The Jaded Mechanic Podcast

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In this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with Aniz Lavji to talk about shop growth, better workflow, and the value of finding your people in the automotive industry.
Aniz shares how hiring a service advisor and adding a second licensed technician helped improve customer service, reduce stress, and give him more time to focus on the business. They also discuss the challenges small shops face when big jobs tie up bays, create delays, and lead to rushed work or comebacks.
Aniz also shares how he discovered Jeff’s podcast and why attending ASTA alone became such an important experience. What started as a solo trip turned into new friendships, practical learning, and a stronger connection to the industry community.
Timestamps:
00:00 Finding Family at ASTA
00:57 Podcast Welcome and Introductions
01:26 Jeep Repairs and Shop Chaos
02:32 Hiring Staff and Serving Customers
05:17 Big Jobs vs. Easy Money
09:51 How Anis Found the Podcast
11:55 Proactive Ownership and Learning
16:05 Why ASTA Changed Everything
17:15 Walking In Alone and Meeting Jeff
20:41 ASTA vs. Vision and Real Connections
22:34 Lobby Talks and Practical Nuggets
28:29 Wrap Up and Call to Action

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Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE
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In this episode, Jeff sits down with Ben and Jenna of 3Ts Automotive to talk about mobile automotive repair, business growth, marriage, and building a business online. Ben and Jenna share the realities of running a high volume mobile business, from working in extreme heat to managing customer expectations and diagnosing vehicles on camera. They discuss their plans for a future brick and mortar shop, the challenges of growing a YouTube channel, and why staying authentic matters more than chasing views.
The conversation also covers pricing, profitability, parts sourcing, scheduling, maintenance, industry misinformation, online trolls, and the importance of supporting technicians who want to do quality work. They also share lessons on working together as a couple, avoiding burnout, staying focused on your own journey, and keeping the business fundamentals ahead of social media.
Timestamps:
00:00 Ignore Online Hype
00:36 Meet 3Ts Automotive
01:02 Heat and Going Brick and Mortar
04:23 Working With Your Spouse
09:57 Filming Real Diagnostics
11:32 Authenticity Over Views
14:35 Trolls and Teaching Values
19:12 Pricing Labor and Profit
23:34 Wild Customer Calls
32:16 No Means No Requests
33:34 Turbo Noise Request
34:14 Why Enthusiast Cars Hurt
35:46 The Never Ending Project
39:40 Parts Sourcing Reality
40:23 Friends and Family Pricing Trap
43:56 Home Shop Time Management
46:53 Hemi Truck No Start Mystery
50:16 Flexible Repair Philosophy
54:24 Maintenance First Hard Truths
59:42 Social Media Pricing Damage
01:08:03 Battery Light Surprise
01:08:52 Alternator Fix Then Stalls
01:10:42 Cat Converter Root Cause
01:11:23 Parts Quality Domino Effect
01:14:10 Parking Lot Mechanics Debate
01:17:34 Regulation and Certification
01:22:24 Building the Skool Community
01:28:21 Rage Bait and Misinformation
01:34:43 Staying Positive Online
01:40:00 Profitability and Public Perception
01:42:49 Who to Argue With
01:45:14 Quiet Supporters Matter
01:46:51 Handling Trolls Online
01:48:12 Who Deserves a Platform
01:49:57 Internet Outsiders Weigh In
01:53:36 Stay the Course
01:54:51 Working With Your Spouse
01:59:35 Mobile Life and Burnout
02:02:14 ADHD, Anxiety and Focus
02:06:08 Stop Comparing Journeys
02:08:03 Closing Advice and Growth
02:10:22 Content Second, Business First
02:13:18 Revenue Goals and Training
02:16:04 Thanks, Sponsors and Community
02:18:23 Final Sign Off and CTA

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TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7
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Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors.
Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE
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In this episode, Jeff Compton talks with Tanner Waters, a field and shop technician in rural Montana, about his path into the trade and what life is like working on tractors, combines, and hay equipment. Tanner shares his apprenticeship experience, field diagnostics, long drives, and major repairs while comparing hourly efficiency pay with flat rate.
The conversation also explores why younger technicians leave the industry, the importance of shop culture and leadership, technician communication, diagnostic time, training apprentices, and the future of agricultural equipment with autonomy, EVs, emissions, and right to repair.

Timestamps:
00:00 Shop Culture Wins
 00:34 Podcast Intro and Guest Setup
 01:45 Montana Life and Fishing Talk
 02:43 How Tanner Got Wrenching
 03:24 Corvette and Hemi Memories
 05:43 Wrangler Ownership and Oil Cooler
 08:41 Life as a Field Tech
 11:55 Winter Regens and Emissions
 13:36 From Kenworth to John Deere
 14:32 Old-School Trucks and Cabovers
 18:17 Apprenticeship Tools and Toolboxes
 22:50 Princess Auto and Canada Road Trip
 26:14 MMA Stories
 31:02 The Missing Age Group in the Trade
 32:00 The Flat Rate Gap
 34:48 Recalls and PIPs
 36:08 Why Technicians Leave
 40:54 Hourly Efficiency Pay
 51:18 Workflow Support Roles
 55:03 Technicians Selling the Job
 59:54 Pre-Authorizing Repairs
 01:04:18 Why Diagnostics Take Time
 01:09:50 Transmission Service Expectations
 01:11:05 Free Diagnostics vs. Evaluation
 01:13:08 Asking Better Questions
 01:14:07 Intermittent Turbo Faults
 01:15:19 Parts Quality Reality Check
 01:18:39 Build Quality and Technician Pay
 01:20:54 Training Apprentices the Right Way
 01:23:27 Motivation and Career Paths
 01:27:13 Turnover and Leadership
 01:32:56 Ag Tech Levels and Certifications
 01:34:08 Autonomy and Electric Agriculture
 01:38:29 EVs in Rural Life
 01:41:32 Muscle Cars and Collectors
 01:44:49 Jeep Ducks Culture
 01:45:53 The Top-Off Jeep Debate
 01:47:13 Wrangler Tops and Leaks
 01:48:26 Refrigerant Changes and 1234yf
 01:49:58 AC Repair Customer Headaches
 01:52:57 DIY Refrigerant Cans and Regulations
 01:57:29 Right to Repair Deere
 02:01:26 Technician Shortage and OTA Updates
 02:04:36 Self-Driving and Subscriptions
 02:08:54 Shop Culture and Career
 02:13:35 Events, Sponsors, and Farewell

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TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7
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Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. 
 
Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE
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In this episode, Jeff talks with Oregon technician Sean Pierce about his unconventional path into automotive repair, from car audio and alarms to trade school, ASE certifications, and advanced diagnostics. Sean shares lessons from working on exotic vehicles and Sprinters, explains why process and proper brake work matter, and discusses his shop’s hourly-plus-bonus pay structure and technician development pipeline. They also explore scan tools, hybrids and EVs, ADAS calibration, liability, parts quality, and the challenges of bringing the next generation into the trade.

Timestamps:
00:00 Trade School Journey
 00:53 Podcast Intro and Wildfires
 01:30 Farm Life and Animals
 02:58 Toyota vs. Sprinter Shop Specialties
 03:44 Sprinter Repair Nightmares
 06:55 Car Audio and Euro Roots
 10:57 Exotic Car Installs and Ferrari Stress
 12:48 Becoming a Technician and Earning ASEs
 15:52 Training Technicians the Right Way
 18:00 Pay Plans and Shop Culture
 20:21 Building a Community Reputation
 26:14 Parts Quality and Counterfeit Components
 35:26 On-Car Rotor Truing
 38:40 Hub Preparation and Brake Vibration
 41:28 Flat Rate vs. Quality
 43:05 Proper Brake Bedding
 45:56 Why Diagnostics Is Addictive
 51:33 Setting Diagnostic Expectations
 57:44 Audi S8 Diagnostic Nightmare
 01:03:49 Scan Tools and Diagnostic Resources
 01:08:38 Hybrids and EVs
 01:13:03 EV HVAC Safety Warnings
 01:14:11 ADAS and Calibration
 01:15:53 Tesla and Self-Driving Reality
 01:17:25 Calibration Liability and Pay
 01:25:07 What Frustrates Technicians Today
 01:27:49 How Passion Changes With Age
 01:31:22 Side Work and Going Solo
 01:40:15 Building the Next Generation of Technicians
 01:48:13 Two-Year Goals and Wrap Up

Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! 
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanic
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232

Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors
Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE
Launch your tool game to the next level with Launch Tech USA! HERE

In this episode, Dustin Stutzman, a shop foreman and high-efficiency flat-rate technician, shares why he left engineering for the automotive industry and how he became a master technician without a dedicated mentor. Drawing from years in dealership service departments, Dustin explains how flat-rate pay, poor dispatching, and corporate policies often discourage quality repairs and technician development. The conversation explores AI, diagnostic pay, training, dealership culture, and what it will take to retain skilled technicians in the future.

Timestamps:
00:00 Learning Without Mentors
 00:47 From Engineering to Automotive
 01:51 Work-Life Balance and Career Values
 04:45 AI and the Future of Service Advisors
 07:16 Paying Technicians for Video Inspections
 11:45 The Shop Foreman Role
 14:07 Dispatching Work by Skill Level
 17:19 Solving a Cold-Start No-Start Mystery
 23:31 Fighting for Diagnostic Pay
 24:50 Feeling Appreciated by Great Leadership
 30:00 Leaving After Pay Cuts
 34:46 Dealer Groups and Industry Consolidation
 39:48 Becoming a Chrysler Master Technician
 42:40 Life on the Training Road
 43:27 Why Dustin Avoided GM
 44:30 Diesel Emissions and Warranty Pay
 49:02 Getting Diagnostic Time Approved Upfront
 55:40 Quoting Worst-Case Repairs
 57:53 Service vs. Parts Department Friction
 01:03:41 Dispatch Roulette at Dealerships
 01:05:15 Demanding Real Diagnostic Data
 01:05:46 The Air Filter Diagnostic Lesson
 01:11:25 Old-School Electrical Diagnostics
 01:13:57 Chrysler Warranty Pay and the Neon Squeak
 01:15:19 The 40-Hour Dash Rattle
 01:16:46 Brick Road Dash Rattle
 01:17:32 One-Shot Repair Success
 01:18:06 Foam-Filled Repair Solution
 01:19:25 Why Dustin Praises Chrysler WiTech
 01:21:09 Preventive Maintenance Matters
 01:22:34 Oil Change Reality Check
 01:25:19 The Cost of Oil Neglect
 01:29:45 Training Technicians Under Flat Rate
 01:33:18 The Missing Career Path for New Techs
 01:34:39 Learning by Doing
 01:37:45 Advocating for Better Pay and Metrics
 01:41:20 Dealer Groups and Technician Burnout
 01:45:07 The Technician Shortage and Pay Gap
 01:50:16 Keeping Great Technicians
 01:53:16 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! 
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7
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