We live in a day where job titles are getting a makeover to make them more appealing and politically correct. Secretaries are becoming administrative assistants, stewardesses are becoming flight attendants, and hairdressers are now stylists. So when you take your car in to get fixed and you are confronted by an auto technician, is this merely an auto mechanic hiding behind a vamped up name?
Just in case you weren’t sure, the answer is no. There are several differences between auto mechanics and auto technicians. One key difference is their area of expertise. Auto mechanics are very handy at fixing a variety of parts in your car. Auto technicians are trained to be able to interact with the computers in your car to diagnose the problem.
With the introduction of OBD II (Onboard Diagnostics generation 2) in 1996, car designers began using computers within your car to monitor systems operations. These computers could be hooked up to special equipment at the dealership, and used to discover what was wrong with the car.
As these systems became more complex, so did the training required to work with them. This need created the Auto Technician. Auto technicians are trained especially to work with the computers and the compatible equipment to discover the problems in your car.
While an auto technician’s specialty lies with handling the technical, computer aspects of your vehicle; an auto mechanic is more equipped to handle the mechanical aspects of repair. Additionally, an auto mechanic will likely be able to work on several different types of car while an auto technician, with his specific field of training, tend to be more specific in brands, makes and styles.
Can both get the job done? Yes. Yet if you have specific questions and specific concerns, knowing who you are speaking with can help you get the facts quicker.
WOW! Thanks…. I was going to post a question, but reading this took care of that and more.
thanks to your efforts in elaborating the two but for the case of LDC countries like mine Uganda, technicians are multipurpose.
thanx for elaborating the difference ….
Thanks for clearing that up for me. Now I need to decide which way to go. Thank you.
am very much grateful for the insight
Good information, but I have always thought that the difference is a mechanic can fix it but a technician can find the cause and of course no why it did fail, then put it back together of course.
It’s good to know that a technician is specially trained to work with the computers in cars. Since so many cars nowadays have computers in them, it sounds like most repair shops should have both mechanics and technicians. In my opinion, that seems like the best way to make sure that the shop can handle any repair job.
Most of the day tech and mech are ONE you have to learn by buying the scanner to read the problem but dont trust the scanner what it tell you is just a guide we’re the problem, coming from. Some garage say replace the sensor without looking some other part that Cause the problem. You can fixed the problem but you have to fixed what causing the problem..
I am currently a student at OTC my course of study is automotive technician. I was about to change my course of study. I didn’t have a clear understanding or even any knowledge that there was a difference until I read this. Thanks so much for explaining it. Now I know I am on the right career path. In the future we will need way more technicians than mechanics.
This article isn’t all correct there’s two different types of technicians. There’s your automotive service technician which is trained to diagnose a problem and suggest repairs then there is the Automotive Technician which IS your friendly ol wrench pusher mechanic. I’m currently going to school to be a mechanic and we tear apart our own cars piece by piece to see what makes them tick as well as perform repairs or rebuilds on dealership customers.
Ok I am learning a lot on this website page I will be attending technical school on January 1st 2018 The reason I want to become automotive technician or automotive mechanic ..I am tired of mechanics ripping me off and the problem still occurs With my vehicle .There is a lot of good information here for me to understand And apply it to my studies of automotive technician I probly will open me up a shop or 2
I found it very helpful that you explained that auto technician’s help with the computer aspects of your car. My current car has a chip key which I thought was something that a local mechanic could help with. In the future, I plan to get my car to an auto technician for any key replacement issues.
I am an ASE Certified MASTER MECHANIC not a Technician. Technicians specialize in a certain Field such as Emissions, HVAC (Air Conditioning), Brakes, Etc. whereas a Mechanic understands what makes all the systems operate and can Diagnose/Repair as necessary. Technicians generally will follow a Diagnostic Trouble Tree or a Diagnostic Scanner/Tool directions without always knowing why. A Mechanic “Knows Why” and in many cases can diagnose more accurately and quickly than a Technician. Furthermore a Mechanic thinks “Outside the Box” that “Trouble Trees” do not always address and He/She will create other testing or simulations to confirm or eliminate the results from Diagnostic Trouble Trees.
Acquiring the Skills and Knowledge to be a MASTER MECHANIC doesn’t happen overnight or through a 2 to 3 Year Trade School education. It takes dedication to understand Physics, Electron Theory, OHMs and Kirchhoff’s Laws, Volumetric Efficiency, Mean Effective Pressures, Exhaust Gas Chemical creations, Pressure/Temperature coefficients, Etc. with combined years of practice and application. Generally speaking, the MASTER MECHANIC Knows the Automotive Systems Bumper to Bumper.
The term “Mechanic” lately has been associated to a Lower Level of experience and competence with many cases deemed as having Lower Intelligence.
I believe since the word “Technician” seems to have a better “Ring” to the ear than “Mechanic”, it has been substituted as the Technician qualifications are better than a mechanic.
What is the difference between a Doctor and a Blood Technician. Would you rather go see a Doctor or a Technician for the highest qualifications.
Thanks for the great information about mechanics and technicians. Taking a large diesel engine into a mechanic seems like the best option since it’s mostly mechanical. At least, that’s what I think it is. I’m not sure if there’s that many electrical systems in the engine.
This site is very helpful and very informative this will help a lot of people
Thanks for pointing out that a technician and mechanic are different. As you mentioned, the first one handles the computers of the car while the latter handles the parts of the car. I guess I need to see a mechanic because the engine is the one with a problem. It started having leaks which I just noticed this morning before I went to work.
Oh great! This is such an informative that can be very helpful.
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What a great article. I certainly learned a thing or two from reading it. You know if you are not on Instagram, you should be. I know you can’t put text up, but just throw in a few pics and build an audience there. I think you’d find a ton of people who would be super interested in your blog here.
I took my car to two different automotive shops staffed with ASE technicians. The first shop put a new CV axle on my car, but said they noticed a transmission fluid leak coming from around the place where the CV axle goes inside the transfer case. The technician said he believed the transfer case was cracked and said I should take it to a transmission shop which he recommended. I took it to the transmission shop he recommended and they (technicians) hooked my car up to a computer, and they concluded that my car needed $4,000 + in transmission repairs. What the HELL!!! I then took my car to a mechanic shop my buddy highly recommended. The mechanic used his “mechanical knowledge “expertise of cars and found out that the fluid leak was coming from a $7..00 torn, rubber transfer case seal. The mechanic showed me how he looked at my CVT for signs of fluid leaks, then the transfer case, and lastly he noticed fluid leaking from where the CV axle connects to the transfer case. Why the hell a technician couldn’t find it… expertise in automotive mechanical knowledge . The mechanic told me that his shop has both mechanics and technicians. Mechanics are worth their weight in gold! I will never take my car to a place the uses only technicians to diagnose a problem. Thank you for posting this thread.