Being a “lead tech”
So people are leaving my dealer and I’ve been left with the task of being “lead tech”. I’ve been doing this for only 2.5 years. I’m ASE A1-A9 and L1 Certified, but I don’t know everything. I got my ass handed to me on a tow in diagnosis today. Though I’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to learn everything I could. Again I don’t know everything and can’t solve every problem, but boy I’d sure like to be able to. The guys rely on my to help with the problem cars we get. I try to relay all info I get from you guys or on YouTube from SMA/NLA/ScannerDanner. Idk haha I’m just drunk and frustrated I couldn’t be the tech I wanted to be today. Thanks for reading. Appreciate you guys for spreading information like you do.
Well John, some days ya get the bear and some days the bear gets you. Do you need help with the car that beat you up today?
No, thank you though Eric. It was an old Nissan Murano, P0300 bank one was not firing. Eventually found B1 Cam sensor's signal output was at 8.4v instead of 12v. Circuitry was good, just needed a new sensor. P0300 was the only code so I didn't pursue the sensors at first just did the usual tests first. Would have been nice if a Cam sensor signal performance DTC was also there.
You can't know everything. If you did, you would be somewhere else making way more money. You just need to know more than most as a lead hand...and from what I've seen of the techs out there, that isn't hard to accomplish.
Best advice I can give you is to learn how to learn. I’ve been a tech for 34 years. A lead tech for 22. I’ve owned my own shop for 17. I spend 15 minutes EVERY morning learning SOMETHING that I didnt know about in the auto repairIndustry. And now with YouTube its much easier than it was in the late 80s when I was starting. You’re at a dealership so spend 15 minutes every morning learning
This is a great idea, I'll start doing this today. Thanks!
All great advice so far. When I was a young technician I ran into a lot of things that took time to figure out, and I remember someone often saying things to me like "You're supposed to be a master technician and already know all of this, we can't pay you to learn how to work on someone's car!" They were wrong then, and would be even more wrong today. The thing about our career as technicians is