Automotive Electrician - Tasks and specialisations
Kaimahi Hiko a-Waka
Tasks & duties
Automotive electricians may do some or all of the following:
- discuss faults with customers
- use diagnostic equipment to locate electrical and electronic faults
- carry out tests to diagnose the faults
- record other potential faults the diagnostic test equipment tells them are likely to occur in the future
- repair and replace automotive electrical systems such as charging and starting systems
- repair and replace electronic systems such as engine management systems, airconditioning systems, ABS brakes, air bags, electronically controlled gearboxes and vehicle computers
- fix problems on instrument panels such as speedometers, and fuel and oil gauges
- install mobile entertainment systems such as car radios and CD players
- install car security systems
- carry out vehicle engine tune-ups
- ensure hazardous substances are disposed of appropriately and Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) requirements are met.
Jo ann Roberts inspects the electrical systems on a fire engine
Steven Flett selects a car battery
Specialisations
Automotive electricians may choose to specialise in areas such as fuel injection systems, computer repairs or working on certain types of vehicles. They may also move into working in hydraulics or crash test dummy testing.
Updated
September 2009
