Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Automotive service technicians and mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
Automotive service technician jobs involve inspecting, maintaining, and repairing cars and trucks, including performing oil changes.
Automotive service technicians inspect vehicles for damage and record findings to make the necessary repairs; repair and adjust brakes; test repaired systems to meet manufacturers' specifications; troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems; align vehicles' front ends; test-drive vehicles and test components and systems; estimate costs of vehicle repair; and, review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
They confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems and discuss work to be performed, follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined and retrofit vehicle fuel systems with aftermarket products to enhance combustion and fuel efficiency.
Most mechanics undergo training in vocational training schools, taking automotive engineering courses or automotive design courses. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required, and most candidates need one or two years of training, involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers for an excellent automotive business manager salary.
The skills required to pursue automotive engineering courses include repairing, troubleshooting, equipment maintenance, critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, operations control and communication. In addition, they should possess knowledge of mechanical, engineering and technology, computers and electronics, and customer service.
Automotive service technicians must be persistent, dependable, and pay attention to detail to succeed in automotive design courses.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 4 Automotive Service Technician
- ITI Course Mechanic Motor Vehicle
- Diploma Mechanical Engineering
Tasks
- Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Estimate costs of vehicle repair.
- Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
- Troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems, using electronic testing equipment.
- Confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems and to discuss work to be performed and future repair requirements.
- Align vehicles' front ends.
- Test electronic computer components in automobiles to ensure proper operation.
Progression Routes
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