Becoming a seasoned auto machanic or auto technician is one of those two things i have passion for in my life after AGRICULTURE. Currently, i'm an undergraduate of mechanical engineering (UNILORIN), i seized the 7 months IT(Industrial Training) opportunity to learn the introductory part of auto repair in Lagos. I am already developing unquenchable interest in auto industry and want to pursue a career in auto repair immediately after B.eng. I'm gonna be so glad if auto proffessors in this forum could help me with the following problems; 1. Institute(s) that oversees automobile mechanics or automotive engineer in Nigeria. 2. How to get myself certified in Nigeria. 3. Those proffessional exams that i must write both international and national. 4. General advise on how to become a seasoned and respected automotive engr. like sienna,trac,ikenna351 and the rest on this forum.

Nice one,my opinion is for u to go and learn d practical stuff and forget about begin certified,the two don't go together in nigeria.if u know d job people will look all over for u.there is a guy I deal with in ibadan,he even runs an auto clinic on radio.he is really good,wether he is certified or not does not matter cos he delivers

ojeniyi.:
Becoming a seasoned auto machanic or auto technician is one of those two things i have passion for in my life after AGRICULTURE. Currently, i'm an undergraduate of mechanical engineering (UNILORIN), i seized the 7 months IT(Industrial Training) opportunity to learn the introductory part of auto repair in Lagos.

I am already developing unquenchable interest in auto industry and want to pursue a career in auto repair immediately after B.eng. I'm gonna be so glad if auto proffessors in this forum could help me with the following problems;
1. Institute(s) that oversees automobile mechanics or automotive engineer in Nigeria.
2. How to get myself certified in Nigeria.
3. Those proffessional exams that i must write both international and national.
4. General advise on how to become a seasoned and respected automotive engr. like sienna,trac,ikenna351 and the rest on this forum.

Congratulations on your mechanical engineering degree. 85 - 90% of the difficulty is gone. What you need is someone to invest in you. What BacOnline stated is right-on-the-money. It is exactly what I would state as well. Your engineering degree supercedes any certification. What you need at this time is to apply your discipline of mechanical engineering to what you will learn. My background is similar to yours but I have manufacturing as an advantage over you in addition to mechanical and automotive training in engine installation, repair & rebuild and electronics from the automotive school. The mechanical courses taken will come very handy as you apply them to what you are learning and your overall practice. Working on cars is not where the difficulty is. The diagnoses is where the obstacle is.

The first thing you will need is to brainwash yourself from the mainstream misinformation and ensure you can explain any/everything you will be doing. Example: What stops a car? What keeps a car moving in a straight line? What turns a car? The answer should NOT be brakes, steering, & steering respectively. Those answers are for the novice and people that don't know what they are doing. You should be able to defend what you know with the appropriate engineering facts for those that may query you. For example: you will not weld any steel that has magnesium in it or try to fuse aluminium with 1080 steel. DCEP or DCEN? Mixing old parts with new as a pair -- and so on. Above all, you will need a philosophy (integrity) that you will go by. This is very important.

Electronics may be slightly rough but it's nothing compared to what you've been through.

Kindly appeal to the administrator to move this thread to the Career Section. This is not the appropriate forum. The career section does not mock-about and very serious minded. You'll also get dedicated answers from a few.



Where/What do you want to specialise in?
I will try as much as possible to make outline what you will need to know to get you in preparation. Others will join in to give their two-cents. However, you will still need to apprentice under an engineer for at least two years while honing your understanding. There are automotive engineers in Lagos.

Move this over to the Career Section. Car Talk is not Career Talk, even when the discussion is automotive related. As stated earlier, the people there don't mock-about and the answers are pretty much practical.

Make a reference (link) to the new location on this thread.

Thanks so much bro, you have just opened my eyes to important ingredients that will be used in actualizing my dreams. I hope the mistakes i made by not posting this to the right section will not hinder my chance of getting accurate informations and orietations from you. I still look up to guys like you on this forum for timely info as i'm about to project myself into the world of automobile.

ojeniyi.:
Thanks so much bro, you have just opened my eyes to important ingredients that will be used in actualizing my dreams. I hope the mistakes i made by not posting this to the right section will not hinder my chance of getting accurate informations and orietations from you. I still look up to guys like you on this forum for timely info as i'm about to project myself into the world of automobile.

Give me a while. Making a rough draft of what my reply would be isn't all that easy for everything would have to be structured and comprehensible. Also, I want it to be in a structure that others can add to. There are certain areas you need to get going initially. In the meantime as well, you need to get a hold of Siena and get all you can extract from him. There are other practicing auto-engineers here but to my understanding, there aren't many.

If this isn't moved to the Career section, make a duplicate. This section is about cars and other misc. news or information. You are referring to a career which you have invested upon and conclusively decided to pursue. It's a serious topic and others walking in your path in the future will benefit from it.

You need to tell me where you want to specialise. For instance, powertrains, transmission, collision etc. It'll be very helpful. What cars do you want to specialise in?

I would like to specialise in japanesse cars, but it seems most of these cars operates using similar principle irrespective of the country where they are being manufactured. I would prefer powertrain option. Sienna has not been visiting this forum for awhile now because i 'd follow both of you on this forum.

ojeniyi.:
I would like to specialise in japanesse cars, but it seems most of these cars operates using similar principle irrespective of the country where they are being manufactured.

I would prefer powertrain option. Sienna has not been visiting this forum for awhile now because i 'd follow both of you on this forum.

Okay, I will know how to draft my response accordingly. That is inspection, maintenance and repair of engine and computer & electronics.

Siena might be busy at the moment. However, you can send him an e-mail. He responds!

Ok, i will mail him while waiting for your response bro.

baconline: Nice one,my opinion is for u to go and learn d practical stuff and forget about begin certified,the two don't go together in nigeria.if u know d job people will look all over for u.there is a guy I deal with in ibadan,he even runs an auto clinic on radio.he is really good,wether he is certified or not does not matter cos he delivers

That will be Tunde Onakoya. He is a London trained auto expert.

ojeniyi.:
Ok, i will mail him while waiting for your response bro.

What's your e-mail address?

Trac:

What's your e-mail address?

I almost missed this. Started enjoying and now Trac i hope you are not making it private.
anyways i dey follow una.

abdulkadir:

I almost missed this. Started enjoying and now Trac i hope you are not making it private.
anyways i dey follow una.

I have an attachment too big for the permitted limit.

Trac:

What's your e-mail address?

my email address is abimbz@yahoo.com, i have not been visit this forum for awhile, because lectures has already started in my school and the only thing on our mind is CGPA. Please, i am eager to see those stuffs delivered into my mailbox.

Trac here we go again bro, I have been seriously eavesdropping and interested, my email is oyinxyl@yahoo.co.uk

Trac:

I have an attachment too big for the permitted limit.

smartchoice: Trac here we go again bro, I have been seriously eavesdropping and interested, my email is oyinxyl@yahoo.co.uk

Smartchoice hmmmmm, then we are of like minds.

adding value? certainly yes! @Trac patiently waiting bro....

ojeniyi.:
Smartchoice hmmmmm, then we are of like minds.

@Trac does MB star diagnosis tool work only with IBM pcs?

ojeniyi.:
i have not been visit this forum for awhile, because lectures has already started in my school and the only thing on our mind is CGPA. Please, i am eager to see those stuffs delivered into my mailbox.

You can delete your e-mail address now (for your privacy) since it isn't needed anymore.

Working on cars is "easy" (provided you have the right tools, "can turn a wrench" a good workspace and comprehension of what is done). Diagnosing isn’t. This requires understanding. The whole thing is easiest when you don't know what you are doing and above all, don't understand the vehicle being worked upon.

So, diagnosing is where most of the tug will emanate from; hence, you will need a comprehensive understanding of the various disciplines. Sometimes, I have to sleep on a matter and begin to ponder on how the system works and what may have gone wrong.

A vehicle that has been severely altered should not be worked on until it has been thoroughly worked on. What’s the point accelerating as fast as you can to high speeds in the wrong direction? Would “that” ever get you to the right destination?!

PARTS: Try as much as possible to stick with genuine OEM (original equipment manufacturer). This way, you can guarantee your service(s).

SAFETY: Should not be overlooked! I am sure you are aware of the safety within the shop. That is also part of the whole “picture.” Chemicals, poisonous gases (such as exhaust fumes)and soon do not improve the human body. Always work with steel-toe boots. Do not wear sandals. It is an investment that is worth it.

CONFIGURATION W.R.T ENGINES: This area is where a lot of people think they are learned upon. The truth is the reverse is the case. Nature differs!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: You will need a DMM or DVOM for basic electrical testings. There are some tests that are just inexcusable if you cannot perform them. You probably already know them.

IGNITION SYSTEM: Not to complex but worth it. This is probably one of the areas that may be compromised. Once the principles are understood, the rest would be learnt via experience.

These are my chip-ins.

All the best (that includes your CGPA exam preparations):

smartchoice: Trac here we go again bro, I have been seriously eavesdropping and interested, my email is oyinxyl@yahoo.co.uk

The attachment was an unabridged text of the reply (above text). It wasn't a material. I did not know how to start and upon scripting, along with layouts and formatting, it became too large. Since the "thread" is interested, I have 'bridged it; in other words, simplified or paraphrased it to what is above. Each emphasis has been processed out.

smartchoice: @Trac does MB star diagnosis tool work only with IBM pcs?

That multiplexer is for authorised MB dealerships. There is also more to the multiplexer. I don't know what they use. I don't work for MB; neither am I a fan.

Thanks so much bro, you have just sown a seed in someones life. Do you know of any nice AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOP in Nigeria where i can apply as an IT student or enroll as an apprentice, i am ready to spend any little time i have learning about autorepair, i want to cease the opportunity of second IT after 400L in learning about automobile, i wouldnt mind to recieve it via my email if you feel it's confidential.

I don't know how to thank you for your contribution. Infact, i have never met anyone like you ever since 2009 i registered on this forum, helping someone you 've never set your eyes on is incredible, Trac is 1 in a million african.

The answer is READ. Go online and read about cars and their problems and fixing it .
Cars are easy to work on if you have an idea . Remenber it's all nuts and bolts. That's all.
There are lots of forums online to help you learn. Having a car would be helpful.

Buy or download HAYNES MANUAL. It will teach you the basics in maintenance When u know the basics, we go from there .

KA24DETT: The answer is READ. Go online and read about cars and their problems and fixing it .
Cars are easy to work on if you have an idea . Remenber it's all nuts and bolts. That's all.
There are lots of forums online to help you learn. Having a car would be helpful.

Buy or download HAYNES MANUAL. It will teach you the basics in maintenance When u know the basics, we go from there .

you are right Ka24dett...it's good he's got the right background, those principles of thermodynamics and heat exchanges would come to the fore here. like Trac said, he would need practical hands-on experience and proper tutelage to compliment his background...goodluck boy!

Trac please could you send to my mailbox too, oshoikekhai@yahoo.com? Please i would be grateful and want to learn a thing or two too.

@k24dett, i gat your point and i will get those manuals online even if am gonna use my pocket money or feeding allowance but we have to understand the fact that the online stuffs can never be substituted for real automotive class and workshop training. As for that aspect that you said 'having a car would help', i am just an undergraduate from a family slightly below Nigerian standard of middle class, i guess the car aspect is not feasible and unrealistic in anyway atleast for now. THANKS ALOT for your contribution.

ojeniyi.:
I don't know how to thank you for your contribution. Infact, i have never met anyone like you ever since 2009 i registered on this forum, helping someone you 've never set your eyes on is incredible, Trac is 1 in a million african.

You are so welcome.

Godspeed to you.

ojeniyi.:
Thanks so much bro, you have just sown a seed in someones life. Do you know of any nice AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOP in Nigeria where i can apply as an IT student or enroll as an apprentice, i am ready to spend any little time i have learning about autorepair, i want to cease the opportunity of second IT after 400L in learning about automobile, i wouldnt mind to recieve it via my email if you feel it's confidential.

I don't. You can start by calling. It'll be best to disciple under an engineer. You can relate better and training quality will be better, because you can ask deeper questions and certain understanding will be passed to you.

Somebody gave the number to an automotive engineer for Audi somewhere. You might want to place a call. I know an automotive engineer in Lagos and works primarily on German cars (especially BMW and Benz). He also works on Japanese cars and he is extremely good. I don't know if you can disciple under him. You will learn the rudiments a car and the definition of quality service. You dare not attempt anything short of factory specifications and genuine OEM parts. He has served my family for more than a decade. In my opinion, he will be the better choice because I know him and have seen his service. The Nigerian Army trained him and messing about is not an option on military convoys. He also works beyond engines and transmissions.

KA24DETT: The answer is READ. Go online and read about cars and their problems and fixing it .
Cars are easy to work on if you have an idea . Remenber it's all nuts and bolts. That's all.
There are lots of forums online to help you learn. Having a car would be helpful.

Buy or download HAYNES MANUAL. It will teach you the basics in maintenance When u know the basics, we go from there .

You read online and you end up with nonsense. If the solution is what you are offering, then schools should have folded up and degree curriculum phased out. It is easy to know those that went on google to learn anything. They will repeat and are always wrong. Many that claim they know something don't make it through auto school. The exams are stupidly simple; yet...!

This is not a good way to counsel anyone that would be rendering such as service to customers as a professional. Without rudiments and fundamentals, one knows nothing.

There are 17 areas to automotive. Google barely covers 6 of them; the information is of questionable quality and heavily fragmented. You cannot go around this without adequate trainings and experience.

Haynes manual! No comments!

yungboss: Trac please could you send to my mailbox too, oshoikekhai@yahoo.com? Please i would be grateful and want to learn a thing or two too.

YungBoss,

I made an abridged version on post #17. It was personal communication but lengthy and unsuitable for a public post. This was so because I did not know how to start and what to put down. To make it easier to read, I applied formats to it. It was informal and I explained some of the points stated. So, it was indirectly an informal e-mail that I structured for ease-of-reading.

ojeniyi.:
@k24dett, i gat your point and i will get those manuals online even if am gonna use my pocket money or feeding allowance but we have to understand the fact that the online stuffs can never be substituted for real automotive class and workshop training. As for that aspect that you said 'having a car would help', i am just an undergraduate from a family slightly below Nigerian standard of middle class, i guess the car aspect is not feasible and unrealistic in anyway atleast for now. THANKS ALOT for your contribution.

Don't waste your money. Nothing can replace being a disciple under a well disciplined teacher. Don't take the above approach. There is no shortcut to it in any way. You aren't gambling but will be working professionally as service to customers vehicles. Reading the book recommended is a joke. You don't learn anything online either. You will end up as what the British call a "petrol-head." That is a highly passionate car enthusiast void of the understanding of vehicular principles. There is a huge difference between a $30,000+ service education plus training versus going on google. The book he has prescribed will never stimulate conceptual brainstorming neither does it detail hidden/deep knowledge. If I am not making sense, source out the nairalanders that are practicing service techs, mechanics and engineers and query. They don't spit their job ins-&-outs and technical "reserves" out. People don't play with their job security. That's why they aren't vocal on NL. Those that carry the grandmaster titles paid a price while sacrificing time and the governing body put a seal of certification to it.

Trac:

I am very impressed wth your comments. I also possess a degree in Mechanical Engineering, with very much interest in Automechanics. You did mention of an Engineer who offers training services in your previous post. I will appreciate if i can be mailed his phone number or email address. I am up for such training. Thank you very much. God bless.
here's my mail: jiblo_festus@live.com

Mojibola:
I am very impressed wth your comments. I also possess a degree in Mechanical Engineering, with very much interest in Automechanics. You did mention of an Engineer who offers training services in your previous post. I will appreciate if i can be mailed his phone number or email address. I am up for such training. Thank you very much. God bless.
here's my mail: jiblo_festus@live.com

Mojibola,

I would love to have assisted you but I haven't spoken to the fellow in more than a decade. He is not offering apprenticeship to anyone and I do not know for how long. I do believe there are others on NL that can assist you towards your goal. A little network and you'll come across them. It will help greatly if you have a defined objective and the market you want to reach.

Trac:


Mojibola,

I would love to have assisted you but I haven't spoken to the fellow in more than a decade. He is not offering apprenticeship to anyone and I do not know for how long. I do believe there are others on NL that can assist you towards your goal. A little network and you'll come across them. It will help greatly if you have a defined objective and the market you want to reach.

Please I am in search of an auto technician school in Nigeria.

can anyone help?

Contact gazzuzz.. Ikenna351..diportivo.. Mayor123.. ZIMDRILL.. Sienna.. And a lot more.. There are gurus that should be able to offer helping hand..