What is an automotive technician?

[c4c5specialist]

The question seems very simple, but in all truth, it is NOT!

Manufacturers have certain people to handle, repair and engineer certain vehicle parts.

An automotive technician is a person who is many different repairers rolled into one.

They are an HVAC technician, a mechanical trouble shooter for engines and driveline, an electrician, a computer diagnostician and programmer, a hydraulics specialist for automatic transmissions and braking systems, a truck specialist with diesel engines. They are also integrations specialists, dealing with the hybrid gas/electrical vehicles that are out there. Safety specialists, dealing with airbags, crumple zones, rollover protection, vehicle stability systems.

There are many many qualified technicians out there.

Unfortunately, there are many more dishonest ones that proclaim to be.

The key to finding a good service technician, is to ask to SEE their credentials.
ASE is the standard for automotive testing and capability, but from a manufacturers view, that is ONLY THE START.

Hundreds of training courses must be completed to certify in many areas.

Just because a technician is greasy and not very presentable in the shop, DOESNT mean they are any less capable.

As a service technician in a dealership, there is many facets to what we do, and they are NEVER clear. The dealership is the LAST LINE of repair for that particular motor vehicle.


GM certifications will have a GM insignia on them, ask to see them.

[LLC5]

In my opinion ASE is a joke, all you have to do is pass a few multiple guess questions and you are certified? Yeah, right. In my opinion, only manufacturers certifications are a indicator of competency. I am both a Master Tech in ASE, and the manufacturer I work for, guess which one I forget I even have? Just my opinion.

As far as choosing the correct dealer/shop to repair your vehicle, I would suggest asking the advisor to talk to the tech doing the work before any diagnosis or repairs. Ask the tech if he enjoys (or can at least be comfortable) with working on this vehicle, has he seen this problem before, and if so what were the repairs performed? Most tech's will be very straight forward about answering these questions. Having a tech know who the actual customer is can be beneficial in the long run. If you don't like any of the answers, thank the tech for his time, ask your advisor for another qualified tech, or move on to another repair facility. There are a lot of quality, certified, honest techs out there, but just like doctors/lawyers (might be a stretch there with the lawyers) they are out there, you just have to find them.

[bradfordsvettes]

as llc5 stated (I would suggest asking the advisor to talk to the tech doing the work before any diagnosis or repairs)that is one of the best lines of defense for the customer.first off you get rid of the middle man who most times knows nothing about cars and gets the work order screwed up. then quiz the tech and find out what his expertise is and if in general has the want to try and do the job right the first time . Not all mechanics are crooks a lot is miscommunacation just my 2 cents Steve

[Vette09]

Originally Posted by bradfordsvettes

as llc5 stated (I would suggest asking the advisor to talk to the tech doing the work before any diagnosis or repairs)that is one of the best lines of defense for the customer.first off you get rid of the middle man who most times knows nothing about cars and gets the work order screwed up. then quiz the tech and find out what his expertise is and if in general has the want to try and do the job right the first time . Not all mechanics are crooks a lot is miscommunacation just my 2 cents Steve

ALL mechanics in the town that i live in are crooks lol. Good thing i have never taken my car to a mechanic here.