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Automotive Course Descriptions

ATO 1210. Basic Gas Engines
The purpose is to give the student a background in theory, construction, design, operation and service of gasoline piston engines. Laboratory work will consist of the following requirements on a given engine: disassembly, cleaning, inspecting, measuring, recording, machining and reassembly. Students are encouraged to supply their own engine for this course. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Five semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 1220. Basic Automotive Electricity
Basic automotive electricity is a course dealing with the theory, construction, operation, and servicing of batteries, cranking and charging systems. By the end of this course the student will have a good understanding of basic electricity, basic electronics, electrical circuits and digital multimeters. Students will perform work in lab on vehicles that relate to electrical problems. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 1240. Power Trains and Manual Transmissions
This course includes the information relative to clutches, manual transmissions and differentials on front wheel drive and rear wheel drive vehicles. A study of the operation and service of constant mesh, fully synchronized transmissions/transaxles and differentials are covered. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, three hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Three and one half semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 1250. Engine Performance
This course is a basic tune-up class with the purpose of obtaining a good understanding of ignition systems used in automotive vehicles. The basic design of all electronic ignition systems and how to troubleshoot each component for a no-start or driveability condition will be taught in the classroom. Basic test equipment such as regular oscilloscopes, hand-held digital storage oscilloscopes, multimeters, 4-gas analyzer, distributor machine and more will be taught during lab. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, three hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 1260. Steering and Suspension Systems
This course describes the various styles of automotive suspension and steering sys tems and their components. They include wheel bearings, tires, shock absorbers and struts, front and rear suspension systems, steering columns, power steering, gear boxes, rack and pinion steering, four wheel steering systems, alignment angles and four wheel alignment. The main emphasis in this class will be on performing a complete 4-wheel alignment on any vehicle. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Four and one half semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 1270. Service Management
This class deals with management principles as they relate to the automobile service industry. Topics covered include: resume writing, job interviewing, information of a business, EPA rules and regulations, hiring and firing personnel, small business bookkeeping, job estimating and under car sales. Lecture, one hour per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: One semester hour.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 1280. Automotive Technology Internship
This course offers supervised on-the-job experience in an approved automotive facility. Students meet one hour per week with the on-campus automotive instructors, and must work a minimum of 225 hours to earn the three credit hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credit: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Summer

 

ATO 2200. Brake Systems
Provides instruction on automotive passenger car drum/disc brakes, power assist units and anti-lock brake systems. Practical service operations such as brake machining and rebuilding wheel cylinders, calipers, master cylinders and power assist units are examples of activities that will be performed. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Five semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 2210. Advanced Engine Performance & Driveability
An advanced tune-up class that covers electronic ignition, distributorless ignition, optical ignition systems and computer controlled electronic spark advance systems. Students will work on many customers’ cars during lab diagnosing driveability problems using the 4-gas analyzer, regular oscilloscope, digital storage oscilloscope and scanner. Students will be taught how to do a proper tune-up and solve engine performance problems such as engine hesitation, poor fuel economy, backfiring and lack of power. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 121, 122, 125, or consent of instructor.
CREDIT: Five semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 2220. Fuel Systems and Emission Controls
The theory, service and diagnosis of all types of gasoline fuel systems (including: carburetors, throttle body, port fuel and Sequential fuel injection systems) will be the main emphasis of this class. Other areas studied will be computer controls, sensors, feedback, intake and exhaust systems, turbochargers and emission control devices including their application and service. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 122, 125.
CREDIT: Four and one half semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 2230. Automatic Transmissions
This course includes the information relative to automatic transmissions and transaxles found on the modern day motor vehicle. Topics covered include: planetary gear operation, application devices, hydraulics, torque converters, diagnosis, and rebuilding of automatic transmissions and transaxles. Also covered will be the operation, testing, diagnosis and repair of computer-controlled transmissions/transaxles. Lecture, 2 hours per week; lab, 6 hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Four and one half semester hours.
OFFERED: Fall

 

ATO 2240. Automotive Accessories
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of power operated accessories. They include electrical circuits, wiring diagrams, digital multimeters, basic electrical tests, cruise controls, windshield wipers, gauges, fusible links, neutral safety switches, steering wheels, short circuit testers, power seats, electric door locks, vehicle lighting, air bags and electronic displays. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 122 or consent of instructor.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 2250. Heating and Air Conditioning
This course covers the theory, construction, operation and servicing of the air conditioning, heating and cooling systems found on the automobile. Emphasis will be placed on testing, troubleshooting and servicing the air conditioning system using appropriate manuals, tools, equipment and safety practices. The recovery and recycling of refrigerant, laws governing R-12, and certification will receive special emphasis. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: None.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Summer

 

ATO 2260. Advanced Drivelines
This course includes information relative to four wheel drive transfer cases, front axles, all wheel drive systems and computer controlled transmissions and transaxles. The theory, diagnosis and repair of electronically controlled transmissions and transaxles will be covered. Some of the topics covered include: the computer, sensors, shift solenoids, force motors, pulse width modulation, torque converter clutches, PM generators and all other related electronics that allow the computer to control the shift pattern and shift quality. The student is required to rebuild a minimum of two electronically controlled transmissions in this course. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 124, 223 or consent of instructor.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 2270. Automotive Service
This course is designed to provide an on-the-job type experience to the advanced automotive student. The student will be given selected vehicles to diagnose and repair using knowledge acquired from previous automotive classes. The student may choose to specialize in one area or perform services in all areas much like the general automotive technician. This course will prepare the student for an entry-level job in the automotive service industry. Lecture, one hour per week; lab, six hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 220, 221, and 222.
CREDIT: Four semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 2280. Computerized Engine Controls
This course is designed to teach how computers aid in controlling fuel systems, electronic ignition and emission control devices through the use of input and output devices. On-Board Diagnostic Generation II (OBD II) system will be taught along with hand held computer scanners, digital multimeter testers, on engine adjustments, feedback carburetion, throttle body injection, multi-port fuel injection and engine computers. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 122,125,221, and 222 or consent of instructor.
CREDIT: Three semester hours.
OFFERED: Spring

 

ATO 2290. Automotive Certification
This lecture course is designed to assist the advanced automotive student or experienced automotive technician who is preparing to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Certification Examination. Lecture, one hour per week.

PREREQUISITE: ATO 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 220, 221, 222, 223, 225, 228.
CREDIT: One semester hour.
OFFERED: Spring