People have been mentioning some pretty good stuff. Me, I’ve been a “shade tree mechanic,” lately without the tree.
I usually just browse through questions and answers here and if I think a question pertains to my experience or knowledge in the overall scheme of things, yet hasn’t been mentioned, I am inclined to try to throw in a few thoughts that may be of help.
My main related field is analog electronics design, though that has mostly been done just designing gadgets for personal use, usually something I consider simple, fun, and useful. I built an ignition point saver for a car of mine, based on bipolar transistors. It switched the negative side of the coil to ground and was controlled by the points. That was in the mid '80s.
I just have worked mostly on my own cars, about 13 in total, nothing major, however, except if changing a rusted out front cross member counts. I’ve rebuilt carbs on several of the cars, or think I can call it that, or at least, some refurbishment. Cheers to all you good folk.
I’m a civil engineering student, electronics enthusiast, amateur musician, and I’m aspiring to be an amateur bicycle-travelling roadside auto-mechanic. Also a budding proprietor of asteroid mining and low power freeform FM radio, but those will come later in life
Hello ALL… I am ALWAYS WOWED at this post that I wrote/started so long ago!! I never thought it would become a permanent fixture here on the website. I’m Honored, I feel like I accomplished something…LOL What? I don’t know exactly… Maybe its just bringing people together to introduce themselves…Yeah that’s it that was the point anywho…I bring people together. Anyway its good to see everyone out here still helping each other out. I try to help as often as I can.
I’ve been mechanically inclined since early childhood as well. I’m into HVAC and appliances but do most of my own car repairs and occasionally help others out though I’m not a professional mechanic.
I am a Army veteran, got out after 7 years to finish my degree and go on to Physical Therapy school. When it comes to the body, I can fix you. But Mechanically, I can change my own oil, replace break pads with help/borrow tools.
I went to NADC in Nashville TN 15 years ago. I went into the diesel side though. Used to fix my own cars. Then bought newer cars when had daughter. Now starting to work on cars again. I loved to figure out how things work and if something doesn’t work it is extremely fun to me to figure out what is wrong with it. I sometimes don’t like repairing it, but always like figuring it out, lol. I worked at Detroit diesel, Allison transmissions, and now at a lease compmay. Started on floor now manage a shop. Still work on them though. I don’t think it will matter how high I go up I will always enjoy working on engines. Just joined. Really enjoy listening to car talk.
And I was surprised that there was no way of knowing experience or “ranking” of the person giving advice in here. But I guess if you don’t know enough to know if it is good or bad advice then you probably shouldn’t be working on it…
Lot of forums have scoring systems, how accurate, who knows.
There are two scoring systems here, the one that gives folks a ‘rank’, as shown by the little picture next to our names, and the one that give us points, but you only see those if you click on our screen name.
I find it interesting to read everyone’s credentials in this thread.
However, in all the other threads, it’s how well one helps a OP answer his question or problem where the value is added - not sheer background credentials.
Guess you right. Never really thought about that ranking they had for poeple on all other forums until I was posting that post and notice there were no rankings here.
Guess you could give a test or ask for ASE qualifications, but really everyone at some point has something to offer. Plus I know people that suck at tests but are good techs. No reason really to have it anyway. Just in some forums people offer up advice that isn’t bad, but shouldn’t be the first step of troubleshooting something. Live and learn though. I by no means know it all.
@cigroller and @db4690 you two from my one and only post so far here have my respect. I am sure there are a lot more people on here that are great techs too. Just haven’t talk to you yet.
Guess you could give a test or ask for ASE qualifications, but really everyone at some point has something to offer.
There are many people who are NOT mechanics (like myself). I worked as a mechanic years ago putting myself through college. People like mountainbike don’t work as a mechanic either…but he has helped MANY people in this forum with mechanical problems. So don’t discount someone knowledge because they don’t have the credentials.
First sentence was guess YOU were RIGHT. Notice the really EVERYONE (that means people who are NOT mechanics as you wrote and would also cover the part about how Mr mountainbike has helped people) HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER. So please tell me how am I discounting anyone?
I was also just throwing a solution out for the credentials. In which I agreed with the people including you that it wasn’t a good solution. So please remove the chip on your shoulder, I not against you, man.
@Dieselguy, first thanks. It’s also nice to have someone show up posting who knows something (so back atcha).
I will say that the board is full of regulars, and you just get to know people over time, and who to trust most about what kinds of things. A lot like life.
Everyone seeking info by web should know about “triangulation” - never trust any one thing/person. But when you can find a lot of things pointing in the same direction, have some more confidence in it. Its a great thing about reliance on networks rather than individuals.
Based on your earlier postings, it sounds like you’re very knowledgeable, and probably have a lot of good stuff to contribute, if you’ve got the free time . . .
"Everyone seeking info by web should know about "triangulation" - never trust any one thing/person. But when you can find a lot of things pointing in the same direction, have some more confidence in it. Its a great thing about reliance on networks rather than individuals."
Don’t know how to do the quotes. That will have to do. Computer is dead. Power supply went out. Using phone. BUT
Did you quote that from somewhere else or you come up with that? That was a great complete thought. If you are under 35 you are a very wise man.
All kidding aside that was very well said. Hats off to ya.
@Dieselguy. LOL. No, I didn’t quote it. But I’m not a mechanic either. I’m actually a social scientist. That means a couple of things. One, I know all about research and measurement and stuff. (Which is, of course, relevant to car stuff too). Two, I have to know things about cars because the money is so bad I can’t afford to pay anyone else to work on them!
