This is something you can definitely learn at home, but if you're doing it as a hobby, it's going to take years to become a "professional" - but that doesn't mean you can't do things and do them well. I'm FAR from a professional, but I've done simpler work (brakes, oil changes, belts, some electrical) for people in the past when I needed side money. You don't always have to start as a full-service shop.
I recommend you watch a lot of YouTube videos. Look up Tavarish, Car Wizard, Wrench Every Day, etc. and look at the projects they do. Then start working on your own cars - that's where you start. Soon, someone will ask you about their car not running well, or their brakes grinding, etc., and you can work on their car - and over time, things will grow. But if you're doing it as a hobby, don't expect to make a lot of income from it for several years at least, and a lot of your "income" will probably go to tools for a while.
You might also see if you can find a garage that will let you apprentice for one day a week. You'll see far more cars and situations that way, and you'll get up to speed a lot faster. You'll also learn procedures and learn about tools you've never seen and how to use them.
It's a little late to get started down this path. However, there are paths you can take, perhaps a BOCES trade school. It's mostly for high school students. Trade colleges such as Morrisville are another possibility. Or you can take classes online.
To be hired as an auto technician, you must be certified in engine diagnostics, engine rebuild, brakes, transmission overhaul, transaxle overhaul, A/C and heat, cooling systems, tire sizes and designations, electronics, and electrical systems, as well as airbag repair and replacement.
Over the years I've gained certification in each of these. Look up ASE certification and the requirements in each section.
Months? Heh, good luck! There's a lot to be known about every single mechanical part, and every manifacturer makes things differently. There are so many models, some with specific kinks that needs to be addressed if you know to perform a successful repair. Not every car is fixed the same way, excluding ordinary upkeeping. Months won't be enough to learn this trade. It takes years.
Mechanics are always in demand. I think it is a lot more technical than it used to be with so many computer controlled functions in todays vehicles. You could probably find a good program at your local Community College or Vo Tech school. A few years ago I went to my local Vo-Tech school at night to learn how to weld. I bought a small stick welder and do home repair and small fabrication projects.
@Wiredone It was 4 months, one night a week. It was a fun experience. I bought a small welder and have done some home improvement projects. I also built a cart with the idea it would be a scale model of the trailer I was planning on building.
It is a good field to get into. That's what I went to school for when I graduated high school. I hurt my back so I couldn't bend over a fender all day. I had a few jobs before I became an electrician. There's a shortage of good mechanics. If that's what you want to do, go for it. Give it your all.
It's usually about a 4 year apprenticeship. Usually you learn to do it on the job and attend classes for the theoretical aspects. You'll learn about combustion and a little bit of algebra. Then at the end of the 4 years, you'll do a capstone test and if you pass, you will be a fully qualified mechanic.
I did collision repair and it was about 15months but your probram could be less or slightly more depending on where you start. Would you ever consider taking up electric vehicle tech certification? Its a growing trend nowadays
Nice! However combustion Engine cars are becoming obsolete I would say within maximum 10 to 20 years they’ll be no more need for mechanics as cars like Tesla will take over.
Yes... also I read that gas stations will go obsolete long before the last car is made too because people who invest in building & maintaining gas stations won't see it as worth the financial risks too. So one day there will suddenly be almost no gas stations. Will be a shock to some.
Age is totally irrelevant! Unless you trying to go in a UFC or become an athlete. Would YouTube you could learn thousand different skills unfortunately with a day and age we live in 99.9% of people are obedient workers and extremely stupid.
Great idea! You should check into various schools and programs to find out how long it will take. Community colleges are almost free and have good programs
I "started" my hobby when I was 13 when I bought my first car, a 1948 Ford coupe. I dismantled it, removed the engine and transmission, and rear end. I sanded the body, repaired the floorboards, and repainted it the original color using rattle cans of paint. The old mechanic in town knew everything about flathead Ford V-8's so we hopped up the engine, I got an adapter for the Lincoln transmission I bought out of a junkyard, rebuilt the rear end, and put it all back together. I learned more about cars with that one. Since then I've built and rebuilt antiques, street rods, and stock cars, engines, and driveline components. When I say you're pushing it starting now, at your age because it all takes time and a lot of energy. My suggestion for you is to buy a vehicle in the genre you wish to work with, antiques, hot rods, muscle cars, and the such, start out slowly and pick one area to work on. Brakes because, although it can run into money, depending on what you're working on, it's reasonably simple. Read, read, read!! Get all the information you can for what you're working on.
It's hard work. But you can make good money if you get good at it. I've been working on cars my whole life, but never professionally. It has always been a hobby. I skipped 8th grade class to go to the school library to read up on how to fix cars. Even worked at a dealership for a number of years, but not as a tech - as a parts counter person.
Age is now excuse never stop seeking knowledge that’s a good start with the cars but keep going there is so much in this world that we know nothing of even after living here for millions of years we still know so little
I’m a mechanical engineer and all I can say is that there’s very minimal correlation between maintaining an internal combustion engine and a Tesla. Plus EVs are so unique that major corporations have an incentive to maintain vehicles in house. We also have to consider that major states such as CA are banning gasoline operated vehicles a decade from now.
Usually you go to school and become certified for a set of vehicles. Depending on how many certifications you want it could take a couple of years or perhaps much longer. But a 2 year program is about standard.
