Trends in the Automotive Service Technician Trade
Technology
There are ongoing improvements and new technology in ADAS that are available in most vehicles being manufactured today. These systems can significantly improve vehicle safety by incorporating key driving assistance functions such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking (AEB), and several others. Automotive service technicians need to be knowledgeable of the vehicle-specific sensors used in ADAS and how to recalibrate them when performing maintenance and repairs.
More complex and powerful vehicle management systems are being used in today’s vehicles. Technicians need to understand these new systems and how modules communicate to operate the various systems on the vehicle.
Hybrid and EV HVAC systems, depending on the manufacturer, are becoming more advanced in their design and technology. Technicians need to refer to vehicle-specific service information for these new technologies before working on these systems.
Vehicle communication networks integrate multiple systems such as safety, suspension, steering and braking. A well-developed understanding of a range of technologies is required. This includes audio system and vehicle monitoring through satellite communications, new styles of automated braking systems [collision monitoring braking systems (CMB), adaptive cruise control], lane changing and parking assistance (blind spot detection, backup cameras), dual clutch transmission (DCT), complex communication networks, gasoline direct injection (GDI) and autonomous driving systems.
Health and Safety
Automotive service technicians must be aware and knowledgeable of the safety protocols, procedures, tools and equipment, and specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) required while diagnosing, maintaining and repairing high voltage systems.
Tools and Equipment
Many repair shops have had to invest in costly tools, equipment and safety equipment (e.g., manufacturer-specific special service tools, high voltage battery lifts, testing equipment) for work on new vehicle systems and components such as hybrid and electric vehicles and ADAS.
Oscilloscopes (particularly PC-based scopes) are once again becoming a popular tool to quickly and accurately diagnose vehicle system faults. Modern accessories such as pressure transducers, inductive current probes, and vibration sensors broaden the number of uses for oscilloscopes in automotive applications. These accessories and leads can be used to inspect data bus communication, pinpoint noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) concerns, test various vehicle system sensors, and also non-intrusively verify engine mechanical issues such as cam to crank relationship, relative compression, and in-cylinder compression.
Environmental
Technicians must be conscious of the detrimental effects of hazardous materials (including lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries) on workers and the environment as well as being informed on the relevant regulations regarding their proper recycling and disposal. Transport of these materials must be done according to Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) legislation.