my experience of completing a apprenticeship at a motor mechanic
By: Stephen O'Shea
Tags: Ford, Apprenticeship, Mechanic, Cars, Workshop

Photo by Karo Kujanpaa on Unsplash

my experience of completing a apprenticeship at a motor mechanic

around 41 years ago i was lucky enough to commence my apprenticeship as a Ford Motor Mechanic in Australia

I worked for a ford dealership and where we specialised on ford passenger vehicles

My first day was spent being introduced to the staff both on the workshop floor and reception as well as the sales staff of the new and used vehicles the sales rep and the parts reps and managers .

I remember one of my first duties was to greet the customers in their vehicles as they drove their vehicles into the workshop reception area to have their vehicles serviced . I enjoyed greeting the customers early in the morning .

We had some lovely artist drawings on the walls at the reception bays to remind the vehicle owners that is was a great idea to have some mud flaps fitted or perhaps have the cooling system flushed or even the auto serviced or a tune up . all highly effective marketing .

Back in those days the apprentice attend college on block release for about month of training at a local technical training College . This would happen each year for a period of 4 years . The training was of a highly technical nature in the tafe classroom and the workshop . I remember undertaking constant exams .This involved everything from how a motor worked and its electrical system etc etc . And also how to diagnose electrical faults and engine faults . How to operate diagnostic equipment and to use specialist tools .

I was assigned to work with a experienced mechanic and to learn from watch and helping him complete task . the mechanic would receive a workshop job sheet giving him the details of the cars problems that was reported by the owner to the service advisor at the reception area .

Items that would be written on the work order would be a service the vehicle would be required now that it had completed a certain amount of kilometres.all this information would be available in the service handbook for the mechanic to read .

We would order all the part required from the in house service division by a internal intercom . if checking the vehicles brakes was required as part of the vehicles due service we would advise the service adviser that the vehicle would require new brakes to be fitted and or new discs .

After some time working with my assigned motor mechanic around 3 to 4 months i would be assigned to working with another motor mechanic . This was a great idea as i could experience how different motor mechanics completed their tasks . I learnt that it was always best to complete one task at a time . To keep the work area clean and tidy .

As i progressed in my Apprenticeship i was eventually assigned a vehicle to work on by myself . Mostly this would be basic services on vehicles that had complete low milage . And of course in time vehicles with high milage

The vehicles with high milage would often have extra work that would be required like new wiper blades new discs and brakes new fans belts . oil leaks gear box oil leaks engine blowing smoke . all these issues i would report as it was important for both the customer and the workshop for future cash flow and work for staff .

some funny issues would happen as well. I remember a customer would sometimes leave his dog in the car when it was due to being serviced . sitting next to a barking dog bearing it teeth at you was indeed not such a pleasant experience . yet over time i found that the dog was all bark and no bite lucky for me .

In time during my apprenticeship i would complete major mechanical work like engine removal fit new piston rings crankshaft bearings big end bearings crankshafts lifters oil seals fit new windscreens tow bars .

We had on going learning in the workshop and it was greatly needed and effective . workshop supervisors would be on hand for guidance on technical issues and to work with any issues . with new model vehicles it was good to know that the supervisors were aware of any recall issues and how to effectively deal with them . or any warranty issues .

The things i learn overtime were that to work on cars can be be very rewarding and frustrating . sometimes you have to remove parts to obtain ability to work on or remove a faulty part . You have to think to problem solve .

I completed my Trade with a wealth of knowledge and still to this day i use my knowledge to help others . Experience counts . Don’t ever underestimated experience .

I am proud to be a Motor Mechanic although today i do not work in this Trade