Newbie infinity tech; input appreciated

[Banging 6 in a row]

Hey guys. im new to the forum and i am hopefully going to be a new inturn in the service department at Infinity of Superstition Springs in Mesa Arizona. I was wondering if there are any more of us employees out there and what tips you could provied for me, if theyre about cars, the company, or infinitys in general. I dont really know that much about them because I dont own one (never worked on them).

Thanks

[Q45tech]

Since you will have to write down comments in your job, learning to SPELL is important:"im; new inturn;Infinity;infinitys;provied "

A 2 year ASAT, ASAE degree provides a good introductory basis to begin.

Electronics make up 90% of new inovations and mechanics has been the same for past 15 years.

[qship96]

I thought when you spend your $100-125 per hour labor at the dealer you were paying for experienced Infiniti certified technicians to work on your car.

Might just as well let Jiffy-King change your oil, rotate your tires, and change your blinker fluid- at least you know to double, triple check their work, and can afford a Big Mac with the coin saved.
Modified by qship96 at 4:59 PM 4/4/2008

[96Qowner]

Sorry about the less than warm welcome, Banging.

Welcome to NICO!

[Q45tech]

"I thought when you spend your $100-125 per hour labor at the dealer you were paying for experienced Infiniti certified technicians to work on your car."

Dream on, Nissan only requires that a dealership have ONE [1] certified Master Technican to open......................they don't even do periodic checks to see if that ONE is still employed. Nissan tries but they are at the mercy of State Franchise Laws once the dealership is open.

Don't even assume the Service Manager is qualified after all he is a manager not a working technican.

[qship96]

Guess that explains the article I just read in May Consumer Reports issue saying More Infiniti owners were satisfied with Independant shops for repairs and reg. maint. than going to their Infiniti dealerships

Lexus and Acura dealers were rated highest for service in the survey, but even those owners slightly preferred service from the independant shops

Volkswagen and Landrover dealers earned the 2 bottom spots in the survey

[Banging 6 in a row]

mhm, thanks for the spelling lesson, didn't realize i was in English class but what ev. (im debating wether or not to just go all out and use lol and omg so i can really drive that guy nutz) And being an intern doesn't mean they're assigning me a bay and telling me to whack at a G with my 5 iron. Ill be supervised by a master tech the entire time. Hes called a "mentor" and likes to help rookies in the business so that there will continue to be good techs to fix your infinity in the future. But thanks for the words of discouragement, jerk.

By the way, does that squiggily red line mean you spelled something wrong?

[Q45tech]

Unfortunately most owners don't understand automotive technology or what might be good or bad service, so you have to temper these surveys with the expectations and mental processes of those who might buy different brands.

When a vehicle design has lots of problems or just high brake pad/tire wear rates..............these things get dumped on the dealer like it is their fault, when they cannot repair them for free their service quality gets the blame.

Technican spelling is a common problem which is why the customer only gets a computer print out not orginal work order sheets. Why tests are all multiple choice or single word fill in the blank.

Being upset at constructive criticism proves the low quality and lack of prepartion for the future that US Schools provide to work force.

http://fleetowner.com/mag/flee...e_bad/

You might find this Canadian story interesting:http://www.canadianautodealer....id=84

[maxnix]

mhm, thanks for the spelling lesson, didn't realize i was in English class but what ev.

If you cannot communicate accurately in your native language, what chances do you have in life?

Best of luck, but don't be adverse to studying English in night school.

[Banging 6 in a row]

you guys are right. thanks for the input , its not that im adverse to english classes (its actually the opposite, i love my comp class) its just that my generation tends to get lazy when communicating electronically. Its probably a habit i should break.

now, any one with any techincal advice? like handy short cuts doing break jobs or similar?

[Q45denver]

Do you mean "brake" job? Q45Tech is the man if you want anything technical. You might start by reading the FSM's. There are electronic versions on this site. Would be a good way to impress your supervisor.

[oldmako]

Do you mean "brake" job? Q45Tech is the man if you want anything technical. You might start by reading the FSM's. There are electronic versions on this site. Would be a good way to impress your supervisor.

This is EXCELLENT advice.

Additionally, immerse yourself in the wealth of information archived in this forum and you'll be off to an excellent start. Read, read, and then read some more. It would be nice if there was a shortcut, but I do not believe it exists.

One day read nothing but archived brake threads, the next day steering, FI the next etc. until you've covered all the cars systems. You'll better understand the engineering put into the car.

The readin' and writin' stuff is important as well.Good luck, use a torque wrench, be careful with your fingers, use anti-seize, don't pinch gaskets and don't loan your tools.

[Q45tech]

I forgot to ask you what your forum names means?Banging 6 in a row: Women, men, animals, beers, or gearsI'll assume one of the later.

See even names leave a connotation on how you are perceived.

New-tech-needshelpwanna -learnovermyheadeducateme

I made the mistake [back in 2000] of shortening technology to TECH never imagining that people would think I made my living as a Q45 TECHNICAN when I'm an engineering manager [technocrat] with MBA.Leads to all sorts of confusion when people think I am promoting dealerships or shops.

The web site link in my signature is so people will read discourse and search out OTHER INDEPENDENTS who might be operating in their state or country besides dealers.

Having owned and driven a Q for 18 years might qualify many for quasi technican status.

[maxnix]

Quote »Newbie infinity tech; input appreciated [/quote]And finally, be sure you can spell Infiniti correctly before you ever put pen to paper or text on this board again.

[Banging 6 in a row]

you guys are my heros The name refers to the l28 in my '83 zx firing on all cylinders. I probably would have thoutght twice about it if I knew I would be on this side of the forum.

thanks for all the great advice.

[DrewQ45]

you guys are my heros The name refers to the l28 in my '83 zx firing on all cylinders. I probably would have thoutght twice about it if I knew I would be on this side of the forum.

thanks for all the great advice.

Kudos for having thick skin and a good spirit... if you make it through Maxnix and Tech, you're home free.... LOL

Seriously though, you just need to search and read... the info is redundant here for the most part.

[Banging 6 in a row]

So day one was today. I helped along in the shop most of the day, just oil changes and tire mounting and balancing. Oh yea and the guy in parts had me biuld him a shelf...Working for infiniti seems pretty cool, everyone gets along and shares tools and what not and answered all of my questions. The shop is clean and the cars are frekin sweet. Thanks again guys and wish me luck.

BTW I bought a pocket sized thesaurus and stuck it in my work pants to help with spelling.

[szh]

BTW I bought a pocket sized thesaurus and stuck it in my work pants to help with spelling.

Good work! And good luck with the job too ... you are starting out right.

Z

[maxnix]

Thanks again guys and wish me luck.

BTW I bought a pocket sized thesaurus and stuck it in my work pants to help with spelling.

A Craftsman needs the right tools. Now read and listen to all you can, always do it right, and don't lose your enthusiasm. And think for yourself always as you will be held accountable for what you do, even if at the direction of a senior technician.

[Haitian_King]

If you cannot communicate accurately in your native language, what chances do you have in life?

Best of luck, but don't be adverse to studying English in night school.

Just putting it out there. The proper word is "averse" IINM. Hence, the term "Aversion to reading".

"Adverse" means negative, as in "An adverse reaction to a medication."

[Q45tech]

Correct PROFESSIONAL Tire Mounting and Balancing is an ART in itself.

Learning the theory of the HUNTER 9700 Radial Force Balancer takes time and research and viewing video tapes and lots of practice.

Even the Master Tech may not be qualified or able to achieve PRECISION STANDARDS.

Most skip the steps of heating the tires on the road to 100+F then immediately putting them on the 9700, they cool down so fast you don't get an accurate reading and miscompensate.

Unfortunately owners don't understand or want to pay $50 per tire balanced to achieve what's possible.

[jimbyjimb]

Some advice? Take the low pay and the crap. Shut-up, listen, and make VERY good friends with the parts guys and the old techs in the shop. The quiet guy that looks like he's moving about two miles an hour and has white hair is probably making the most money out of every tech in the shop. Be his friend. You WILL make mistakes. Be prepared for that. Any good shop will forgive you to a point, knowing you will go on and be an ASE certified technician. You WILL be making THEM money when you start getting used to services. If you don't move up the ladder within a reasonable amount of time (i.e. One year) say something. Always ask for input from other techs and managers. Dig the ditch for the fencepost. Wash the loaners. Do your best. Stay and learn off the clock. If you already know don't interupt. And after this, learn everything you can about everything you can. The more you know the more valuable you are. Build skills. Stick through it and it can be very rewarding. When you get good you can smoke the flat-rate times and make the big bucks. Resist the temptation to cut corners, do the best work and do it honestly and correctly, even if some other numb-nut in the shop is faster than you. Doing it right is what counts. Just ignore the crap they give you for being slow. Oh, yeah, stay away from the sales jerks.

[Banging 6 in a row]

hahaha that last part about sale jerks was the first thing i was told on day one...i got the job, took the drug test today. Hope i got all the questions right.no word on when i start yet but thanks again for the input.And the part about doing the job right was taught to me early in my first year of school "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching"and "you can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin it once" were my teachers favorite sayings.

[maxnix]

i got the job, took the drug test today. Hope i got all the questions right.

Wow, drug tests sure have changed from uranalysis!

[DrewQ45]

hahaha that last part about sale jerks was the first thing i was told on day one...i got the job, took the drug test today. Hope i got all the questions right.no word on when i start yet but thanks again for the input.And the part about doing the job right was taught to me early in my first year of school "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching"and "you can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin it once" were my teachers favorite sayings.

Hey man, I look forward to you sharing your knowledge gained here in the forum. You'll be an asset!