Grease The Wheels Podcast

Grease The Wheels

A Master Technician, a microphone, 30 years of experience in the Automotive Industry: buckle up! Come along as we take a look at the current state of the automotive industry from the point of view of the guys and gals turning the wrenches. So no matter what you fix, how you fix it, or how many tools you have to fix it with: welcome to the Grease the Wheels Nation. Also once in a while we take a look at the makes and models of cars we work on through the lenses of history, economics, politics, our own personal experiences and the experiences of our listeners. Special thanks to The Wrenching Network, Curien, Surfwrench, and Murray the dog. read less
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Episode 238: Inter-View
16-03-2023
Episode 238: Inter-View
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy lays out the real first step of the “K Plan” for new guys and outlines what has to happen in the interview process. Before that even happens, the job posting has to be succinct and tell the potential hire what they need to know - especially in terms of benefits and compensation. Also, where you place these ads and the keywords you target can have a drastic effect on the quality of the applicants you get. The real goal of the interview process is to figure out if they are going to be a good fit in the shop, while also figuring out what they know and what they don’t. We go into the weeds with Indeed’s “15 Interview Questions and Answers for Hiring Auto Technicians”, and right off the bat some of these answers should get you thrown out of an interview. The questions overall are good ways to get the prospective hire to tip their hand a bit as to how they approach the job and problem solve - but figuring out things like competencies on equipment really only pertain to the equipment they have in their shop. This is also a great way to gauge a potential hires attitude towards continued learning, how they deal with conflict, and their personality overall. Not nearly enough time is paid in the interview process to either of these two things, mostly because the sky high demand and extremely low supply. In this episode, we lay out some of the highlights that hiring managers need to follow if they want to find and retain any real talent within the automotive industry. We also lay out the “technician in interview” guideline which makes the competency part of an interview a lot more concrete. Also Uncle Jimmy gives a short review of the Hunter Revolution and provides several examples of why he should NOT be a Service Manager.This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 238: Inter-View
16-03-2023
Episode 238: Inter-View
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy lays out the real first step of the “K Plan” for new guys and outlines what has to happen in the interview process. Before that even happens, the job posting has to be succinct and tell the potential hire what they need to know - especially in terms of benefits and compensation. Also, where you place these ads and the keywords you target can have a drastic effect on the quality of the applicants you get. The real goal of the interview process is to figure out if they are going to be a good fit in the shop, while also figuring out what they know and what they don’t. We go into the weeds with Indeed’s “15 Interview Questions and Answers for Hiring Auto Technicians”, and right off the bat some of these answers should get you thrown out of an interview. The questions overall are good ways to get the prospective hire to tip their hand a bit as to how they approach the job and problem solve - but figuring out things like competencies on equipment really only pertain to the equipment they have in their shop. This is also a great way to gauge a potential hires attitude towards continued learning, how they deal with conflict, and their personality overall. Not nearly enough time is paid in the interview process to either of these two things, mostly because the sky high demand and extremely low supply. In this episode, we lay out some of the highlights that hiring managers need to follow if they want to find and retain any real talent within the automotive industry. We also lay out the “technician in interview” guideline which makes the competency part of an interview a lot more concrete. Also Uncle Jimmy gives a short review of the Hunter Revolution and provides several examples of why he should NOT be a Service Manager.This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 236: No Parts For You!
09-03-2023
Episode 236: No Parts For You!
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy talks about something that is kneecapping just about the entire economy right now: the lack of replacement parts for stuff that we have to fix! For some systems in cars this was a problem before the pandemic, but since it has spiraled out of control and has increasingly come under the microscope as the transition to EV’s has been hampered by production and quality control issues. That is nothing to talk of the massively underpaid and apathetic individuals who operate the nation's fading auto parts stores as e-commerce continues to dictate the terms and conditions. We go into some of the reviews on the remaining auto parts stores from a negative light, and share some excellent stories spanning Uncle Jimmy’s often hilarious career in the auto parts side of the business before joining the dark side and picking up the tools professionally. Also Uncle Jimmy fires back against the parts cannon. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 235: Cranky ‘Sumbitch
02-03-2023
Episode 235: Cranky ‘Sumbitch
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy examines ways to be less cranky. Getting enough sleep, avoiding being hangry, and regulating your caffeine intake are all tried and true mood stabilization methods. We also talk about the echo-chamber-inducing smartphone and how that can be an enormous cause of anxiety in people’s lives - the weird part though is just how self-inflicted it is. Anxiety in the workplace is a recurring trope here on GTW, and with cars getting even more complicated Uncle Jimmy writes a two sentence horror story: “Was out for 3 months. Came back to a new model of 7 series with an IMax Screen in the back, the IMax didn't work.” We also do some pseudo automotive journalism by ask the hard hitting automotive journalist questions of , “what happens when an irritable mindset IS your normal self?” and “what is your favorite piece of sports equipment to play with when a customer leaves it in their car?” Also Uncle Jimmy gives his insight on percussive therapy: beating the tool or object that is the cause of your frustration until it is no longer frustrating you. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 234: FNG’s
23-02-2023
Episode 234: FNG’s
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy returns from his medical leave to a lot of new faces - who have never been in the business before. So this being a podcast for the auto industry, we look at how to set these new guys up for success because no one else has thought to do that - as seen in the atrocious 2 year attrition numbers for new mechanic hires. The first real goal is to have them have tangible touchstones where you can sort them out. If they are struggling to understand how to do an oil change and tire rotation, you’re not going to be giving them a job that is going to have them changing connecting rod bearings. The amount that technical schools teach you is directly proportional to how much effort the student in question put in, and for getting a rudimentary understanding of how cars work they are a solid option. However, this pales in comparison to the amount of constant on the job training that auto mechanics just do by learning new systems and new vehicles as they make new systems that break. This, in combination with the coming EV tsunami, gives employers even more reason to set their techs up for continued learning and future success with regular raises based on skill level. Also Uncle Jimmy examines the extremely sharp double edged sword of training people and counting their hours as your own. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 233: Love
16-02-2023
Episode 233: Love
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy dives into the things that we love about cars. To be clear, you don’t have to love cars to be a mechanic, but it definitely helps when the job is hard. From some of the noises they make to the memories made in them, cars have been an integral part of the human experience for the last 100 years. Cars occupy every space of the sensory field- from how they touch and feel to how they interact with the road or off road environments. We also talk about how time affects the way cars smell - what creates the patented “old GM smell” and “old BMW smell”. We also go over some of the high points of the auditory experience when it comes to cars - from wide open 4-barrels to screaming Ferrari V12’s. One of the other things we love about cars is junkyards - the combination of never knowing exactly what you’re going to find with the premise of cheap parts for what you need is like combining Costco with Raiders of the Lost Ark. We go over some of people’s favorite things to do in cars, as well as some of the preferred makes, models, and body types. Also Uncle Jimmy shares his thoughts on automotive oddballs and butchers “Homologation” and amazingly never mentions a single European example. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 232: Diagnosis Boondoggle
09-02-2023
Episode 232: Diagnosis Boondoggle
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we lighten the mood by talking about what the internet thinks is wrong with their cars and how they are going to diagnose them. This article from Family Handy Man is very erroneously titled “15 Car Problems that You Can Diagnose (and Fix!) Yourself”. We go over the difference between the “low Oil Pressure” Light and the oil change interval light - because apparently this article thinks they are the same thing and makes the bold assumption that every car on the planet takes 4 quarts of oil. We also dispel some serious internet myth about the check engine light, because the only reason it knows your car is misfiring is because it's making too much pollution. We also get wade into the sublime, as this article pitches everything from folk magic, to “the shoe trick” , to breaking the laws of thermodynamics to get your dead car to start. Because of this, Uncle Jimmy sets off on his own path defining the various problems in a repair shop environment, and giving you some level of diagnosis trouble tree of each. Also Uncle Jimmy goes full Obi-Wan on how to make a trouble tree and expands the term “car problems” to be more inclusive of people who can fix them, but mostly keep buying them and storing them on their property. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 231: Diesel Love
02-02-2023
Episode 231: Diesel Love
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we get into the heavy side of our listener demographic. This is clearly not a job for everyone, especially considering that some of the lug nuts you guys take off weigh several pounds. Uncle Jimmy has some diesel training in the brand that he works for, but typically they don’t weigh 15,000 lbs or require frame in rebuilds. Becoming a diesel tech can be an incredibly lucrative career choice, and if you’re a night owl you will find a surprising amount of opportunity! However, this article completely drops the ball on some of the key issues by a sheer lack of any understanding. The author seems to think that getting dirty is a con, folks, you’re going to det dirty as a diesel mechanic - if you think you’re not going to, you’re delusional! Despite the shoddy nature of this article, the demand for diesel technicians is going to be one of those things that continues long into the future just because of the sheer number of jobs that diesel engines do. Our hats are off everyone that turns a wrench on diesels, because those are the machines that are keeping the world moving.Also Uncle Jimmy goes to DEFCON 2 on Journalists. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 230: Are You Mental?
26-01-2023
Episode 230: Are You Mental?
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we talk about some of the sobering mental health aspects of the job. Seriously, a lot of us commit suicide, which is not the first thought you have when you think of technician mortality (insert Rolls Royce video here, we’re not going there). Because of Uncle Jimmy’s staunch “you’re not allowed to die before me” rule, if you are having these thoughts, please reach out! This article is interesting because it gets right to the heart of the issue - a lack of financial stability has a direct correlation with a lack of mental stability. They get it, and one of the easy ways to find a lot of fulfillment is to go out and do this on your own. We also heap tons of praise on all of the various subgenres of listeners we have who use wrenches to fix what is broken out there in the world. A lack of appreciation, and oftentimes outright hostility from the general public towards what we do for a living is a part of this equation as well. Cheery stuff, so Jimmy goes on a few good rants just to lighten the mood. Also Uncle Jimmy flunks math.This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 229: Opportunity Knocks
19-01-2023
Episode 229: Opportunity Knocks
On this week’s Episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy does some old school comparing and contrasting between government figures and figures compiled by some of the brightest people in the industry over at WrenchWay. The government thinks that there is going to be little to no change in the need for auto technicians in the next 10 odd years, but we know as well as the folks over at WrenchWay - that is complete B.S. This week we dive into, “The Technician Shortage - Why it Exists and What Needs to Change” which is a rock solid article that comes out to needing 642k techs by 2024. Even though it is the end of January, there is still plenty of time to get your goals in order and have something to aim for in the remainder of 2023. Also Uncle Jimmy coins the amazing catchphrase, “taking the WTF out of the situation, by fixing it”This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 228: Sell Me Service
12-01-2023
Episode 228: Sell Me Service
In this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy puts service advisors in his sights with some basic communications sciences. The Service Advisors who are able to effortlessly convey their commitment to solving their customers problems, pre-sell work down the line, and set themselves up for major financial success are very rare. So rare, that when you get a good one you really have to take notes. So we have! The biggest thing here is to always be asking for the sale, if you at least do that we can’t fault you. But if you’re auto-declining work and not even attempting to do the job you are going to be on an expedited path out the door. The customer service arm of your shops is the most responsible for big operational forward facing sentiment about your company, and bad service advisors can ruin it in a hurry. Also Uncle Jimmy gives more tips for Video MPI’s and why they are probably going to be a bigger thing in the future. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 227: Say No to Cancer
05-01-2023
Episode 227: Say No to Cancer
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels we talk about some of the things that can kill you in your shop in both the long term and very short term as Uncle Jimmy is on the mend from going 2 for 2 against cancer. On the longer term side of things, brakes - especially from countries with less than scrupulous manufacturing policies, can still contain harmful amounts of asbestos because the US can't regulate everything. Couple this with smoking as many technicians are known to do and you can have serious lung complications. In the much shorter term, things like sulfuric acid from popped batteries and various degreasing solvents can also be extremely harmful. Additionally as more shops begin to work on electric cars there are a whole extra set of very painful ways to die. We also do a pretty deep dive PSA on the value of routine colonoscopies, and getting checked out by a doctor when you notice something is wrong - instead of waiting for it to be a lot worse. Also Uncle Jimmy talks his preferred Colonoscopy Prep Methods, advancements in cameras, and some of the signs that you too may need a prostate delete.  This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 226: A View From the Top
29-12-2022
Episode 226: A View From the Top
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy takes aim at the horizon and talks “Cox Automotive’s 10 Trends That Will Shape the Auto Business in 2023”. Being that this is Cox, it is mostly sales oriented, but what they are talking about effects the entire industry as a whole - and there's a lot of upside for us! The economy- probably not going to get that much better, hopefully it doesn’t get much worse. But in countercyclical economies, the service side of the businesses typically see solid numbers as people hold onto stuff longer. More EV’s - they think they're going to sell a million in the United States in 2023. With some of the fleet incentives out there, this isn't surprising. People wanting to do more of the car buying process online - no shit! With the economy looking unsteady and some lingering hangover from the global pandemic, the wrench twisting bastards in the back are going to be worth their weight in gold.   Also Uncle Jimmy is still alive!This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 225: Survey Says 2: End of Year Edition
22-12-2022
Episode 225: Survey Says 2: End of Year Edition
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels we take the lead from SurfWrench for some end of year statistics about technician satisfaction. One of the things that shocked us was just how many technicians at independent shops find the variety of work as an advantage- whereas Uncle Jimmy sees it as a major disadvantage. Typically franchise dealerships have better equipment and climate controls, and that can be a huge pull factor for technicians. We almost all agree that the manufactures are stiffing us on warranty repairs, because they are. We also get into the trenches of the recruitment debate, with 84% of us thinking that high schools are actively discouraging the trades for their students - when that is exactly what the American economy needs over the next few decades is a renaissance of trade schools and students getting degrees that make the world continue to spin. Also an alarming amount of us are immune to corporate recruitment videos, in favor of unscripted interviews about what working in a particular shop is like. Also almost unanimous- tell us how much a job is going to pay in the job posting! Actually, kinda funny timing NYS just made this a law the day we cut this. Also Uncle Jimmy annihilates the concept that the ICE vehicle ban in California is to lead to a loss of employment opportunities for technicians - and California in general! Merry Christmas to all of you wrench twisting bastards keeping the planet moving! This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 224: End of the Year
15-12-2022
Episode 224: End of the Year
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we round out the year with reflection in the form of the much-dreaded self evaluation. Being able to quantify your work will give you a unique perspective when you go to ask for a raise, but also have a plan on what you want to improve upon in the next calendar year if you're going to make your move now. The holidays are also a great time to tune up the resume with a few extra days off and time with the family to put your career into perspective. Being able to recognize what you struggle with both professionally and personally will help you to identify the problems and solve them. Also Uncle Jimmy does his own yearly self evaluation in typical GTW explicit fashion. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 223: Being Difficult
08-12-2022
Episode 223: Being Difficult
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we take a look at how to deal with difficult employees in your shop. Right off the bat, Uncle Jimmy completely admits to being a difficult employee, but when you weigh it against EVERYTHING else, he genuinely comes out ahead. We get into the optics of a manager calling their shop a “s***show”, when they are in fact responsible for it being in such a state. Additionally, keeping an even hand with your disciplinary practices will help you gain the respect of your remaining employees. Another good rule is if you're going to have a meeting with your technicians, the message needs to be positive - don’t waste our time with negativity because that is time that we are not making money. Feedback and follow up are both doubly important - but they are important with non-difficult employees just the same when it comes to making the maximum amount of money in the Automotive Industry.  Also Uncle Jimmy discusses management arbitrarily changing your bay(s) and discusses the merits of “messing up big”This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 222: The Art of Appreciation
01-12-2022
Episode 222: The Art of Appreciation
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we go into the weeds on how employers can show their employees appreciation. Right off the bat it is never going to be a bad idea to feed your employees regularly, especially when you want their attention. Showing your appreciation can be a matter of shop morale, but even more importantly it can be an important tool to reduce turnover- which is a massive problem in this industry. Happy employees can also do things to your brand reputation that you can’t buy - see exhibit A. Wegman's. When you listen to your employees you can also see innovation coming from the people who have been implementing it and found better ways to do their jobs- see exhibit B. Eastman Kodak. However, Uncle Jimmy has broken down “The Art of Appreciation” for the technicians in your shop into the borderline Stalinist slogan: “Food, Fun, and Money” while also railing against overpriced vending machines.Also Uncle Jimmy goes off on the “end-of-month sales department chaos-blitzkrieg” waged in shops all over the world on the 28th-31st of every month and promotes feral hog hunting as an “unique incentive”.This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 221: *Blank* Tech
24-11-2022
Episode 221: *Blank* Tech
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we break down the myriad of wanted ads that face technicians of every ilk every single day. Turns out they have a lot of ideas about what they want from you, but when it comes to what they are going to provide for your services - that bit is a bit lacking in the keyword count. The worst thing that you can do if you’re hiring a technician for your shop or dealership is not list any sort of range. Obviously everyone already knows that the wage is going to be commensurate with the experience and certifications of the technician applying - but at least give a ballpark for what your idea of a highly paid technician is. We also wish all of our fellows with the wrenches and the knowledge to fix things a very Happy Thanksgiving wherever you are in the world - we are so thankful for you and what you do because we know how important it really is! Also Uncle Jimmy harpoons the idea of “volunteering in a shop” when you’re in tech school for obvious reasons. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 220: What Did You Say?!
17-11-2022
Episode 220: What Did You Say?!
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we return to form by dissecting some of the insane things that our customers say. When a customer genuinely understands what is going wrong with their car they are usually pretty capable of communicating it effectively. When they don’t, chaos can ensure with lines that would make the guys from “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” proud. Apologies for how poorly this article is written, but it illustrates just how little people outside of the service side of the industry actually understand how the process works. Very few places even allow customers into the shop - let alone let them watch a mechanic perform repairs. That is the job of video which is probably coming to a bay near you at multiple angles and aspect ratios. We also discuss the very real merits of using “easiness” as the ascending way to diagnose a problem, and reiterate the simple mantra “time is money”.Also Uncle Jimmy’s blood pressure gets audibly higher and we get a call back to the door pocket burrito!This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 219: Keys To Success and Failure
10-11-2022
Episode 219: Keys To Success and Failure
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we get into the weeds of what makes businesses tick and examine the keys to their success and failure. There are a whole lot of ways that your auto repair business could be leaking cash. One of the major ones that we are going to focus on here is not selling repairs; where there are systemic failures to sell, there can be thousands in lost profits - simply because the Service advisor made an incorrect judgment call. We also go into “6 ways to Increase your Shop’s Profitability” to balance out the success side of the “Keys to Success and Failure”. To be successful auto repair shops need to continually invest in their people, processes, and equipment to stay on top of the game. Treating your customers like family doesn’t hurt either, as we give a series of callbacks to how The Little Speed Shop in Rochester NY does it right!    Also Uncle Jimmy misattributes a Wayne Gretzky quote to Kobe Bryant, we pitch “The Blind Service Advisor,'' and recount the near universal experience of flipping cars that were completely written off by someone. This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!
Episode 218: Pros vs Cons (The Cons Take It)
03-11-2022
Episode 218: Pros vs Cons (The Cons Take It)
On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we annihilate an article about the pros and cons of being an automotive technician. Right off the bat, if you think that $36-48k/year is “an exceptional salary” you are categorically wrong. Being able to work in a variety of environments isn’t always a good thing - because some of those environments will remind you of the third world. Fast paced workdays, being fast paced and chaotic is a bad combination especially when peoples safety is involved. The Potential to work outside - not all automotive jobs allow you to work outside -LIKE THAT’S GOOD THING! Job stability, hey we finally found an actual pro! The technician shortage has given people a lot of mobility, especially when they are extremely well trained. No College Education being needed: this is a plus, but it definitely helps if you’ve got some experience and want to get a further understanding of some of the specific systems. Being able to fix your own car is definitely a pro, and really the only relevant part of the article. You get to meet new people - who will only come to you when they have a problem with their car! The cons list was pretty spot on but done with such a glancing blow that they still warrant criticism. Bottom line is that the pros and cons list for every technician in every shop in the world is going to be slightly different, but if you’re considering a career change this can be a valuable tool to aid your decision. Also Uncle Jimmy introduces the slap test for people who want to become auto mechanics and we have a new winner for longest duration DIY brake job.This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!