Will Rickett

• Name: Will Rickett

• Age: 48

• City of residence/years in area: I have lived in Olivehurst for more than four years.

• Occupation: Automotive technician

• Employer/years employed: I work for John L. Sullivan Dodge Chrysler. I started working there in September 2006.

• Training/certifications: I am a certified tech with Chrysler since 2003, and I received my ASE certification in 1998.

• Years in the automotive industry:

I began working in my father's repair shop in 1996 and am a second-generation mechanic.

• How did you get your start in automotive? When I first started out, I was told that to get the girls, you had to have a hot car. But I soon found out that girls don't like the smell of gas.

• What is the biggest problem facing the industry today? Proper maintenance. Today's vehicles need more than just a occasional oil change. Some vehicles have up to seven different types of fluids, so it is vital to have your car maintained at the proper times.

• Where do you see the industry going in the future? Alternative fuels. Now all the hybrids are cool, but they're just not cost effective to build and maintain.

• What is the most common problem with the vehicles that need to be serviced? The cooling system is the most neglected system in the vehicle. Modern-day vehicles need to maintain proper temperature for maximum fuel efficiency.

Also, with the with all the new, high-tech equipment that people put into their vehicles, such as mp3 players, navigation systems and hands free mobile phones, the battery and the battery posts need to be check on a regular basis.

• In recent years, what has been the biggest breakthrough in the auto body industry? Chrysler's lifetime warranty

• What is the hardest part of your job? Keeping my job. Cars today don't have as many problems as they did in the past. Believe it or not, they are making cars better today than they ever have.