Any Motor vehicle technicians here ??

Homer-Simpson · 19 Jul 2007 at 00:51

jdderbys said:
Machanics used to have a hard job diagnosing. Now VW charge £105 for then to run a VAG COM diagnostic which tells you the problem and what part to replace.

Seems alittle harsh the computer tells them the problem which is what a machanics job used to be and they charge you well over an hours labour costs!

I get myself a copy of VAG COM on my laptop. Hooked it up to the car and ran the full check. Took about 3 mins and listed any faults the vehicle computer has had. £105 for 3 minutes work = £2100 an hour!!!!

They charge nearly all customers this to have done when a customer brings in the car with a problem.

Thats extortionate

Oh how I laughed

I will show my mate this tomorrow, I am sure he will swap jobs with you if it is that "easy"

Clarkey · 19 Jul 2007 at 01:49

I see on-board diagnostics equipment is getting a little bit over-estimated here. It is good, but only to a point, they can only diagnose based on out of range or inconsistant sensor readings. If you have an actual mechanical problem then you are left guessing, and if you have a wiring problem or a stuck sensor reading then you are royally screwed. I suppose they do work pretty well on new cars, but give it 15 years and it becomes rather less useful.

jdderbys · 19 Jul 2007 at 08:56

I spent about 30 mins in the VW main dealor and in that time saw 10 people charged for the £105 diagnosis.

Yes i guess it costs them, but to buy the official lead, software and licence from ROSS TECH (creators of VAGCOM) it costs just over £200

My dealor also told me a needed a new turbo at a cost of £1300 including labour. When i took it to the vw specialist to be done cheaper it turns out it was a split hose.

If im paying £105 iv no problem with them using the software but if it identifies a turbo problem i would expect them to spend the next 20 mins checking the turbo hoses on the vehicle.

[TW]Fox · 19 Jul 2007 at 10:55

s0ck said:
I don't think it's quite how you paint it. I don't think just 'any noob' can do a course for a year and become a 'Master Tech'. I believe SgtTupac is fairly handy with a spanner as it goes and gaining certification is probably the icing on the cake, so to speak.

I don't doubt his ability at all, I just feel that being a Master at something should require a great deal of experience. Traditionally, it always did.

Steve JL · 19 Jul 2007 at 11:12

Been working in franchised dealers for 16 years of my life now,spent the last 4 years working for a major manufacturer in their Technical Centre/Training School and its the best thing I have ever done.

We troubleshoot the cars the dealers cannot fix without any time constraints that you normally get in franchises.

Yes technology is changing rapidly but if you are prepared to keep up with it I think that in the future(fingers crossed) there should be a radical shake up of pay(similar to plumbers and electricians) especially with the ATA testing going on.

Truck technology is as complicated as cars now anyway.Only difference being is that the work is dirtier and heavier.

All these comments about diagnostics make me laugh,the diag tools are just that a tool its about how you interpret what it tells you its not a one stop fix.

s0ck · 19 Jul 2007 at 12:01

[TW]Fox said:
I don't doubt his ability at all, I just feel that being a Master at something should require a great deal of experience. Traditionally, it always did.

How do you quantify 'a great deal' of experience though

Dogbreath · 19 Jul 2007 at 12:06

s0ck said:
How do you quantify 'a great deal' of experience though

A lot more than a year. I also wouldn't expect to rise from an apprentice to a "Master" within one year, it very much cheapens the use of the term IMO, just as using "Engineer" for reletaively menial jobs does.

[TW]Fox · 19 Jul 2007 at 12:25

s0ck said:
How do you quantify 'a great deal' of experience though

At least a decade. Perhaps 20 years.

karoshi · 19 Jul 2007 at 12:54

[TW]Fox said:
I just feel that being a Master at something should require a great deal of experience. Traditionally, it always did.

Also, you should have a long brown shop coat, a flat cap and a pipe

Simon · 19 Jul 2007 at 12:59

karoshi said:
Also, you should have a long brown shop coat, a flat cap and a pipe

And a lightsabre with a padwan in tow.

a1ex2001 · 19 Jul 2007 at 15:00

job titles really do mean squat these days, erveryone is eith a master this or a senior that it's all about appearence. My pet hate is engineers, the BT man who came round to change the master socket in my house clearly should not be allowed to use the term and in most other countries wouldn't be allowed too.

Business Man · 19 Jul 2007 at 16:01

How do you go about getting job as a vehicle technician. i'm 23 now, 24 in a few months. is it too late now to learn ? i dont really know much about cars but i want learn about them. I signed up to a recruitment agency carter & carter who specialise in apprentices for the motor industry but havent heard anything back yet.