“…80% of the skill deficiencies of the Nigerian auto-technicians hinges mainly on the electrical/electronic systems of these modern vehicles while 20% are on incorrect work methods, safety and environment as well as poor workshop management and organizational ability.” – NADDC
The above quote was taken from the recent publication of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) on the study done on mechanic skill-gap in Nigeria. The excerpt from their findings is quoted above.
In my everyday life in the over 10 years experience in the Automotive Industry in the country after graduating from the University, I have seen many cases of complete wrong diagnosis, trial and error in the course of vehicle repairs by some mechanics and electricians. At times it is an alteration done in the electrical and electronic system to by-pass the normal operation of the system in the course of correcting a concern in a vehicle.
At times, a blown fuse that cut off the power supply to a component or a module causing it to malfunction can turn out to a major issue by the time they are done with the vehicle. The examples of this type are many to mention. Please, comment if you have the experience to share with us.
This is why at Utile Auto Services we intend to enlighten vehicle owners and auto technicians alike on the basic procedure for diagnosing modern cars (also known as new-generation vehicles) with our frequent publications. We would like you also to visit our site regularly so that you don’t miss out on any of the publication or follow us on any of our social media handle below to get notification of new post.
Since the vehicle is like a second place of comfort and privacy after our homes and offices. It is, therefore, necessary to have the basic knowledge of how cars behave if we would want the cars to continue to take us from place to place in a good and safe condition. And also, if we would like our cars to be in top shape with good second-hand value by the time we want to sell them.
The new-generation vehicles are entirely different make of vehicle compare to the older ones. They have more electrical and electronic components than mechanical. Mechanical components like motors, shafts etc that are previously driven mechanically by belts, chain and hydraulic are now being driven electronically by modules and ECUs. This has led to a more efficient, effective and smart output delivery with high precision and speed. The weight of these vehicles had significantly reduced as a result and making the car lighter to accommodate more features that are incorporated in them. This also had led to a new field of Engineering that combined both mechanical and electrical called Mechatronics.
With the advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), today cars are becoming smarter and complex. This also called for more sophistication in its diagnosis and repairs thereby requires a trained and certified technician to be able to work on it. Unfortunately, most mechanics out there are used to the older vehicles and some do not want to upgrade their knowledge and skills on diagnosis and repairs of these modern vehicles. So, there is a huge knowledge gap between these mechanics or auto technicians and modern methods and means of repairs of these vehicles.
Therefore, due to the incorrect diagnosis by some of these mechanics, customers (car owners) are made to pay repeatedly on repairs that could have been easily corrected if a proper diagnosis had been done the first time. So, customers find themselves at the mercy of these so-called mechanics ripping them off their hard earn money in order to get a complete repair of their vehicle.
These are why at Utile Auto Services, we are determined to bridge this knowledge gap by sharing this valuable knowledge to our esteemed customers and the public at large. We see this as our own way of contributing to up-scaling this knowledge gap in the Auto Industry today.
This article is a publication by Utile Auto Services…. Utile (Auto) Service is a one-stop shop for solutions to all automobile concerns. We offer a comprehensive solution for any brand of Ford, MKX, Lincoln and America vehicles. We are specialist technicians trained by Ford Motor Company, USA. We can be reached on +234 704 383 4086. We offer services ranging from home service, office service and doorstep service to customer at their convenience.
