Automotive Refinishing and auto body collision technicians do damage appraisals, collisions, surface preparation, minor damage repairs, colour matching, masking, priming and top coating.

These technicians are responsible for the restoration of anti-corrosion treatments, substrate identification, surface preparation, product mixing and application, and accurate colour matching. Complex colour formulations created by automobile manufacturers requires the technician a skill level in both product chemistry and colour matching.

 

Automotive Refinishing and auto body collision technicians remove and install bolt-on components such as hoods, deck lids, fenders, trim, doors, automotive glass and interior components. The auto body technician involves applying refinish products in the correct sequence, ensuring chemical compatibility, adhesion and durability. 

 

Most technicians work in auto body repair shops, automobile and truck dealerships, custom shops, vehicle fleets and service stations. Many others are employed by federal, state, and local government agencies such as taxicab and automobile leasing companies and other businesses that repair their own cars and trucks.

 

Most technicians work between forty and forty-eight hours per week, but many work longer hours during busy periods. Strength, stamina and the use of proper lifting techniques required to handle heavy tools and parts. Most mechanics work indoors, in shops with good ventilation, lighting, and heat, but are usually noisy and dusty which involves exposure to many fumes.

​

​

Industry Changes

The auto body and motor vehicle body repair technician is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. With new technology on the rise from all different competitors, improving automotive knowledge will always be incredibly important.

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating systems. Current knowledge of the annual changes manufacturers make in plastics, electronics, metals, supplemental restraints and paints should be updated.

 

Over the next five years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified technicians and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

 

Automotive technology is becoming increasingly complex, so auto body technicians who have had formal training may find the most opportunities. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field, such as alternate fuels technology. Experienced auto body refinishers may advance to supervisory positions, start their own businesses or become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies.

​

Safety

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Air-conditioning and Heating equipment

• Automotive Glass

• Bearings

• Blowers

• Brakes

• Bumper Systems

• Body Panel Repair

• Computers

• Cooling systems

• Corrosion Protection

• Crankshafts

• Cylinder blocks

• Differential

• Drilling

• Engine repair

• Electrical

• Exhaust Systems

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)

• Gears

• Generators

• Heating Systems an Controls

• Hydraulic jack or hoist

• Infrared engine analyzers

• Leaks

• Machining

• Oxyacetylene Heating and Cutting

• Pistons

• Plastic Welding

• Preparation, Priming and Painting

• Pumps

• Radiator

• Refinishing Paint Identification and Composition

• Rods

• Shocks and struts

• Spray Guns

• Tire Installation and repair

• Topcoat Application (complete)

• Valves

• Vehicle Detailing

• Welding

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Air powered tools

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Bumping hammer

• Crow bar

• Dollies and Spoons

• Door skin kit

• Grinders

• Electrical multi-meter

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Interior tools

• Marten Body Hammers & Dollies

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mini pipe cutters

• Multi meter

• Needle nose pliers

• Safety equipment(goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Straight pick hammer

• Stud weld guns

• Tin snips

• TP tools body hammers and dollies

• Trim anvils

• Vertical chisel shrinking hammer

• Vice grips

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Creativity

• Decision Making

• Good colour vision

• Analytical Thinking

• Manual dexterity

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Patience

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $19.50

• Minimum - $16.20

• Maximum - $35.60

​

Sample Q&A

​

1. Which of the following should be used when refinishing a polyolefin plastic part?

a. primer surfacer

b. adhesion promoter

c. urethane primer

d. self etching primer

Ans. B

 

2. What is done when a high strength steel rocker panel is badly buckled or torn?

a. damaged area is replaced

b. entire panel is replaced

c. damaged area is hammered and MIG welded

d. damages area is repaired without heat

Ans. B

 

3. Why is fibreglass body filler used over areas where welding has been performed?

a. Hides poorly welded joints and plugs

b. easier to sand than body filler

c. does not absorb moisture

d. enhances the structural integrity of the vehicle

Ans. D

 

4. Which of the following would you use first when preparing bare metal surface for corrosion protection?

a. sand with coarse sand paper

b. clean with wax and grease remover

c. clean with lacquer thinner

d. clean with soap and hot water

Ans. B

 

5. When using light gauge material, what is the advantage of spot welding?

a. increases production speed and lowers distortion.

b. can be adapted to any arc welding power source.

c. gives deeper penetration.

d. does not require a shielding gas.

Ans. A

 

6. Why should oxy-acetylene welding or cutting never be done with the acetylene cylinder lying down?

a. Acetylene will be trapped in the regulator.

b. Acetone will flow from the acetylene cylinder.

c. Acetylene will not flow through freely.

d. Oxygen and acetylene will not mix evenly.

Ans. B

 

7. To prevent accidental deployment when removing the steering column of a vehicle equipped with an air bag, what safety measures must be applied?

a. Disconnect the multi-function switch to prevent deployment.

b. Disconnect the DERM to disable air bag.

c. Disable the air bag and lock the clock spring in place.

d. Remove the air bag module first, and set it aside for safety.

Ans. C