Lesson 1Visual inspection checklist: intake, vacuum lines, ignition, fuel system, sensorsProvides a systematic visual inspection routine before advanced testing. You will examine intake components, vacuum lines, ignition parts, fuel system, and visible sensors to catch obvious faults quickly.
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 strategyGuides you in planning repairs once faults are identified. You will list likely parts, confirm compatibility, plan tool needs, and look up torque specs and procedures to avoid comebacks and wasted labor.
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)Teaches how to connect symptoms with data patterns to identify likely causes. You will map fuel trims, O2, MAF, and misfire data to issues like vacuum leaks, weak pumps, ignition faults, and coolant sensor errors.
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 behavior, fuel trim normalization, CEL verification, test drive acceptance criteriaTeaches how to confirm repairs by monitoring warm-up behavior, fuel trims, and check engine light status. You will define test drive routes, acceptance criteria, and documentation steps to ensure the complaint is fully resolved.
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 checkCovers testing of key sensors and control components that affect starting, idle, and fuel use. You will learn MAF inspection and cleaning, vacuum leak detection, EVAP leak checks, and cam to crank correlation verification.
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 isolationCovers essential bench and in-vehicle tests to separate fuel, air, and mechanical faults. You will learn to measure fuel pressure, check leakdown, compare injector balance, run 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 adviceShows how to explain diagnostic findings and repair plans in plain language. You will practice scripts that cover what was found, recommended work, risks of delay, costs, and simple maintenance advice that builds 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 observationsOutlines a controlled cold-start and warm-up road test. You will learn step sequences, safety checks, and expected observations 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 issuesFocuses on structured intake questions that reveal patterns in starting and idle complaints. You will learn how to ask about conditions, fuel use, warning lights, prior repairs, and driving habits to guide efficient, targeted diagnostics.
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)Explains a step-by-step OBD-II scan strategy. You will read freeze frame, pending and confirmed codes, and select key PIDs such as RPM, fuel trims, O2, MAF, MAP, IAT, and coolant temperature to guide 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, mountsDetails pre-drive and lift checks that protect you, the vehicle, and others. You will inspect battery condition, fuel and EVAP leaks, cooling system integrity, and engine mounts before road testing or raising the vehicle.
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 methodsFocuses on electrical and ignition testing for hard start and rough idle. You will perform primary and secondary checks, test coil-on-plug systems, and analyze spark quality using scopes or alternative 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 labor and parts costs: time study approach, labor guides and parts sourcing checklistExplains how to estimate labor and parts for drivability repairs using time studies, labor guides, and sourcing checklists. You will learn to account for diagnostics, rechecks, and realistic parts pricing 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
