They teach you about Toyota-specific stuff. But at Toyota they require you to go to Boston for training so I've been there. A lot of mechanics that's all they have to do. Can you tell me what training you've gone through.Ī: When I started here (at Haddad Toyota) they had the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) training test, basically. Q: I would assume to be able to work with that technology you need a lot of training. You've got all this stuff jammed in there whereas back in the old cars you could almost get inside the engine compartment with the engine. Now you have to remove a ton of parts to get to the part you're trying to get to. I've worked on a few older vehicles and all you have to do is pop the hood and everything is right there. They all have separate computers, right down to the radio.
Toyota mechanic windows#
Now, they monitor the engine the transmission, the differentials, the windows - anything inside your car. Q: How have the computers in cars become more complex?Ī: When they first came out they basically had a bunch of sensors on the engine and they would monitor the engine. If one of them fails they'll send a message over the communication wire to the other computer. the way they all talk is fascinating to me.Ī: They have communication lines which is just a wire from one computer to another, and then they have the power in each one of them so they monitor a bunch of sensors to each component. I actually like doing the electrical wiring and diagnosing and all that stuff the most.
Do you?Ī: I pretty much do a little bit of everything. Q: Some mechanics specialize in one area. Usually, you have to disassemble the vehicle right down to the metal. Typically when we find mouse cars we have the insurers get involved and it takes a few days to get everything torn down. Other times they chew right through the wire and it's completely disconnected from the system. The wire has insulation over it, and they just chew that off. Sometimes you find they've just chewed a little bit. Q: What affects electrical systems the most?Ī: Our biggest thing around here in New England is when the mice get in there and chew the wiring up. It's one of those things that could be a half hour to a couple of days depending on how small the problem is. Sometimes the wires are buried inside the dash or in a variety of places.
It's like four bolts (on each brake).Ī: Probably diagnosing vehicles for engine problems.Ī: You've got to scan it for codes, find all the wiring diagrams and everything then go to each connector and test it. Q: What's the easiest part on a car to replace?Ī: The easiest on most cars is probably the brakes. We can talk to all the computers to see what they're saying about what's going on with the car. Pretty much any electric or check engine light is connected to some sort of computer on the vehicle in some way share or form, even the brakes (computers in cars are known as ECUs, or Electronic Control Units).Ī: There's a connector in every car and it will connect to a computer in the shop. Q: When you're fixing a car now how much more of your work involves computers than when you started?Ī: It's a lot more work with computers. I got master certified two years ago.Ī: My day involves everything from oil changes to engine tear downs. My first job was when I was 18 at an oil change place. Getting grease on my hands was cool when I was younger. I kind of liked getting my hands dirty, I guess. I took a liking to it and decided that it was what I wanted to do.Ī: I would say 12 was when I started (Dupont is 35). Q: Why did you want to be an auto mechanic?Ī: When I was younger my dad was always working on cars and stuff.
We recently spoke with him about his craft, how technology has changed it, and things that people don't understand about the profession. Steve Dupont is a certified master mechanic at Haddad Toyota in Pittsfield, where he has been plying his trade professionally for 17 years.
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