Lesson 1Visual inspection checklist: intake, vacuum lines, ignition, fuel system, sensorsThis lesson gives a step-by-step visual check routine before fancy tests. You'll inspect intake parts, vacuum hoses, ignition bits, fuel setup, 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 fixes after finding faults. You'll list probable parts, check they fit, sort tools needed, and find torque specs and steps to dodge repeat visits and wasted effort.
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)You'll learn to link symptoms to data patterns for pinpointing causes. Map fuel adjustments, O2, MAF, and misfire info to issues like air leaks, dodgy pumps, spark problems, and temp sensor glitches.
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 criteriaLearn to verify fixes by watching warm-up, fuel trims, and engine light. Set test drive paths, pass criteria, and record steps to confirm 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 checkCovers testing key sensors affecting start, idle, and fuel. You'll do MAF clean and check, find vacuum leaks, test EVAP, 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 isolationEssential tests to split fuel, air, and mechanical issues. Measure fuel pressure, check leaks, balance injectors, test compression, and find 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 advicePractice explaining findings and plans simply. Cover what's wrong, fixes, delay dangers, costs, and easy upkeep tips to earn 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 observationsStep-by-step cold-start and warm-up test. Note safety, RPM, idle, temp rise, and fuel trims from start to 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 issuesKey questions to uncover start and idle patterns. Ask about conditions, fuel use, lights, past fixes, and driving to target 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)Step-by-step OBD-II scan. Read freeze data, codes, and key live info like RPM, trims, O2, MAF, MAP, IAT, coolant to direct fixes.
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, mountsChecks to keep you, the car, and others safe. Inspect battery, fuel/EVAP leaks, cooling, mounts before driving 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 methodsTests for hard start and rough idle electrics. Check primary/secondary, coil-on-plug, spark with scope or backups.
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 checklistEstimate for drivability jobs using time studies, guides, checklists. Include diagnostics, rechecks, real pricing for spot-on 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
