Hi all,

My brother says he wants to become an auto mechanic (some how advanced since he is an Electrical/Electronic Engr). He has asked me to help him with what it will take to know all he needs especially, as regards advanced troubleshooting of Japanese cars. He really needs to be a resourceful analyst/technician.

I read in a post where Siena was saying something about troubleshooting kits and requirements. Siena, could you throw more light on these details please?

I await the response of knowledgeable nairalanders.

Warm regards

Nairalanders, I am still waiting pleeeeaaaaasssseee

Long long story.

Modern cars have almost all their systems electroniccaly controlled. That way they will always operate at their optimum level. For what your brother plans, he will need to invest some good money (and I mean upto and over 1 million) on what is called diagnostic tools. And this is just the start. With the tools, he will also need manuals and a knowledge of auto mechanics. At the end, he will have to decide on what exactly he intends to focus on cos in that business, you can be a jack/master of all but at a very high cost. Each make/model probably requires its own tool. And generic tools that generally "see" many makes/models cannot do all the specifics etc.

I have such a tool and take care of my cars and bike myself. This is the link to the top aftermarket unit for VWs www.ross-tech.com

hope this helps

fotodaddy,

Thanks for your reply. I have been to the site and seen the illustrations there.

On the cost, I think my guy should be able to muster that. He is concerned about the specific place to go here in Nigeria to get all the knowledge and manuals/tools he will ever need.

I await more response please.

Your brother needs to determine if he is going to specialize in a brand, or multiple brands.
For starter he'll need a scanner $60-$500. Check http://www.actron.com/product_category.php?id=249 for info.

The factory service manuals(FSMs) for each brand or a generic e.g Chilton manual for info http://www.chiltonsonline.com/

Hand tools ;good ones are a little expensive but they come with lifetime warranty(if you can break it return and they'll give you a new one) ~$200-$000's

Pneumatic tools and air compressors `$200-$500

Special tools(balancing&alignment)

Jacks and lifts~$4000 USED

Computer + software might be able to start billing with MSoffice

Then the big one, service parts(filters, fluids,RTV)

Gets updated TSBs(technical service bulletins online).Its a guide to repair problems common to specific models from manufacturers)

I have no idea what I'm talking about, its just based on the setup of small repair shops.

Like I said he will need to focus or is his plan to do all cars?? Whatever the case, I know of a few people/garages that do this kind of thing. But I wonder how many of them will welcome the idea of training a competitor??

@poster nice topic.

have always been interested in auto repairs cos all these local mechs just seem to always rip you off (don't even mention ladipo).

keep the discourse flowing.

Thanks all for your inputs.

@Sultaan, I think those tools will be cheaper here in Nigeria. He will have to place the order for the manufactures' manuals as soon as this is kick-started.

He is interested in Japanese but for the last 30mins, the network did not allow me reach him to know if there are specifics.

@fotodaddy, the guy stays in Aba (Abia state) so the prospective trainer(s) need not fear competition.

Kashif:

Thanks all for your inputs.

@Sultaan, I think those tools will be cheaper here in Nigeria. He will have to place the order for the manufactures' manuals as soon as this is kick-started.

He is interested in Japanese but for the last 30mins, the network did not allow me reach him to know if there are specifics.

@fotodaddy, the guy stays in Aba (Abia state) so the prospective trainer(s) need not fear competition.

Hi Kashif,

Please tell your brother to try to get the best equipment possible so that 10 to 15 years from now he is still in business and doing a good job at it. We have so many mechanics out there but if he wants to stand out he can go a step further and offer them excellent quality at affordable prices. I for one have been thinking of investing in a mechanic store in Nigeria that is designed with the same concept as Meineke/Firestones and others here in the USA. Prices are stable and fair, Customers know exactly what they get when they walk through the door, service is best that can be and in no time. It is managed in such a way that there is little or no back log and so people can stop in for an oil change and be done in 30 minutes. They are competitive and clean and the process is sort of computerized which reduces error to a great deal.

He wants to be a Toyota specialist. Is there anybody who knows where he could be trained in the east?

He can start by getting books on Toyotas and reading up on the different models, builds and more, I guess.

I would love to have addresses, phone numbers, websites or some other specifics. He would prefer to do this in the east.

Regards 2 all.

it seems nigeria should have more technical institutes like ITT tech

poster Howfars


I saw this place in VI called The lady mechanic its a n.g.o a charity organisation where they train WOMEN to be proffesional mechanices. im sure if there is something like that for men there might be another one for men.

it was on beside 1004 front gate, i have forgotten the name of the place. maybe if u go there or serach online u might find something like that.

good lcuk

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@ Ivvie.
Please are you a mechanic? If you are one, please send your mail so that we can talk. My mail is talk2dpresident@yahoo.com.

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bawomol:

it seems nigeria should have more technical institutes like ITT tech

That is what Yabatech and all those techs are for, but its more profitable as raining groung for next generation of assasins, and high class working girls.

No offense intended, you just have to look at what their students are known for.

Ivvie:

If you want to service cars without knowing control systems, then I submit to you that you will limit yourself significantly. The rest is easy (mechanics) but the control systems is the aspect you need to delve seriously into. When you have the fundamentals (which should be a breeze to you) then you'll know where to invest and where not to invest. There are service manuals that you will have to purchase individually. Yeter-years background will not help you with tomorrows cars if you leave out control systems.

For Toyota's, the engines are basically the same but different engine control management and minor improvements. Lexus vary as years go by and more control systems implemented. Knowing one means knowing all, basically. I don't know anything about the hybrid because I am not into diesel technology.

I have some books if you want (some require calculus and linear and others don't). There is a service manual if you want (one has all the cars you can think about). I will see what else I can get. Give me an address and I will have it mailed out to you (if it sounds good to you).

@Ivvie, please give me your email address so that I can drop my address. My email address is kashimanjero@yahoo.com, if it is ok by you. Thanks a lot.

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All that sounds real good but with all the expensive equipment you still need education and experience. I am not bashing good equipment but there is no magic box that can substitute education and experience .
So the questions i pose to you folks
1) Where can one get solid mechanic education in Nigeria? is there a certification program? (like A.S.E. in US)
2) Who are the distributors of auto mechanic tools?(like snap-on or mac-tools in the US)
3) Who are the distributors of OE parts (Original Equipment)?
4) Where can one buy quality Service parts such as filters and fluids e.g. many high end cars only use synthetic engine oil how do you guaranty to are not buying fake?

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I really support Kashif's brother and wish him all the best. I was only posing those questions mainly to be educated.
So if any non-abusive levelheaded folks will answers my question I will be very glad.

@Ivvie
Examples of vehicle are Bentley, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz AMG & Porsche. They all come factory filled with synthetic, and you should stick with it.

You are saying exactly what I am saying There is nothing new in Mechanics but don't you have to know the stuff?
Being an Electrical Engineering is a plus but does not equate to being a mechanic
Here is a story that will explain how valuable education and experience is.

My Friends check engine light came on. After diagnosis he found it was that two oxygen sensors “blew.” They were the upstream and downstream sensors that indicate how rich or lean the engine is running. They were both replaced.
Two weeks later, the light came on again. He ran the tests, and one of the sensors had tripped. Why? Well, maybe it was a bad sensor. What’s the likelihood of that? Well it was replaced.
Two days later the light came on a third time. He’d run a diagnostic so thorough that it was 14 pages long. He was having “his guy” test every possible thing. It could be the fuel pump, he changed that too but to no result
He finally found the problem. when he took his car for a tune-up the spark plugs were gapped wrong! Whoever replaced them didn’t gap them correctly. Once he fixed that, the engine light went off and stayed off!”
My God. How simple and obvious. Why had he not checked this at the beginning? What this means, he paid big bucks to replace what probably were three perfectly good sensors and a fuel pump.

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@Ivvie and all, I am very grateful.

I am eagerly waiting for any materials/addresses that could help.

Thanks once more.

Ivvie, thanks. pls can u mail me those docs/manuals u talked about. I really wish to be a DIY mechanic as well. My email is abiodunode@yahoo.com. Thanks.

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Kahif, pls how do i hook up wt u in order to get a copy of those materials. Please holla me on abiodunode@yahoo.com. Thanks.

abbyode:

Kahif, please how do i hook up wt u in order to get a copy of those materials. Please holla me on abiodunode@yahoo.com. Thanks.

I have not received the materials. I would let you know as soon as I have.

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