not fleece me.

Four Phucs Ache

Put it this way,

Manufacturers spent millions putting the car together. You replace their failings.

Declans car needs a service. While giving it the once over you spot the break pipe is wrapped the wrong way behind the shock and could snap if not fixed. You possibly just saved a life.

Mary has a light on the dash. You tell her about the low oil and top it up with a new filter and show her how to check in future. You just saved her a few grand.

Mick comes in saying his coil pack is going because google said so and he has a new one in the boot. You tell him its the crank sensor because you were able to scan the car and he should have come to you first but it wont cost too much. Mick comes to you now for all his problems and let's you buy the parts.

Feck went on a bit but your skills and knowledge are needed but if you have an itch to move on for whatever reason go for it or where you might have more respect or freedom as a mechanic

JC01

I packed it in a while back, did a course or two in the evenings and working in pharma now earning twice as much as I did and the work is half the hardship at its worst. I've also gotten my passion back for tinkering with my own cars which I had grown to hate while I was on the spanners. Plus I actually enjoy going to work which has improved every single aspect of my own life.

Without a doubt the best decision I ever made, there's lots of opportunity out there if you use your head. In some unrelated industries mechanics are well respected and easily converted as they have fundamental skills that can be very difficult to teach to lads fresh out of college with masters etc.

James Bond Junior

After spending last Saturday battling my hobby car and getting nowhere I decided the romantic notion of doing a mechanic course in my spare time is exactly as it should stay, a romantic notion. Hard work to say the least.

Doltanian

I was looking at some newer cars recently and they look to be an absolute nightmare to work on, absolutely no room at all, seen a mechanic working on it with a mirror, FFS! Governments and the leftwing are all responsible for this with global warming lies and Car manufacturers are really ruining cars with all this eco-****e. A litre of Diesel or Petrol is like 38-40c when you take the leftwing driven taxes out of it. There is no need for all this when petrol cars at 30mpg will run forever without any eco thrash. I think car design peaked in the 1990's in terms of reliability and its all downhill since there. Cars are no different now to anything else with planned obsolescence, make them disposable and use PCP financial stupidity to fuel these modern junkboxes.

J Mysterio

Four Phucs Ache wrote: »

Put it this way,

Manufacturers spent millions putting the car together. You replace their failings.

Declans car needs a service. While giving it the once over you spot the break pipe is wrapped the wrong way behind the shock and could snap if not fixed. You possibly just saved a life.

Mary has a light on the dash. You tell her about the low oil and top it up with a new filter and show her how to check in future. You just saved her a few grand.

Mick comes in saying his coil pack is going because google said so and he has a new one in the boot. You tell him its the crank sensor because you were able to scan the car and he should have come to you first but it wont cost too much. Mick comes to you now for all his problems and let's you buy the parts.

Feck went on a bit but your skills and knowledge are needed but if you have an itch to move on for whatever reason go for it or where you might have more respect or freedom as a mechanic

This is it.

I found a mechanic/ garage I trust 100% about 7 years ago and I go to them for everything and trust them implicitly.

I think most people are like that who arent great with cars. It's a public service and you are appreciated for it.

J Mysterio

J Mysterio wrote: »

This is it.

I found a mechanic/ garage I trust 100% about 7 years ago and I go to them for everything and trust them implicitly.

I think most people are like that who arent great with cars. It's a public service and you are appreciated for it.

True.... but as hypothetical as that Mary bird was she might be better off bring advised why her car has low oil rather than being shown how to top it up :pac:

bucketybuck

Four Phucs Ache wrote: »

Put it this way,

Manufacturers spent millions putting the car together. You replace their failings.

Declans car needs a service. While giving it the once over you spot the break pipe is wrapped the wrong way behind the shock and could snap if not fixed. You possibly just saved a life.

Mary has a light on the dash. You tell her about the low oil and top it up with a new filter and show her how to check in future. You just saved her a few grand.

Mick comes in saying his coil pack is going because google said so and he has a new one in the boot. You tell him its the crank sensor because you were able to scan the car and he should have come to you first but it wont cost too much. Mick comes to you now for all his problems and let's you buy the parts.

Feck went on a bit but your skills and knowledge are needed but if you have an itch to move on for whatever reason go for it or where you might have more respect or freedom as a mechanic

Then Declan, Mary and Mick go online to complain about the price for just an hours work, and about how the mechanic fitted a filter when all it needed was a top up.

Ajsoprano

Building trade is picking up will be good money for labourers soon enough. You can always go back to your trade.
Get out in the sun for awhile.

Voodoomelon

Yes it seems to be a common theme i've read on here over the years, was surprised to hear what a poor trade it seems to be in. If you have any interest in working on your own cars, I can only imagine how working at it for a living would kill any interest or passion, much the same as any trade. Not to mention the poor climate we have here, its a cold, tiring, dirty job and i've only done a handful of nasty repair jobs.

Fair play to anyone that's worked up a reputation, earns a good living and still has some passion for it.

Philb76

Can see the op point was a diy enthusisast for years and got more better with doing different jobs and always looked at it that car was getting serviced properly correct oil filters so on Haynes manual was always handy if doing a different car friends or family but got fed up of lying on driveways in winter still do some things but for oil change just leave into mechanic and I supply parts

bucketybuck

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Not to mention the poor climate we have here, its a cold, tiring, dirty job and i've only done a handful of nasty repair jobs.

If there is one constant at every garage I've worked its the cold, I've never yet seen a garage of any size that could be heated properly. Its the big bay doors, sucks the heat right out of any place. Seen various solutions tried, oil burners, space heaters, heaters in the roof space, you name it and the place will still be baltic in the winter. Its a real bitch doing fiddly jobs with numb fingers, believe me.

I suppose its no different to many jobs that would be outside, with maybe the difference being that many building sites or guys putting up steel wouldn't be open in the depths of winter like garages are.

Vicxas

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Whatever you choose next make sure it ain’t truck driving.

Is truck driving really that bad? I get that with all the EU resting regulations it can be a real pain.

Del2005

Vicxas wrote: »

Is truck driving really that bad? I get that with all the EU resting regulations it can be a real pain.

The rest period are not the problem.

It's barely getting minimum wage for being in a truck for 12 or more hours a day along with the fact that if you point out a fault with the truck, which means that the driver gets points and fines as its always the operators responsibility, you are told to drive it or someone else will. The person packing the shelves of the supermarket you just dropped to earns more than you with zero responsibility.

Del2005

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

No pay no car. You won't get rich as a mechanic while working for somebody either.

That's not how our legal system works unfortunately.

You won't get rich being an employee but you definitely won't go broke. Working for yourself you need to build the trade but to do that you need equipment and a garage with a lift. What do you do for money while building up the trade but still have to pay rent, power commercial insurance, commercial rates etc?

Then there is the time that you feck up and destroy a car, you now have to replace it. I know plenty of lads that got caught out doing nixers when a simple job suddenly became an expense repair who won't touch a car outside of work now.

Toyotafanboi

bucketybuck wrote: »

Then Declan, Mary and Mick go online to complain about the price for just an hours work, and about how the mechanic fitted a filter when all it needed was a top up.

That's literally it.

Mary's oil ran low because she hadn't had the car serviced in four years because someone told her that their cousins, boyfriends dad can service his own car and for that reason any mechanic who charges €99 for an oil change and inspection is a criminal, so the same fella told her the best thing she can do is not service the car at all because she's only going to the shops and mass in it.

That and the only reason Mary came to your garage is because a warning light came on her dash and "her usual guy" is away or can't fit her in until tomorrow. So you do the correct thing, an oil and filter and then the cousins, boyfriends dad will post on boards.ie about how you exploited Mary and her lack of knowledge about cars.

You made about €20 from that whole exercise.

galwaytt

...i started out in the trade, then went to the UK, and worked there some more, and came back on a whim and got a job at Something Else Completely. Best decision ever.

I can guarantee you that after working on car/bike stuff all day, the last thing you want to see in the evening or weekend it another bloody car/bike/whatever.

Even now, and despite all the toys etc, 99% of the time I give it to my local Indy.

And as for going and setting up as an Indy, from scratch ? You'd be mad. A good friend of mine has just done the opposite: folded his up and gone into a dealer. As the saying goes, there he'll paid on Thursday - every Thursday.

martinr5232

Tails142 wrote:

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

There is not many mechanics on 36k id say average is under 30k

Ubbquittious

I'd say you'd have to be tough as nails to run your own mechanicing business. I reckon you'd be absolutely plagued with people trying to get freebies, accusing you of breaking unrelated things when you fixed their car the last time, people looking for credit, people not paying, people wasting your time with spurious intermittent problems that might not even exist and you definitely can't replicate.

If you let one fella off one time by telling him he can pay next week you'll struggle to ever get paid off anyone again because they all talk to each other in the pub or back home. I'd do most things that need doing on my own cars but I'd never touch anyone elses car, just too much chance I'll get sucked in

Bazzy

My Brother in Law is a self employed mechanic runs a business from the yard/garage beside his house

I called down one Monday to get him to change a coil spring

His workshop was absolutely baltic , he did work for someone and got made redundant so decided to try it on his own.

i'd say it wont be long until he's back working for someone !!! He's 2 and a half - 3 years at it and everything you say here

people landing with their own parts , arguing over price , looking for credit all messy stuff especially when he lives rural and everyone knows everyone.

Certainly wouldnt be for me !!

khaldrogo

J Mysterio wrote:

I just watched that show Car SOS or whatever it's called and was thinking how romantic Your man Pete Townshend is a cool guy.

Its grand as a hobby but its no way to earn a living

khaldrogo

Tails142 wrote:

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

That's top of the scale in my experience

Trojan

Two indies close to me have shut down recently. I know another who can nearly print money. It all depends on how you approach it, enthusiasm and good processes make a difference.

One of the guys who closed doors said that chasing money was one of the biggest issues - in a rural community you can't avoid giving credit sometimes. If I was doing it I'd have an 8 foot x 8 foot sign that says "No cash, no keys" and ask people do they see and understand before taking on a job.

JohnBoy26

Tails142 wrote: »

I was shocked to hear that average mechanic pay is 36k a year, can't remember exactly where I read it.

Would you ever consider setting up your own business?

That's €750 a week which I doubt most mechanics would be getting.

bucketybuck

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

That's €750 a week which I doubt most mechanics would be getting.

Many of ours would be getting more than that, those that are worth it anyway. And thats even aside from any overtime. I also know a few fleet companies offering close to €25 p/h for their own in-house workshops.

Like I say, its a nightmare getting good mechanics right now, show me a good one and I'll give him €750 p/w right now.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I think every job has its depressing aspects. Thats why its a job and you get paid for it. If you dont find any joy in it then give it up. If its just the place you work, the people you work for or the cars you work on or the clients you dont like, find a different place to work.

The grass is always greener...mostly because it fertilized by bull****. Listen to your guts and make a decision on whats best for you.

As the economic recovery continues there will be more oppertunity for people with tallent to earn a good living in a quality environment.

mark085

JC01 wrote: »

I packed it in a while back, did a course or two in the evenings and working in pharma now earning twice as much as I did and the work is half the hardship at its worst. I've also gotten my passion back for tinkering with my own cars which I had grown to hate while I was on the spanners. Plus I actually enjoy going to work which has improved every single aspect of my own life.

Without a doubt the best decision I ever made, there's lots of opportunity out there if you use your head. In some unrelated industries mechanics are well respected and easily converted as they have fundamental skills that can be very difficult to teach to lads fresh out of college with masters etc.

What course was this mate if you don't mind me asking?

Ubbquittious

Trojan wrote: »

Two indies close to me have shut down recently. I know another who can nearly print money. It all depends on how you approach it, enthusiasm and good processes make a difference.

One of the guys who closed doors said that chasing money was one of the biggest issues - in a rural community you can't avoid giving credit sometimes. If I was doing it I'd have an 8 foot x 8 foot sign that says "No cash, no keys" and ask people do they see and understand before taking on a job.

You'd have to put that sign up. Even if you think for half a second about a customer "ah sure he's a grand auld divil" you have lost the war. Once people see a small business they think they don't really need to pay any time soon (or at all) whereas if Vodafone cuts off their phone for not paying they'll be onto their support straight away with their credit card details at the ready.

iamtony

Mechanic mate of mine got a job in the nct centre. I think he gets about 800 balloons a week and never gets dirty. Worth persuing.

gibbon75

martinr5232 wrote: »

There is not many mechanics on 36k id say average is under 30k

I can confirm this too.
I know master techs who would be happy with 30k a year.

bucketybuck

gibbon75 wrote: »

I can confirm this too.
I know master techs who would be happy with 30k a year.

They must not be in Dublin then, our worst paid mechanics would be on that sort of money.

jones 19

bucketybuck wrote: »

If there is one constant at every garage I've worked its the cold, I've never yet seen a garage of any size that could be heated properly. Its the big bay doors, sucks the heat right out of any place. Seen various solutions tried, oil burners, space heaters, heaters in the roof space, you name it and the place will still be baltic in the winter. Its a real bitch doing fiddly jobs with numb fingers, believe me
I suppose its no different to many jobs that would be outside, with maybe the difference being that many building sites or guys putting up steel wouldn't be open in the depths of winter like garages are.

I laugh when I see a garage with one or more big roller doors open and they trying to heat the place. All you need to do is wear a hat, neck warmer and thermal top and bottoms, then your toasty. If you leave the trade for too long you could be left behind and unhireable if you decide to return. Change garage maybe or go out on your own. Money is good if you work for yourself. Pressure is up too,but being your own boss is bloody great.

Del2005

jones 19 wrote: »

I laugh when I see a garage with one or more big roller doors open and they trying to heat the place. All you need to do is wear a hat, neck warmer and thermal top and bottoms, then your toasty.

Bringing vehicles in and out means that the heat will be lost once the door is opened, so no point in keeping them closed. Your fingers will still be cold though.

bucketybuck

jones 19 wrote: »

I laugh when I see a garage with one or more big roller doors open and they trying to heat the place. All you need to do is wear a hat, neck warmer and thermal top and bottoms, then your toasty. If you leave the trade for too long you could be left behind and unhireable if you decide to return. Change garage maybe or go out on your own. Money is good if you work for yourself. Pressure is up too,but being your own boss is bloody great.

Ok. And do you laugh when there are 10/12 of those big doors and because the place actually does some work they keep having to be opened and closed?

I'll make sure to put a notice up tomorrow about the thermals too, its a real shame we didn't know about those a few months ago.

iamtony

I'm not a mechanic but I do think it's a trade that should be much better paid. In line with the building trades because often you need to obtain much more knowledge to be good at it and it can be very technical.
Is there a mechanics union? If not there should be and you all should be striking for proper trade rates, 20 odd quid an hour is not unreasonable.

Sam Quentin

I do a bit for myself when I can, doing shocks last week and came across a stubborn bolt..
Long story short, I roared at my uncle who was in the same shed "MECHANICS DESERVE EVERY F%$*@N PENNY"...
Then there's days when I do a simple brake pad change and I think. 'now why would I pay a mechanic to do that'...
Swings and roundabouts my friend swings and roundabouts!?

rex-x

The money (in my opinion) is in being a really good indy. The days of the old time mechanic who doesn't touch electrics are long over. Really good niche tools help take the sting out of many jobs and doing your research and keeping up to date with new speciality tools (many come from stateside and wouldn't be well known here).

The really good garages have no sign advertising them because they are already close to maximum capacity simply through recommendations from customers and others within the trade. We are often called on for example by other garages, including main dealers to do jobs they have failed at. In those cases you can almost name your price.

Cosmo K

iamtony wrote: »

Mechanic mate of mine got a job in the nct centre. I think he gets about 800 balloons a week and never gets dirty. Worth persuing.

Nahhh....average take-home pay for a vehicle inspector is around 550 a week.

Wanderer78

Friend always wanted to be a mechanic since childhood, due to life factors, took many years to eventually become one. Walked away from the trade as soon as he was qualified, completely disillusioned, said dreadful environment to work it.

jones 19

Del2005 wrote: »

Bringing vehicles in and out means that the heat will be lost once the door is opened, so no point in keeping them closed. Your fingers will still be cold though.

My point trying to heat a garage with big doors is futile, throw on some extra layers. Also You would be surprised with the heat retention of Tiger grip gloves.

Cosmo K

Cosmo K wrote: »

Nahhh....average take-home pay for a vehicle inspector is around 550 a week.

About 800 balloons a week is €40k a year if that is gross, that would be €600/week after tax for a single person not paying into any pension.

Wanderer78

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I never understood why people go through all the training/cert for a career and then once they get there leave after a few years due to salary and/or conditions. Do people not do any research? These types of things are not hidden you can find out easily enough. You see it in the new people complaining about the salaries of certain jobs. OK then don't take it up as a career

it was a dream, a life long wish and desire, he has always had a fascination with cars and is pretty good at fixing them to. it actually wasnt really the pay but how badly he was treated as an adult. pay was one aspect for him leaving but not solely, it was mainly his ill-treatment, a highly disrespectful environmental to work in he said. its important to realise he was in his thirties at this stage, married with a child, worked since his teens in various different industries, various different roles, but never came across such an environment to work in. with a person thats had over 20 years work experience behind them, something isnt right there. but to be fair, he probably ended up working for a dreadful company, so it wouldnt be fair to paint all employers with the same brush.