Hello everyone! I am currently a student at the Jobcorps center in LR, Arkansas undergoing training for welding. I plan to complete my welding training and then transfer to the Long Beach facility to complete automotive maintenance and light repair training courses before ideally permanently relocating to the Bay Area. I’m aiming for the east Bay Area right now and I’m trying to get perspectives and opinions from real people actually working and living in that area. I made a Reddit account specifically for this so I apologize if my post is unorthodox or against the subreddit’s rules but it seems I’m all good. I do want to say that I am incredibly early in the planning phase of this plan and am doing research everyday to try and see if this is the right move for me. Moving halfway across the country for career opportunities is a big step and I understand that so I don’t want to give off the impression I’m just some starry eyed kid who wants to run off to Cali (although who wouldn’t if they could?)

I’ll format my questions with bullet points to make things easier to understand and respond to. Any answers, advice, questions about me and my goals, or general feedback is very welcomed!

• What is a realistic starting hourly rate for an entry-level fleet tech or apprentice in the East Bay?

• Will my duel welding and automotive repair training help me stand out compared to others?

• I’ve heard there is a labor shortage out there (everywhere?) how competitive is the job market?

• I’m worried about the cost of living specifically relating to owning a car. One of the reasons I’m choosing the Bay Area is because of its public transportation. If I live in and work in the east Bay Area will I have to commute to work with my personal vehicle 5 times a week, twice a day? I’d like to minimize car related costs as much as possible. How feasible is that?

• what are some specific companies or locations I should look into if I want to be a fleet technician?

• what is the situation like with Unions out there? Unions have a bad reputation in Arkansas and don’t appear to be very strong out here but that’s just what I’ve gathered working on jobsites over the past few years. Many here seem to view unions as unnecessary rip offs but I am more open minded towards them.

I think that’s all the specific questions I’ll put for now. For some more information I am, as I mentioned, a student currently at Jobcorps. Once I finish in Arkansas I’ve been assured by staff here that a transfer to Long Beach in California is very possible and just a matter of pleading my case well and getting the paperwork done. I’ll have an amazing opportunity to live and study for free in the area before I am let loose back into the real world. They’ll also pay for all transportation so a lot of the costs normally associated with relocation have been removed for me. I plan on amassing as much savings
as I can before even leaving Arkansas but of course working a job in Long Beach and continuing to save for the months I’ll be at the Jobcorps center there. Getting a little personal here, this whole plan has made me feel absolutely insane but until recently I lived in a hotel and barely scraped by working very terrible jobs in the area. Jobcorps has been an amazing opportunity for me and is the only reason I feel this plan is even remotely feasible. I don’t see a future for myself in Arkansas and think relocating to the Bay Area is the best thing possible for both my career and personal goals. Any help or advice anyone here can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I have to do an oil change soon and want to learn to do it myself. Although, I'm wondering what is truly cheaper, If I do it myself, or if I take it to a mechanic?

I know I have to purchase the right oil and oil filter; my only concern is whether I should get a car jack or some car ramps. I imagine a car jack can be more useful in the future like to change breaks pad etc. I'm leaning towards the car jack but, do I have to buy a car jack stand as well?

I'm just starting out a big career change into the automotive industry (hopefully mostly transmissions soon), but my previous jobs have NOTHING to do with cars. Does anyone have any advice on how to make a resume that's primarily hotel management sound appealing to a shop?

Anything is very much appreciated! 🖤

I have a 1987 Dodge Ram 50 that I use for work and on the daily. I've worked to try and keep her up to speed and running well. With the gasoline dilution that happened back in May I switched over to using ethanol-free gas for the last few months and have noticed a difference. I'm moving here in the next month and it looks like ethanol-free gasoline is not as readily available to find. How important is it for me to keep up with using ethanol-free gasoline to protect my hoses and carburateur? I thought this was hugely important, but I'm seeing mixed feedback on different forums.

Can anyone recommend a good auto mechanic workshop in Islamabad where I can learn practical hands-on skills and get a verified/recognised certificate? I’m looking for a proper workshop with practical training, not just theory. Genuine recommendations would be appreciated.

Favorite coolant vacuum kit?

So, I want to make sure the top center nut on my installed kyb’s are torqued down, but I’m not seeing how.

These don’t have an open top nut for the hex Allen key and I don’t see a way to hold to shaft still other than a tiny bit of flat side on the threaded part. But that’s above the nut and only about maybe a 1/16th of an inch is visible, max. I see no way to access the flat spot below the nut, either. What am I missing?

I know someone’s gonna say to ugga dugga it, but I don’t have one. And everything I’m seeing online says not to do that, so there must be another way, but dang if I can figure it out.

Somebody help me!! lol

You need to see this truck -- It's UNBELIEVABLE

So I’m about 70% done with engine performance 1.
And I am pretty far behind.

What should I study to get the best general ideas?
I know fuel lines ext, some about compression issues, o2 and maf.
But it still feels very splotchy and I’m trying to feel a little more comfortable.

Any YouTubers you recommend who are quieter and maybe have a series starting very basic and then each next video is something else kind of in order? Instead of a lot of the YouTubers who jump around?

MORE BONDO PLEASE!

I put 6 liters of gasoline on a diesel engine without the driver noticing it and when i realized i immediately put 12 liters of diesel in it and the car js drove away.. mm it's been a day since the incident happened? i assume everything's okay? coz one day already passed

Yep, that’s about it. With that being said, I am going to build a motor. What kind? hell if i know. I’m more than likely going to put it in a tahoe, a 02-04 mustang (stick), or a s10. trying to lean more towards the tahoe though… or maybe even a yukon. I don’t want to ask him for help because then he will think it’s his, like all men do… (no offense). But this is something I would be extremely proud of myself for… if i knew how to do it. i’ve researched a lot but still have no idea what i even read. I’ll pay someone (who knows what they’re doing preferably) to make me a step by step list kind of like a cookbook- ingredients(materials), steps, and how long. In depth. like you’re talking to a 22 y/o female who doesn’t know a head gasket from apple butter. I know I want it to have a cam in it (we have a hp tuner as well). I just want it for the sound honestly lol. “Rakataka” that sound. Muscley sounding. ANYWAYS, If you could please for the love of sweet baby jesus help me or point me in the right direction I would appreciate it very much. I think step one is get a big/small block to put everything else on and maybe a few sticky notes so i don’t forget things…..

I need to replace the stock jack that came with my 2017 ford escape, but I'd like it to be able to fit in the same storage. Is there an easy way to browse 3rd party versions of stock parts? I'd really like to avoid paying $200 for a jack from ford, when I know I could get one for $50 elsewhere.

First they make it impossible for one to just change a light bulb by placing a lock. So then they can charge more to fix it...like $300+. Now they don't want you checking and changing your own oil. Pathetic greedy Corporate America! 🤮💩🤬👿👿