Have a technical question related to rebuilding? Call the ERA Technical Help Line ERA membership will allow you to view the hotline number. Click here to join.

ERA members now have someone to call when they run into a problem rebuilding an alternator, starter or generator. Questions about charging and starting circuits for specific automotive and light truck applications will be answered as well.

The line is being operated by Mohammad Samii from Sammy's Auto Electric Service, Inc. in Champaign, Illinois.

Noted industry educator and writer, Mohammad Samii, has joined the ERA team in an official capacity as Technical Advisor effective May 1. In addition to writing his monthly column, Auto Electric Corner for the ERA Exchange, his new duties include answering the association's Tech Help Line, suggesting topics for technical training and presenting seminars at future events. Known throughout the automotive repair industry by the nickname Sammy, he has been involved in electrical rebuilding since 1973 and opened his own business, Sammy's Auto Electric Service, Inc, in Champaign, IL in 1979.

He started teaching seminars for the APRA in 1992, the same year he began writing Auto Electric Corner for the APRA's then Electrical Connection. His column ran continuously through three publication name changes for nearly 25 years. He previously held the position of Coordinator of Electrical Training for the APRA. Samii currently conducts automotive technician training classes in advanced charging/starting systems troubleshooting and repair for numerous regional and national venues such as the Automotive Service Association, Vision Hi-Tech Training, Automotive Training Expo, Auto-Value and others. He has spent untold hours on iATN, an internet forum for automotive repair technicians, addressing charging and starting problems and questions in an attempt to improve the reputation of our industry. He is also a member of a select training group called the Driveabilty Guys that consists of five trainers, proving nearly 45 courses in advanced automotive electronics and scope usage. They cover a variety of subjects such as diagnostic, driveability issues, module programming, PCM flash, security and immobilizer systems, fuel trim and mis-fire diagnostics. For this group, he teaches charging/starting courses (intermediate and advanced) as well as specialized classes on import electrical and an Electricity for Technicians course at different levels.

“We are very excited to have him aboard, providing technical help and advice to our members,†stated ERA President Mike Dietrich.

Sammy has been actively working to enhance training in our industry for over 25 years. He has been an ERA member and a regular contributor on our website's Forums for several years. “Our bylaws state that the ERA's purpose is to provide information and training to our members while promoting professionalism and public awareness of our industry. I view this as taking another big step toward fulling that commitment. I am looking forward to serving the ERA as Technical Advisor and writing Auto Electric Corner for the Exchange, Samii explained. “I have come to know many ERA's members over the years and hope to now meet many more by answering the help line. While I may not always have an immediate answer to all questions, I will try my best to find answers. For that, I will be using the ERA's online Tech Library and Archives, All-Data, MotoLogic and other resources that I have access to.