AUT 161 AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PRINCIPLES
– COURSE DESCRIPTION: The theory of electricity (including Ohm's Law, Kirchoff''s Law, series and parallel circuits, AC and DC current flow), is studied. Basic test meter procedures are featured, and solid state devices, integrated circuits, and on‐board microcomputers are explained. Automotive wiring and common automotive accessory systems are studied, and servicing and repair procedures performed. Automotive batteries, their construction, theory of operation, and standard service procedures are also included. Hands‐on extensive electrical system service is performed using digital volt ohm meters, and automotive lab scopes. The PDI DVOM is featured, and the Fluke 98 Series II, Vetronix Master Tech, and the cutting edge Vetronix MTS 5100/5200 lab/ignition scopes are also featured. Low resolution amp clamps from Fluke and Vetronix will allow students to experience the latest diagnostics using AMP RAMPING! New material has been added to the course after the instructor attended drivability training/seminars hosted by such nationally recognized “gurus” as, Jim Linder of Linder Technical Services, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Bill Fulton of Ohio. THIS IS THE AREA THAT WILL “MAKE OR BREAK YOU” ON BEING AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICAN!
• This is it !! If you don’t understand automotive electrical/electronics you probably will never reach your full potential as a technician !
• Since almost every system in the vehicle has some electronic control, it’s the most important subject you will learn. • During the two years of training it’s the area that is given top priority by the instructors, and we feel confident that you will leave Stevens with a well rounded understanding of automotive electronics !
Even the most basic of things like automotive batteries can be difficult to properly diagnose. We feature the conventional hi‐rate discharge load test, & the newest “midtronics” test methods!
The most basic things like repairing wires, & finding poor ground connections have tripped up many technicians. We will show you the latest methods and proper procedures! Check out that corroded guy below. Circuit protection devices, from fuses, circuit breakers, & fusible links, to newest PTC solid state components, all will be explained!
Both the basics of automotive electricity, & automotive electronics are covered in depth!
Not only will each solid state component be explained, but the proper test methods will be performed! The previously perceived difficult tasks will now be made easy!
On‐Board computers/microprocessors will be explained in detail, as well as their diagnostic procedures!
Computers need information to make decisions. Input sensors & how to test them will be covered in depth! DVOMs, the latest Scan tools, & Lab Scopes will be available for students for training!
The Bosch/Vetronix 3100 scan tool is the tool of choice at Stevens. It is portable, but can be used with the newest Shop Foreman Pro software to graph snapshot downloads for finding “glitches” and “dropouts”. It also is a dual trace scope, & a graphing multimeter. It is used during both years of training!
Viewing data recorded from the vehicles PCM in graph form, versus lines & lines of boring numbers is like night and day for diagnostics. This is cutting edge stuff!
What kind of equipment is available for your electronics training ?
• Like “ducks in a row”, these five Fluke 98 Series II user friendly lab scopes are used during both years. All are equipped with the new fantastic 80i‐
110S low resolution amp clamp for “amp‐
ramping”.
So what is this “amp ramping” I’ve been hearing so much about?
• The Dynamic Duo! Shown is a Fluke 98 series II lab scope, and a fluke low current probe. These instruments open up a whole new world in electrical diagnosis. We use these and the new Vetronix units. Between the two we have 17 sets available for student use.
Be a part of the next generation of automotive diagnostic equipment !
The Bosch/Vetronix 5100/5200. Features a true untied four trace lab scope, hi/low resolution amp clamps for “amp ramping” “point and shoot” temp. probe, and pressure and vacuum transducers, graphing multimeter. We have 12 available for students.
What’s new for the auto tech lab?
An amazing new comprehensive platform!
• Each of these mobile workstations has a Vetronix master‐tech scan tool & a lab scope that is totally portable so it can go on the road. The recordings can then be downloaded & seen on the large PC monitor. It is part of a new enhanced diagnostic software package! You can then print your test results on the HP color printers !
So what is this “amp ramping” I’ve been hearing so much about?
• Were teaching the same “cutting edge diagnostic” information we learned by attending specialty training sessions conducted by such recognized automotive drivability wizards as Jim Linder in Indiana, and Bill Fulton in Ohio, to our students. Don’t be surprised if some of our test procedures are so new that they haven't been adopted by the new car dealers service departments yet! “Lab scopes”! “Current probes”! Let your ohmmeter take a rest! Let’s measure volts & amps!
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE AUTO ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS COURSE ?
• Since we are not tied to any particular OEM manufacturers program, that gives us the flexibility to add new cutting edge procedures to our training schedules. We try to be very comprehensive by showing both the manufacturers, and the aftermarket philosophy on diagnosis and repair procedures! WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE AUTO ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS COURSE ?
• Our goal is to have students understand automotive electrical/electronic systems, and how they actually work on the vehicle. Students are taught to “think on their feet”, so they can use the systems knowledge to diagnose electrical malfunctions. Being a “problem solver” and an “analytical thinker" are two of our programs major objectives, especially with electronics!