This high technology course offers students the chance to gain expertise in the diagnosis, repair, and testing of all types of foreign and domestic automobiles using sophisticated computerized equipment. As the auto industry continues to evolve into new technologies it is imperative technicians are formally trained.
The Freshmen will be instructed on the safety of the shop, and whereabouts of the fire-extinguishers, the use of fire extinguishers, the fire blankets, and the emergency shut off switches. The students will also be instructed on the proper use and care of all tools and equipment, the use of power tools, the use of jacks, jacking a vehicle and the placement of a vehicle on a lift. He/she will also learn the basic parts of an automobile, and identify major automotive manufacturers on both domestic and imported vehicles. The first year student will also receive general knowledge of servicing a vehicle (checking fluids, changing oil & filter, and lubrication of all parts needed) and visual inspection of all under hood parts. They will also learn to work on the basic automotive systems such as exhaust, shocks, wheel bearings, brakes, and other minor repairs. The Freshmen will learn the procedures of shop and personal safety. The students will learn how to use basic hand tools. The students will learn how to change tires, balance tires, and general lubrication procedures such as servicing vehicles. The students will learn how to care for batteries, service exhaust systems, and repair front end suspension systems, such as the repairing of wheel bearings and shock absorbers. The students will learn how to service different types of brake systems.
The Sophomores will review all safety factors of the shop. Depending on the learning ability of the student, he/she will be performing more difficult tasks such as: complete brake jobs, including the use of the brake-lathe, the overhaul of the brake components, the hands on use of test equipment, and the repair of drive-line components. Sophomores will also learn the basics of front end alignment. This takes the students beyond basics starting with the more complicated functions. The students will learn how to diagnose and repair starters, charge systems, use testing equipment, such as battery testers, and repair standard transmissions, clutches, drive lines, cooling systems, and engine lubrication systems. The student will learn how to align front ends using a front end alignment machine.
The third year automotive students will be instructed and through live hands on work, learn to diagnose and repair major components of the domestic and the imported cars. The student will first be instructed in the proper procedure of diagnosing a problem. Then, the exact procedure of removal of the component, the disassembly of the unit, the inspection of the unit, the complete repair and the re-installation of the component. All of these above mentioned procedures will be performed on engines, transmissions, differentials, and the drive line components. This course is more advanced in the automotive area. The students will learn how to service air conditioners, drive lines, fuels systems, carburetors, fuel injections, exhaust emissions controls, engine diagnostics, and engine rebuilding. The students will learn how to use test equipment to check engine blocks, crank shafts, and valve trains.
The Seniors will be reviewing all automotive shop procedures plus encounter heavy involvement in the computer controls of the modern automobile. They will be instructed in the use of special test equipment, to read the codes that are stored in each computer, and the proper way to repair them. The Senior year will be devoted to teaching the students about electrical systems, engine tune ups, alternators, voltage regulators starting circuits, wiring circuits and computer control systems. The student will learn how to diagnose and trouble shoot engine problems and how to repair them. The student will learn how the sensors operate and what role they play. The Senior automotive student will review work ethics, customer relations, attendance, and how to succeed in the automotive technical industry.