Automotive Electrician

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Job Prospects
Openings 5 years to November 2019: < 5,000
Salary
Median weekly earnings: $1051 to $1300
Source
Australian Government Department of Employment 2014
Brief
Whether your vehicle's electronic fuel injection pump is on the blink or you need a new electrical alternator installed, you'll need the services of an automotive electrician.

There are currently around 300 automotive electricians employed in South Australia. Employment is largely full-time and most work in the retail trade industry. Most persons in this occupation are male and most are employed in the Adelaide metropolitan area. This occupation has a younger age profile with around a quarter of automotive electricians aged 45 years or older.

TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for: Automotive Electrician

Accredited (Award)

  • Automotive electricians install, maintain, identify faults and repair electrical wiring and computer-based equipment in motor vehicles and related equipment. This includes caravans, trailers, earthmoving equipment, mining equipment, marine applications and agricultural equipment.

    Automotive electricians also install electrical equipment such as lighting systems or starter motors, or electrically operated accessories in vehicles such as radios, air conditioners and anti-theft systems. To repair and install electrical and electronic equipment, automotive electricians need to have a good understanding of electrical wiring systems. Most drivers know how important it is to have their vehicles serviced regularly, another task handled by automotive electricians. During a tune up for instance, automotive electricians may adjust engine control systems and timing to ensure that vehicles can run at peak performance. For repair and maintenance tasks, automotive electricians need to be able to detect existing faults and foresee any near future electrical and electronic problems.

  • There are 73% who have a Certificate III or IV, 1% have an Advanced Diploma or Diploma and 21% have no post school qualification. It is recommended that you gain the available qualifications to get the best possible chance of employment.


    TAFE SA offers courses relevant to this occupation including the Certificate II in Automotive Electrical Technology and Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology.

    SA Apprenticeships are available in this occupation. For further information go to the Traineeship & Apprenticeship Services website at http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/apprenticeships-traineeships or phone the Freecall number 1800 673 097.

  • Aside from a commitment to ongoing learning, automotive electricians also need excellent customer service skills. They often have direct contact with customers, some of whom can get impatient. ''Most customers want their car yesterday,'' says Greg. On the technical side, in this job you need a sound understanding of electrical and electronic systems. A systematic and thorough approach is also a must as are good problem solving skills.

    You'll also have to be confident using hand tools, specialised electrical tools and instruments and machines such as drills, grinders and lathes. Automotive electricians work mostly from an automotive electrical workshop, vehicle dealerships or service stations. Occasionally, they may be called out to someone's home or workplace. According to industry representatives, there is a shortage of automotive electricians in South Australia.

  • Automotive electricians work with computer-controlled engine management and other systems. They service, identify and repair faults on electronically controlled vehicle systems such as electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, anti-lock braking, cruise control, automatic transmission, air bags and air-conditioning. Part of their duties is to install electrical equipment such as gauges, lighting, alternators and starter motors in vehicles as well as install electrically operated accessories such as radios, heating or demisting equipment, air-conditioners, driving lamps and anti-theft systems. They use meters, test instruments and circuit diagrams to find electrical faults. Automotive electricians also adjust engine control systems and timing to make sure vehicles are running at peak performance. They can also test, recondition and replace faulty alternators, generators, starter motors and related items such as voltage regulators and batteries and repair or replace faulty ignition, electrical wiring, fuses, lamps and switches. They use hand tools, specialised electrical tools and instruments and machines, including drills, grinders, presses and lathes. They can also solder or weld when repairing electrical parts. Automotive electricians sometimes sell and install electrical parts and accessories and install, repair and service air-conditioning systems.

  • To be an automotive electrician, you must enjoy practical and manual work. You also need to have normal eyesight and colour vision as well as good hand-eye coordination. You need to be well organised and be able to approach work in a systematic and thorough way. This occupation also requires good technical aptitude.

  • If you are looking for variety and challenges at work, you will find it in this job. According to another local automotive electrician, each vehicle has a different problem so its rarely boring at work. An increasing number of vehicles today come equipped with computerised and electronically controlled systems - everything from components in the motor to mobile phones. As a result, there has been a corresponding increase in the use of diagnostic equipment to locate electrical and electronic faults in vehicles. There is increasing pressure on automotive electricians to keep up with the introduction of new diagnostic equipment and to understand how to use it. Ongoing training and learning is critical therefore, for these tradespersons if they are to stay abreast of such changes.

    For further information, contact:

    Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (SA)
    Phone: (08) 8366 5800
    Email: info@amwu.asn.au
    Website: www.amwu.org.au

    Auto Skills Australia
    Phone: (03) 8610 2500
    Email: info@autoskillsaustralia.com.au
    Website: www.autoskillsaustralia.com.au/