Back in the day, much of the work done on autos was performed in the backyard under a shady tree. The only audience the mechanic had a droopy-eared dog watching lazily from the backyard porch. Time was in a "bottle", and it where it went, no one knows.
Of course, cars were a lot easier to work on. Spark plugs, wires, fuel filters, spark plugs, and distributors were out in the open and easy to reach. As cars became more sophisticated, the available working space became less and less. Today, changing the spark plugs or oil often requires your car to be on a lift.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED!
You can almost bet that everything under the hood of today's vehicles is computer related, and covered by wire harnesses and plug-in connectors. A mechanic used to be able to make adjustments for a smoother idle; and changing the oil was a cinch.
HERE ARE THE 7 COMMONS MISTAKES OF THE SHADE-TREE MECHANIC
1. Stabbing wires with a test light
2. Misdiagnosing a problem
3. Jacking the car up unsafely
4. Leaving the engine and systems exposed to the elements
5. Intermittent repairs
6. Working with limited knowledge
7. Getting by with a little help from a friend
While the backyard mechanic may not quiet be a dying breed, he or she is certainly becoming a changing breed.
Why not get in on the change and inquire about the Automotive Tech School Training that can lead to a career in the field of Automotive Technology.
Co-host of Spike TV's "Xtreme 4X4"
"At WyoTech, I received the skill set necessary to take me as far as my imagination will lead me."
Jessi Combs' motto, "It's not how big you are in the fight; it's how big the fight is in you," has taken her a long way...