It's important to take chances and put yourself in situations where it's uncertain if you will fail or succeed. Write down 3 small ways you can do something out of your comfort zone, then try them!

Advice

Find 3 ways to get out of your comfort zone!

Engines keep most of our modern machines running, but many people have no idea how they work (or how to fix them). Learn the basics of engine composition, mechanics, and repair!

Career

Learn how to fix an engine!

Enroll in an automotive class at your school, in your community, or online and give it a try! Explore different fields: design, mechanics, engineering, technology, and more. 

Education

Take an automotive class.

Automotive Specialty Technicians

Repair only one system or component on a vehicle, such as brakes, suspension, or radiator.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Third Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Second Interest High-Point

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Repair, overhaul, or adjust automobile brake systems.

Troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems, using electronic testing equipment.

Repair or replace defective ball joint suspensions, brake shoes, or wheel bearings.

Test electronic computer components in automobiles to ensure proper operation.

Tune automobile engines to ensure proper and efficient functioning.

Install or repair air conditioners and service components, such as compressors, condensers, and controls.

Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.

Repair or replace automobile leaf springs.

Rebuild, repair, or test automotive fuel injection units.

Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.

Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.

Change spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and batteries in hybrid electric vehicles.

Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.

Diagnose and repair regenerative braking systems or hydraulic systems in hybrid vehicles.

Diagnose and replace or repair engine management systems or related sensors for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) with ignition timing, fuel rate, alcohol concentration, or air-to-fuel ratio malfunctions.

Inspect propane or natural gas high-pressure tanks, piping, or pressure regulators.

Replace hydraulically assisted systems with electric-powered systems, such as power steering pumps or air conditioning compressors, to improve fuel economy.

Retrofit vehicle fuel systems with aftermarket products, such as vapor transfer devices, evaporation control devices, swirlers, lean burn devices, or friction reduction devices, to enhance combustion and fuel efficiency.

Service biodiesel fuel tanks for algae or sludge accumulation by cleaning, changing filters, or adding algaecides.

Service internal combustion engine systems for hybrid electric vehicles.

Convert vehicle fuel systems from gasoline to butane gas, ethanol, methane, or other alternative or biofuel systems.

Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.

Replace defective mufflers and tailpipes.

Service or repair butane gas, ethanol, methane, or other alternative or biofuel systems.

Air chisels

Air compressors

Air conditioner chargers

Air hammers

Air wrenches

Allen wrenches

Alternator testers

Ammeters

Angle drills

Antenna socket sets

Anvils

Auto body dollies

Awls

Ball joint separators

Battery hydrometers

Battery jump starters

Bolt cutters

Bore gauges

Borescopes

Brake bleeders

Brake cylinder hones

Brake drum lathes

Brake shoe tools

Breaker bars

Buffers

Butterfly air wrenches

Calipers

Catalytic combustion analyzers

Chain hoists

Channel lock pliers

Circuit testers

Clamp-on multimeters

Clutch holding tools

Clutch wrenches

Code readers

Combination wrenches

Combustion leak detectors

Compression analyzers

Computerized suspension analyzers

Continuity testers

Crescent wrenches

Deburring tools

Dent pullers

Desktop computers

Diagonal cutting pliers

Dial calipers

Dial indicators

Diesel modulator shift testers

Disc brake pad spreaders

Drill presses

Dwell meters

Dynamometers

Engine oil pressure testers

Engine stands

Exhaust analyzers

Exhaust/tail pipe cutters

External snap ring pliers

Feeler gauges

Filter wrenches

Flaring tools

Frame racks

Fuel injection cleaners

Gear pullers

Grease guns

Hacksaws

Hammers

Hand pullers

Heat guns

Hoists

Hose cutters

Hydraulic bleed tools

Hydraulic shop presses

Ignition testers

Impact wrenches

In-line ignition spark testers

Infrared digital thermometers

Inspection mirrors

Internal retaining ring pliers

Jack stands

Jacks

Laser levels

Laser photo tachometers

Laser printers

Leak detection smoke machines

Leak detectors

Light emitting diode LED leak detector lights

Lug wrenches

Magnetic pickup tools

Manifold gauge sets

Mechanics' stethoscopes

Metal cutting dies

Metal cutting taps

Metal inert gas MIG welders

Multimeters

Needlenose pliers

Nibblers

Non-contact thermometers

Nut drivers

Offset brake wrenches

Ohmmeters

If you are interested in pursuing a career in mechanics or another auto industry job, considering going to school in order to gain a foundational understanding. You can (and will) learn a lot on the job, but having that foundation eases the sharp learning curve when first entering this field. 

Entering this industry was a huge learning curve because I had zero experience. Lacking an educational foundation in mechanics has hampered me, but it’s forced me to work harder to be the best mechanic I can be.

I work from 5:30am to 2pm every day. We have a list of trucks that need to be prepped and serviced each day so they are ready to go. When I am assigned the truck I am supposed to be working on, I have to print out a record of all of the preventative maintenance that has already been done to it and figure out the repair tasks that I need to complete. I complete my checklist of repairs, clean it up, and get it ready to be sold. 

Technician II

Heather Opp Highlight

Changing Gears

Technicians Roadtrip

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

Hitchhike along for a supercharged adventure as Alexandra, Dylan, and Michael—three aspiring auto and diesel technicians—go from monster truck rallies to high-tech labs to discover the growing possibilities in automotive and diesel tech. As they speak to gearheads in every corner of the field—from tractor builders, to Porsche collectors, Fast and the Furious technicians, and more—they learn that the stereotype of the grease monkey mechanic is outdated. Being a technician means being on the frontlines of technology, racing towards the future.

Auto and diesel technicians hold the keys to the future of human movement. We set out to see where the industry is going—and the people who are driving it forward.

Our cars and trucks are high-powered and high-tech—and they need an elite workforce to keep them running. That’s why we’re sending three aspiring auto and diesel technicians on a road trip that will give them an exclusive look at what’s happening under the hood of their industry. They’ll meet with professional technicians, hear candid stories of struggle and success, and of course, check out a ton of cool cars along the way. Ride along with the crew as they explore this rapidly accelerating field—and see if this turns out to be the spark that ignites their future.

We’re not just showing auto and diesel technicians what’s on the road ahead—we’re putting them in the driver’s seat.

FUELED BY:

Tech Force Foundation

SEMA Garage

So this Spring I'm traveling with two other students. >> A little over two weeks, we're gonna be living in a RV. >> With two people that I have never met, but I know that they share a passion that I have in cars and automobiles. We're gonna be going to a bunch of different places. >> And we're gonna go talk to people who work in the auto or diesel industry. Kind of get some advice from them. >> Ask them what they did with their lives, and how they got there. >> [NOISE] >> The automotive field is a legitimate field with a lot of opportunity and worthy of respect. The people in it are incredibly intelligent and have to be to work on today's rocket ship car. And today's cars have more control modules than the first space shuttle. >> [NOISE] >> That car is insane. >> [SOUND] >> If you're interested in mechanics right now, I will guarantee you that in another 40 years down the road, you're still gonna be interested. You don't outgrow it. >> People do it as a pastime and I get to get paid for it. >> Actually, just happy to go to work every day. I never thought it would be like that. >> Some of these people are living my dream. [LAUGH] And I'd like to know how they got to where they're at. >> Nice to meet you. >> I can remember taking bicycles apart and then motorcycles and then cars. >> From the moment I bought my first car, I was just out in the driveway wrenching on it and trying to do stuff to it. >> [NOISE] >> For every one thing that I learned that worked I'd do ten other things that failed, that broke, that caught on fire. So it was a hobby that got out of control, continued to feed my need for speed. >> When I found out that something like this was available to me, it was a dream. I wanted to fix cars and have fun. >> I really want to figure out what I wanna do next. >> You guys are the future, because you know those old-timers are not gonna be around forever. Whether you're a Sport import to in a guy, a American muscle car guy, a European sports car guy, or a truck off road playing around in the dirt type of person. I think what connects all true car enthusiasts together is the thrill of the drive, the build, the chase. And I think we all speak the same language. It doesn't matter what you drive. You share that same passion. [MUSIC] >> We're pretty much gonna get in an RV and go interview some pretty crazy people. >> Kind of trying to find myself a little bit more from this. >> Get insight on where we're gonna go from here. Cuz right now, I'm just kinda lost and we need guidance on where to go. Kinda like a GPS on what we should do with our lives. [MUSIC] 

Heather Opp

Technician II

Videos

Heather Opp

Milestones

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Engineering

Technology

Learning / Being Challenged

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

Challenges I Overcame

Learning Issues

Interviewed By

Changing Gears

Heather Opp

Technician II

Videos

Heather Opp

Milestones

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Engineering

Technology

Learning / Being Challenged

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

Challenges I Overcame

Interviewed By

Changing Gears

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