STEM: Automotive Technology Basics - How Traditional Cars Work
Comprehensive course into traditional vehicles, exploring how the major components work individually and together.
David Salch
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(3,316)
Popular
What's included
10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each Week the student will have a project to complete using their own vehicle, usually locating and describing the parts discussed in class, even bringing back pictures.Class Experience
For the Car Lovers who want to learn how this works! This is a comprehensive course that dives deep into the concepts behind how traditional petroleum cars and trucks work. Each week we will delve into new topics as we go through the entire system from fuel tank to tires. This course is about understanding how these things work, and how the parts work together to create a running automobile. The atmosphere of this class is intense learning in a fun and entertaining environment. Intense becasue there is a lot of material covered at a practical level. Yet there is plenty of times for discussion and questions along the way. The weekly assignments help to make this class focused on personal experience. NOTE: This course only covered liquid fuel powered vehicles, not electrics or hybrids. Topics covered across the 10 weeks: Class 1: Fuel and Fuel Delivery Fuel types Carburetor vs fuel injection Class 2: Starting and Charging Batteries, alternators and starters Fuses and electrical circuits Ignition System Class 3: Internal Combustion Engine - How The 4 Cycle System Works Pistons and Cylinders Camshafts and valves Crankshafts The 4 cycle system Class 4: Transmissions Concepts of gears and gear ratios Automatic transmissions Torque converters Manual Transmissions CVT Class 5: Drivetrain Differential gear design RWD, 2WD, AWD, FWD, Auto and manual 4WD Class 6: Tires and Brakes Tires types Tire tread design Braking technology Drum Brakes Disc Brakes Class 7: Steering and Suspension Steering linkages and how steering has changed Frame types Front and rear suspension Class 8: The Auto Computer System and Sensors OBD2 System Check Engine Light Sensors Trouble Codes Class 9: Engine Cooling Radiator Anti-freeze Thermostat Class 10: Air Conditioning Heat pumps Climate system controls Maintenance This course is primarily discussion through interactive whiteboarding plus animations to show how parts work. There is a balance of lecture and discussion, plus home projects weekly.
Learning Goals
The goal of this class is basic understanding of the components and how they work together to make a functioning vehicle. This sets the foundation for self reliance in automotive use and repair, or even perhaps a career in the automotive world.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined December, 2016
4.9
3316reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Early on in life I became fascinated by cars and the technology that makes them work. As a teenager I was tasked with maintaining the family business fleet of cars and trucks, which included diesels. I was rebuilding diesel injection pumps and tuning engines back in high school. This work/hobby has stayed with me through the decades as I maintained the understanding of the evolving technologies until today I maintain all my own farm equipment on my small farm.
Couple the experience of how to do things with the deep understanding of how and why they work, and then add a unique ability to explain things in a easy to grasp way, and that describes this class.Reviews
Live Group Class
$25
weekly or $250 for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
50 min
Completed by 1596 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
3-18 learners per class
