How long does it generally take to learn how to repair large vehicles?
4 Answers
It generally takes about two years to learn how to repair large vehicles. Introduction: A saloon car refers to a vehicle designed to transport people and their personal belongings, with seating arranged between two axles. Including the driver, the maximum number of seats does not exceed nine. Generally, saloon cars emphasize comfort, focusing on the passengers. They also prioritize fuel efficiency, opting for engines with moderate horsepower, small displacement, and low fuel consumption. Structure: The body structure of a saloon car mainly includes the body shell, doors, windows, front sheet metal components, interior and exterior decorations, body accessories, seats, as well as ventilation, heating, cooling, and air conditioning systems. For trucks and specialized saloon cars, it also includes the cargo box and other equipment.
When I was learning to repair heavy-duty trucks, it took me over two years before I dared say I could work independently. At first, I spent six months at a technical school learning the basics—engines, chassis, electrical systems—all from textbooks. The real learning started when I entered the repair shop and worked as an assistant to the master technician. Just practicing disassembling and reassembling transmissions took three months to build up wrist strength. Heavy-duty truck parts are bulky and cumbersome, completely different from repairing small cars. New technologies like high-pressure common rail and aftertreatment systems also required specialized training. The old-timers used to say the carburetor era wasn’t this complicated. I’d recommend getting an intermediate certification in heavy truck maintenance—it gives you an edge in job hunting. Looking back now, learning on the job was the most effective, and tackling tough problems was when I improved the fastest.
Repairing heavy-duty vehicles is something that can't be rushed. The most skilled apprentice I've seen still took 18 months. The first three months were basically spent handing tools and cleaning parts, and only gradually were they allowed to touch the diesel system. The key is to follow the right mentor—a good master is willing to teach you how to read fault codes, like how to distinguish between a clogged urea pump and injector pressure leaks. During the day, you're tightening bolts with greasy hands, and at night, you have to memorize circuit diagrams—DENSO and Bosch systems operate completely differently. Specializing in trailer maintenance can be faster; air suspensions and ABS faults are relatively easier to handle. Nowadays, diagnostic tools are used more, but the real skill of identifying engine noises still takes time to hone.
It really depends on who you learn from. When I was an apprentice in a logistics fleet, my mentor directly threw a maintenance manual at me and told me to memorize the parameters first. The preload force for heavy-duty truck wheel hub bearings is ten times more precise than that of passenger cars, and even the torque wrench has to be hydraulic. Just practicing clutch plate replacement took half a month—the clutch springs on trucks are incredibly strong. Later, when I started working with new energy hybrid tractors, I had to learn everything all over again. The battery pack maintenance course alone took two weeks. I recommend preparing at least two years for systematic learning. Being able to repair diesel engines is just the foundation—now you also need to understand DPF regeneration and electric power steering systems.
