SO YOU WANNA BE AN AUTO MECHANIC?
AMPM Automotive • October 1, 2021
SO YOU WANNA BE AN AUTO MECHANIC?
First of all, good choice! We completely understand why someone would want to spend their days (and some nights) underneath the hood of a car. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss the realities of life as an auto mechanic. It may seem pretty glamorous, but there’s definitely a moment or two when we’ve had to get our hands dirty. Seriously, repairing cars is the greatest job in the world. But let’s just be frank about why it’s the greatest job by exploring what it’s actually like to be an auto mechanic.The People Person
If you’re someone who loves spending their weekends working on their car, rebuilding engines, changing your own oil, etc., you’d probably make a good auto mechanic. However, you may enjoy the solitude of this type of vehicle maintenance. The life of an auto mechanic is anything but that. Not only are we typically part of a team, but we must be able to handle customers’ questions, concerns and repair needs. Everything that the auto mechanic does is for the vehicle owner’s benefit, not their own enjoyment of working on cars. If you’re not a “people person,” you should become one in order to be an effective technician.The Fortune Teller
Part of the auto technician’s job is to be a fortune teller. Many customers will visit your repair shop with a question about what is happening under the hood. That means that they have a question or concern, and they’d like to know what could happen to their vehicle in the future. It’s not too different from a doctor who warns their patient about what can happen if they don’t stop certain unhealthy behaviors. As an auto mechanic, a lot of your job will be sharing your experience with the customer so that they can make a better decision about auto services. These important conversations will usually happen during routine maintenance services and inspections.The Specialist
When you’re an auto mechanic, you can’t just love working on the vehicle parts that you like. For instance, performing brake repairs may be really exciting to you, but you might not like A/C repairs. This is not good enough for a full-service auto repair shop. To be a successful auto mechanic, you need to be able to approach services to every system like you’re a specialist. That doesn’t mean you can’t actually be a brake repair specialist, but your knowledge and experience should never be limited to just the components you like.What to Expect Everyday
The work of an auto mechanic is definitely physically demanding, so if you’re expecting a lot of downtime, you might want to think about a different career. And surprise, you’re gonna get dirty! Our customers need their vehicles fixed as soon as possible, and we want the same thing. Since the automotive industry is constantly changing, so is the auto repair industry. Auto mechanics need to stay abreast of the latest technologies and make sure their team is equipped with the best tools of the trade.Discover expert engine repair services at AMPM Automotive in Rockville, MD. Enhance your vehicle's performance today! Schedule an online appointment now.
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If you're buying a used vehicle, bringing one into Maryland, or transferring a title, you're going to need a Maryland state safety inspection before the MVA lets you register it. At AMPM Automotive in Rockville, we're a certified inspection station. We inspect passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks under 10,000 lbs, and non-commercial trailers. Here’s what to know before you schedule. 🗓️ When Do You Need a Maryland Inspection You need a safety inspection if: - You're buying a used vehicle from a private party - You're moving into Maryland with an out-of-state vehicle - You're transferring ownership outside your immediate family - You're re-registering a vehicle that's been sitting a while The MVA won't issue plates without a valid inspection certificate 🚙 What Vehicles We Inspect We inspect: - Passenger cars - SUVs and light-duty trucks under 10,000 lbs - Trailers under 20 feet without air brakes We do not inspect motorcycles, commercial trucks, or trailers with air brakes 🔍 What’s Included in the Inspection Maryland inspections are detailed. Here's what we check ✅ Main Areas We Inspect 🛑 Brakes Pads, rotors, parking brake, hoses, master cylinder ⚙️ Steering and Suspension Ball joints, tie rods, control arms, shocks, bushings 🛞 Tires and Wheels Tread depth, damage, sizing, lug nut condition 💡 Lights and Electrical Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights, tag lights, hazard lights, horn 🪟 Windshield and Wipers Visibility, cracks, wiper blades, washer spray 🪞 Mirrors Both side mirrors and the rearview mirror 🔩 Exhaust Leaks, mounts, muffler condition 🚗 Frame and Underside Rust-through, fuel tank mounts, body damage 🪑 Interior Safety Items Seatbelts, horn, odometer, speedometer, door latches, dashboard lights 🚛 Trailer Inspections Tires, lighting, hitch, frame, brakes if equipped 🕶️ Maryland Tint Laws for Inspection We use a meter to check tint on your windows. If it's too dark, the car will fail Legal Tint Limits in Maryland: - Front windows must let in at least 35 percent of light - Rear windows can be darker if both side mirrors are present - Windshield tint is only allowed on the top strip above the AS1 line - Not allowed: mirrored or colored tint like red or amber We can check the tint before starting the full inspection if needed ❌ What If the Vehicle Fails You’ll get a digital inspection report by email showing exactly what failed and why Then you have: - 30 days or 1000 miles - To make the repairs - And bring it back to us for a recheck We only recheck the failed items. If it's something small like a bulb or wiper, we can usually fix it on the spot 💵 How Much It Costs - Most passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs: $135 flat - Trailers: depends on brake setup and axles - Reinspection: no charge for visual checks. If we need to lift the vehicle or use tools, we charge time only Labor rate is $160 per hour using state-regulated inspection time guides ⏱️ How Long It Takes - Cars and SUVs: usually 1.5 to 2 hours - Small trailers: 30 to 60 minutes - Trailers with brakes: up to 90 minutes Drop it off or wait—we’ll text or call when it’s ready 📃 How Long the Certificate Is Good For - Valid for 90 days from the inspection date - 6 months or 1000 miles if it’s held in dealer inventory After that, a full new inspection is required 📍 Schedule an Inspection at AMPM Automotive We follow Maryland law exactly, no games, no fluff. If it passes, it passes. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you why and what to do next AMPM Automotive 11800 Coakley Cir, Rockville MD 20852 (301) 822-4694 Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM Book your inspection online: https://sgenie.io/bvcy9 ❓ Maryland Inspection FAQ 🔧 Can a car fail for window tint Yes. If the front tint blocks too much light, it's an automatic fail ⏳ What if I miss the 30 days or 1000 miles You'll need a brand new full inspection 🚚 Do you inspect motorcycles or diesels No. We only inspect passenger vehicles, SUVs under 10000 lbs, and non-commercial trailers 📝 How do I get the inspection report You’ll receive the full inspection sheet digitally by email right after we complete the inspection
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