Gm Techs

gmtech4 · January 23, 2011

i am curious who is a currant or recently retired GM tech ,this may be good for newbs or bad with PMs ,,which i got a few when i was "gmtech4"

so if ya want ,post up, if you are a corner garage tech and love the gm stuff post up also,,

what do ya guys think?

me, i did 13 yrs as a GM tech and 3 yrs as a tranny /driveline guy (its in my profile anyways )

8.1HD/ALLISON · January 23, 2011

Don't know if I should say..... LOL could be bad or good, but I am a current GM Tech. 8+ years so far. Graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College in 2003. Took 2 years of Auto in high school. I do about anything around the shop. Not much tranny work though.

zaac · January 23, 2011

3 yrs as a tranny /driveline guy (its in my profile anyways )

How do you like the tranny/driveline stuff? I think work would be easier if you specialize in something. Maybe it gets boring then. I been reading about automatics lately. Would be nice to know more about them for when the time comes that one doesn't wanna work right for me. Rebuilt a C6 in a Mustang when I was a kid but that's it. When I say rebuild I mean changed the clutches and seals and that's about it. Not much troubleshooting was needed. Bought the GM service manual for my 2000 Chevy with the tranny/TC/diff stuff in it. Hope not to many special tools needed. Plan on splitting my TC this Spring to make sure the oil pump isn't wearing through. I know a few mechanics and they are sick of their job. I couldn't do it for a living either. My old vehicles are just enough wrenching for me. I enjoy a little of it. Do you enjoy it for a living or getting tired of it? I guess we all get tired of doing the same thing over and over.

minibike132 · January 23, 2011

I'm currently at an independant shop and have been for the last year. The previous 17 years were spent at GM dealers. I do just about everything but I make myself valuable as a specialist in electrical/electronic systems and drivability diagnostics.

As for zaac's question do we still like it. I don't think I know one single tech that has been around for any length of time and still likes it. It used to be a great profession but over the years the system has broken our backs. Keep learning more and get paid less and less. Trans techs have been the one specialty that have weathered this the best on the money making IMO. The rest of us have seen dramatic decreases in pay over the last 10 years.

I made more as a second year apprentice (who admittidly knew very little about anything) then I currently do! I have had teaching opportunities but I can't in good conscience encourage anyone with half a brain to enter the industry. I can't encourage anyone with less then half a brain to do it either because of the technology, they won't make it and if they do it would be a disservice to customers.

LeoS41280 · January 23, 2011

2 years in a GM dealer and 8 years in an independent garage. I did front end repair/alignment, manual trans repair. Just about anything that was asked of me ,except engine and auto trans rebuild. And I was learning auto rebuild when the owner of the shop retired.

gmtech4 · January 23, 2011

Zaac,,

its not bad at all doing trannies every day ,because i was very fast and beat warranty time for doin 60s and 80s.

the managment at most stores sucked and like Mike says ,less and less money especially for when warranty times kept getting knocked back.

as i left the general to be a civvy tech for the military ,it is a straight time job,lots of quirks and i dont have to kill myself

its the only thing i know ,30 yrs now ,

diagnosing was the biggest PITA at GM .3 hr for an electronic diag,it takes that long to get the car/truck set up for a diagnoses lol

what burns experienced gmtechs the most is when they hired a new guy with no GM experience is that the new guy instantly makes more money because he gets all the cream ,brakes ,coolant flushes,etc, and the experienced guy diagnoses warranty crap,nasty,bitter,selfish business.

my last 2 new vehs are Toyotas for a reason,complete ignorance i plead lol,

8.1HD/ALLISON · January 25, 2011

You guy both hit the nail on the head. I can't stand being a tech some days. Warranty time, training, and yes the pay seems like it keeps going down. Anyone looking into this industry, think twice.

grizbo · January 25, 2011

I was a Pontiac GMC truck Tech for 8 years from 93 to 02. I was the heavy tech. Engines, trans's Tcase's, etc. I am currently employed by a company working on prototype cars. Research and development stuff....

ChevyTech77 · January 25, 2011

Did 13 years in the shop with 10 of them at a Chevy/Dodge/Toyota dealership.

Now, for the past 4ish years, I fix what they can't, so to speak.

music · January 25, 2011

my last 2 new vehs are Toyotas for a reason,complete ignorance i plead lol,

Not trying to raise a stink here, but you feel the Toyota stuff is built better on the trucks too? I have a Honda, a Toyota Sienna and the Sierra. Overall, the Sierra seems just as solid (I do most of my own work). The plastic pieces aren't of the same quality, but the newer Tundra doesn't look like it has good plastic either (worse maybe)... and you can't look at the sheet metal on the Sienna without it wanting to dent/scratch. Just curious of your take on the latest Toyota stuff...

8.1HD/ALLISON · January 25, 2011

Did 13 years in the shop with 10 of them at a Chevy/Dodge/Toyota dealership.

Now, for the past 4ish years, I fix what they can't, so to speak.

Techline?

ChevyTech77 · January 25, 2011

Did 13 years in the shop with 10 of them at a Chevy/Dodge/Toyota dealership.

Now, for the past 4ish years, I fix what they can't, so to speak.

Techline?

No. They fix software/scan tool issues.

8.1HD/ALLISON · January 25, 2011

Did 13 years in the shop with 10 of them at a Chevy/Dodge/Toyota dealership.

Now, for the past 4ish years, I fix what they can't, so to speak.

Techline?

No. They fix software/scan tool issues.

I meant tech consultant.

my bad

Dave1313 · January 26, 2011

Zaac,,

its not bad at all doing trannies every day ,because i was very fast and beat warranty time for doin 60s and 80s.

the managment at most stores sucked and like Mike says ,less and less money especially for when warranty times kept getting knocked back.

as i left the general to be a civvy tech for the military ,it is a straight time job,lots of quirks and i dont have to kill myself

its the only thing i know ,30 yrs now ,

diagnosing was the biggest PITA at GM .3 hr for an electronic diag,it takes that long to get the car/truck set up for a diagnoses lol

what burns experienced gmtechs the most is when they hired a new guy with no GM experience is that the new guy instantly makes more money because he gets all the cream ,brakes ,coolant flushes,etc, and the experienced guy diagnoses warranty crap,nasty,bitter,selfish business.

my last 2 new vehs are Toyotas for a reason,complete ignorance i plead lol,

Isnt it a bitch that you have to beat warranty time to make a decient check then lay awake at night running the steps through your head worring that you forgot something?? or worse yet seeing that same car getting towed in??

I was a chevy tech from 1973 to 1990 ( fixed a lot of Chevys that the engineers could not design correctly! like worn cams in V8 engines and rebuilt a ton of Vegas and Citations, anyone remember them?) then went to their import store for 15 years more!! Imports paid much better.

I finely got smart and bought an established repair shop and the problem now is that none of us can hire any good techs. I have had guys work for me that left to go to the dealer that I would not let complete a job untill I checked it over on the lift and do the job correctly.

Dave

blacksierra01 · January 26, 2011

Not really a gm tech, I work in a farm shop, we run a bunch of gmt 800 trucks and 3/4 ton vans. I do alot of the maintenance and smal repair stuff, but send out the diagnosis stuff. Been at this for a few years now and cant stand it, goin back to school in the fall. I was always told to do a job I love and I'd never have to work at it but i guess its the other way around, I can barley work on my own stuff now , Ive got to hate mechanic work so bad.