Lesson 1Visual inspection checklist: intake, vacuum lines, ignition, fuel system, sensorsThis lesson gives you a step-by-step visual check routine before doing advanced tests. You will look at intake parts, vacuum pipes, ignition components, fuel system, and sensors you can see to spot obvious problems fast.
Inspecting intake ducts and air filter boxChecking vacuum hoses and PCV routingReviewing coils, wires, and spark plugsLooking for fuel leaks and line damageSensor connector and harness inspectionLesson 2Repair planning: parts to consider (fuel filter/pump, injectors, ignition coils/plugs, MAF, intake gaskets), special tools, torque specs lookup strategyThis guides you on planning repairs after finding faults. You will list possible parts, check if they fit, plan for tools needed, and find torque specs and steps to avoid repeat visits and wasted time.
Listing probable parts by systemChecking part numbers and compatibilityIdentifying needed special toolsFinding torque specs and sequencesPlanning workflow to reduce reworkLesson 3Interpreting diagnostic results: mapping symptom -> data pattern for common causes (vacuum leak, faulty O2/MAF, weak fuel pump, ignition fault, coolant/temp sensor)This teaches you to link symptoms to data patterns to find likely causes. You will match fuel trims, O2, MAF, and misfire data to problems like vacuum leaks, weak pumps, ignition issues, and coolant sensor faults.
Recognizing vacuum leak data signaturesPatterns of weak fuel pump or restrictionIdentifying faulty O2 or MAF behaviorIgnition fault clues in misfire countersCoolant sensor errors and warm-up dataLesson 4Post-repair validation: warm-up behaviour, fuel trim normalisation, CEL verification, test drive acceptance criteriaThis shows how to confirm repairs by watching warm-up behaviour, fuel trims, and check engine light. You will set test drive routes, acceptance standards, and documentation to make sure the issue is fully sorted.
Verifying cold and hot restart performanceMonitoring short and long term fuel trimsConfirming CEL status and code clearingDesigning a representative road test routeDefining pass or fail criteria and notesLesson 5Sensor and control component testing: MAF cleaning/check, intake vacuum/leak detection, EVAP leak test, cam/crank correlation checkThis covers testing key sensors and controls affecting start, idle, and fuel use. You will learn to inspect and clean MAF, detect vacuum leaks, check EVAP leaks, and verify cam-crank timing.
MAF visual check, cleaning, and output reviewSmoke and propane tests for vacuum leaksEVAP leak test basics and common faultsCam and crank signal correlation checksInterpreting scan data from key sensorsLesson 6Basic bench and in-vehicle tests: fuel pressure, fuel rail leakdown, injector balance, compression test, cylinder misfire isolationThis covers key bench and vehicle tests to separate fuel, air, and mechanical faults. You will measure fuel pressure, check leakdown, balance injectors, do compression tests, and isolate misfiring cylinders safely.
Static and running fuel pressure measurementFuel rail leakdown and regulator evaluationInjector balance and flow comparison methodsCompression and relative compression testingCylinder disable tests for misfire isolationLesson 7Customer communication script: plain-language explanation of findings, recommended repairs, risks of delay, maintenance adviceThis shows how to explain findings and repair plans in simple terms. You will practise scripts covering what was found, suggested fixes, risks of waiting, costs, and easy maintenance tips to build trust.
Explaining fault codes in simple termsDescribing test results without jargonPresenting repair options and prioritiesDiscussing risks of delaying repairsGiving preventive maintenance guidanceLesson 8Cold-start and warm-up road test procedure and expected observationsThis outlines a controlled cold-start and warm-up road test. You will learn steps, safety checks, and what to expect in RPM, idle quality, temperature rise, and fuel trims from start to full warm.
Pre-start checks and ambient conditionsObserving initial crank and first idleMonitoring warm-up RPM and idle changesWatching coolant temp and closed loop entryRecording fuel trim trends during warm-upLesson 9Targeted customer intake questions for engine starting and idle issuesThis focuses on key questions to ask customers about starting and idle problems. You will learn to ask about conditions, fuel use, lights, past repairs, and driving habits for efficient diagnosis.
Clarifying cold versus hot start conditionsQuestions on idle quality and stall eventsHistory of recent repairs and fuel qualityDriving patterns, trip length, and load useDocumenting warning lights and noisesLesson 10OBD-II scan strategy: reading freeze frame, pending/confirmed codes, live data PIDs to monitor (RPM, long/short fuel trims, O2, MAF, MAP, IAT, engine coolant temp)This explains a step-by-step OBD-II scan plan. You will read freeze frame, pending and confirmed codes, and pick key data like RPM, fuel trims, O2, MAF, MAP, IAT, and coolant temp for diagnosis.
Capturing and reading freeze frame dataSorting pending versus confirmed codesSelecting essential live data PIDsUsing fuel trims to narrow fault areasSaving and printing reports for recordsLesson 11Pre-drive and lift safety checks: battery, fuel leak, EVAP, cooling, mountsThis details checks before driving or lifting to protect you and the vehicle. You will check battery, fuel and EVAP leaks, cooling system, and engine mounts before testing or lifting.
Battery state, terminals, and cable securityFuel, EVAP, and exhaust leak inspectionCooling system level, leaks, and fan checkEngine and transmission mount conditionVerifying tire, brake, and steering basicsLesson 12Electrical and ignition tests: primary/secondary ignition checks, coil-on-plug testing, spark analysis with scope or substitute methodsThis focuses on electrical and ignition tests for hard start and rough idle. You will do primary and secondary checks, test coil-on-plug, and analyse spark with scopes or other tools.
Primary ignition voltage and control checksSecondary ignition pattern interpretationCoil-on-plug resistance and output testsUsing scopes for spark and trigger signalsSubstitute tools when scopes are unavailableLesson 13Estimating labour and parts costs: time study approach, labour guides and parts sourcing checklistThis explains estimating labour and parts for drivability fixes using time studies and guides. You will account for diagnostics, rechecks, and real parts prices for accurate quotes.
Breaking jobs into estimate line itemsUsing labor guides and flat rate dataBuilding a parts and consumables checklistComparing OEM and aftermarket optionsIncluding diagnostic and recheck time
