It used to be a common sight to see someone leaning under the hood of their car, tinkering with it’s performance or replacing a part. These days that sight is as rare as hen’s teeth due to the complicated nature of today’s vehicles.

When cars were first invented, their owners were often plagued with breakdowns. Auto repair shops were a natural offshoot of the car industry and owners were relieved that they no longer had to do their own repairs.

Most of the earlier mechanics were self-trained by working on their own cars and those of friends and family. Later, trade schools got into the business of training mechanics and as cars became more complicated self-taught mechanics faced the need to get formal education and certification. Repairing cars was no longer a matter of looking and listening to diagnose a problem. As cars became computerized, mechanics had to include electronics in their knowledge base.

Mechanics now have to have extensive education in order to repair and maintain their customers’ cars. Indeed, they are now referred to as “automotive service technicians”. The public perception of mechanics as under-educated workers who are good with tools has changed too.

We now think of them as bright and highly educated men and women. The person who works on your car’s engine or transmission has gone to school an average of eighteen months in order to learn everything they need to know to do their job correctly. That’s a far cry from the “shade tree mechanic” of yesteryear!
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