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Career Details

49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics


Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
739,900
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
779,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
+39,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+5.3%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Tear down, repair, and rebuild faulty assemblies, such as power systems, steering systems, and linkages.
  • Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
  • Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.
  • Plan work procedures, using charts, technical manuals, and experience.
  • Maintain cleanliness of work area.
  • Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
  • Tune automobile engines to ensure proper and efficient functioning.
  • Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
  • Repair and service air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, and electrical systems.
  • Disassemble units and inspect parts for wear, using micrometers, calipers, and gauges.
  • Change spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and batteries in hybrid electric vehicles.
  • Overhaul or replace carburetors, blowers, generators, distributors, starters, and pumps.
  • Repair or replace parts such as pistons, rods, gears, valves, and bearings.
  • Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels.
  • Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.
Generic
  • Repair or rebuild transmissions.
  • Retrofit vehicle fuel systems with aftermarket products, such as vapor transfer devices, evaporation control devices, swirlers, lean burn devices, and friction reduction devices, to enhance combustion and fuel efficiency.
Supplemental
  • Rebuild parts, such as crankshafts and cylinder blocks.
  • Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.
  • Diagnose and replace or repair engine management systems or related sensors for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) with ignition timing, fuel rate, alcohol concentration, or air-to-fuel ratio malfunctions.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 94%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 72%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 67%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 65%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 64%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Mathematics
  • 58%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Administration and Management
  • 57%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Education and Training
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 53%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Design
  • 51%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Transportation
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • 2-channel lab scopes
  • Alternating current/direct current AC/DC inductive current clamps
  • Alternator testers
  • Ammeters
  • Capacity testers
  • Circuit testers
  • Clamp-on multimeters
  • Continuity testers
  • Ignition module testers
  • In-line ignition spark testers
  • Multimeters
  • Ohmmeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Spark plug testers
  • Test lights
  • Voltmeters
 Forming tools
  • 3 pound sledge hammers
  • 5 pound sledge hammers
  • Anvils
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Brass hammers
  • Claw hammers
  • Dolly blocks
  • Hammers
  • Picks
  • Plastic tip hammers
  • Soft face hammers
  • Wheel weight hammers
 Gas analyzers and monitors
  • 5-gas emissions analyzers
  • Catalytic combustion analyzers
  • Exhaust analyzers
  • Portable exhaust analyzers
  • Refrigerant gas analyzers
  • Refrigerant identifiers
  • Smoke machines
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Alignment wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
  • Antenna socket sets
  • Ball joint separators
  • Bearing pullers
  • Box end wrenches
  • Breaker bars
  • Chain wrenches
  • Clutch wrenches
  • Combination wrenches
  • Crescent wrenches
  • Dent pullers
  • Filter wrenches
  • Flare nut wrenches
  • Gear puller tools
  • Gear pullers
  • Gear wrenches
  • Hand pullers
  • Hex keys
  • Locking wrenches
  • Nut drivers
  • Offset brake wrenches
  • Oil filter wrenches
  • Open end wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Power pullers
  • Ratcheting box wrenches
  • Ratcheting gear wrenches
  • Ratchets
  • Screw extractor sets
  • Screwdrivers
  • Slide hammers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Socket wrenches
  • Straight blade screwdrivers
  • Torque wrenches
  • Torx keys
  • Torx screwdrivers
 Pneumatic tools
  • Air chisels
  • Air drills
  • Air hammers
  • Air sanders
  • Air wrenches
  • Butterfly air wrenches
  • Impact guns
  • Pneumatic chassis lubriguns
  • Pneumatic drills
  • Pneumatic orbital sanders
  • Pneumatic wrenches
  • Sandblasters
 Compressors
  • Air compressors
  • Air conditioner chargers
 Power tools
  • Angle drills
  • Buffers
  • Circular saws
  • Electric drills
  • Flaring tools
  • Grinding equipment
  • Heat guns
  • Impact wrenches
  • Polishers
  • Power drills
  • Power grinders
  • Power sanders
  • Power saws
  • Reciprocating saws
  • Rivet guns
 Computer displays
  • Anti-lock braking system ABS/air bag scan tools
  • Auto scanners
  • Automotive on-board diagnostics scanners
  • Diagnostic code readers
  • Graphing scanners
  • Modular diagnostic information systems
  • Scan tools
 Pumps
  • Antifreeze recovery equipment
  • Freon recovery equipment
  • Vacuum pumps
 Industrial trucks
  • Auto body dollies
 Marking tools
  • Awls
  • Scribers
 Batteries and cells and accessories
  • Battery chargers
  • Battery jump starters
  • Battery load testers
  • Battery/alternator testers
 Fluid mechanics equipment
  • Battery hydrometers
  • Brake bleeders
  • Hydraulic bleed tools
  • Pneumatic fluid evacuators
  • Pressure brake bleeders
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Bolt cutters
  • Center punches
  • Deburring tools
  • Hacksaws
  • Hose cutters
  • Nibblers
  • Pin punches
  • Punches
  • Razor knives
  • Shears
  • Taper punches
  • Utility knives
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Bore gauges
  • Calipers
  • Dial calipers
  • Dial gauges
  • Dial indicators
  • Feeler gauges
  • Micrometers
  • Spark plug gapping tools
 Vehicle servicing equipment
  • Brake cylinder hones
  • Brake drum lathes
  • Brake rotor hones
  • Computerized suspension analyzers
  • Engine cylinder hones
  • Engine stands
  • Frame racks
  • Front end alignment equipment
  • Jack stands
  • Lug wrenches
  • Rotor/drum brake lathes
  • Spark plug sockets
  • Strobe wheel balancing systems for heavy vehicles
  • Tire changing machines
  • Valve seating equipment
  • Wheel alignment machines
  • Wheel balancers
 Prying and bending tools
  • Brake line flaring tools
  • Pry bars
 Braking systems and components
  • Brake shoe tools
  • Brake tools
  • Disc brake pad spreaders
  • Shoe retaining spring tools
 Metal cutting tools
  • Cable cutters
  • Exhaust/tail pipe cutters
  • Metal cutting taps
  • Tube cutters
  • Tubing cutters
 Body tools
  • Carbon scrapers
  • Scrapers
  • Spoons
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Chain hoists
  • Forklifts
  • Hoists
  • Jacks
  • Transmission jacks
  • Winches
  • Workshop cranes
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Clutch holding tools
  • Combination pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • External snap ring pliers
  • Hand clamps
  • Insulated pliers
  • Internal retaining ring pliers
  • Locking C-clamps
  • Locking jaw pliers
  • Long nose pliers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Radiator hose pinchoff pliers
  • Strap wrenches
  • Tongue and groove pliers
  • Vises
 Computer data input devices
  • Code readers
  • Computerized scanners
 Vehicle testing and measuring equipment
  • Coil testers
  • Ignition testers
  • Tire pressure gauges
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Cold chisels
  • Flat files
  • Single-cut mill saw files
  • Stickleback rasps
  • Wire brushes
 Non destructive examination equipment
  • Combustion leak detectors
  • Leak detecting diagnostic smoke machines
  • Leak detection smoke machines
  • Light emitting diode LED leak detector lights
  • Ultrasonic diagnostic kits
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Compression analyzers
  • Compression testers
  • Cylinder leakage testers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Computerized engine analyzers
  • Handheld computer diagnostic equipment
  • Leak detectors
  • Mechanics' stethoscopes
  • Oxygen sensors
  • Refrigerant leak detectors
  • Revolutions per minute RPM gauges
  • Timing lights
 Welding and soldering and brazing accessories
  • Cutting torches
  • Gas welding equipment
  • Oxyacetylene welding equipment
  • Spot welding kits
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
 Pressure measuring and control instruments
  • Diesel modulator shift testers
  • Engine oil pressure testers
  • Fuel pressure testers
  • Manifold gauge sets
  • Oil pressure gauges
  • Vacuum gauges
 Metal drilling machines
  • Drill presses
  • Workshop presses
 Cleaning equipment
  • Gasket scrapers
  • Power washers
  • Steam cleaning equipment
 Dispensing tools
  • Grease guns
  • Oil injectors
 Paint applicators and painting accessories
  • High velocity low pressure HVLP spray guns
  • Paint sprayers
 Hydraulic presses
  • Hydraulic presses
 Metal bending machines
  • Hydraulic shop presses
  • Tubing benders
 Temperature and heat measuring instruments
  • Infrared digital thermometers
  • Infrared thermometers
  • Non-contact thermometers
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Laser levels
  • Tape measures
 Transportation related equipment and instruments
  • Laser photo tachometers
  • Tachometers
 Computer printers
  • Laser printers
 Electronic and communication measuring and testing instruments
  • Light emitting diode LED circuit testers
  • Mini circuit testers
 Welding machinery
  • Metal inert gas MIG welders
  • Plasma cutters
  • Shielded arc welding tools
 Hearing protectors
  • Protective ear muffs
 Safety apparel
  • Protective gloves
 Safety footwear
  • Safety shoes
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering irons
 Suspension tools
  • Steering wheel column pivot pin pullers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Alliance Automotive Shop Controller
  • Amcom AUTOS2000
  • Blue Streak Electronics Buell Diagnostic
  • CODA Engine Analysis System
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Hunter WinAlign
  • Mainsaver Asset Management
  • Mitchell OnDemand5 Manager
  • Nexiq Tech HDS Suite for Palm
  • Scott Systems MaxxTraxx Pro
  • Snap-On ShopKey
  • SPX/OTC Genisys ConnecTech PC
 Data management and query software
  • AutoZone ALLDATA
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Database software
  • Genisys Fast Fixes
  • Online service manual database software
  • Recordkeeping software
  • Technical manual database software
  • Vehicle management software
  • Work order management software
 Business function specific software
  • Estimating software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Network applications software
  • Internet browser software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Scheduling software
  • YouTubeHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
New River Community College
Patrick & Henry Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College