Truett

Mechanics use to be payed 50% of the labor and some got paid a smaller percentage of parts.

 

I was one of those Mechanics. 45 years experience. Remember 50% labor was $10 and it was 50% wether you made flat rate or not. We did it on the floors, very few racks, the shop supplied almost not tools. If you had a SUN machine that was a top shop. Flat rate for a Chevy water pump was .7

 

The cost of doing business has NOT gone up that much! Something is wrong with the system.

 

I am now an owner. I have to pay my techs insurance, the shop insurance, a new alignment machine is $25000.00, new rack $15k, any diag equipment $1000.00 or better, water bill power bill(you know how yours has gone up) internet, phones, etc. And then wages for the techs and the service writers that deal with the customers so the tech don't have too, order parts so the techs don't have too and can just work

 

Mechanics/ technicians are getting cheated. The shop managers and shop owners are being told how their shops should be run by all these professional business advisors and their software management systems and they use the "numbers" to beat over the head of mechanics.

 

Any business uses "numbers" to track their employee productivity. I worked in a factory and if you did not do a certain amount of production they wrote you up and after a few of those you had no job.

 

In addition there is this whole expectation that they have to totally up to speed on all the new cars and technology. The shop owners and managers need a reality check.

Just remember in most cases we are the last to get paid.

 

Richard

 

(Sorry look in the Quote for my comments as a reply}

A few more years and it could me another CUBA. (Think about it.....)

You ain't heard? Since the election California has threatened to secede. They claim to have the 7th strongest economy in the world!!

Love Chucky112233 idea. Just did a heater core on an Audi, multiplied time by 1.5 and still lost our butt. Took over 20 man hours to get the dumb thing out. Never again. I agre with JimO and will send to dealer next time....

Richard

Stock oil filters, oil, hardware(nuts and bolts),coolant (various types), and brake fluid. Everything else we have 6 suppliers in a 30 min delivery time.

Richard

We need one lately so this is what we bought. I waited until they had a 10% off sale on a holiday.....

https://www.jbtoolsales.com/redline-detection-95-0003b-smoke-pro-total-tech-diagnostic-leak-detector-kit/

 

Works great. Had one in my other shop for 2 years or so.

Richard

We have no Mobil service here. It is either take it to the dealer or one other local shop that programs. Over $200 each time plus towing (know they have you and can get whatever they want). I have done 10 so far this year between both shops so decided to jump in. Should recoup from our shops and other ones when they find out we can do them. May even create a mobile service after we get comfortable with it.

Richard

Ok so here we go on Thursday.....

First, had to go get a battery maintainer ($595.00 from MAC) Yea I know but need in a hurry.

Second, Went to GM and bought a two day subscription ($55.00)

Third, Ran on one of my Windows 10 Lap tops.

Fourth, Tried to hook the Mac Mentor J2534 to the laptop and program.

Ok so this did not work. I got to the point in the software that connects to the interface and it could not find it. Called GM, wait, hold, transfer you know the routine. Finally go a good tech that said I needed to find a driver for the interface. So called Mac, said to call Bosch. Called Bosch, wait, hold, transfer again. Finally was told " no Windows 10 drivers". Another call to GM and have a MDI2 coming ($750.00 plus shipping).

Now Monday, MDI 2 arrives. Hook up to laptop, install drivers, can not see....

Another call to GM. Laptop must be Windows 10 Pro and an Intel I-3, I-5 or I-7 chip.

Run to local store, buy cheapest Dell with Windows 10 Home and I-3. ($300.00)

Get back to shop, Run laptop setup and get to main screen (20 min of removing crap)

Purchase Windows 10 Pro from Microsoft on line and install ($109.00)

Have 30 min left in day. Oh well lets try this.

Go to GM and use Promo code they gave me to get to software(Great company by the way as when I told them what happened they gave me code so as not to have to buy another subscription for two days at $55)

Hook MDI 2 to computer and it sees it. Yea. Follow prompts on screen and software in the new MDI 2 I just go was out of date. Started download and as it was going to take 20 min, I closed up the shop and went to the bank. Came back and software update done. Ran SPS, Found BCM, Programed (took 5 mins)

When I clicked on the "complete" everything just came on. Man was that slick.

So after a week and $1800.00 I programed my new BCM.

Just can't wait for the next one...Yea Really

Richard

So I am going to jump in the water.....

Tomorrow I am going to attempt to program our first BCM for a 2007 Chevy Truck. I have the J2543 interface, a laptop with the room for the information on it, an account with GM that I will access for two days tomorrow, and a battery maintainer to arrive tomorrow. Just wanting to know if I am missing anything or if you have any suggestions or advice for me.

Thanks,

Richard

Where in Illinois are you? Always looking for a new programming contact in the area.

Richard

I can see the lawyers salivating now. Sue Sue Sue. I agree with Alan, do not believe it will ever happen.

How do you pay him now? Hourly or Flat Rate or Commission? A mixture of both? We pay a mixture of both. I pay my "C or D" Techs a "finders fee" for any work they pass on. I pay by Percentage of the additional work done. 1 or 2 percent depending on the job.

Richard

If your a AC Delco PSD they have some great training at no cost or reduced cost that comes with it.

Richard

If you don't mind used (say's in good condition)...under $25

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-intent-to-implementation-mitch-schneider/1107735867?ean=9781401826581&st=AFF&SID=BNB_DRS_Evergreen_20150928&2sid=More+Prices%2C+Inc._1408513_NA&sourceId=AFFMore+Prices%2C+Inc.M000001

Richard