I always loved auto mechanics. It provided me with an unending array of choices, of challenges and experiences. It was a good time for challenges at the time of my apprenticeship, from nineteen seventy one to nineteen seventy six. Yes, it takes that long to be comfortably confident in the field of auto mechanics. It was a turbulent time for auto engineers, the poor fools had to accomodate the National Highway Traffic Safety administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. I can still remember the controversy surrounding the whole industry. Everyone was up in arms, some angry at the manufacturers, some angry with the dealerships, some with the designers. It all depended on your position in life at the time. I used to say the engineers must, of nessessity, live in concrete bunkers.

Mechanics back then stayed frustrated. Forced to learn about new technologies applied from other fields, he was responsible for the smooth operation of new electronic engine controls and increasingly complex options. Computer controlled engine systems were installed on vehicles in mass production beginning around nineteen eighty. With many variations between manufacturers, if the technician did not keep up he was relegated to a job at a local wrecking yard pulling used parts for resale. Even body repairmen were affected -- the protective steel beams inside car doors, made mandatory by the NHTSA, made it difficult to remove dents. The weaklings were weeded out, but the pay stayed the same. Contrary to what the doomsayers predicted, the industry as a whole did not suffer, but actually improved on itself. The cars kept going up in value, increasing the profit margin and therefore encouraging growth. By nineteen ninety one, at the time of my departure from the professional arena, there were quite a few differences in design of engine, interior and safety controls.

Photo Credit: Doug Ahera doug@autohobbydigest.com

Click on the photo to see some old rusting cars.

A very earnest effort was made at least once during my career to form a mechanics union. I do not remember the name of the organization that made such a bold attempt, maybe you can jog my memory. But I could have told the folks way early on they were wasting their time. No, I was not being resistant to the movement, if you want to call it a movement. There was and never will be solidarity in the field of mechanics because of the very nature of the profession. A mechanic, as a general rule, moves around. It isn't always because of pay, and it isn't always because of mistreatment or bad working conditions. He usually won't admit it, but it's probably because of boredom. People of a higher intelligence are easily bored, and good mechanics are typically quite intelligent. He has stayed in the industry for the challenges involved and when there isn't enough to hold his interest, he finds a reason to move on. There are good mechanics who are not especially smart, but you won't see them move around much.

Email me with questions about your car or about cars in general, whether you are an inquisitive young person --- yes, there are female mechanics -- an out of patience driver with a misbehaving auto or a retired mechanic with lots of memories.