Automotive electrician
An 8-step path to becoming an automotive electrician: battery and airbag safety, reading wiring diagrams, starting and charging, lights, horn and wipers, sensors and ECUs, CAN networks, car air conditioning and installing electronic accessories properly. You can then work at auto-electrical garages, dealers or accessory shops. Suits logical people who enjoy electronics.
Start here
Step 1: Battery, airbag & 12V safety
One short lesson per step, 10–15 minutes on a phone. No sign-up needed.
Hands-on roadmap
Roadmap
- Step 1Lesson
Battery, airbag & 12V safety
Disconnect the negative terminal first and wait before working near airbags; avoid battery shorts that burn or start fires; never reverse polarity when jump-starting; protect ECUs from static.
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 2Skill
Reading wiring diagrams & using meters
Automotive wiring symbols, connectors, wire colours and grounds; measure voltage drop rather than just continuity; use test lights, current clamps and handheld scopes for intermittent faults.
Requires: Battery, airbag & 12V safety
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 3Skill
Starting, charging & battery drain
Test batteries, starters, alternators and regulators; fix no-crank and charge warning lights; measure parasitic draw with the car off to find overnight battery drain.
Requires: Reading wiring diagrams & using meters
- Step 4Skill
Lights, horn, wipers, locks & air conditioning
Repair lighting circuits, relays, fuses, window and lock motors; car AC: compressor, magnetic clutch, temperature sensors and condenser fans; recharge R134a or R1234yf with proper equipment.
Requires: Starting, charging & battery drain
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 5Skill
Sensors, ECUs & scan tool diagnosis
Crank and cam position, MAF, oxygen and ABS sensors; read live data on Launch, Autel or Techstream; check signals at the ECU connector and tell sensor faults from wiring faults.
Requires: Starting, charging & battery drain
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 6Skill
CAN networks, key coding & programming
CAN and LIN structure, measure 60 ohm termination, find modules crashing the bus; coding after module replacement and sensor calibration; only program keys with proof of ownership.
Requires: Sensors, ECUs & scan tool diagnosis
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 7Project
Fit a head unit and 360 camera & fix three faults
Install an Android head unit and 360 camera using plug-and-play harnesses without cutting wires, neat routing with separate fuses; fix three real electrical faults and document readings, cause and fix.
Requires: Lights, horn, wipers, locks & air conditioning, CAN networks, key coding & programming
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 8Assessment
Diagnostic test, quoting & finding work
Timed practical: find pre-set faults on a training rig or real car; write clear quotes for electrical diagnosis and repair; apply to garages and dealers or partner with accessory shops.
Requires: Fit a head unit and 360 camera & fix three faults
No English content for this step yet.
