Electrical and Electronic Principles When a current flows in a circuit, it can produce only three effects – heat, magnetic and chemical. The heating effect is the basis of electrical components such as lights and heater plugs. The magnetic effect is the basis of relays and motors and generators.
Engine Electrical Systems A good supply of electric power is necessary for modern vehicles. Many components, that were once mechanically operated, are now driven by small electric motors and controlled by microprocessors.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Fresh air helps to keep the driver of a vehicle alert. Most cars now allow a wide range of settings for ventilation.
Lighting and Indicators Vehicle lighting systems are very important, particularly where road safety is concerned. If headlights were suddenly to fail at night and at high speed, the result could be serious.
Monitoring and Instrumentation This course will cover monitoring and instrumentation including sensors, gauges, instrument displays, vehicle conditioning monitoring, digital instrumentation systems, global positioning systems, and drowsiness detection.
Multiplexing and Controller Area Networks The number of vehicle components which are networked has considerably increased the requirements for the vehicle control systems to communicate with one another. The CAN (Controller Area Network), developed by Bosch, is today’s communication standard in modern cars.
Wheel and Tyre Technology Together with the tyre, a road wheel must support the weight of a vehicle and be strong enough to withstand forces when driving.
Braking System Technology The main purpose of the braking system is simple – it is to slow down or stop a vehicle. Correct maintenance of the braking system is essential to driver safety.
Suspension System Technology A vehicle needs a suspension system to cushion and dampen out road shocks. This provides comfort to the passengers and prevents damage to the load and vehicle components.
Automatic Transmission Technology An automatic gearbox contains special devices that automatically provide various gear ratios, as they are needed. Most automatic gearboxes have several forward gears and one reverse gear. Instead of a gearstick, the driver moves a lever called a selector.
Clutch Technology In a vehicle with a manual gearbox, the clutch allows a temporary neutral position for gear changes and also a gradual way of taking up drive from rest. This course will cover the purpose of the clutch, clutch mechanisms and different types of clutch including coil spring and diaphragm.
