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 emissions system maintenance, problem diagnosis, repair and adjustments on cars, trucks and vans. This course will prepare students for the final capstone courses, which provide the opportunity to practice learned skills on customer and school controlled vehicles in a “live shop” setting. This will begin the skill level necessary for employment at an apprentice level.

The course material will be presented through text and audio presentations, group discussions, question and answer sessions, videos, handouts and hands-on lab experience in the shop. Course work will include assigned reading and multi-media materials, note taking, online testing and researching information in service manuals and with electronic service information systems.    

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Perform engine performance inspection, maintenance, diagnosis and repairs relating to emission control systems.

2. Access and utilize repair information in a rapidly changing technology.

3. Develop and implement strategies and processes to solve engine performance problems relating to emission control systems.

4. Work effectively with fellow technicians.

5. Be prepared to take the ASE Engine Performance tests

6. Perform engine performance repair of emission control systems to the highest professional and ethical standards.

Student will demonstrate the ability to diagnosis and repair problems on the AST engine pen and department vehicles through laboratory observations, evaluative reflection questions, written exams and a practical final.  This will include hands on exercises in all applicable ASE areas on AST school vehicles and component repair on the workbench.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

1. Students will demonstrate performance of engine performance inspection, maintenance, diagnosis and repairs relating to emission control systems in the following ways:

   1. Meet Automotive Department Attendance requirements.

   2. Be prepared, by utilizing course materials online, to actively participate in course discussions in class.

   3. Actively participate in laboratory exercises including the demonstration of good craftsmanship, time use, equipment use, proper use of service procedures and acquired skills.    

2. Students will demonstrate access and utilization of repair information in a rapidly changing technology in the following ways:

   1. Visual demonstration of skills through laboratory observation.

   2. Documentation of service procedures/specifications on laboratory exercises and practical final exam.

3. Students will demonstrate development and implementation of strategies and processes to solve engine performance problems relating to emission control systems in the following ways:

   1. Properly diagnose and document, a “live” vehicle during weekly reviews and practical examination.

4. Students will demonstrate working effectively with fellow technicians in the following ways:

   1. Collaborative teamwork through laboratory exercises and team presentations.

   2. Engage in an effective manner with Customer Service and Tool Room representatives by following parts, tool and vehicle repair guidelines.

5. Students will demonstrate preparedness for ASE testing in the following ways:

   1. Meet ASE standards on practice written tests and homework of 70% average. These tests will be preparation for the NA3SA tests used for program evaluation and ASE preparation.

6. Students will demonstrate performance of engine performance repair of emission control systems to the highest professional and ethical standards in the following ways:

   1. Practice of ethical and professional repairs of emission systems through the independent completion of labratory exercises and the proper documentation and acknowledgement of references during the course presentation and weekly summaries.

7. Students will demonstrate the successful completion of laboratory work in the following areas:

   1. Emission regulations, laws and ethics.

   2. Diagnosis, repair and interpretation of emissions subsystems.

   3. On Board Diagnostic (OBD 2) code retrieval and interpretation.

   4. Use of multiple aftermarket and factory Scan Tools.

   5. Use of multiple lab oscilloscopes.

• Understand and articulate the causes of air pollution.
• Define and discuss the exhaust gas analyzer.
• Define and discuss pressure differential.
• Define and discuss A-F ratio and Oxygen control systems.
• Discuss exhaust emission control systems.
• Define and discuss federal, state laws and I/M programs.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS  

• Articulate why pollution control systems are used orally and/or in writing.
• Utilize the exhaust gas analyzer for diagnosis and repair.
• Evaluate and diagnose engine operation using the vacuum gauge.
• Articulate A-F ratio orally and /or in writing. Evaluate systems used for Oxygen control strategies.
• Evaluate properly working exhaust emission control systems and repair failures.
• Articulate federal, state laws and I/M programs orally and/or in writing.