Ya I did a stint in a Ford garage too just at the time when they where having a lot of cylinder head problems on the early Zetecs, ya that was fun lumping those things around.

Ya didn't know what car make or model you where talking about, I mean if it was a handle from a 7 series beamer for example you have to strip all the eletronics out, nightmare job.

Ya ECU's can fail at any time, especially when they're new, the early Vauxhall ECOTEC eletronics systems where a nightmare, had ECU's, Air Flow meters and wiring loom problems not to mention the engines, if the cam belt goes on one of them, its more than the valves get damage, it warps the head, takes out the valve guides, damages the pistons and all sorts of damage, its was actually cheaper to replace the head and at the time that was £2.5k per unit.  The cambelt trouble was found to be caused by fault belt tensionors and there was a massive replacement program must have cost Vauxhall and small fortune so it begs the question why they fitted sub standard parts in the first place, total false eccomony.

Ya totally agree there is a huge difference between fitters and mechanics, not worked with fitters myself but yes replacing tyres and exhausts is not exactly brain surgery.  In my opinion mechanics are just as important and should be as well paid if not better then most office workers, you have to fault find and work to a tight deadline, its a high skilled job and taken for granted most of the time.

The average sized or small garage can work on these cars when the manufacturers release the data, it just cost them a packet for the equipment and then having to keep updating it.  I hate to say it but I think we'll see a lot of smaller garages going over to MoT and fitting stations as its quick and easy money and leave the eletronics to the main dealers, that will be a said day, but I think its coming.

Sorry my early comment about knowledge was a general one, not aimed at anyone.