Kyle Chapman is a Tinker expert and ASC-certified mechanic in California. After working at a Toyota dealership and then as a Tesla mobile service technician, he discovered a passion for teaching as a full-time automotive instructor at the General Motors Service Technical College. He now brings that passion to Tinker, helping and teaching DIYers all over the country.
When I was just starting out as a mechanic, I still had a lot to learn so I was disappointed to find that many of the other technicians weren’t interested in helping me learn and get better.
That’s one of the reasons I became a Tinker expert. I understand how challenging it can be to work on a car and try to figure things out without someone with more knowledge and experience to lend a hand. Now, I can be that helping hand for DIYers learning to fix their car themselves.
I want my years of experience as a mechanic, combined with my teaching and customer service experience, to be valuable to DIYers of all skill levels, especially beginners.
For instance, just recently a novice DIYer was changing his engine’s spark plugs for the first time and called Tinker for advice. After a few minutes, I realized he didn’t know anything about spark plugs, including where to find them in the engine.
No problem, I explained everything he needed to know and worked with him every step of the way. And when we were done, he was elated. It’s always a blast watching someone experience the pride of fixing their own car.
I’ve also gotten a lot of calls from perfectly knowledgeable DIYers that just lack the experience a certified technician has gathered over the years. Usually, they need help with a specific problem along the way.
For example, another of my Tinker callers was having trouble getting a bushing into a lower control arm. I suggested he lube the metal part of the bushing’s top and tap it with a hammer, and since Tinker is a live video app, I was able to watch him follow my instructions. It slid right in. He had been fighting it for an hour and a half, and I helped him get it done in just a few minutes.
I’ve also helped quite a few callers who just want a knowledgeable second opinion on their situation. Some callers are DIYers who want to ask an expert if they’re approaching a repair correctly and safely before they start turning wrenches, which is a good idea. I’ve also received calls from professional independent mechanics looking for a second opinion on a diagnosis or a repair they’re performing on one of their customer’s cars. Tinker can play that role as well.
Other callers have asked me to diagnose the problem with their car and educate them on the required repair before they bring it to the shop to get fixed. This helps them avoid getting overcharged or having work done that’s not really needed.
With Tinker, that valuable second opinion is just a quick video call away.
Being a Tinker expert is incredibly fulfilling because it gives me the opportunity to share my passion and expertise with new "students" across the country every day. I get to help them save time and money while enhancing their DIY skills. As a professional automotive instructor, I can honestly say there's nothing more rewarding than that.