Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed for students with no previous industry experience. Students will develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to perform, with limited supervision, the appropriate procedures involved in engine performance diagnosis and adjustments on cars, pickups and vans. This course will prepare students for the Auto Shop Lab capstone courses which provide the opportunity to practice learned skills on customer and school controlled vehicles in a “working shop” setting. This will begin the skill level necessary for employment at an apprentice level.

The course material will be presented in a lecture/laboratory format and include videos, handouts and hands-on lab experience in the shop. Students are required to read assigned materials, take notes, complete homework assignments and research information in service manuals and with electronic service information systems.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Perform engine performance inspection, maintenance, diagnosis, and repairs relating to engine performance systems at an advanced level.
• Access and utilize repair information in a rapidly changing technology.
• Develop and implement strategies and processes to solve engine performance problems.
• Perform diagnosis and repair of engine performance systems to professional and ethical standards.

• Communicate professionally with employers, customers, and co-workers using industry standard language and following industry standard protocols.

• Students will demonstrate effective work with fellow technicians in the following ways:
  • Attendance requirements include penalties for excessive days missed and late arrivals.
  • Lecture participation requirements include bringing textbooks to class, being prepared to take notes and remaining attentive in class.
  • Laboratory participation requirements include demonstrating good craftsmanship, using time wisely, treating equipment properly, using procedures properly, demonstrating acquired skills and correct use of tools.
  • Demonstrate preparedness for ASE testing by achieving a passing score on all written exams and completing homework assignments.
  • Demonstrate understanding of course material through successful diagnosis, repair and case study of vehicles with engine performance failures in a working shop setting.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

• Discuss exhaust emission control systems.
• Define and discuss federal, state laws and I/M programs.
• Utilize the exhaust gas analyzer for diagnosis and repair.
• Evaluate properly working exhaust emission control systems and repair failures.
• Define and discuss On Board Diagnostic systems II
• Perform correct service, testing and replacement procedures of ignition, fuel deliver and emission control systems.
• Evaluate diagnostic trouble codes and make repairs.
• Diagnose drivability complaints and make appropriate repairs in a working shop setting.