POLL: What skill level mechanic are you?

[obayha]

I put myself down as "Good Enough".
Maybe I can do more than I give myself credit for, but I'm OK with good enough. Puts my expectations low, and if I do a good job,that's great. If I have to do it two or three times and still get it right , well that's my learning curve.
I have pulled a motor from a car using a shade tree in my back yard as the place for my hoist to attach to.
Did four years in the service as an aviation mechanic. Flying in what you work on makes you want to do a good job.
Three years working on Harley's and about five plus years stripping down an FJ40 Landcruiser to the frame and doing a complete restore on it.
These last few years have forced me to get back into doing a lot more than I have.
I will continue to be a Jack of all trades and never a Master of any.
Shane

[matthew1]

I'm a professional technician...

I am a professional technician...

I noticed there's been no votes in the top "Professional" category. You guys should vote in that.

[LamboSE5]

...I have a very low tolerance for things that could have easily been made less stupid or difficult to get to...

The part in bold there, haha - I agree.

I found it hilarious to find the thread flash up top when I logged in just now. Just after a long night of reading the entire "Tracy's Soaps" head gasket tutorial, and getting pretty intimidated about what I was about to take on...then tossing and turning all night

Anyway, I'm definitely a beginner. I've owned a car for I duno, a little over two years maybe. Started working on my cars/learning about them when I got that first one. I seem to make out alright with most things, I wouldn't be able without great tutorials and help. And I as a LOT(!) of questions, and am damn happy that people (you guys) are so helpful, knowledgeable - and willing to help.

[D_V_ENT850R]

"I'm an automotive whore! I'll gladly f#ck anything up!" I said to someone who asked me if I was comfortable to work on their VW, and another asked about his Corvette! Haha!!!

[Xilikon]

I'm good enough but could be experienced as well with pratice. I did follow classes on small motors (even disassembled and rebuilt a Briggs & Stratton engine) and on turbopropulsors during my years of airplane building technician before branching out into computer programming (I now do that for a living).

The main thing which often stop from doing more complicated stuff is a lack of a garage and some good air tools. It's a bit hard to do work on my car on a crushed stone driveway.

[rmmagow]

Really need a box labeled "Dangerous" here

[Billc1015]

I'm a professional technician...

I am a professional technician...

I noticed there's been no votes in the top "Professional" category. You guys should vote in that.

I am using tapatalk on my iphone. There is no place to cast my vote as far as I can see.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.334497,-75.130856

[matthew1]

^^^ Tapatalk doesn't "see" polls. Either to view or vote in. I always do an "Open in Safari" from Tapatalk when I want to see what the polls say.

[rspi]

I choose High/Experienced. After all, this is a DIY forum. LOL

I guess someone needs to define the standards of what the skill levels are... IPd use to have a skill lavel scale for people that ordered parts from them. From what you guys have posted so far, the difference between a Good Enough and Expert/Pro is access to a shop and special tools. I was an airplane mechanic in the USAF for 10 years and my opinion is, if you can read the manual and follow the steps, you are likely either a High/Experienced or Expert/Professional. A professional is someone that can do the job for a living every day. When I see what some of these people turn out of their shops, the stealer included, I'd have to downgrade some of them.

I like the 1-5 scale system. Not to many numbers to count to high. I use to use it to rank how nice a house was when I sold real estate.

1 (No Skills) = How do I know which thingy is for the oil???
2 (Low/Beginner) = Can change oil and most light bulbs. Have never pulled a spark plug.
3 (Good Enough) = Can change oil, filters, spark plugs and all light bulbs with no problems. Can also pull a door panel and with instructions can change brakes and replace relays and do basic trouble shooting.
4 (High/Experienced) = Have completed a full tune up, replaced all filters, can replace radiator, exhaust parts, brakes and do basic trouble shooting without assistance (you could tell if a timing belt was broken without someone pointing it out). Can also do most extensive repairs with a good shop manual or good DIY instructions.
5 (Expert/Professional) = Can do most repairs and trouble shooting with little or no assistance. Have worked in a shop as part of daily professional duties at one time or another for more than 90 days. If given the proper tools, could comfortably replace a head gasket, transmission and suspension parts.

Don't be modest, if you can change your struts yourself, you are likely at least High/Experienced.

[Breadbox]

I'm glad I'm in good company with "Good Enough." I managed to convert my 740 from an automatic to a 5-speed using just the Haynes manual, but I also screwed up the entire valvetrain of my wife's V70 doing the headgasket. I would say I was "High/Experienced" but my track record of fixing things without breaking something even more expensive in the process is spotty at best. I try not to do anything that involves the moving parts of the engine or anything electrical unless I absolutely have to. The potential for a costly repair of my attempt at repair is too high.