Apex Tech Nation

A young woman pays a shop $1,000 for spark plugs and ignition coils on her 2016Ford Escape. Two days later the check engine light is back on and they're tellingher she needs a whole new engine.

Anthony Calhoun (25-year ASE Master Technician) and Craig Tomczyk (19 years in thetrade) break down three real stories that every car owner, technician, and fixed ops manager needs to hear.

In this episode:

Story 1 — A 2016 Ford Escape owner gets charged $1,000 for plugs and coils, thengets told she needs an engine. We cover what the misfire actually was, the knownEcoBoost coolant intrusion problem, why Ford has extended coverage on it, and theone thing on that spark plug that should have stopped the job cold. Plus: what acustomer should do when the repair order doesn't match what the shop is saying.

⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/s/vRqbfgvbNY⁠ 

Story 2 — A technician gets offered a job at a used car shop paid on a 1099. Craigexplains why that arrangement is illegal in most states when you're working insomeone else's building, what happens to your liability when you're not covered bytheir insurance, and when a 1099 actually does make sense in this trade.

⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/s/PtusgEEMGO⁠ 

Story 3 — A six-month tech at a tire store gets sent to pick up tires by his boss,then finds out the police are looking for that boss over stolen customer deposits.We get into how a bad manager puts an entry-level tech in legal jeopardy, plus a20-year-old warranty fraud story involving an alternator, a Suburban, and a repairorder written on a customer's car that was never in the building.

⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/s/2E9FjavLKz⁠ Find Craig here

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk-a1020a121/

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00:00 The stories in this episode00:29 She paid $1,000 and still needs an engine02:31 The paperwork doesn't match what the shop is saying02:58 "Plugs and pray" — throwing parts at a misfire03:45 Are technicians actually worth $120,000 a year?04:34 The EcoBoost coolant problem and Ford's extended coverage07:25 The basic diagnostic steps that got skipped08:40 The spark plug that gave the whole thing away09:09 What a misdiagnosis costs the shop, not just the customer09:45 30 stacked repair orders and the triage system that fixed it11:31 Story 2: offered a 1099 at a used car shop12:27 Why a 1099 in someone else's shop is illegal in most states13:24 The liability nobody warns you about13:45 "It's a huge red flag. Run."15:36 When a 1099 actually makes sense in this trade17:27 Story 3: sent to pick up tires, then the police showed up20:04 The boss was stealing customer deposits21:58 Six months in and already a bad experience23:40 Warranty fraud: an alternator, a Suburban, and a fake repair order26:11 Should technicians and advisors wear body cameras?29:21 Send us your stories30:27 APEX Tech update and wrap

In this episode, we break down why the industry is bleeding young talent, how green service advisors can win over skeptical flat rate mechanics, and whether entry level express techs should start stacking up on high end tools.Earning Tech Respect as a New Service Advisor: An inexperienced advisor asks why the bays treat him like an outsider and how to sell repairs without feeling like a scammer. Anthony and Craig unpack the flat rate technician mindset and outline the four golden rules for front desk staff: respect tech time, don't be lazy, take pride in work quality, and educate yourself on what you sell. https://www.reddit.com/r/serviceadvisors/s/q2e5aPBUxu 

The Express Tech Tool Strategy: A Toyota express technician living at home asks if he should spend his extra cash buying cordless tools, digital torque wrenches, and tool truck equipment before moving up. We discuss evaluating tool Return on Investment (ROI), avoiding tool truck debt traps, and why building a cash "tool fund" beats financing chrome early in your career. https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/s/OH6lLaY70D 

Why Dealerships Can't Find or Keep Technicians: We react to a viral post exposing how dealerships hire lube techs into main line bays with temporary guarantees, only to abandon them to sink or swim on flat rate without real training. We discuss the 50% two year industry exit rate, the collapse of real apprenticeship programs, shop safety hazards, and why non-working shop foremen are critical for keeping shops profitable. https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/s/6LiARILxo9 

Find Craig here https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk-a1020a121/

Check out the Nation https://apextechnation.com/

Want to be a guest on the Podcast? Fill out the form on our Podcast page. https://apextechnation.com/podcast

Also take out Voice survey to tell us your feedback on the industry.

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00:00 - Welcome & Host Bios (45+ Years Combined Master Tech Experience)

01:27 - Topic 1: New Service Advisor Struggling with Tech Respect & Sales Numbers

04:36 - The Flat-Rate Mindset: How Advisors Accidentally Waste Tech Money

11:15 - Overcoming the "Scammer" Feeling & Educating Yourself on Repairs

19:22 - Topic 2: Should Express Lube Techs Buy High-End Tools Early?

21:50 - Calculating Tool ROI, Tool Truck Traps, and Building a Cash Tool Fund

34:10 - Topic 3: Why Dealerships Can't Find or Keep New Technicians

36:53 - The 50% Two-Year Industry Turnover Rate & Short-Term Guarantees

40:00 - The Death of Apprenticeships & Why Management Throws Techs to the Wolves

45:00 - Dangerous Shop Incidents & Hiring Without Proper Training

50:41 - Why Non-Working Shop Foremen & Mentorship Programs Save Dealerships

Welcome back to the Apex Tech Nation Podcast. In Episode 12, Craig and I dig into a few stories and conversations making their way around.We discuss a 2025 Mustang GT with a blown engine at only 6,900 miles. The owner says the dealership wants authorization for a $6,700 engine teardown before moving forward with the warranty claim. We look at the situation from the technician and dealership side and talk about how something like this should be handled.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ford/s/Yq2EHeGBPg Then we get into new car features that sound great on paper but owners end up barely using or wishing they never had in the first place. We talk about options Craig and I think are nice, and a pass.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/s/hcLK7Xk5hH 

Finally, we discuss something every technician and blue collar worker needs to think about: a bad back at only 31 years old. We talk about what years of working on concrete, bending over cars, lifting, and beating up your body can eventually do to you and why taking care of yourself early matters.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/s/rpimeMBFhd  Find Craig here

And check out Apex Nation with our AI Diagnostic Assistant and Trainer

00:00 Introduction & Show Welcome 01:10 2025 Mustang GT Engine Blows at 6,900 Miles 03:20 Dealer Demands $6,700 Upfront Teardown for Warranty 04:55 Moving to a Second Dealer & Warranty Approval 06:40 Technician Breakdown: The Reality of Ford's Warranty Process 19:10 Features That Sounded Amazing But Ended Up Useless 21:30 The Terror of Self-Parking Systems 24:10 Phantom Braking & ADAS Calibration Nightmares 25:10 Over-Engineered Gimmicks: Moving Consoles & Power Seats 29:50 The Calibration Crisis in Body Shops 31:50 Blue-Collar Nightmare: Bad Back at 31 & Transitioning Off the Floor

In this episode, we break down why today’s cars are breaking down in alarming ways, are they reliable? A terrifying real world brake pad failure shortly after a shop visit. Plus, we dive into the boiling point hitting service advisors and mechanics across the industry and what it's going to take to fix a broken system. 

• Key Topics Covered: 

• Is there a reliability crisis hitting modern vehicles? 

• A shocking failure: Investigating a recent brake pad failing out post-shop visit 

• Why service advisors and mechanics are hitting their absolute breaking point 

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAMechanic/s/dUvXNLJtZo  
Crazy pad story  
 
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/s/iSkmiHERDy  
Vehicle reliability over the years  
 
https://www.reddit.com/r/serviceadvisors/s/EbT7A9xpi6  
It’s not just techs that’s getting burned out. 

(0:00) Introduction & The Bizarre Brake Pad Failure(14:08) What Is Really Going On with Vehicle Reliability?(28:35) Service Advisor Burnout: Where Is the Limit?

In this episode we welcome Craig as Apex Tech Nation Co-Host and dive into 2 stories we all have probably seen and one that will make you think WTH!

Interior Panels & Broken Clips: We break down the brutal learning curve of an emergency vehicle upfitter who keeps accidentally snapping clips and among other things while running wires, and how to survive the first months on the job without sinking your career. Classic thrown to the wolves.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMechanics/s/02PCBS5vcb The Front Desk Civil War: A service advisor's CSI scores are tanking because an angry tech is leaving grease everywhere and skipping oil resets out of pure spite or just forgetting? We talk about why you can't protect bad behavior and when it's time to get management involved.

https://www.reddit.com/r/serviceadvisors/s/P2k4AJoHId The $4,500 Paycheck Heist: A technician gets handed a payroll deduction form because a manufacturer kicked back a warranty transfer case claim. We expose why unethical chargebacks are destroying trust in the dealership model and why this is a massive red flag that would have 99% of techs walking out.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/s/DewuoyzScK You can find Craig here.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk-a1020a121/

And make sure you check out the Apex Tech Nation.

In this episode, I'm joined by special guest Craig Tomczyk as we discuss three topics that every technician can relate to.

First, we share ASE test tips that have helped us throughout our careers and offer practical advice for technicians preparing for their next certification.

Next, we talk about the state of the automotive industry. With so much doom and gloom surrounding the technician shortage, we discuss where we still see opportunity and why we're optimistic about the future of this profession.

Finally, we dive into 13,000-mile maintenance. We discuss what should actually be inspected, common misconceptions, and how technicians can provide value during routine maintenance visits.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk-a1020a121/

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/s/5RUjZpal9Q 

https://www.reddit.com/r/nissanfrontier/s/p6EKFfaoO5A.I.

Diagnostic Assistant At Apex Tech Nation.

Two tech-related nightmares: a customer discovers technicians taking their car on a 20-mile joyride on dashcam, and another deals with a loose drain plug backing out right after a dealership oil change.

In this episode, we break down these massive failures from three critical perspectives: the customer, the technician, and the shop’s leadership. How does a shop tolerate a joyride? What really happens behind the scenes when a tech drops the ball on a drain plug, and how does proper training prevent it?

Have you seen a shop handle a nightmare like this perfectly—or completely blow it? Drop your perspective in the comments.

Find Craig at https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk-a1020a121/

Apex Tech Nation https://apextechnation.com/

The Joy Ride https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/1tud8vh/dealership_took_my_solterra_on_an_extended_drive/?share_id=EHGpNHxkdrOt_JIEeh_v4&utm_content=2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

The Drain Plug

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMechanics/comments/1rtk3rc/car_ruined_by_dealer/?share_id=LnyOGPjbEBHms3mfyo_L0&utm_content=2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

This week I'm joined by Craig Tomczyk ASE Master Tech, L1/L2 certified, with nearly two decades in the bay across auto, diesel, and heavy duty for a real tech to tech conversation.

First up: should the automotive service industry require a license? Craig brought this one to the table, and we get into both sides whether licensing would raise the floor, or whether it just adds another barrier in an industry already fighting a labor shortage. Two master techs, no corporate talking points.

Then we break down a car fire that supposedly happened after a dealership service visit and the alleged coverup that followed. We walk through it the way techs actually think: what could really cause a fire like that, what a shop should never do, and why "cleaning up the scene" is the worst move you can make. (Speculation only we don't know the full story, and we say so.)

Find Craighttps://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tomczyk

Check out the Nation

apextechnation.com

This week we're covering several topics that every automotive technician can relate to—from a tragic accident in the industry to protecting your body and improving your diagnostic process.

In this episode we discuss:

-The tragic death of a 24-year-old tire technician who was fatally crushed by a vehicle, along with the safety lessons every technician should remember.

-Taking care of your knees and why waiting until you're in constant pain may be too late.

- How thermal cameras can become one of the most useful tools in your diagnostic toolbox.

- Why we're seeing more and more faulty control modules in today's vehicles.

These are real conversations from the shop floor, shared from the perspective of a technician who's spent decades in the industry.

Built By A Tech. For Techs.

If you enjoy these discussions, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share the podcast with another technician.

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Before you get mad at me for saying this, just hear me out. My buddy owns a barbershop and he can't hire anybody to fill a chair unless they're licensed. Meanwhile we're working on cars that hold people's families and we don't need anything. I'm a master tech with 5 ASEs to recertify this year. I'll do it because that's the standard. But should our industry have actual licensing? Even for the guys coming in to rotate tires and change oil? https://apextechnation.com/