follow up techniques, if you will, or they don't finish the job properly.
That's what I've seen the most of.
So a good place to start is to get good at soldering.
It isn't easy.
It was so easy, everybody do it, right?
That's a big one.
All right. And another question.
Computers, what do you get for programming?
And I think I've talked about this a lot, but it keeps coming up.
My knee jerk is who's nearby or what's nearby?
What's your skill level?
I guess like, what are you going to be doing?
If you're really looking at buying a laptop
and you want it to be partitioned and you want it to be
maybe practically set up, ready to go.
Then proximity is probably out the window.
You're looking to purchase this from somebody
that just gets it all set up for you and will provide support and all that.
You could do it yourself.
You could. And how much time will you invest and effort?
And then when things go awry, you're on your own.
And I'm not saying that's good, better, nothing.
It's just the way it is.
How much of that do you want it to be on you?
And how much do you value the phone number or email to call
or email somebody for tech support and getting it and, you know,
presumably getting you up and going rather quickly?
If that's what you're after, it's really hard
not to send you to auto rescue tools and computers.
Isaac has been doing this for a while.
He's going to take care of you and get you what you need to, you know,
get you set up, ready to go, hit the ground running.
That is a really good option.
The other option I know I know I've talked about probably ad nauseam
is that I buy lots of laptops.
I pay like two fifty three hundred bucks for refurbished
currently in Lenovo's.
It's not like I wouldn't get a Dell.
It's not like I wouldn't get a gateway.
I don't know. I don't know why I don't much care for HPs.
But if you like them, computers are computers.
I tend to lean more towards Intel type processors,
personal preference, probably a bad one. I don't know.
That's what I do. I have a lot of laptops and I keep them carline specific.
I don't really have too many that have more than one carline on them,
unless I absolutely know that they're going to play nice.
And then I've learned the hard way that they play nice until they don't
play nice and then they have their own laptop anyways.
So that's what I've been doing.
I buy them all with Windows 10.
I'm probably going to be going to 11 now.
I haven't heard too much about big time conflicts just yet.
Having said that, now I'm going to get hammered with emails
telling me all about the conflicts, but I haven't heard about any of them.
And like I said, everything I have is right now is 10.
That's my advice is you kind of have to make a decision.
Do you want one or two laptops that handle almost everything?
Or do you want stacks and no, I don't have stacks.
I work in a shop, it's brick and mortar.
I have tool boxes set up with drawers that are dedicated.
You know, I got the GM drawer, the forward drawer, blah, blah.
It's got this one.
The interface in there, the laptop, the charger, ready to go.
I suppose if I was really cool, I'd have everything wired up
so that it dehumidified.
I wouldn't have toolbox to probably have cabinets or,
you know, set up with dehumidifiers and
chargers all set up that the laptops are plugged in charging all the time,
ready to go, which isn't necessarily great for the batteries,
but at least on the ones that don't kind of regulate, if you will.
Yeah, I just have them in toolbox drawers.
So that's what I do.
I don't know if that's right or wrong.
I like that if the forward laptop
tanks that I'm not out everything else
and I usually have a couple laying around
ready that I can quick install or a quick depends on what
which tool we're talking about about quick.
But there's a potential to install
the software and get up and running, if you know, you know, right?
So yeah, that's where I will call it.
I really do enjoy the emails.
I know I didn't get a chance to rattle through a whole bunch of them
this time around, but keep sending them.
Keep sending whatever questions they can be technical.
They can be personal.
They can be anything and everything you want to talk about or hear talked about.
And then again, if you want to be on, just shoot me an email
and maybe an idea or two of what you want to talk about.
And then we'll converse and get you on the show.
I would also like to take a second to mention the other shows
on the aftermarket radio network of which this podcast is a part of.
Of course, you have kind of the
know, it's Godfather, I mean, I know he likes the word Godfather
due to the heritage, but I don't know if that's technically accurate.
Almost like father would be more accurate, but at least
really one of the first, if not the first to do it.
Karm Capriotto has his remarkable results, radio podcast that's been on.
And there's so much material that covers so many topics that it's worth
perusing. And honestly, you can go to the website.
You can go on to the aftermarket radio network dot com.
And you can search each one for topics that you prefer.
And then, you know what, scroll through and look at some of the topics
that you wouldn't initially think you'd prefer or be remotely interested in
because you might find out you're very interested in it.
Another really good one that I don't think enough of us could listen to
is Business by the Numbers by Hunt Demarest.
There's such good information.
He's CPA only works with repair shops.
Yes, that sounds like that would be only for owners and managers.
There's a lot of content and information in there that we as
mechanical and technical specialists should be aware of and should know.
And there's some that are just aimed at us.
You have the weekly blitz with Chris Cotton.
You have the auto repair marketing podcast with Brian and Kim Walker.
And then bring it up the rear.
You know, what can I say?
Not only is he the FNG, but, you know, also it's like training wheels.
Craig O'Neill with Speak Up.
It's about communication.
I don't know about you.
I get tired of hearing about communication.
Just kidding.
It is a really, really good podcast.
Don't tell him I said that, though.
It's head just swells right up.
One of these weeks, you're going to see I'm on that podcast.
But luckily, luckily, he brought a ringer in his brother, Sean,
who is the real deal.
I mean, Sean was on there and he has the real deal.
But Craig is also the real deal.
It's just rocking fantastic.
That's what I will say.
And with that, I would like to thank you very much for listening.
Thank you for 200 episodes.
It's humbling.
I think that's the best word is humbling.
And I really, really appreciate the listening and supporting
and so many different things.
Yeah, the feedback, all of it.
Thank you so much.
And I would really, really like to thank our sponsors,
NAP Autotech Training and Pico Technology
for really helping make this all possible.
Really, they do like most vendors do at trade shows, right?
I don't know if they get enough credit.
They really don't.
And then the Aftermarket Radio Network for letting me do this,
even Tracy, so, you know, a bit of a shout out for her.
She does a lot of work on this podcast.
Somebody's got it, right?
All right, thank you so much again.
And until next time, take care.
You've been listening to Matt Fonslow,
diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z on the Aftermarket Radio Network.
Follow Matt on your favorite listening app.
He's very interested in what you have to say.
Let him know what you'd like him to cover and come on the show.
Matt is all for advancing the Aftermarket.
Find Matt Fonslow on social media and connect
or on AftermarketRadioNetwork.com.
About this episode
Celebrating 200 episodes, Matt Fonslow reflects on the journey of 'Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z.' He shares insights gained over the years, including the diverse nature of the automotive repair profession and the importance of continuous learning. Notable moments include discussions about mental health in the industry and the value of quality tools and training. Listeners can expect engaging anecdotes, responses to listener questions, and a look ahead at future topics and guests, all while emphasizing the community's support and feedback.
Welcome to the 200th episode of Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z! In this milestone episode, Matt reflects on the journey of recording weekly shows for nearly four years straight. He shares listener questions, personal insights, and some of the most surprising lessons learned along the way.
From the variety and complexity of the automotive repair profession to the humbling stories that stick with him most, Matt highlights how much this industry continues to evolve and inspire. He also digs into some technical listener questions, offering advice on:
Getting started with module repair – training resources, tools, soldering practice, and ROI considerations.
Programming laptops – buying pre-configured systems vs. DIY setups, pros and cons of “stacking” car-line specific laptops, and what works in a real-world shop setting.
And, of course, Matt acknowledges the community of listeners, colleagues, and friends who have made reaching this milestone possible.
Key Takeaways
200 episodes in perspective: What stands out most isn’t just the content, but the incredible variety within the automotive field itself.
A jaw-dropping insight: Depression in men often manifests as anger—a lesson that reshaped how Matt views past shop dynamics.
Module repair basics: Start with training (Mike Christopherson, Kevin Sutter, Keith Perkins) and practice kits; avoid skimping on tools—buy once, cry once.)
Programming computers: Choose between convenience (pre-configured laptops from Auto Rescue Tools) or flexibility (multiple inexpensive refurbished systems).
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training
NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.
Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology
Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!