What Do Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles. They also install equipment and accessories, such as stereos, navigation equipment, communication equipment, and security systems.

Other tasks include:

• Inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters.
• Cut openings and drill holes for fixtures and equipment, using electric drills and routers.
• Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.
• Diagnose or repair problems with electronic equipment, such as sound, navigation, communication, and security equipment, in motor vehicles.
• Run new speaker and electrical cables.
• Confer with customers to determine the nature of malfunctions.

We asked Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters. They replace and clean electrical or electronic components.

A typical day for an Electronic Equipment Installer and Repairer of Motor Vehicle will also include:

• Estimate costs of repairs based on parts and labor charges.
• Install equipment and accessories, such as stereos, navigation equipment, communication equipment, and security systems.
• Run new speaker and electrical cables.
• Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.
• Confer with customers to determine the nature of malfunctions.

We asked some Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	52% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	97% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	32% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	84% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians also build fiberglass or wooden enclosures for sound components, and fit them to automobile dimensions. They may also replace and clean electrical or electronic components.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians Diagnose or repair problems with electronic equipment, such as sound, navigation, communication, and security equipment, in motor vehicles. They might also Record results of diagnostic tests.

In addition, they Inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Remove seats, carpeting, and interiors of doors and add sound-absorbing material in empty spaces, reinstalling interior parts.

To some Motor Vehicle Electronic Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Electronic Equipment Installer and Repairer of Motor Vehicle, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/installation-maintenance-and-repair/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers.htm

http://www.eta-i.org/

http://www.iscet.org/