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 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. 

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 engine 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 engine control systems.
4. Work effectively with fellow technicians.
5. Be prepared to take the ASE Engine Performance tests.
6. Perform engine performance repair of engine control systems to the highest professional and ethical standards.
7. Communicate professionally with employers, customers and co-workers using industry standard language and following industry standard protocols.

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 powertrain 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 powertrain control systems in the following ways:
   1. Properly diagnose and document “live” vehicles 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 powertrain control systems through the independent completion of laboratory 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. Input sensors.
   2. Fuel Delivery and Fuel Injection
   3. Discuss and practice installation and replacement procedures for the ECM.
   4. Discuss and practice On Board Diagnostic (OBD 2) code retrieval and interpretation
   5. Practice the use of the Scan Tool (ST)
   6. Practice the use of the lab oscilloscope
   7. Practice diagnostic and repair situations on engines that are working abnormally.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

• Discuss the history, characteristics and operation of engine control systems.
• Define and discuss fuel system outputs.
• Discuss fuel system service including: injector testing, cleaning and repair.
• Define and discuss injector deposits, throttle body deposits, intake valve deposits, and combustion chamber deposits.
• Discuss the fuel delivery process including: fuel pump, lines, filter, fuel rail, pressure regulation.
• Define and discuss On Board Diagnostic systems II
• Define and discuss engine control input sensors including: throttle position, manifold absolute pressure, engine coolant temperature and mass air flow.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS  

• Understand how engine control systems operate for diagnosis, testing and repair purposes.
• Understand the difference between fuel control systems for diagnosis.
• Understand the operation of fuel injectors for diagnosis.
• Perform correct service, testing and replacement procedures.
• Diagnose drivability complaints and make appropriate repairs
• Understand the operation of the fuel delivery system for diagnosis, service and repair.
• Evaluate diagnostic trouble codes and make repairs.