The only sense i can make out of it is this. When i worked in the shop everyone that came in the door seemed to have worked on cars when they were in college or their brother or father was a "mechanic". Funny though is how they brought their cars in to have us service them, even though they knew all about cars. Funny... i have to have a state permit to cut your hair for heir but anyone can put brakes on a soccer moms mini van...
5:45 PM

Well, in my opinion, I really don't believe the the general population realizes everything that goes on in the industry. Just from a mechanics view point alone there is so much you have to have just to stay in business. All the licenses, plus training, and tools, which people really don't understand the expense behind that either, but that's another story. There is just a whole realm they don't see. And in any case if u don't realize something is there you are never going to fully understand it.
1:57 PM

The career we choose is considered by many to be substandard mainly due to the fact that we, as Automotive Technicians, submit ourselves to a career that requires us to "labor" all day long in conditions that are less than ideal. Much of society sees this commitment as foolish. Why are we fixing cars? As the general public sees it, we are not good enough to fix computers, or teach at a university, or practice law. This of course is pure bull. Many people do not understand that we choose our career because we are mechanically oriented, and we take prde in everything we accomplish. A cell phone salesman will measure himself by how many contracts he sold in a week, and what type of contracts they were. A "Grease Monkey" will measure himself by how many parts he changed and how much time it took him to replace them. An AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN will measure himself by how he solved problems, and not simply what he replaced or how many hours he flagged. Many of the general public sees us as parts swappers, and why not? Honestly, they know to put gas in the car, drive slow so it lasts, and when it makes noise or a light comes on, they bring it to us and pay a sometimes insane amount of money to make that little light go off, or that little noise go away. Im sure we look like a pack of thieves.
9:08 PM

I have to agree with Anton Z. That the automotive industry may look like a pack of thieves. This is unfortunately do to ignorance on the part of the customer. 20 years ago, yes anyone could repair a vehicle, well almost anyone. Technollogy has advanced so rapidly over the last two decades that customers do not understand the fact the we as tech's are continously updating both our training, equipment, tools, and reference material. This costs money ! Howevere I have not witnessed any attempt to educate the general public that the annoying little light, " sevice engine", on the dash can effect engine performance, fuel mileage, cat damage, etc., if not taken care of. As tech's we should not only repair the customers vehicle we should also be educating our customers concerning the repairs.
4:16 PM

Maybe its the fact that to them its a mystery I mean think about it people dont ever really see what we do. And another thing I think that brings the missconception that what we do is easy there are alot of run of the mill shops out there and alot of car owners see that and say well there in buisness and there not that teriffic in any way you must not have to be knowlegable to do this.
12:37 AM