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WrenchWay

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Toyota of Corvallis

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about 4 hours ago

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Family, Community, and Creativity – That’s the Heart of Toyota of Corvallis
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Tom Wood Subaru

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about 5 hours ago

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Happy Anniversary!
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Schumacher Chevrolet of North Palm Beach

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about 7 hours ago

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As part of the Chevy Youth Sports program, Schumacher Chevrolet of North Palm Beach donated an assortment of baseball equipment and $1,500 to the Youth Baseball Association of Royal Palm Beach, also known as the Royal Palm Beach Predators. The equipment included heavy duty bat tees, first aid kits, line up cards, umpire kits, flex pro backstops, duffel bags, and more. Chevy Youth Baseball is here to help empower the next generation of Major League hopefuls - both on, and off, the field. As of today, Chevy Youth Sports has helped over 18 million kids and donated 288 thousand kits of equipment to teams across the country. Our team at Schumacher Chevrolet of North Palm Beach is proud to be part of such an amazing program, helping leagues in our community.
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Schumacher Buick GMC

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about 7 hours ago

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This 2025 GMC 3500 dually is stunning - but we thought it could be a little "extra" by adding a level kit and a trifold tonneau cover for extra protection over the truck bed.
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Schumacher Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Delray Beach

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about 7 hours ago

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Our Customs and Accessories team put a 6" lift, 22" fuel wheels, and 35" tires on this brand new 2025 Ram Big Horn. On the interior, we added a custom Diamond Edition 2-tone leather - love the way it looks with an all-black exterior!
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Tom Wood Subaru

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about 10 hours ago

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Happy Anniversary!
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Toyota of Corvallis

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about 10 hours ago

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Ceramic Coating Transformation – Watch the Shine Come to Life!
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0:06

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Tom Wood Subaru

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about 11 hours ago

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Nice Review!
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Wendle Ford

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about 12 hours ago

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We recently had the chance to host a student in our Nissan shop for a shadowing experience. It was a great opportunity to share what a day in the life of a technician looks like — from teamwork to hands-on learning. We’re always grateful for the chance to connect with future techs and show what it’s like to grow in this field at Wendle.
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Toyota of Corvallis

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1 day ago

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Behind the Scenes: New Springs on This FJ Cruiser!
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Import Performance, Inc.

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1 day ago

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Technician Spotlight: Tell us about yourself. What is your name, role, and the number of years you’ve been in the industry?

My name is Shawn Kirkpatrick, I am a diagnostic and electrical specialist. I have been in the industry for 25 years.
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HM Repairs & Services

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1 day ago

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Busy day at the shop! Apply now!
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WrenchWay

1 day ago

1

ASE's Test Question Tuesday

Why is it necessary to disable the fuel supply system when performing a compression test?
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WrenchWay

1 day ago

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Bottom Line Equipment in Beaumont, TX is fueled by a make-it-happen attitude that’s helped them grow across multiple locations.
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BMW of Salem

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1 day ago

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🚗 Revving Up for the Future! 🔧
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Russell Wickham

Exit automotive completely.

over 1 year ago Like

Craig Zale

Russell, if you don't love what your doing ,I agree. But if you do love working on cars/trucks and it is environmental like a toxic workplace, poor support or low pay for your level, then I would say there are better places out there.

Craig, I love fixing cars. I've loved gm vehicles since I can remember. Grew up in the back seat of a 1984 Buick LeSabre, first car was a 1981 Cutlass, and most of my vehicles since have been gm. Was there anywhere else I was going to go when I started wrenching? I became a full line tech when I left the army in 2013. I struggled to meet time. After nearly 2 years I joined the aftermarket, struggled there, decided it was me and went back to the dealership. I've always been bumper to bumper, so if I see a labor op more than 2-3 times, that's a high frequency repair. Those repairs always seemed to be moving targets. No matter how good I got at them, if everything went right, we had all the parts in stock, nothing went sideways, at best I'd come out an hour ahead (on big repairs) but the reality is I usually came out behind. There must be something wrong with me, right? Wrong. Had a conversation with a manager from the OEM last month, in which he told me, in reference to replacing an engine in a Tahoe, that we have to look at it from gm's side of the picture and does it make any sense to pay someone 18 hours for 7 hours of work. Seriously. As a generalist, I've only done one, took me 26 hours (if I recall correctly), twice what gm reduced the time to. Somewhere there's a specialist who can change that engine in 7 hours. I'm glad they didn't reduce it that low, but there are jobs even the specialists can't win at. We complain to our dealership and are told, "That's what gm pays." We complain to gm and they say, "You are dealership employees, talk to your dealer." Flat rate is supposed to encourage production, efficiency, and quality, but when the OEM consistently lowers times that can be beat there comes a point where one realizes "The System" is designed only to punish. Thanks to Illinois and their OEM must pay CP times, the OEMs have put significant pressure on the aftermarket labor time guides to bring times into line. High frequency ops are often within a couple tenths of warranty time. When the OEM is moving the goal posts, not even the aftermarket is a safe haven. Yeah, I love fixing cars, but when those who have power have decided you are defrauding them by beating the times they set, I have to ask, "Why would I keep putting myself through that?" Love of the craft doesn't put food on the table or shoes on my kids' feet.

Craig, I love fixing cars.

I've loved gm vehicles since I can remember.  Grew up in the back seat of a 1984 Buick LeSabre, first car was a 1981 Cutlass, and most of my vehicles since have been gm.  Was there anywhere else I was going to go when I started wrenching?

I became a full line tech when I left the army in 2013.  I struggled to meet time.  After nearly 2 years I joined the aftermarket, struggled there, decided it was me and went back to the dealership.  I've always been bumper to bumper, so if I see a labor op more than 2-3 times, that's a high frequency repair.  Those repairs always seemed to be moving targets.  No matter how good I got at them, if everything went right, we had all the parts in stock, nothing went sideways, at best I'd come out an hour ahead (on big repairs) but the reality is I usually came out behind.

There must be something wrong with me, right?

Wrong.

Had a conversation with a manager from the OEM last month, in which he told me, in reference to replacing an engine in a Tahoe, that we have to look at it from gm's side of the picture and does it make any sense to pay someone 18 hours for 7 hours of work.  Seriously.  As a generalist, I've only done one, took me 26 hours (if I recall correctly), twice what gm reduced the time to.  Somewhere there's a specialist who can change that engine in 7 hours.  I'm glad they didn't reduce it that low, but there are jobs even the specialists can't win at.

We complain to our dealership and are told, "That's what gm pays."

We complain to gm and they say, "You are dealership employees, talk to your dealer."

Flat rate is supposed to encourage production, efficiency, and quality, but when the OEM consistently lowers times that can be beat there comes a point where one realizes "The System" is designed only to punish.

Thanks to Illinois and their OEM must pay CP times, the OEMs have put significant pressure on the aftermarket labor time guides to bring times into line.  High frequency ops are often within a couple tenths of warranty time.  When the OEM is moving the goal posts, not even the aftermarket is a safe haven.

Yeah, I love fixing cars, but when those who have power have decided you are defrauding them by beating the times they set, I have to ask, "Why would I keep putting myself through that?"  Love of the craft doesn't put food on the table or shoes on my kids' feet.

Thanks for the response Russell, I hear ya, I started wrenching for a living in 1987 and up until the 2000s it was fairly easy for a seasoned tech to beat the book. Like you pointed out the book is way off these days and people do struggle to even meet it let alone beat in as a majority rule. When we estimate these days we go 20% over book as the book time was for newer stuff. Plus if you add in rust and bent or mutilated we will go higher. I believe a lot of independents know or are figuring out what it takes the seaned tech to do the job right and do it as fast as possible and still put out a great product. We are estimating by what the tech ask for plus what we have learned to help this problem. I do hope you find that home that is right for you and the industry does need you. Take care and let me know if I can do anything to help. (This thread does not let me know there are updates so feel free to email me at craig@craigscarcare.com and that goes for anyone that wants to bounce around thoughts and ideas.)

Craig Tomczyk

More than an hour for lunch!?

I think that was his way of identifying lazy people. How many times has lunch been a quick sandwich at your toolbox while still knocking out that waiter? For me, that's more times than I can count.

I like eating at my box :) Side story, I worked with a guy in the 90'S that after his PB&J he would pop out his dentures and use the shop air to blow them out clean :) Can't do that in a breakroom. Yes, "more than an hour for lunch" it was satire.

Filter the Posts You See

Filter the Posts You See

Shop Talk
Online Community to Promote Auto & Diesel Careers

Share your thoughts on industry topics

Toyota of Corvallis

Tom Wood Subaru

Schumacher Chevrolet of North Palm Beach

Schumacher Buick GMC

Schumacher Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Delray Beach

Tom Wood Subaru

Toyota of Corvallis

Tom Wood Subaru

Wendle Ford

Toyota of Corvallis

Import Performance, Inc.

Technician Spotlight: Tell us about yourself. What is your name, role, and the number of years you’ve been in the industry?

HM Repairs & Services

WrenchWay

ASE's Test Question Tuesday

WrenchWay

BMW of Salem

Sorry

Success

Craig's Car Care

Russell Wickham

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Craig Zale

Russell Wickham

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Craig Zale

Craig Tomczyk

Craig Tomczyk

Russell Wickham

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Craig Zale

Shop Talk Online Community to Promote Auto & Diesel Careers

Shop talk polls and posts

Share your thoughts on industry topics

Toyota of Corvallis

Tom Wood Subaru

Schumacher Chevrolet of North Palm Beach

Schumacher Buick GMC

Schumacher Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Delray Beach

Tom Wood Subaru

Toyota of Corvallis

Tom Wood Subaru

Wendle Ford

Toyota of Corvallis

Import Performance, Inc.

Technician Spotlight: Tell us about yourself. What is your name, role, and the number of years you’ve been in the industry?

HM Repairs & Services

WrenchWay

ASE's Test Question Tuesday

WrenchWay

BMW of Salem

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Craig Tomczyk

Russell Wickham

Craig Zale

Shop Talk
Online Community to Promote Auto & Diesel Careers