www.workbase.org.nz
Literacy and numeracy on the job:
Automotive Light Vehicle
Service Technician
Overview of tasks
Light vehicle service technicians service and maintain light vehicles. They:
• greet customers and receive vehicles for servicing
• complete routine maintenance and service tasks on vehicles (e.g. service
check, oil change)
• replace standard manufactured parts (e.g. batteries, spark plugs, brake
pads, oil filters)
• pass on more complex repairs to repair technicians
• work as part of a team.
These technicians carry out straightforward tasks, and are not diagnostic
specialists. They will work in a range of light vehicle servicing workshops
(e.g. service franchise, dealer franchise, general workshop). They often work
alongside technicians with diagnostic skills and experience.
Reading
Every day, light vehicle service
technicians read:
On a fairly regular basis, light vehicle
service technicians read:
Occasionally, light vehicle service
technicians read:
- job sheets
- vehicle identification numbers (VIN)
- parts catalogues
- service and maintenance checklists
- parts pricelist
- list of parts needed for service
- part installation instructions
- part numbers and codes
- MITO learning and assessment
material (during their
apprenticeship)
- notices on company notice boards
(e.g. health and safety reminders,
news and events)
- displays on measuring tools and
diagnostic equipment.
- training materials provided by
suppliers or franchise head office
- MITO reports (e.g. Goal sheets)
(during their apprenticeship).
- employment agreements, MITO
training agreement, and company
policies, processes, and procedures.
Every day, light vehicle service
technicians:
On a fairly regular basis, light vehicle
service technicians:
Occasionally, light vehicle service
technicians:
- Complete checklists and job sheets with
- write short notes to remind
themselves or others
- write notes to explain further work
to be done.
Writing
□ a list of parts used
□ the time it took to do the work.
In many workplaces technicians enter
time and job sheet information directly
into the computer system, rather than
handwriting.
© Workbase and MITO 06/2011
- fill out MITO Practical Task Evidence
Sheets (during their apprenticeship)
- complete study guide activities,
open book, closed book and
practical assessments (during their
apprenticeship).
Literacy and numeracy on the job: Light vehicle service technician
1
Speaking and listening
Every day, light vehicle service
technicians:
On a fairly regular basis, light vehicle
service technicians:
Occasionally, light vehicle service
technicians:
- welcome customers and check
details with customers
- talk to customers about extra work
that should be done on their vehicle
- report a hazard or issue they have
identified in the workshop
- listen to verbal instructions from
their workshop supervisor
- attend meetings, listen to briefing
information and ask questions
- interact with their co-workers and
work as a team.
- talk to MITO Industry Training
Advisors about their apprenticeship
progress (during their apprenticeship)
- attend an external training course,
listen to presentations and ask
questions
- answer assessment questions
(during their apprenticeship).
- talk to tutors at MITO arranged courses
(e.g off-job training courses).
Numeracy
Every day, light vehicle service
technicians:
On a fairly regular basis, light vehicle
service technicians:
- record how much time they spent
on a job
- convert imperial measurements
to metric measurements
- measure fluid amounts (e.g. oil, water)
- take payments from customers
and prepare correct change
- work out date for next service
- measure vehicle components and
systems (e.g. pressure, temperature,
width, depth, RPM)
- interpret engine and part diagrams
- use and understand street and
phone numbering systems.
- tighten bolts to correct torque setting.
Critical thinking
Every day, light vehicle service
technicians:
On a fairly regular basis, light vehicle
service technicians:
Occasionally, light vehicle service
technicians:
- decide on the most efficient order to
complete the tasks in a job
- find other things that should be
serviced or maintained on a vehicle
and get approval before completing
additional work
- deal with problems in the workshop
e.g. oil spill, injury incident.
- check their work meets quality and
safety standards.
- recall other jobs they have completed
that involved similar problems
- ask others for help or ideas about
how to fix a problem
- offer their help to others.
Information and Communication Technology
Most light vehicle service technicians:
Some light vehicle service technicians:
- use electronic scanning and diagnostic tools to take
vehicle system measurements
- consult electronic information sources (e.g. franchise
website)
- use the workshop computer system to record customer
and job information
- look up parts information on supplier websites
- use computer-based training material.
- use the workshop computer system to update job sheets
and create invoices.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Inc) (Mito) Level 10, 79 Boulcott Street, PO Box 10803, Wellington 6143.
Phone: 04 494 0005 Fax: 04 494 0006 Freephone: 0800 88 21 21 www.mito.org.nz
Workbase: the New Zealand Centre for Workforce Literacy Development 2 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland,
PO Box 56571, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446, New Zealand. Phone: 09 361 3800 Fax: 09 376 3700 www.workbase.org.nz
© Workbase and MITO 06/2011
Literacy and numeracy on the job: Light vehicle service technician
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