Okay, this isn't DSM specific, but I thought some people might be interested. I just landed a job as a "test technician" for one of CAT's contractors. I'll be handling warranty claims for defective parts.

Now comes the hopefully interesting part. I get to tear down and inspect turbochargers all day long. It's a little piece of heaven for me. They showed me the shop area, and there were about 25 Garrett turbos sitting on this bench with housings the size of dinner plates , and another bench with a few turbos smaller than a t-25 (for bobcats mainly).

Well, sorry to bore anyone with this, but I think it's a cool opportunity to learn A LOT about turbos and hopefully bring some of that to the DSM scene. Oh, and by the way, for any non-believers out there, CAT's #1 cause of failed turbos is contaminated lube. Change that oil, boys!

What facility are working at?

I'll be employed by ATS, and the turbo shop is actually on N. University. I thought I would be at the Tech Center in Mossville, but they misinformed me.

Congrats. How many ATS employees are on here now, 3?

Who else works for them?

Spy and myself

Do you guys throw out the old "worn" turbos instead of rebuilding them? if so....what kind of a project would it be to install onto a mitzu?

Um.........no. They go back to the manufacturer for engineering examination. The turbos aren't "worn" their failed. Meaning roached bearings, turbine ate a screw, ect. And our engines would spin that turbo about as fast as a ceiling fan, and that's about it. Thanks for playing.

OWN3D by the Goat!

who else would come to a DSM site and sport a pic of their Ranger instead of their DSM?

I did a spell at ATS from June 98 to April 02. The Techcenter for the first year and then AD in EP. Just thought that I would share...

Congrats on the job...Turbos sound more fun than the computer side of the biz.

Actuallly, thats PWN3D.........
And to TotalEclipse:
Sorry if that came across a little harsh. I sounded funny when I wrote it, but it sounds mean when I read it. Just havin a little fun.

Yeah let's make fun of the guy that doesn't know everything about turbos.

GOSH!
i'm going to go play tetris!

s'ok Goat...i wasn't sure about the turbos...you said some where garretts.

Well, are there any openings at this ATS? I'm looking for a career in all the wrong places and this sounds somewhat promising.

Yeah, they've got a bunch of different openings in all kinds of fields. Go here and check it out.

Well, that stinks. The only openings in Pontiac (same city I already work in) require four year degrees. I live East of Bloomington about 15 miles and travel 30 miles one way to work as it is. The only other close openings are Morton (for the Help Desk) which would be a heck of a drive from my place. If only I could live in Peoria.

If you think you can do the job, go ahead and apply. My job "required" a 2 or 4 year degree in automotive technology, and I don't have any degree. Experience is king, my friend. Plus, they save your profile online, and if a matching job opens up, they email you. That's how I found out about my job.

Yeah, so it's been three weeks since an interview that ended with the words "congratulations" and "good luck", and I haven't heard a damn thing from ATS. You fellas working there have any input on this? Am I to be worried, or is this a normal silence?

Trust me, with ATS you will always be the last to know. In the time that I was there I saw a lot of people transferred or asked to cover another area and it was always a last minute thing even if mgmt knew for a few weeks. I never appreciated the ole' "hey we need you in Pontiac tomorrow for the next three days, sorry we didn't tell you sooner " With the job that you are doing for them you might not see that as much though.

My prediction is that you will get called on a Friday morning and be asked to start on Monday. There might be a chance that it would be a Thursday but we will see. Let us know when you get that call...