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 at an introductory level.
• Demonstrate introductory-level knowledge of fuel delivery and emission control systems.
• 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 electronic ignition 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 day’s 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 passing scores on lab activities.

• Define and discuss the automotive scan tool
• Define and discuss pressure differential.
• Discuss ignition system primary operation, components and circuits.
• Discuss ignition system secondary operation, components and circuits.
• Define and discuss ignition timing.
• Discuss the operation and testing of ignition control systems.
• Utilize the scan tool for diagnosis and repair.
• Evaluate and diagnose engine operation using appropriate diagnostic tools.
• Evaluate properly working ignition system primary circuits.
• Evaluate properly working ignition system secondary circuits.
• Evaluate properly working ignition control systems and repair failures.
• Define and discuss the exhaust gas analyzer.
• Introduce combustion chemistry and how failures impact exhaust emissions and engine controls.