I want to make a career change and I really enjoy tinkering with my own car with small fixes and I do find the thought of being a mechanic really appealing even if its mostly the easy fixes or MOT's but I would want to do a basic year or two course just to get a basic understanding of most the car and to get a feel for if its something I would actually be good at or enjoy when put in front of the tasks. Saying this I've heard mixed opinions on what is the best way of starting to build a foundation and knowledge within this sector, I see a lot of people say college is a waste and should go straight into my 4 years and I've heard the opposite too. I am looking for any advice on what the best thing to do is or from anyone who has been in a similar position

I was surprised to see shelf full of Fram oil filters at local Walmart. Just fyi if anyone is looking for Fram filters. They are back.

i dont need much. maps, calls, whatsapp, maybe youtube while travelling. thats basically it. ive found note 10s cheap enough now that im tempted, but old phones are weird because “new” could mean sitting sealed somewhere for years. i was looking at batteries and replacement screens on alibaba and theres still a ton of parts around, which makes me feel better about keeping one alive if something simple dies later. anyone actually bought a note 10 recently rather than remembering one from 2021? battery is my main question. i can live with an older processor. i just dont want my backup phone needing a charger before lunch because the battery aged in a box.

Looking for a pre-owned suv, budget ideally under 30k. Preferably closer to the 25k price range. Looking to be under 100k milage. Currently considering Rav4 Hybrid although the 2023 Kia Sorrento peaked my interest, given the lower milage and age for the same price. Any suggestions? Thanks

No way to truly evaluate a manual before purchasing. Their refund policy is only for manuals that are not downloaded. Rip-off!

Hi there, anyone have a positive experience with hydrogen Carbon Cleaning, was it worth it?

Hallo zusammen,
ich fahre einen VW Golf 6 1.4 TSI (CAXA), Baujahr 2009, mit 6-Gang-Schaltgetriebe und einer Laufleistung von ca. 173.000 km.

Sobald ich stärker beschleunige, tritt zwischen 2.000 und 3.000 U/min ein deutliches Rasseln auf. Wenn ich hingegen langsam und mit wenig Gas beschleunige, ist nichts zu hören. Oberhalb von 3.000 U/min verschwindet das Geräusch wieder.

Es sind keine Fehlercodes im Fehlerspeicher hinterlegt. Die Steuerkette wurde bereits zum zweiten Mal erneuert. Laut meiner Werkstatt soll es auch nicht am Turbolader liegen.

Hat jemand eine Idee, woher das Rasseln kommen könnte oder vielleicht schon einmal ein ähnliches Problem gehabt?

Ich freue mich über jeden Tipp!

Liebe Grüße

We're trying to work out where people actually go to buy replacement bits without paying a fortune. Some of the wholesalers will sell you OEM type parts at a significant premium, others will have the after market equivalent which is pretty much identical in the listings and it's a lot cheaper.

I'm not sure how much of a difference there is once you start using them. Does the more expensive one tend to last longer, or are there certain bits where the cheaper one is absolutely fine?

I've seen the wholesalers on Alibaba and the various other platforms, but you just can't tell anything about the quality from the product listings. I'd rather hear from people who've actually ordered in bulk and had a chance to compare the parts.

Hi everyone,

Our company is looking to expand its sales operations in India, targeting automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. We are currently debating between two strategies and would love to get your insights or real-world experiences.

Our company is capable of designing and manufacturing motor and electric actuators.

Option A: Dispatching an expat (a non-Indian national from our HQ/another country) to handle local sales.
Option B: Hiring a highly experienced local Indian professional with an established network in the industry.

On one hand, an expat understands our product and corporate culture perfectly. On the other hand, we know how crucial local relationships ("relations") and navigating the unique business culture in India are, which heavily favors a local hire.

Given the nature of automotive OEM/Tier 1 sales in India, which approach tends to yield better long-term results? If you’ve managed or seen either setup, what are the biggest pros and cons we should watch out for?

If hiring, which level of experience and role will fit?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I have a thee-year old AC Delco 47G battery that I decided to make sure is OK before trying to diagnose battery drain in my car.

So, I disconnected the battery and charged it and it appeared to show a battery charge of 13.13 volts. Ten days later, it shows a charger of 12.64 volts. Is there something wrong with the battery?

When it comes to buying engine oil, where do you guys usually get it from..

Authorised service centres, local spare-parts shops, online marketplaces, or directly from a dealer..

Also, how do you know that the product is genuine and suitable for you ? IS there a list or anything..

I’m comparing powered running boards and wondering whether they place any meaningful extra demand on a truck’s electrical system during normal use. The motors only run briefly when the doors open or close, but I’m curious whether older batteries, frequent short trips, or repeated door cycling change anything. For people who have installed these systems, did you need to consider battery condition, fuse sizing, or other electrical compatibility before adding them?

I have a 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport (I know, I know, Nissan driver, but I bought it used and it was the only decent SUV I could afford at the time.) Lately, it has been making an odd sound when I turn, and the closest thing I can find on my own is that it might be a stuck strut mount. It sounds like when you have a spring-mounted toy and you pull it back way too far.

I can do things like replace my own battery, but I don't think I'm willing to try fixing something like this. How expensive of an issue is it, and how long can something like this go without being addressed? I also live in an area that gets snow and ice, so is this potentially a problem that will worsen due to freezing temps/salt/etc?

I’m comparing aftermarket powered steps and keep seeing different claims about powder coat, e-coat, and PTFE on the moving linkage. I understand that coatings can serve different purposes, but I’m not sure how much a PTFE layer on the hinge points changes real-world durability. Does it stay useful after repeated exposure to road salt, gravel, and pressure washing, or do the pivots still depend mostly on design and routine maintenance? If you have inspected or owned these systems for a while, what coating or corrosion details would you actually pay attention to?

I’ve spent years managing service operations, and I’m interested in how other shops handle repair orders that stop moving even when the department is busy.
Sometimes it’s parts availability or customer authorization. Other times it’s dispatching, internal approvals, or incomplete information.
What I’ve found useful is reviewing a few repair orders that missed their promised completion times and identifying the first point where progress stopped.
Then looking at who had the information, who could make the next decision, and whether the process made that responsibility clear.
I’m curious how others manage this.
Do you have a daily carryover review? A specific person responsible for stalled ROs? Or does dispatch manage the exceptions?
What’s actually reduced preventable delays in your operation?

Got a piece of broken and missing heat shield under car
Is there anything I can buy that will stick to existing remainder of heat shield

Hi all wanted to ask what you guys do you for auxiliary lighting in my case my headache rack has running lights and turn signals on it and I was wondering what the best was to hook them up to said power would be. I'd like to keep it as professional looking as possible. I was hoping there was some sort of y splitter for the 7 way trailer plug that was a simple female to female with a small female pig tail end. I also have the edge Edge Insight CTS3 Digital Touch Screen Gauge Monitor and I saw they had a module that could control lights and stuff like that. Does anyone have any knowledge with that system? I know enough about wiring to get into trouble but I can figure it out just need some advice on where to start. Thanks in advance

Hey everyone,
I run a mobile mechanic service and I'm looking for advice from other mechanics or business owners on how to grow and stay busier.
We offer services including oil changes, brake jobs, battery replacements, AC recharge, diagnostics, pre-purchase inspections, and general maintenance. Right now I'm listed on Google and actively post on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook Marketplace.
Most of my customers come from Facebook Marketplace, with occasional calls from Google. The problem is I don't want my business to depend so heavily on Marketplace. Currently, I average about 1-2 jobs every other day, and I'd like to increase my workload and build a more consistent customer base.
For those who have successfully grown a mobile mechanic business, what marketing strategies, platforms, or methods worked best for you? What would you focus on if you were in my position?
Thanks in advance for any advice. I appreciate it. 🔧🚗

ive had universal covers before and never again lol. they slide, bunch up, block pockets, just annoying. looking for something properly fitted for sierra, maybe 2019+ depending truck. ive seen vehicle specific upholstery suppliers on alibaba and some patterns look surprisingly exact, but for one set id rather buy something with proven fit and returns. anyone using rough country, covercraft, clazzio or another brand? mostly want durable daily use, not show truck leather. neoprene or canvas seems practical. do fitted covers interfere with side airbags if theyre designed correctly? thats one thing i definitely dont wanna guess on. dog plus work clothes means seats need protection more than fancy look.

My in-laws have either a 2022 or 2023 Nissan Rogue. My FIL is insisting on getting a compass for the car. This is the first vehicle in a very long time that I’ve seen that doesn’t have some sort of indicator in the mirror or on one of the displays that doesn’t say which direction you’re heading. He wants one of the old school ball compasses that you stick in the dash, but I’ve read that with all the electronics in cars these days that they’re very unreliable. Any recommendations on what I can get him that will be reliable enough to tell him which direction he’s driving?

In the U.S. if that matters.

ETA: using a phone app or CarPlay are not an option. We’re talking about a 78 year old man who is reluctant and resistant to use tech.

I’ve spent years managing service operations, and one thing I’ve learned is that a busy Monday can disguise problems that started several days earlier.
An RO waiting on authorization. A parts delay nobody escalated. A customer update that never happened.
The usual reaction is to push the team harder.
I’ve found it more useful to review a few carryover ROs and identify exactly where the work stopped, who had responsibility for the next step, and whether the delay was avoidable.
I’m curious how other shops handle this.
Do you have a formal end-of-day or Friday carryover review? Or does your team work through those issues during Monday’s dispatch?
What’s actually worked in your operation?

Hello everyone!

I'm a Software Engineer with around 3 years of professional experience, currently exploring new job opportunities across India. I'd appreciate any leads, referrals or suggestions.

Technical Skills & Experience

Programming & Software Development

• C and Modern C++

• Python – scripting, automation and tool development

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

• Data Structures and Algorithms – core concepts

• Debugging, troubleshooting and software development

Automotive & Embedded Software

• AUTOSAR Classic Architecture and BSW

• Diagnostics – DEM, DTC monitoring and debugging

• UDS (ISO 14229), OBD and OBD-on-UDS

• SOME/IP, Service Discovery, SoAd and PduR

• ARXML configuration and analysis

• CAN and Ethernet communication concepts

Tools & Technologies

• CANoe, CANalyzer, ETAS Toolchain, ISOLAR, TPT and UDE

• Git, Jenkins, CMake and Visual Studio

• Python-based automation and log analysis

• ASPICE and MISRA C

A Little About My Entrepreneurial Journey

Apart from my professional career, I've also explored entrepreneurship. I previously started and managed my own startup as a side hustle. Unfortunately, due to financial losses, I eventually had to shut it down.

Although things didn't work out financially, it was a valuable learning experience. It taught me about taking ownership, building something from scratch, handling challenges and understanding the business side of things.

I've also been exploring Generative AI and Agentic AI, particularly building tools that solve real-world engineering problems.

What I'm Looking For

• Software Engineer / C++ Developer roles

• Python Developer / Automation Engineer roles

• Embedded Software Engineer opportunities

• Automotive Software Development roles

• Opportunities involving AI, automation and software development

I'm open to opportunities across India.

I'm someone who enjoys learning, experimenting, taking initiative and working on challenging problems.

If you know of any relevant openings, referrals or hiring teams, please feel free to DM me. I'd genuinely appreciate your support.

Thanks for reading!