Auto Electrician

Henry Budd

Every time car designers come up with a new electronic gizmo for the latest model, spare a thought for Allens Auto Services auto electrician Adam Hamer.

For each new device, such as rear-parking sensors or stability control, Hamer has to take further training to learn how to diagnose and fix the new system.

To compound the problem, each manufacturer makes their system slightly different.

Hamer works as a mobile auto electrician, providing emergency road-side assistance for breakdowns and specialist advice to panel-beaters and mechanics.

“We have a computer that plugs into different cars and resets the system,” he says.

“So if your airbags go off we have to fully reset the SRS [Supplementary Restraint System].”

To keep up with the changes Hamer attends two or three training sessions each year.

“It’s getting ridiculous with all the new technology that is coming out every six months,” he says.

“We go to industry training nights such as the Institute of Auto and Mechanical Engineers, plus they distribute a monthly bulletin.”

Hamer says being a mobile mechanic allows him to work independently without having his boss scrutinising his every move.

“We do about six to 10 jobs each day, but if I need to go to the doctor or have my lunch I can schedule it in whenever I have the time.”

Hamer has a good network of friends to call on if he comes up against a car he can’t fix.

“If it’s a rare car or something we haven’t seen before it can take a while or a few phone calls to figure out what’s wrong,” he says. “The dealerships are helpful with any new systems.”

New apprentices can initially be overwhelmed by the amount of information they are required to know but it does get easier.

“Once you get into it, things start to come naturally and you don’t tend to run into so many problems,” Hamer says.

Before beginning his apprenticeship Hamer installed car alarms and car stereos.

“I was interested in the electronics that go in cars,” he says. “I thought I might as well make some money doing what I’m interested in.”

At age 24 he began his Certificate III in Automotive (Electrical) at TAFE NSW St George College. Starting his apprenticeship in his mid-20s gave him a big advantage over fellow students, he says.

“A lot of them are only 18 and have only just got their driver’s licence and and are just getting into girls,” he says.

He attributes winning TAFE’s 2007 State Medal for the highest marks of any student in his course statewide to this mature attitude.

The next step in his career is to one day open his own business. “Everyone wants to own their own business,” he says.

LOVE YOUR WORK
(Q) How did you get into your job?
(A) I asked a shop if I could have an apprenticeship there and they said  “Yes”, so I signed up with TAFE for three years.
(Q) Upside?
(A) It’s probably the problem-solving side of things. That really keeps your
brain ticking over.
(Q) Downside?
(A) If you don’t have the right information and you don’t have the answers, it can get a bit stressful.