Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is an outcome-based course utilizing a lecture/lab format and includes videos, workbooks, demonstrations, lectures, and hands on-learning.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Apply basic theory of automotive/heavy duty electricity, components, schematics, controls, and how they all relate to make a complete system.
• Diagnose and repair electrical and electronic circuits.
• Conduct repairs in an ethical and professional manner, respecting industry safety and environmental guidelines.
• Communicate with co-workers, customers, and management in a professional and knowledgeable manner.
• Analyze the symptoms, determine the problem, and implement the correct repair of automotive/heavy duty electrical and electronic components and systems.
• Use protective gear and safe procedures in all work areas.

• Analyze and determine the problem and implement the correct repair of automotive/heavy duty electrical/electronic components and systems.
• Analyze and determine the problem and implement the correct repair of Cummins electronic engine controls.
• Conduct repairs in an ethical and professional manner, respecting industry safety and environmental guidelines.
• Communicate with coworkers, customers, management and general public in a professional and knowledgeable manner.

• Written multiple choice, true/false and short answer tests.
• Hands on practical tests.
• Attendance
• Work ethics
• OEM specific training, testing and certifications

Learn automotive electrical history and theory as it applies to the automotive/heavy duty industry. 

• Learn the principles of magnetism and how it relates to electricity. 

• Learn the principles of resistance, amperage, and voltage and how they relate to each other.

• Learn the principles of starting and charging systems.

• Learn the principles of vehicle multiplexing systems.

• Learn the principles of Ohm’s law, Watt’s law and Kirchhoff’s law.

Learn about tools and materials.

• Learn about different meters, test and repair tools and their proper use.

• Learn and demonstrate the proper care and use of electric diagnostic tooling used in the diesel field.

Learn to identify and read electrical schematics, diagrams and drawings.

• Learn to identify and use diagnostic schematics.

• Learn to identify and use component location drawings.

• Learn to identify and use system diagrams.

Learn about electronic engine controls and testing.

• Learn Cummins Electronic Engine controls and diagnosis.

• Learn to extract failure codes and perform engine diagnostic tests.

• Learn to perform proper diagnosis and sensor tests.

Skills in electrical failure diagnosis.

• Learn how to recognize failures and their causes.
• Learn the resources available to properly evaluate the failure and determine the cause.

• Learn the resources available to the technician for research and failure identification.

Practice personal safety.

• Learn and practice personal safety by wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Learn and practice shop cleanliness.

• Learn and practice tool maintenance and safety.