‘Do mechanics not like money, bro?’
A Mississippi man is going viral on TikTok after venting about what he says has been an unexpectedly frustrating problem: finding a mechanic willing to install a new engine in his truck.
Jeffrey Gray (@bigj3ff) says he’s already done much of the heavy lifting himself, including buying a replacement motor for his Toyota Tundra. Even so, Gray says he’s struck out trying to find someone in central Mississippi to finish the job.
“Do mechanics not like money? Why is a good mechanic so hard to find?” Gray asks in the video, which has since racked up more than 45,800 views as of this writing.
According to Gray, the engine was delivered to his warehouse in early December. From there, he says he tried repeatedly to reach his regular mechanic—someone he claims he’s worked with before—but got nowhere.
“He don’t answer his phone,” Gray says.
After weeks of silence, Gray says he moved on and took both the truck and the motor to another mechanic he trusted.
“He’s a good mechanic, good prices and everything,” Gray says, noting that the same person had previously done transmission work for him.
But that plan didn’t pan out either. Gray says he dropped off his Tundra on Dec. 18, and by Jan. 7, nothing had changed.
“It was still sitting in the parking lot,” he says. “He ain’t even been back to the shop. I ain’t heard from him.”
In the video, Gray put out a direct call to mechanics in Mississippi who know how to install engines, stressing that payment isn’t the issue.
“It would be different if I was one of these lowballing people or something,” he says. “I got the money. I just want the motor in my truck.”
If it feels harder than it used to be to find a solid and dependable mechanic, that’s not just your imagination. As Fox Business reports, the industry is dealing with a shortage as workers continue to age out of the profession, and that shortage is starting to affect customers.
Fox reports that there aren’t enough younger workers stepping in to replace those who have already left the field. But there are other reasons why younger generations aren’t becoming mechanics as much as they used to: not only have shop classes disappeared from many high schools, but there are well-documented downsides to taking up automotive work as a long-term career.
The job itself has also changed over the past few years. Some mechanics on Reddit have complained that modern cars are far more complicated, with advanced electronics, software systems, and electric components that require constant training and expensive tools. That added complexity can be a turnoff, especially when the work is still physically demanding, and the pay hasn’t always reflected the skill required.
Unfortunately, for customers, that means they often have to deal with fewer reliable mechanics, busier shops, and longer wait times. On the flip side, for those who do stick with it, there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that demand is high.
After Gray’s video took off, viewers flooded the comments section with theories about why he’s had such a hard time getting someone to take on the job—a common refrain centered on the fact that he bought the engine himself.
“No good mechanic wants to use the engine YOU bought,” one viewer argued.
“We like money! We just don’t want the [expletive]! That motor don’t work and 100 percent you will blame the mechanic,” they wrote. “Plus, you will want warranty! With a motor you bought … nope! Won’t do it! PROVIDE PARTS AND EVERYTHING IS WARRANTIED,” another added.
Others floated a range of alternative explanations. Some pointed to timing, suggesting it’s harder to get work done over the holiday season, while others agreed with Gray’s broader frustration.
“You picked a bad time, gang, Christmas, New Years, mechanics ain’t doing nothing,” one person joked.
“They rather do a lot of quick jobs that pay the same day like brakes, starters, and oil changes,” another commenter noted.
A separate group of commenters zoomed out even further, arguing that the mechanic trade is shrinking, making skilled workers harder to come by.
“It’s a dying trade,” one commenter wrote. “We are overworked and underpaid! Not many young kids getting into the trade!”
“Genuine mechanics don’t get paid enough,” another added. “Most of the issues are small and u can solve them with little money, but loads of time just diagnosing it and u gotta hope the issue isn’t compounded with another.”
“Good mechanics always busy,” someone else chimed in.
Motor1 has reached out to Gray via a direct message on TikTok. This story will be updated if he responds.
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