v8ranger Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I was looking at he forum and noticed the calender. 20 years ago today started with Ford. 2 dealerships, 11 years at the first and now 9 at the second. How anybody else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Started my apprenticeship in about '67 or '68... cars were a little bit different back them... <SIGH>.... I've got underwear older than most of the kids in my shop, now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 21+ years for me. All with the same company too! I started right out of High School before starting technical college. Pretty neat to be working before starting school eh? I started in our Dodge store and moved to Ford within two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 The year was 1992. Started changing oil at a /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/ford.gif dealer at night, after school. It's been all downhill from there. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/drinkingdude.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Thirteen years with /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/ford.gifnow, and was dumped into diesels immediatley(not complaining),three years at an independent before that and preemployment for one year. Up here that means you spend a whole year in college learning every basic area of automotive and come out a second year apprentice. Oh, and I forgot to mention that my Dad and my Uncle both had shops that I was always muckin around in and started earning a few doallars doing oil changes when I was 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamageINC Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I haven't really been doing this a whole long time, but I suppose it's kinda interesting that I started working for Ford on 9/11/01. Strange first day on the job to say the least... shop ewas empty and everyone was watching TV, I remember thinking "damn this job looks easy.." hehehe.. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony302600 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 started in April 2004 part time, full time at august 04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitechmech Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 14 years for me, the first 7 at another dealership, only lasted 2 weeks on cars, was diesel all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 It will be 15 years for me on April Fools Day as a professional tech. I worked at a couple indy shops and then I got a job at a Lincoln Dealer in May 1993. I felt like I got signed to the Major Leagues. I stayed there for 3.5 years an then moved to a Ford dealer. I started working on diesels on November 1997, and was the only diesel tech for about 5 years. That makes it really hard to learn. I stayed at that dealer for 11 years until I moved to the Ford dealer that I currently work at. I have been here for about 8-9 weeks. Now I work 5 minutes from home and will be riding my bike to work as soon as it gets a little warmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFreund Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Started my 5th year this past Nov. at my first and only dealership. Looks like i may have my sr. master by the end of this yr. almost all diesel repair. may have to talk to Jim about a move north,,, allways wanted to see Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hempstead Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Going on 14 years at orginal dealership and been doing diesels for the past 9 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vloney Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 31 years. Been in it long enough to have my son working in the bay next to me (cant tell you how cool that is). I never have gotten tired of it. Young guys, go into work every day with a smile on your face, and strive to be the best in your field. You'll go to bed knowing you've given it your best. Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to see that "red wire with a pink tracer" long enough to work side by side with my son and grandsons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 31 years. Been in it long enough to have my son working in the bay next to me (cant tell you how cool that is). THAT is cool! My brother works in my shop but its not the same as what you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltech Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Wrenching on Fords for 25 years between 2 dealers 22 at currant shop. 20 of those years being mostly smoker work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_E Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I started with Ford on Valentine's Day 2001, and made that fateful decision to specialize in Diesel in 2004. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crybaby2.gif It's usually an ok gig though...At least I'm busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coop Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Started Aug.21 1988 at indy shops.went to ford Oct 20 1997.off the bench now and have been demoted to service manager-i thought i drank alot being a tech.still doing my courses and am 2 class rooms from master. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 After the lobster industry started to decline on Longisland my favorite PT job ended, so I started part time in 1987 at an indy shop when I was still in high school. a few other indy shops till 1994 when I started at first dealer and diesel work till 97 few more indys till 1999 when I started at the dealer I'm at now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vloney Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Yeah, buttons are a poppin when the "veterans" come to him for advice. HMMMM.......grandsons are 11 and 10.....wonder if I can last that long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Entered the trade in and around 1995. Began and completed my apprenticeship at a Chrysler store from 1996 to 1999. Began working at my first Ford store in January 2000 as a licensed tech, at a Ford TRUCK dealer until they closed down due to Ford selling their heavy truck franchise to Freightliner. Been working on Ford CARS ever since. Just started wrenching on Diesels as a Ford certified tech in May of 2005, hoooooray for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_Puryear Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Air Force for 6 years then I started As an aprentice in Westland Mich in march of 1992. Got my Diesel certs in 96 or 97 while at a Linc dealership in San Antonio Tx. Got my first Master Cert (Chassis) in 1999 in Aransas Pass Texas, Moved to Houston in 02 but had to move back to the Corpus Christi area in 04 for family reasons. Anyway 7 dealerships in 2 states and 6 cities. Tool boxes have wheels for a reason. Been all Ford though. I got more Certification plaques then I have walls. Still working on my Dealership General Manager Certification though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Been working for the same dealer for almost 13years now started by washing cars!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselman456 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 sixteen years for me same dealer most everyone at my shop has been there for a very long time we have a realy great service manager.I was the first person to get diesel cert when we switched from lm to ford dealer. I like working on trucks without diesels there would be no work!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shlep Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 17 Years and 5 different Ford stores, all the moving around was by choice lol guess I like a differnt 4 walls to look at after awhile. Diesel mostly but I try to stay up on all aspects of things /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWiebe Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 18 years all at Ford dealerships for me. Started in parts and completed Journeyman training. Could not raise a family on a partsman salary, so i accepted a position as service advisor/warranty clerk. Only lasted 1 and 1/2 years. Started my Automotive Service Technician traning in 1994 and have had a blast ever since. Do mostly diesel, but enjoy all aspects of the trade. Crewcheif on a blown alcohol funny car on weekends during the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Mutter Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I guess it will about ten years in the trade now ,started in 1997 changed oil for 3 years,took one year off to try university,did not like that so I went back to the trades,re started at the dealer I am at right now, been about 6 years, I am happy to pull wrenches to make my living Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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