Introduction to Automotive Repair

• Introduction
• Where Do I Start
• What Will I Learn
• Advice for the Beginner

Next Section Overview of Automotive Systems
The men and women who pioneered the development of the automobile 100 years ago could never have imagined how the automobile would revolutionize the world. In those days long ago, automobiles were rare, luxurious toys owned only by the wealthy. Today, automobiles are owned by ordinary people everywhere and are generally considered to be a necessity of life. Unless you live in a major metropolitan area with a large public transportation system, you probably rely on an automobile to get to work, school, the local shopping mall, and just about everywhere else. The use of the automobile is so widespread that today, in United States, there are approximately 200 million registered automobiles on the road. This is an average of about 1.07 cars for every licensed driver!

What do these statistics mean to you? Well, think about all those automobiles, and then think about all the people who depend on those cars to get them to work, school, and to stores. Since most people don't work on their own cars at home, this means that they'll rely on you, the auto technician, to keep their vehicles in running order. Auto repair shops are regularly filled with customers who need the services of skilled technicians. Every one of those 185 million vehicles will require regular maintenance as well as frequent repairs. Proper maintenance is so important to a vehicle's operation that, typically, an auto manufacturer's warranty won't apply to a car unless the owner performs the recommended maintenance. Therefore, even if we lived
in a perfect world where no part ever failed and no car ever broke down, there would still be abundant servicing opportunities for trained auto technicians. Of course, in the real world, cars break down every day, and these repairs represent still more earning opportunities for you.

The average person spends about $1,400 per year on fuel, maintenance, and insurance for his or her car. A large part of that $1,400 goes directly to an auto repair technician to pay for maintenance and repairs. When you multiply that amount by the current number of licensed drivers, you can quickly see that auto repair is a huge business.

Auto technicians are seldom out of work, and excellent career opportunities are available to highly trained and skilled technicians. The better your education and professional qualifications are, the better your chances will be to advance rapidly in this lucrative industry. The automotive repair field is not only big it's continually growing. It provides an opportunity to earn a good income and offers many
chances for personal advancement. You can work at the automotive repair trade in any area, 365 days a year, there are no seasonal or regional restrictions on the job. Professional auto technicians enjoy the benefits of job security, interesting work, and a wide variety of different employment opportunities. If you enjoy fixing things and working with your hands, you'll find personal satisfaction in the ability to repair vehicles on which others depend. A check of the classified ads in your local newspaper will no doubt indicate the many job opportunities available for skilled auto repair technicians in your area.

Remember, your customers will place their trust in you, the person who keeps their vehicles safe and reliable. For this reason, talented auto repair technicians are always in demand and are respected by everyone who owns or operates a vehicle.