Re:Being one's own mechanic

["Mik Tip" <miktip@worldnet.att.net>]

Excellent post Andrew!

I feel "Mechanic's" is a "learned skill"

But like so many other professions in life, not everyone can be a mechanic,
let alone a good one!

My road to Audi repair, began as an Aircraft Mechanic.  Where after several
years getting familiar
with working on Jets of all sorts, I began to apply this knowledge to my
car, a 1981 5000 Turbo.
Mainly because of financial constraints, and avoiding the dealerships at all
costs!

I found these two varying types of discipline's(planes & cars), different,
but similar in allot of "basic" aspects!
To me, cars were easier to repair than Jets, mainly because of the lower
complexity of system's and components.

Of course, initially, I began as you, doing the "small" & "routine" stuff.
Basic maintenance.
Well of course there comes the day when you are faced with a more complex,
and difficult problem.

At this point is where experience is needed!   But automotive experience I
didn't have allot of, so I applied
my aircraft experience of troubleshooting.  Basically its a "process of
elimination" to find the problem.

After many years of both Aircraft and Automotive repair under my belt,
hiring mechanics, and working
with many people with varying skill levels as mechanics, I can safely say,
there are two "basic" types
of mechanics.   The first I call a "bookworm".  This person is great with
the book's, associated paperwork
, etc...., but lacks that all important, "Hand & eye coordination" required
to "turn a wrench".
Granted this person can still do mechanic's but never seems to develop it to
that higher skill level!
The second type I call a "Natural".  This person is awesome with any and all
tools!  But lacks the book
skills, to keep themselves out of trouble, especially on aircraft.  Of
course there are those that fall in
between the "two extremes", and every once in a while you will find a person
with both skills, but these
folks are very rare.

So,"natural ability", I feel, plays an important part in the equation.  As
well as a persons ability
to reason.   But the single most important factor would have to be "common
sense".
Understanding the piece of machinery, is learned over time, with experience.
Of course a good set of book's is a "must" also!  That and working around a
more experienced
person, is probably the best way to learn, at least for myself.

Of course there are many factors surrounding a persons life, that can
influence their ability
to develop the necessary skills required to be a "self-supporting" auto
mechanic.  This is where
a person makes the decision to repair or have it repaired.  Of course if the
monies are available
most choose to let someone else do the work.  Its the "convenience" factor
which makes the
option more appealing, to have someone else do the work.

The auto repair industry is a "billions of dollars a year" industry, and
will continue to grow!
Those of us that do our own work, will eventually Secom to the industry,
especially as we
get older.  But will have learned, a skill, that helped out, and made life
just a bit more interesting.


                            Mik