Rachel Given-Wilson - Your Future As an Auto Mechanic

Published in 2020 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

Copyright 2020 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Given-Wilson, Rachel, author. | Orr, Tamra, author.

Title: Your future as an auto mechanic / Rachel Given-Wilson and Tamra B. Orr.

Description: First edition. | New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2020. | Series: High-Demand Careers | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Grades 712.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018042728| ISBN 9781508187714 (library bound) | ISBN 9781508187707 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: AutomobilesMaintenance and repair Vocational guidanceJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC TL152 .G528 2020 | DDC 629.28/7202dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018042728

Manufactured in the United States of America

Contents

Introduction

E ver since the invention of the first car in 1886, there has been a need for qualified and skilled auto mechanicsalso known as service technicians to inspect, maintain, and repair these vehicles. Most Americans rely on their cars to get to work and school and to run basic errands, so when a car breaks down, its usually a priority to get it fixed ASAP. Thats where auto mechanics come in. Trained to diagnose problems with vehicles and figure out how to fix them, auto service technicians are invaluable in a car-driven society.

The field of auto mechanics is changing rapidly, but there are still plenty of jobs out there for skilled technicians who enjoy figuring out how things work.

Over the years, as auto technology has advanced, the job of diagnosing and fixing problems with vehicles has become more complicated. What was once seen as a dirty job is now often done on laptops in an office and requires advanced knowledge of computer systems. As customers and car manufacturers strive to make vehicles that are more environmentally friendly, the industry has seen a shift toward engines powered by alternative fuels. Moreover, with increasing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, and the technology of self-driving cars advancing rapidly, the day-to-day work of auto mechanics continues to develop and change.

Joe Sevart began working in his fathers auto service shop at the age of fourteen. Four decades later, he now runs the company, I-70 Auto Service in Kansas City, Missouri. Sevart told The Atlantic in a 2016 interview:

I dont know if theres an industry that changes as rapidly as the automotive industry. Here we are, with the autonomous car; weve got cars that are out on the roads driving themselves with cameras in the back of the vehicles to make sure that we dont hit something backing up. Weve got cars that are applying the brakes, because the human brains not functioning quite fast enough. We have to adapt and change, and weve got to be educated.

Although cars and other motorized vehicles have changed dramatically over the years, the need for skilled auto mechanics continues to grow. Most professions suffer when the economy goes through a recession, but the maintenance and repair of engines and other equipment remains in demand, even when money is tight. During good economic times, consumers buy new equipment that requires regular maintenance and occasional repair. During harder economic times, they want to keep their vehicles in good working condition so they wont have to replace them. As a result, there is always a need for auto mechanics.

If you are considering a career as an auto mechanic, you should know that the industry is full of exciting opportunities and possibilities for specialization. Do you like to take things apart, figure out how they work, and put them back together? If you dont mind getting your hands dirty, you enjoy working with hand tools, and you love learning to use the latest computer and electronics systems, the field of auto mechanics could be a great career choice for you. And you dont have to wait until youre in college. There are plenty of things you can start doing now to get a head start in your chosen career!

Chapter 1

What Does It Take to Be an Auto Mechanic?

T he work of an auto mechanic often includes identifying problems with a vehicle, testing vehicle parts, and making sure all critical parts of the vehicle are examined. It also involves doing basic maintenance work, such as changing the oil, rotating the tires, and checking the fluid levels. When necessary, auto mechanics fix or replace parts of the vehicle that are worn, such as the brake pads or wheel sensors. Also, an important part of the job involves communicating with customersclearly explaining the problems and the necessary repairs.

Some auto mechanics service and repair a vehicles mechanical and electrical parts, while others focus on vehicle body repair or refinishing. Some focus on working with specific types of vehicles, such as heavy trucks or high-performance vehicles. As an auto mechanic, you may work in a dealer workshop, body repair shop, or service and repair center. Experienced auto mechanics can even go on to become independent technicians, offering mobile services to vehicle owners.

With vehicle technologies constantly changing and developing, the auto mechanic industry is changing rapidly, but job prospects are promising for qualified candidates who are willing to keep up with the latest technologies. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in April 2018, the demand for auto mechanics was expected to grow 6 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is in line with the average growth rate for most occupations. Most employers require auto mechanics to complete a program at a postsecondary institute, such as a technical college, and obtain industry certification, usually from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

If you are someone who likes working with your hands and taking time to figure out what the problem is, and you have technological aptitude and a willingness to keep up with new technology, the field of auto mechanics could be a great career choice for you.

A Day on the Job

There is really no such thing as a typical day for an auto mechanic, and this aspect is one of the great joys of the job. Depending on where technicians work, they may be rebuilding an engine one moment and changing spark plugs the next. Mechanics may go from repairing a front axle to replacing an air filter. They may work on foreign models or domesticor both. They may be diagnosing the problem on an air-cooled 1977 Volkswagen bus one day and repairing the self-parking mechanism on a Lexus LS 460 the next. Everything depends on the kind of mechanic they are, what model cars their shop or dealership specializes in, and what their area of expertise is.

The tools that mechanics use vary from day to day, depending on what theyre working on. They include old-fashioned hand tools as well as complex diagnostics systems.