Vehicle Repair Technician
Discussion
I have an opportunity to become an apprentice vehicle repair technician at the Sunderland Plant where they build the Quashqai. From what I can gather the role involves diagnostic and repair of any defects at the end of the production line by replacing/repairing parts etc. My question is, How does this role compare with being an actual mechanic ? Could I take the experience and knowledge I learn in this job to an automotive repair garage and would I know enough to carry out services and repairs if Nissan were to close the plant ? The course I will study is named Automotive Care Technician Standard. Any answers or opinions appreciated. Thanks, Joe
Jimbob12 said:
Countdown said:
I doubt the repairs will be mechanical. I'm guessing that they are more likely to be bodywork repairs.
There’s bodywork repairs and mechanical! It didn’t make sense to me either but apparently that’s the job!
Do they test-drive them before delivering to the dealer? Maybe thats when they identify the mechanical faults.
I’m not sure. It’s hard to find information about this job online. I’m wondering if they go through some sort of quality control diagnostic test at the end and maybe it’s mainly just tweaking a few things here and there. That’s why I’m hoping someone on here may have some answers if they’ve worked in the manufacturing side.
lyonspride said:
Wasn't the Sunderland plant going to close? Or was that just more BBC anti-brexit propaganda?
A bit of both I think. They had proposals to manufacture other models at the Site but discontinued plans for that once Brexit happened. However they announced they’d still continue to build the Qashqai but for how long nobody knows!
Major or minor rectification, literally anything from engine change to a missed grommet/harness change/trim change etc etc, anything that does not pass the many buy off areas on the production line. Also working on "wip" cars (work in progress) offline and then most probably outdoors.
Countdown said:
It seems odd that a brand-new Qashqai would be coming down the assembly line with existing mechanical defects
Really? I think it's pretty amazing that they can put all those parts together and then the cars (mostly) just start straight off.Countdown said:
Do they test-drive them before delivering to the dealer? Maybe thats when they identify the mechanical faults.
The car factory I visited ran the cars through a functional test on rolling roads at the end of the production line. Certainly they employed pukka mechanics - I was there because my then girlfriends Dad was one of them.Jimbob12 said:
So was your girlfriends dad considered to be a fully competent mechanic who would’ve been able to work on cars in an independent garage or dealership ?
Well yes, but he did it the other way around to you. He served his time and worked as a mechanic then joined the car manufacturer. I would think (this is only my opinion) it would be pretty difficult the way you're doing it, unless you get training and the opportunity to work on a range of cars, particularly cars that aren't beand new.
I would guess to fix faults in the factory they'd just swap complete parts and it's going to be pretty easy doing that on brand new cars with all the factroy facilities and a team of people (who are likely not under much time pressure, like you would be in garage) around you.
Sheepshanks said:
I would guess to fix faults in the factory they'd just swap complete parts and it's going to be pretty easy doing that on brand new cars with all the factroy facilities and a team of people (who are likely not under much time pressure, like you would be in garage) around you.
Expanding on this............. Being subjected to time limits when your dealing with stuff that's rusted to hell or where some muppet has rounded off bolt heads, is going to make life very stressful, typical of dealerships or garages where the people in charge have never had to lift a spanner in anger.At a manufacturing facility, working on new vehicles, every job will happen in the predicted time frame, so far less stress.
Jimbob12 said:
So was your girlfriends dad considered to be a fully competent mechanic who would’ve been able to work on cars in an independent garage or dealership ?
If it were me I’d want to know what transferable skills you would develop. Electrical and mechanical diagnostics can be useful in a wide range of industries as long as you’re not doing the job of a fitter where you just replace assemblies that you’ve been told to. f
k working as a car mechanic in an independent garage though! Have you considered doing engineering in the armed forces specifically the Navy? They are always short, have a few decent schemes available and have other benefits. You can choose between Aeronautical, Weapons and Marine engineering including the nuclear stuff on the suns. Currently they need weapons engineers the most but it’s probably and marginally the least transferable to civilian life.
That said if I had my time again I’d look into the Merchant Navy/RFA
Edited by dai1983 on Friday 28th June 17:07
unless you are already a mechanic you won't then become a mechanic or get any recognisable qualifications in this job. However you may be able to get a job at a Nissan dealer as you know the product.
At the end of the production line cars are inspected and faults rectified, sometimes this comes from ongoing or new customer concerns that are flagging up 6 months into ownership and you then have to fix them on the production line to stop these faults happening for future owners.
You will be taking gearboxes out of cars, engines too due to some production fault at the factory that makes the engines. Or you might be fixing some trim or re-installing some software.This is fairly common for all manufacturers and not specifically a Nissan problem. However there is almost zero chance of the Sunderland plant closing down, Brexit or not. It makes too much money for Nissan due to the current exchange rate.
At the end of the production line cars are inspected and faults rectified, sometimes this comes from ongoing or new customer concerns that are flagging up 6 months into ownership and you then have to fix them on the production line to stop these faults happening for future owners.
You will be taking gearboxes out of cars, engines too due to some production fault at the factory that makes the engines. Or you might be fixing some trim or re-installing some software.This is fairly common for all manufacturers and not specifically a Nissan problem. However there is almost zero chance of the Sunderland plant closing down, Brexit or not. It makes too much money for Nissan due to the current exchange rate.
Jerry Can said:
unless you are already a mechanic you won't then become a mechanic or get any recognisable qualifications in this job. However you may be able to get a job at a Nissan dealer as you know the product.
And work for an ex-salesman, who once checked his own cars oil level and thinks every job takes 55 seconds to complete.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff