PDI, short for pre-delivery inspection, is a mandatory inspection that has to be done on all new vehicles coming off the truck before they hit the lot. Every car dealership has to perform a pre-delivery inspection, and it is paid for by the vehicle manufacturer. A PDI varies from model to model but generally includes the same inspections. The vehicle manufacturer pays up to three hours for completing a PDI depending on the vehicle systems and if block heaters are to be installed or not.

When cars are sent to us from the plant, some fuses are intentionally left out and are up to the technicians to install during a PDI. This is because during shipping, they don’t want any systems such as security, interior/ exterior lighting, horns, entertainment systems, SRS systems and others to have power during shipment. This is because these systems draw power, and a car can be in transport for up to three months if coming from overseas. This is done for safety reasons and to maintain battery power. Also, tire pressures are set high (60psi) at factory, and have to be lowered to specifications (35) to obtain the fuel economy they are rated for. Here in Canada, we face very cold temperatures and need to plug vehicles in to help start them in the cold. Due to low population in comparison to other countries, car companies have very low sales percentages in Canada. As a result, block heaters are something that are not installed at factory; it is up to the dealership that receives the vehicle.

The things mentioned above are a few basic tasks that are to be done during a PDI. The list is quite long. To sum things up, we are looking for anything the factory has missed, failed to tighten or any flaws in workmanship. We are also looking for damage to vehicles’ undercarriage, body (paint, scratches) bent or broken parts that could have happened during shipment. We are to set up, test and make sure every car accessory is operable and that includes a 5-km road test. I just started doing PDI’s the last couple weeks and look forward to each and every one.

As of December 16, I have completed my final level as an apprentice. It feels good. Four years of classroom book work and on-the-job training as an Automotive Apprentice and I am almost a journeyman. I write my Red Seal exam in mid-January 2012 in hopes to be fully licensed in the early new year.

As a journeyman, I go on a flat rate pay system. Basically, I get paid by job instead of hourly. Flat rate is the book time that a job such as replacing front struts, for example, should take according to the manufacturer and is what the shop can charge a customer. Front shocks normally would be about 1.3 hours or so to complete. So, I would get paid 1.3 hours to complete the task.

Flat rate can have its advantages and disadvantages. An advantage is that a good technician is quick and can beat the book time in completing the job. For example, if I have done a lot of these struts and know some shortcuts, I get them done in 30 minutes. Even though I did them in 30 minutes, I still get paid 1.3 hours. In an eight-hour workday you can make a lot more, because you could make 12 hours, or 14, or even more in a day. This system allows you to make good money if the shop is busy. A disadvantage is that if I took longer than 1.3 hours, maybe two or three hours to complete the job, I still only get paid 1.3 hours. You can have bad days and in eight hours, you may have only made four hours of pay or less. The book time is also what the shop can charge a customer for labour by law. Shop rate is $105/hr so 1.3 hours is roughly $130.

Ever wonder how exactly a key turns a lock? It’s something previously I didn’t know anything about. In fact, I never even knew you could rebuild them - actually take them apart, and replace each individual tumbler and spring. Pretty simple when you break it down, that is, after I had done a few. The first one I rebuilt was quite the chore. Each tumbler is numbered and is placed in a specific spot according to the cut of the key. What makes it fun is that there are tiny little springs underneath the tumblers. If you’re not paying attention, you end up with a pile of tumblers in front of you when you remove the key, like the picture below. I spent a few hours trying to figure out where they went so they key would work again so that I could get the proper codes and build a new tumbler to fit the key. That was my first one. I have since rebuilt a few more and they go a lot smoother than my first.

I had a few problems where the key would not lock or unlock the doors, and in some cases wouldn’t even go into the lock. Turns out we can rebuild and replace tumblers. I took the tumbler apart to find that one little spring was bent, not allowing one of the 12 tumblers to fit the key. I rebuilt the lock by replacing all the tumblers and the key worked perfectly. The tumblers are very tiny I might add. About a centimetre and the springs are about a millimetre or so. It can become frustrating at times but like they say, practice makes perfect.

Hello all!

I apologize that I have not posted anything for quite some time. For 10 weeks, starting in April 2011, I was attending my Power Electrician courses at Red River College. I am proud to announce that I have successfully completed my third level of training! I am scheduled to complete my schooling, which is the fourth level, in April 2012. I am very eager to find out where I will be permanently situated within the trade once I am finished in school.

I am currently stationed at the Pointe du Bois Generating Station, which is situated on the Winnipeg River. It is approximately half an hour east of Lac du Bonnet. The station was established in 1911, and celebrated its centennial year in October 2011. The equipment is old, but is very educational to work with.

Most recently at Manitoba Hydro, I have agreed to join a Women in the Trades mentoring program. I have been paired with another woman in the same field as me, and am acting as a mentor. It is a new experience, and one that I am constantly learning from.

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable holiday, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year! Thanks again for reading.