A Day in the Life of an Auto Mechanic for Those Interested in Online Automotive School

Auto mechanics provide people with an essential service, diagnosing and repairing the vehicles that allow daily life to progress as normal. Most non-mechanics don’t have the specialized knowledge that gives auto mechanics the ability to tackle the complex problems that cars deal with. Mechanics are the caretakers of our beloved vehicles, and they’re as necessary as grocery clerks and plumbers. 

Because of the variety of issues faced by cars and the amount of service and maintenance that goes into keeping them running smoothly, a typical day in the life of an auto mechanic can vary a lot. Some days you might glide by doing simple jobs, whereas other days can be filled with exciting, challenging new problems. For those considering online automotive school, here are some of the things you can expect to be met with in your daily life if you choose a career in this field. 

Routine Repair Jobs Can Take Up a Lot of the Day

As an auto mechanic, many of the tasks you perform in your daily practice will be familiar enough to become like second nature. As you gain more experience and become a master of your trade, you’ll be able to perform these typical jobs with ease and efficiency. 

Here are just a few of the tasks that you’d be likely to perform in a regular day: 

• Oil changes 
• Tire changes
• Wheel alignment or tire rotation
• Tightening and replacing electrical equipment 
• Replacing the bulbs in headlights & taillights 
• Repairing, adjusting, or replacing brake system parts 
• Repairing ignition systems
• Service checks on vehicles 

Even though these tasks are just part of a regular day for mechanics, they are incredibly important for drivers, and help keep their vehicles running smoothly and efficiently. 

The Type of Day Can Depend on the Time and Place 

What a typical day looks like will vary based on where an auto mechanic is located, as well as what kind of shop they work in and how the business operates. For certain shops and garages, every mechanic might function as a jack-of-all-trades, helping out on whatever job becomes available. For others, especially those working in larger garages and shops, each mechanic might have one area of speciality. One mechanic might work exclusively on engine repair, for instance, while another is assigned brake systems, and a third tire changes and wheel alignments.  

Your days will vary based on the season as well. During hot weather, more clients might bring in cars with battery issues than typical, and during autumn, many may want to swap out their tires to prepare for the icy weather of winter. And like many careers, the days will ebb and flow based on circumstance when you become an auto mechanic. Some days will be filled with relatively simple maintenance, while others will be wrapped up in solving complex issues. 

If You Become an Auto Mechanic, Prepare to Learn About Troubleshooting 

Certain jobs are anything but straightforward, and sometimes it won’t be clear exactly what is causing the car’s problem. Graduates of online automotive school will need to exercise the full range of their diagnostic skills when tackling these issues. 

Though these jobs might be more difficult and frustrating than a simple oil change or wheel alignment, they also have the potential to be much more rewarding. Being able to solve a tricky problem successfully can be very personally satisfying, and is also a great skill to develop. It may take time to become effective at diagnostic assessments, but once you gain experience, you’ll be able to impress clients and coworkers alike. 

Want to begin your automotive training online? 

Contact Automotive Training Centres for more info!