A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I was just curious how many of you guys are mechanics. I recently got my first mechanic job, I'm a Nissan tech(350Zs are a pain to change oil in compared to the rest BTW). I've been at it for about a week now, it's a lot different than doing it at school. So far I think I like it, I like it better than I thought I would atleast. I barely have enough tools to do oil changes and brake jobs, so I havent done a whole lot yet.
Any advice for a rookie?
---
Justin T
72 240Z L28, 5-speed
77 280Z 5-speed (t-boned 8-25-04)
80 280ZX automatic(retired)
A:
sure. years ago I started working as a laborer on a construction crew. I got all the crap jobs. I took my first week's paycheck and bought some tools. I showed back up on Monday and the job boss saw me and instantly gave me a promotion over the guy who although had been there longer but still didnt have any tools. the more tools I got, the more I could do, the more the boss taught me. now I have my own crew.
the same goes for mechanics. tools are your life. buy em. safeguard em.
If all were equal, none would be strong.
Ballistic,Ruler of Interstates
Stage XX+ 1993 Z32 NA
"SoulTaker"
A:
Never say "No" to any job. Always treat the employees like they were your favorite grandparents. Always ask someone else if you aren't sure of a job, then make sure it is done right. And like Ballistic said get the right tools.
Ability is only half of a service industry, the rest is attitude, and how you project yourself. I got a 13% raise and a promotion in March because my coworker with 15 years experience ( I had less than 1) and training out the butt couldn't keep from pissing people off and I knew how to keep my mouth shut when necessary.
I had to learn all this the hard way, and worked my way up from a lab tech to now I am the Safety Coordinator (Remember, never say no) for a 450 person plant.
1983 280ZX N/A: 98% rust free, 118,000 actual miles.
1982 280ZX Turbo. $250 Parts car that was better than the rustbucket.
1983 280ZX Turbo. Hopeless rust case. The more I fixed, the more I found.
A:
I have a regular job and do mechanic work on the side. Its good extra money but after a while you really do start to hate the way they design new cars. The new F150's and Camaro/Firebirds are the worst.
Now Z-less
89 Mazda MX-6 GT Turbo 5 speed
88 Mazda MX-6 GT Turbo Automatic
05 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 4x4
A:
i just hit my 1 year anniversary at nissan here in AL. i started out changing oil like you did but since then i've swapped 3 engines, 2 rear axles, 1 pumpkin, a valve body today, doing brake jobs, electrical diag, etc. just got certified ASE in engine repair (only trying to pass the ones i know i can do, like everyone says, the patch doesn't mean anything if you can't perform the jobs that pertain to it). finally bought a nice tool box. here is a tip, at first you'll probably have to get some cheaper tools, but here is how you come out on top, try to find high quality second-hand tools that will still have a lifetime warranty, craftsman, snap-on, matco, cornwell, sk, sunex, etc. they may not be shiny but you can buy more of them and do more jobs till you make more money to buy new stuff. meet all of the tool truck salesmen and find one or two of them that strike you as honest guys willing to help you out and not just make a buck. my snap-on guy is like that, so i give him most of my business when sears isn't getting it. including the box i've got about $7K in tools now with a whole lot to go. oh and think slowly and a trick i learned from another guy a long time ago, when you are changing oil, pull that big yellow dipstick up in the air when you pop the hood and only push it down when you start putting oil in, this will make sure you don't get sidetracked with another job or customer and shut the hood without adding oil, i've seen several people do it, haven't myself yet thanks to that habit. like the other guys said, sometimes you have to know when to hold your tongue and smile when you don't want to. also, no matter how old or young someone is, always be willing to learn, even if they are an ***hole, they might have something you can learn. i was in college for T-TEN (Toyota Technical Education Network) before this and was changing oil and tires at walmart for a year. learned a lot from my boss who used to be a GM tech so we talked cars all day cause he was an F body guy. anyway, he was great with customers and i followed suit. he knew the service manager at nissan and when there was an opening he sent me over there because he knew i wanted to work there. also dude, don't let all of the noise complaints from the quest get you down, one day you'll be doing more complicated stuff and another new guy will get that crap. they have so many interior squeaks and rattles. thats why the 3/36 warranty was stretched to 5/60. "customer satisfaction innitiative", more like customer b***hing innitiative. oh well. and there is a master tech in there thats been there since 1988 and is kinda "taking me under his wing" and i've learned so much from him. anyway, good luck and as much as you love nissans, mondays will still suck so be prepared...lol
82 NA 5 spd
77 4 spd
A:
I do side jobs for extra cash
A:
I was a long long time ago....back when you had to know how to install points. If you worked on imports, or Hot Rods (like I did) you better know how to install dual points....times have changed but one thing hasn't....TOOLS!
Get use to buying tools, you will never stop. Buy good ones, Snap-On, MAC, MATCO etc... they last.
Ken
'82ZX n/a 2+2
'02 Sportster XL1200C
A:
From 1993-2004 at the same Jaguar dealer and I quit them as a Certified Jaguar Tech. I quit because I'm tired of managers that have no clue how to perform the job, sitting there on their aZZ at a computer playing poker all day, telling me how to fix a car.
SPEED IS MY DRUG OF CHOICE..LET ME DRIVE!
A:
Yeah, somehow I end up spending $150-$200 every other week on tools...don't know how it happens. I'm wrenching right now just to get me through college. It's a good part-time job and I have a lot of fun doing it, so it works great for me, even though I get a lot of people looking at me funny when I'm wearing my uniform on campus.
______________________________________________
'82 280zx -- 400+hp 355 sbc / T-56
'72 240zt - T3/T4 hybrid / TEC-II / not much stock
'82 280zxt - Stock...for now
'77 280z 2+2 -- Ongoing battle; currently in the process of "ricing
A:
My first job was changing oil and rebuilding engines at a local shop. I've been trying to get on @ the local Nissan dealership lately myself.
A:
im building/rebuilding/teardown of domestic v8's the tools i have are a bunch of craftsman tools that i got from a retired mechanic, anyway. you will learn that having the right tools and having someone to teach/help you there are very important, making freinds with your personal enemy's no matter how much you hate them will make time fly.
----------------------------------------------------
1981 n/a 280zx
1952 m38a1 jeep willy's
1971 fairlady 240z
95 300zx N/A
72 240z
A:
My advice ask lots of questions if unsure how something should be done. Make friends with the techs who have been there a while, so you can get good tech tips and easier ways to do things. As for tools Snap-on, Mac, off the tool trucks are great but very exspensive. Get you a credit card, go to sears and buy you a good bottom box and a tool set. They are warrantied for life and they sell shiney chrome wrenchs just like the tool truck. There sockets are ok long as you dont use a impact on the chrome sockets. Main thing where ever you get them that they are warrantied for life. The tool trucks will carry somethings you wont find any where else and they come to you once a week. I been a mechanic since 83 and still buying tools..........................
Jimmy
83ZX Turbo
A:
I made a living as a tech for twenty years and still hold my ASE master status. steveosupremeo, you may have had Al Blethen as an instructor. I had the pleasure of working with him a looooong time ago. I cut my teeth at a Datsun dealer in the early seventies and remember when the first 280Z came in with the fuel injection. Hated working on the flat top carbs and retro fitting V-3 kits.............figured anything would be better.
A:
The best advice I ever got as far as customer service goes is:
Don't bullshit your customers.
Any halfway intelligent person will smell it a mile away. There is nothing that gets people pissed off faster then lying to them.
--------------------------------------
1990 300zx NA
- Custom Exhaust
- JWT Pop Charger
A:
toyota instructor was Tom Sheff.
82 NA 5 spd
77 4 spd
A:
ya Up here in canada I am a heavy duty tech, at a Peterbilt dealership, torque'n U bolts to 500 lb ft on a creeper is a work out, and a brake job is a little more effort. but most of the time you dont have to worry about not having enuff room to get your hand and your tools in to a spot, I think I owe the snapon truck 1500 bucks right now, it is a never ending story. but I love it, oh ya real big turbos, I am glad I chose it.
Live slow. Ride fast
A:
The other two techs are real nice guys, they do everything they can to help me out. I'm not afraid to ask for help, what do you have to lose by asking? A whole lot less than if you dont ask and mess something up.
Still not sure about the tools thing, but I gotta get atleast a box and an impact right away. All I have is some very basic 1/4 and 3/8 sockets, three screwdrivers, and a set of no-name chrome wrenches. I think I'm going to get me one of those matco carts with all the drawers and use it as my tool box, I figure it'll do untill I outgrow it even then it'll still be usefull.
---
Justin T
72 240Z L28, 5-speed
77 280Z 5-speed (t-boned 8-25-04)
80 280ZX automatic(retired)
A:
snap-on, snap-on, snap-on. yeah the tools cost more, but how much does a new watever you hurt cost because your cheap tool broke. i have worked at an all european performance shop and worked as a bmw tech and an audi tech. i still do side work and my own projects, but now sell cars at a saab/mazda store. the nissan store here is so full of it.... ask questions and do the crap jobs everyone else won't do. don't waste your time at some crappy school(i wasted my money at uti) most of what they show you is worthless in real shops and real experience is better.
A:
I trained under the "head tech" for a year before the dealer started to send me to Jaguar training courses. I was stuck with enough sh!t jobs for that one year to make anyone want to quit working there but I learned the shortcuts and how to make $$ at them. This helped bigtime when I got out on my own. I made $$ at EVERYTHING I did even if it was a sh!t job that the other guys couldn't make $$ at......
Good tools is a must but don't passup on some cheap tools, some tools are not used in very stressful situations so cheap tools can be used in this case, stubby wrenches being an example. Also cheap tools can be used to make special tools.
SPEED IS MY DRUG OF CHOICE..LET ME DRIVE!
A:
Been a mechanic/technician for 20 years now, went in to an apprenticeship with day and block release to collage for 3 years straight after leaving school and never wanted to do anything else, stick at it and keep asking the questions and soaking up the knowledge, if you get a crap job in the workshop just get on with it and do your best, get on as many training course's as you can, even if it sounds like your going be bored, knowledge is power and you can always take it with you if you decide to go to another dealer/garage
Best of luck
Tim
My 240Z