How to Diagnose if You need an Auto Electrician or a Mechanic

How to Diagnose if You need an Auto Electrician or a Mechanic

We are a team of licensed and experienced auto electriciansat Buckland Auto Electrical, specialising in first-rate heavy vehicle maintenance in the Illawarra.

We want to make sure that you understand when our services will be beneficial to you, and so we hope to explain the differing roles of auto electricians and mechanics so that you can solve any heavy vehicle issues correctly and efficiently. Read on to find out more.

If you suspect that your vehicle has issues with its mechanical components, for example, the engine, a mechanic is the best person to contact to deal with the problem. 

Here is a focused list of the services a mechanic will be able to provide for you:

• Engines: oil changes and servicing.
• Transmission: clutch, gearbox. 
• Suspension systems: springs, steering, brakes, tyres, wheels. 

While mechanics will be able to easily diagnose mechanical-related issues for you, they may have limited knowledge of complex electrical issues, dependent on their training and experience.

Therefore, it is common for mechanics to refer you to an auto electrician if they find that an issue is complex and electrical-related.

As there is the possibility that a mechanic has limited knowledge of electrical issues with your vehicle, we advise you to contact an auto electrician straight away if you suspect electrical component issues.

Auto electricians are also trained to install accessories within your vehicle. An example of some services that an auto electrician can provide for you are:

• Repairing air conditioning
• Installing reverse cameras
• Installing electronic brake controllers

To be more specific, here is a list of some common symptoms of electrical issues within your vehicle that will require the expertise of an auto electrician: 

• Malfunctioning lights
• The smell of burning plastic while driving
• Fuse problems – such as them blowing repeatedly
• Immobiliser issues – such as glitches when locking, unlocking and starting your vehicle (this is commonly ECM problems) 
• Faulty alarm systems
• Installation of aftermarket devices: alarm systems, cameras, sensors, etc.
• Faulty air conditioning
• Factory wiring

Increasingly complex technology for means that it is better to choose experts who specialise in the field of auto electronics for repairs and upgrades of vehicle technology. 

As the team at Buckland Auto Electrical specialises in heavy vehicle problems, most particularly clients in the mining, agricultural and earthmoving industries, you can find a full list of our available services for heavy vehicles here.

Alongside our heavy vehicle services, we can also install air conditioning and safety systems in your vehicle. 

If you have any further queries about the services that we are able to provide for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly by phone or via our contact form online here).