Automotive Service Technology 1 & 2

Start your engines! Nearly a fifth of all drivers are at risk of their car breaking down, this is mainly because they don't undergo basic checks. As an Automotive Service Technician, you have the abilities to change the amount of breakdowns in an efficient professional way. The majority of Automotive Services Technicians work for automotive repair and maintenance shops, and automobile dealers. They can also work as wholesalers of automotive parts, accessories, and supplies. Others found employment in gasoline stations, and home and auto supply stores. More than 16 percent of service technicians were self-employed, more than twice the proportion for all installation, maintenance, and repair occupations. Independent repair shops receive a commission related to the labor cost charged to the customer. Automotive service technicians and mechanics held about 803,000 jobs in 2004. The Automotive Service Technology class at the Elkhart Area Career Center is a two-phase program that has been certified by NATEF/ASE and AYES (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation/Automotive Service Excellence and Automotive Youth Education System). The course entails 1080 hours of instruction designed to prepare you for an entry-level position as an automotive service technician or other automotive careers. During the first year, you will be experiencing areas such as shop safety, preventative maintenance, tool usage, tire technology, brake systems, drivelines, transmissions, front/rear wheel drive versions, alignment, suspension, and steering systems. During the second year, training will continue with engine repair, engine performance, fuel systems, emissions systems, ignition systems, electrical/electronic systems, automotive service management and more.  Job shadowing and school-to-work experiences are also available to successful students in this program. The majority of the time spent in the class is hands on, and there is also some time spent with class work. Students in the class stay busy throughout the entire day with automotive related projects. The Automotive Service Technology class provides customer service in which they perform oil changes, rotating and balancing tires, and other limited types of repair for actual customers. This gives them great on-the-job experience for the future.