Automotive Applied Skills

This certificate is for students seeking hands-on applications and skill building. Courses in the certificate are aimed at providing students with applied skills in four major automotive topics. 

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The goal of the program is to provide students with entry-level skills for employment in the automotive industry as a tire technician, lube technician, or apprentice technician. 

• Use a brake lathe to resurface a brake rotor.
• Use a micrometer to measure brake rotor thickness.
• Use online service information to find brake specifications.
• Explain the three major alignment angles.
• Use an alignment machine to perform an alignment.
• Use a tire machine to mount and unmount a tire from a wheel.
• Identify five suspension components on a vehicle.
• Explain how to measure amperage and voltage.
• Use diagnostic tools to test a battery, starter, and alternator.
• Use a scan tool to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes.
• Identify five sensors found on modern automobiles.

The mission of the Santa Ana College Automotive Department is to prepare students for degree and certificate attainment through coursework in automotive programs. The department empowers all students with knowledge to make career focused decisions with a thorough education focusing on all major areas of modern automobiles. The automotive department values partnerships with local and regional repair and service facilities. Through advisory committee meetings and local connections, faculty maintain a close relationship with employers and manufacturer representatives to stay current with industry trends and technology.

The automotive department is in a continuous state of improvement and technological advancement. Due to automotive being an evolving discipline, the equipment, tools, and teaching aids continuously require updating. Furthermore, as new technologies are introduced on modern vehicles, the automotive department will continually seek to stay current with technology. For these reasons, faculty are constantly seeking grant funding for large purchases and introduction of new programs. Lastly, the department has connections with vehicle manufacturers such as Subaru, Fiat-Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company. Through these connections, the department can obtain vehicle and tool donations. Also, the manufacturers give faculty and students access to specified training for their respective vehicles.