Articles
OBD and troubleshooting on the modern carDiagnosis · 8 minA review of how the blacksmith apprenticeship is built from basic course to main course what specialties you can choose between and what the journeyman exam entails. The article also looks at the career paths that open up after the journeyman certificate.The brake system — structure wear and controlUndercarriage and safety. · 7 minBrake system parts how wear and faults show themselves and what you should be particularly aware of when inspecting and repairing a safety-critical system.Structure and operation of the combustion engineMotor · 8 minHow the four-stroke engine works, the difference between petrol and diesel, and the major systems around the engine that you meet daily in the workshop.Steering and undercarriage — contact with the roadUndercarriage and steering. · 8 minA review of the steering and suspension's structure how wheel suspension dampers and steering links work together and what signs of wear you should be able to read in a check.Vehicle's electrical system — battery, charging and consumersElectricity and electronics. · 8 minAn introduction to the car's electrical system — the roles of the battery and generator, the starting system, and how to work systematically and safely with faults in the low-voltage system.Tires and air conditioning — two overlooked safety and comfort systems.Tires and climate. · 7 minTire significance for safety — wear, pressure, and types — and a basic understanding of the air conditioner's cooling circuit and why it must be serviced by a trained technician.High-voltage safety on electric and hybrid carsSafety and electric vehicles · 9 minWhat the high voltage system in electric and hybrid cars involves, why only trained personnel may work on it, and the fixed procedure of disconnection, protection against reconnection, and control measurement that makes the work de-energized and safeAirbag and SRS — pyrotechnic safety systemsSafety and passive safety · 8 minHow the SRS system with airbags and seat belt pretensioners protects passengers, why the components are pyrotechnic and potentially dangerous to handle, and the rules you must follow when working around the system, storage and disposal.Environmentally sound handling of oil, refrigerant and wasteEnvironment and waste · 8 minHow waste oil, batteries, refrigerant (F-gases) and other hazardous workshop waste should be handled, why refrigerant work requires special authorisation, and how correct sorting and documentation protects both environment and workshop.From smithy to diagnostic computer — the history of the mechanic tradeHistory · 10 minThe car mechanic is a young trade with old roots. Follow the road from the first motor cars, which blacksmiths and cycle mechanics kept running, through the assembly line's mass production and the advent of electronics to today's computer-controlled cars — and see how tools, methods and requirements have changed along the way.Transmission and power transmission — from motor to wheelTechnique · 8 minThe motor's power must be converted, distributed and carried all the way to the wheels before the car moves. The article covers the clutch assembly, manual and automatic transmissions, the differential and the constant velocity joints of the drive shafts. You get the typical wear and failure patterns you encounter in the workshop, and a look at the requirements in the course's competency objectives for transmission.Cooling and lubrication system — the engine's lifelinesMotor · 8 minMost serious engine failures begin in the cooling or lubrication system. The article covers engine oil's functions and specifications, cooling system components from thermostat to pressure cap, and the warning signs that reveal a head gasket on its way to failure. You learn why the manufacturer's specifications for oil and coolant must always be followed.CAN-bus — when the car's control units communicateElectricity and electronics. · 8 minA modern passenger car is a network of control units that exchange data on CAN-bus and other bus systems. The article explains how CAN works with differential signaling on a twisted wire pair what the termination resistors mean for your measurement and how you approach troubleshooting when multiple control units report communication errors at once.ADAS — driver assistance systems and calibrationSafety and technology · 8 minEmergency braking, lane assist and intelligent speed assist are standard in new cars under the EU safety regulation. The article reviews the most important ADAS systems, explains why calibration of cameras and radars is safety-critical after windscreen replacement, tracking and bodywork, and describes the difference between static and dynamic calibration.Ready for inspection — periodic inspection and the workshop's roleRules · 7 minPassenger cars must have periodic inspection for the first time four years after first registration and then every two years. The article reviews the rules under the inspection decree, inspection results from approved to driving ban, and the faults that most often fail cars at inspection. You get the workshop's method to a preparation that leaves nothing to chance.Work environment at the auto workshop — body and chemistrySafety and work environment · 8 minThe mechanic's body and skin is at work all day — under the lift, over the engine compartment and in contact with oils and chemicals. The article reviews the main strains in the auto workshop: heavy lifting and awkward work postures, carbon monoxide from running engines, noise and skin contact with chemicals, as well as the requirement for chemical risk assessment according to the Labour Authority's rules.From basic course to journeyman's certificate — your path through the trainingCareer · 7 minThe car mechanic training is a dual training with two stages: car assembler and car mechanic. The article reviews the path from basic training through apprenticeship and school training to the journeyman's test, explains wages during training and EUX opportunity, and points out career paths afterwards — from diagnostic specialist and workshop foreman to own business.