Three Vital Steps to Becoming a Mechanic

Becoming a mechanic, or as the profession is also called, an 'automotive technician' gives you a skilled trade, which not only means you may have access to a subsidized education through apprenticeship grants, but also a good chance of finding employment once you graduate. With the constantly growing number of licensed drivers, an automotive career gives you a reliable source of employment regardless of the state of the economy. However, people looking into how to become a mechanic have a several step process ahead of them, starting with finding a mechanic school and funding, but including four years of practical, hands-on work experience for full trade certification.

Choosing the right mechanic program:

Mechanic programs are provided through community colleges or vocational schools. Prospective students must consider the location, cost and facilities. It is a good idea to tour the campus to see what sort of hands on experience you will get, and speak with instructors, and if possible, past students. While options vary, you will find there is a mechanic school in almost every town or city. Once you've found a school and applied, your time will be spent learning all about cars, their working and how to keep them running and in good repair. Your training might be as an automotive service technician, which is more focused on the inner workings of the car, or on the equally essential alignment and breaks or the auto body and post-collision repair.

Looking for education funding:

As well as the usual post-secondary options of government and private student loans, federal and provincial level long-term work force planning mean that there are further grants and bursaries available to facilitate your education in a mechanic program. These include money set aside to encourage non-traditional careers and trade grants, and are well detailed in federal and provincial websites, but your mechanic school will usually have a dedicated financial aid office committed to finding you the means to pay for your training, which will walk you through all your options.

Certification:

The certification process starts with a certification of qualification or registering as an apprentice. With your time in your mechanic program completed, you will need an employer to sign off on your competencies, which you will demonstrate through working for them, applying what you learned during auto technician training. After this period of employment, generally lasting four years, you will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Then there's one more step: challenging the trade examination to get a Certificate of Qualification, and then you're a fully-fledged mechanic.

The path from auto mechanic programs to full certification is lengthy and involves lots of work, but unlike many education options, not only is there special education funding set aside for trades, but the work component of your apprenticeship will be paid, making this an affordable option for the technically inclined. And, once you're done you have a skill to start your own business with or easily find an in-demand job.

No matter where you live, these vital steps will likely be part of your journey towards becoming a mechanic. Now all you have to do is suit up and get your hands dirty! Good luck!

How to Sense If You're in Need of Brake Repair

Most people invest in an automobile to help them go places. But being able to stop when you need to can be just as important as being able to go. There are a lot of warning signs to find out when you may be in need of a brake repair - before it's too late.

Listen up

Several early signs of brake wear and tear can only be detected once you turn down the stereo and open your ears. A squeaking or squealing noise when you push down on the brake pedal could be a bad sign. It is common to hear a loud screech when slamming on your brakes in an emergency situation or to hear a little squeaking after your brakes get wet. However, if you hear a loud persistent squeaking, it could be something worse. Clean the area behind each wheel to make sure it is not just dirt and dust. If the noise persists, take it into the shop.

A squealing noise emanating from the brakes is typically a sign of a worn-out brake pad. It is important to quickly replace the pads because without them, a dangerous metal-to-metal contact occurs. This can damage the brake system and even cause accident or injury to you because the brakes are less likely to function in an emergency situation.

Bad Vibrations

Most drivers can feel a little bit of a hum from the motor while sitting in their cars. However, if the vibrations increase to the point where your can see your steering wheel and other interior parts shaking, it may be a sign that you are in need of brake repair. A rumbling in the seats is typically a sign that the back brakes need work, while a shaky steering wheel would mean you should check your front brakes.

Vibrations are usually symptomatic of problems with the rotor, the disc-shaped piece that the brake pads clamp down on in order to stop your vehicle.

Another way you can feel your brakes failing is if you find them to be increasingly loose. For instance, maybe when you first bought your vehicle, it would jerk to a stop when your foot simply tapped the brake pedal. Years later, your foot may be almost down to the floorboard before the car comes to a complete stop. You may want to go in for a brake repair to replace the pads and tighten things up.

Open your eyes

Of course, the most obvious way to tell that you need to get your car to a repair shop ASAP is the brake warning light on your dashboard. By the time this light comes on, at least some damage has probably occurred within your braking system, and your car needs to be serviced immediately. Your safety and the well-being of your car are at stake.

Brake systems are complex, and these are just a few common symptoms and causes. The point, though, is to take your vehicle into a repair shop so that a professional can assess the problem with his own eyes and get you back on the road quickly and safely.

Plastic Repair - Like It Or Not, It's Here To Stay

A Different World
The collision repair industry is changing fast. Not too long ago cars were not build with much plastic. Mostly, interior parts, but even much of the inside of a car was made with metal. In the past 15 to 20 years, plastics and composites have became widely used for interior, exterior, body parts, mechanical parts, etc. Plastic is not going any where, so we need to learn how to repair it properly.

Why Plastic?
The government started pushing car makers to make cars more fuel efficient. One obvious solution was to make the car lighter. This is when car makers started working with metal and other materials to reduce weight in vehicles. Lighter metal started being designed, such as high strength steel to allow the metal to have equivalent strength with much thinner metal. At the same time, engineers started brainstorming and started using light weight plastic for many of the parts that were made of steel. Apparently, the results were positive, as there is more plastic in each new body style of cars.

More Fuel Economy
To this day the government is requiring car maker to meet certain requirements in order to sell car in the US. Therefore, the automakers are going to do what ever it takes to make this happen. I believe we will see more plastic, aluminum, carbon fiber, and other composites in the years to come.

Like It Or Hate It
There are many technicians that do not like working with plastics. However, whether we like it or not, the fact that it is here to stay is a pretty safe bet. I am not trying to promote the use of plastic, but we do need to teach technicians how to properly repair it.

New Methods
With all of the plastics, companies such as 3M have developed some awesome products to repair plastic. There are a few folks out there that may prefer to use a plastic welding method, but the adhesive products have really made this a simple process. Sure, there are different concerns for repairing plastics than repairing metal, but when plastic is repaired properly, it's as good as new.

by Donnie Smith

How to Polish and Buff Your Car Like the Pros - Car Bodywork

There are terms like convex, concave and waffle. These are terms used in the business of polishing and buffing in the auto repair shop. To most people, polishing and buffing the car is something that they do on the weekend, but in the professional world, this function takes on a much different meaning because there are so many factors to consider in creating "the perfect finish", and they require a great deal of training, more than you'd think.

The polishing shop technician has a very important job. For instance, in order to get a good finish that really shines, it is necessary to deceive the eye. This is why a good technician will never use a concentric polisher, because they move in perfect circles. An eccentric polisher is one that moves off center. It has two functions, one is to distribute the compound evenly, by pushing it into the center - this allows the compound even distribution, and it also prevents splattering of the compound and two, it confuses the eye so that the eye doesn't see any light reflected in the lines left by a conventional concentric polisher.

As far as the tools used to get that perfect finish, there is some disagreement among technicians as to what to use, the standard wool or the newer foam buffing pads. Most quality paint manufacturers have good tips on the right way to buff and polish, and you can find them on the net.

The technicians who prefer wool say that it gives the best finish, whereas the technicians who prefer the foam pads claim that they like them because they don't leave bits behind after they go. Although foam pads are new, they are evolving like anything that is new.

A recent test was done with technicians who preferred wool, and several of those technicians said they preferred the newer foam to their old wool pads. Sometimes, a technician can be attached to their way of doing things and they will say that they like their way but they have never tried anything new in years.

They will say things like the pads they tried won't remove wet or dry sand scratches from the panel, and they had to go back to wool to finish the job, but, as I mentioned earlier, old ways die-hard. So they don't like to try new products, like the newer pads that are specially designed to be more like the wool pads, but without the drawbacks.

The three main types of newer foam polish pads are convex, concave and waffle and these types of pads are designed to create a compound pocket that guides the compound toward the center of the pad and not to the outside so it won't splatter. Each of the convex, concave, or waffle pads have their own highly specialized function, but the main goal in all of this is the brilliant finish achieved by the illusion that the eye sees.

Online Auto Parts Store Supplies Parts at Warehouse Prices

There are numerous sources of purchasing auto spare parts. Nevertheless online shopping has gained popularity in recent times due to its convenient option and competitive prices. It has attracted even those who are new to the concept of Internet by meeting consumer expectations, which were initially feared by the supporters of conventional shopping methods.

Today most companies, who claim to be wholesale distributors or resellers of a wide range of automotive parts, have taken their business online to make their presence felt in the market. Most of them provide discounted prices or warehouse prices which any market store cannot afford to charge due to the presence of various agents in business transactions. Wholesale automotive parts warehouse sites also carry replacement parts, auto body parts and performance parts, plus all the tools and accessories to get the job done in a correct manner.

The other benefits of online stores selling spare automotive parts or used auto parts are as follows:

• One need not run around the local market to find any auto parts, be it body part or engine part. A visit to a conventional retail store needs travel and must take place in business hours.


• On-line shopping removes geographical limitations, so now a person sitting at home can easily shop from an auto part supplier company based out of California.


• Competitions amongst stores are also high hence consumer feedback or reviews, on line catalogs and product information are common on most online shopping sites.


• You also have many more options when shopping online. Not only can you find the part you need but you can also make comparative study before taking a final call.


• Most of the online auto part suppliers have provision of fast and cost efficient shipping of their goods in any location around the world.

Online shopping for automobile spare part is a new trend and gaining its popularity at rapid pace. No matter what one's requirement at online auto part store one can easily have the parts at affordable prices.

Auto Repair: The Safest Way to Maintain a Working Relationship With Your Car

Owning a car is a lot like being in a committed relationship. It has its ups and downs, its highs and lows, and it often takes hard work, dedication, and maintenance to reap the full benefits of being a car owner. The main difference is when something-i.e. a breakdown or malfunction-puts a wedge between a person and their car, they turn to auto repair instead of counseling. One of the main reasons auto mechanics have cars put in their shop is problems with the cars' brakes. These problems have the potential to be catastrophic and cause harm to the driver, the passengers, and other motorists on the roadway. There are several common malfunctions of the brakes that auto mechanics typically see.

The first is worn out brake pads. Brake pads are used to help apply friction to the brake rotor, which in turn stops a vehicle when the brakes are applied, an extremely important job in the vehicle. However, brake pads do not last forever. They tend to thin out and wear away they older they become. This wearing away is caused by many things: excessive stop-and-go traffic, sharply or quickly applying the brakes, or braking frequently at high speeds. Many instances of these can be avoided by changing driving habits. Symptoms of needing the brake pads replaced are squeaking, squealing, or scraping whenever the brakes are applied or low brake fluid.

Another threat to someone's brakes is a brake pedal that sinks to the floor. It is not normal whenever someone applies the brakes for the pedal and their foot to make contact with the floorboards underneath, not even Mario Andretti who is fairly used to making his gas pedal touch the floorboards. This means that the master cylinder may not be holding pressure correctly or there is a leak in the hydraulic system. Both of these malfunctions require immediate auto repair as they could both cause the brakes to fail completely, a situation that no one wants to find themselves in.

A third common threat to the brakes is low brake fluid. The brake fluid level in a vehicle can become depleted for many reasons, one of the most common being worn brake pads. Worn brake pads are a problem in themselves, but coupled with low brake fluid, it's an entire new ballgame. This may also mean a leak in the brake system, which can also cause brake failure. In certain cars, if there is a leak and the fluid becomes too low, a brake light, similar to the check engine light comes on. This light should not be ignored, and the car should be taken to an auto mechanic immediately for a diagnostic work up.

Establishing a good relationship between you and your car is not as hard as it seems. Like any relationship, you have to listen to what it's telling you (literally), and know when it's time to seek auto repair.

7 Car Buying Tips For Right Now

Coming off several years of depressed sales, car manufacturers are still eager to compete and offer to you some exceptional deals. Even some of the hot-selling models such as the Toyota Camry come with discounts or low-rate financing. If you are planning to buy a new car in the coming weeks or months, then you stand an excellent chance of driving off the dealer lot with a good buy, provided you do your homework first.

1. Shop on your own terms. Many people shop for a new car when they absolutely need a new one. Their old car may have died or they may have suddenly taken on a new job in a location where previously depended on public transportation is not available. For everyone else, a car purchase should be carefully considered and made without external pressures. You are much less likely to agree to a deal if you do not have the pressure of buying a new car hanging over your head.

2. What do you want? Before shopping for a new car, what kind of vehicle do you want? If you are trading your ride in for the latest version of your current vehicle, then the hard work is already done for you. However, if you plan on buying something new or different, there are more than 700 vehicles on the market. Narrow that list down by body style, price range, amenities and brand.

3. Where will you buy it? Heading to your local dealership used to be your only option when it came to purchasing a new car. These days, the Internet has made it possible to shop online and across the country to hunt down the best deal, but so have car buying clubs and even some employers. You may need to pay an annual membership fee to join and you may be charged a search fee to help you locate a vehicle, but you could end up saving hundreds of dollars off the sticker price by using a third-party service.

4. Check invoicing. Information revealing what your dealer pays for new cars, secret rebates from manufacturers, and other sales incentives can help you save money on your purchase. Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Kelley Blue Book each offer information on dealer invoicing, an invaluable tool to have on hand before you shop for a new car.

5. Consider a leftover. This year's model may be the latest and the greatest, but it may not have the incentives matching a leftover vehicle from the previous model year. But it isn't just 2012 models which are leftovers; in the coming months several 2014 models will hit the market which means that a number of 2013 vehicles will be considered last year's model. Just remember that any older model, even new, has likely lost thousands of dollars in value due to a model year change over. Yes, getting $3,000 taken off from a sticker price may sound wonderful, but if the car has already decreased in value by $5,000 or more, then you are not getting a bargain.

6. Shop separately for a loan. If your dealer offers you a choice between a manufacturer's rebate and a low interest rate auto loan, you are almost always better off taking the rebate and applying it to your purchase. Shop elsewhere for an auto loan, through your credit union or by finding the best deal through your bank. Your rate might be a bit higher than the auto financing company, but the rebate should more than offset the extra cost of financing your new car on your own.

7. Sell your old car privately. Trading in your used car for the new one almost always results in you losing a lot of money. Always negotiate the best deal for your new car first, before even considering your trade in. Once your new car deal has been finalized in writing, then and only then see what the dealer will give you for your old car. Chances are it will fetch significantly less than what you could get selling it on your own, so be prepared to market your old car yourself.

Deal Considerations

The amount of time you put into your new car search should offer correspondingly good with your savings. Explore your options, complete your research and go into the new car deal negotiation ready to stand your ground. Lastly, be prepared to look elsewhere if the dealer's terms are nowhere near what you need.