Automotive training used to be a more common part of our society. Shop class was a commonly offered elective in high schools nationwide, ensuring that most boys knew their way around a car’s engine bay. Additionally, cars relied more on mechanical principles, rather than computerized systems. As a result, when a car broke down, the owner was much more likely to know how to fix it themselves, or at least have a friend or a family member who could fix it for them.

The situation has changed dramatically over the years. Today’s cars are much more complex, and their owners are much less likely to have had any automotive training. As a result, dealerships and garages are repairing a higher percentage of cars than ever before, and mechanics’ rates have risen in accordance with the increased necessity of their services.

Those who dislike the situation have another option. With a little automotive training, most people can perform more of the routine maintenance on their cars, reducing the expenses associated with car maintenance and allowing them the satisfaction of a job well done.

An oil change is an example of routine maintenance that frequently costs car owners far more than they need to spend. An oil change is a fairly simple procedure in most cars, requiring only enough automotive training for the individual to know the location of the oil filter and drain plug. A basic car care class should teach car owners how to locate major components under the hood and perform simple maintenance tasks, as well as imparting valuable tips for beginning do-it-yourselfers. For example, a good introductory class should warn students to beware of screwing a bolt or screw in crooked, known as crossing the threads.  Read more... (620 words, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)

Automotive Art
More Artists See And Feel The Beauty of Chrome and Metal

Online art marketplace www.DiscoveredArtists.com reports a growing number of artists who are caught up in capturing cars on canvas.  Although these artists can choose from a world of subjects ranging from naked ladies to breathtaking landscapes and crashing waves, they are fascinated by the lovely curves and flashing metal of car bodies.

Automotive art typically falls into three categories.  Beauty shots that usually are very tight, detailed fine art photographs, nostalgia artworks that set a mood or capture a feeling, and realism portraits where the artist creates a photo quality image of a vehicle using brush and paint.

Automotive beauty art typically is the work of fine art photographers who can turn a tight shot of a hood ornament into a masterpiece.  The fascination and the challenge for an artist is to capture the reflection of light and shadow on polished metal.  The artist sees beauty in the interesting lines, curves and intricate details of grills, chrome strips and other ornamentation that distinguishes one make and model from another.

Working with different types of lenses and by using a number of lighting and digital processing techniques, a fine art photographer focuses his lens on an intricate detail of a car’s body.  His challenge is to capture the reflected light and shadow created by the bends and curves of the metal, and to use his artistic eye to effectively frame the image.
 
The successful result produces a balanced image of vibrant color and contrast that at first glance is simply a beautiful artwork.  But, what adds interest to the artwork is that the image invites the viewer to puzzle over and then decipher the make, model and featured body part.  What appears to be a colorful portrait may on further study be a hood vent, the chromed curve of a fender, a door handle, or a tail light shot with a macro lens.

Product Description
In addition, the new edition explains new electronically controlled vehicle motion control systems including advanced suspension, electronically controlled electric power steering, 4-wheel steering and electronically controlled electric brakes. The braking systems are part of an integrated motion control system that couples ABS brakes; traction control and variable vehicle dynamics for enhanced stability are also described. The development of hybrid/electric vehicle… More >>

Understanding Automotive Electronics

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For courses in Automotive Engines, Engine Rebuilding, Engine Machining and Engine Repair. This comprehensive textbook covers all aspects of engine repair including engine machining and sub systems such as ignition and fuel injection. The text is written to correlate to the content needed for the ASE Technician Certification test and the NATEF task list, and provides a major emphasis on diagnosis and why operations are performed. Tech Tips and Real World Fixes provid… More >>

Automotive Engines: Theory and Servicing

Advanced Technology Solutions for Automotive & Semi Conductor Industries

An ever-increasing range of leading-edge technologies emerging into the manufacturing, more so in the automotive & semi-conductor sectors, make them two of the most exciting and dynamic manufacturing sectors in the world.

Automotive & Semi-conductor industries are facing an extremely challenging business environment today with increase in product heterogeneousness, higher dependence on outsourcing, and a growing need to collaborate with an unending list of business partners. Moreover, with the automotive electronics market exploding and semiconductor consumption booming worldwide, the tremendous opportunity for semiconductor companies brings with it the increasing pressure to keep pace with the shortening development cycles and the need for newer and more innovative products. However not all the products that hit the market are successful since the consumer today is extremely particular about price and performance, leaving semiconductor companies to grapple with the triple challenges of increasing complexity, shorter timelines and increasing risk. In fact the need to excel by improving quality, creating product differentiation while meeting safety and other regulations has kept both the industries on their toes.

This kind of situation has given impetus to Advanced Technology Solutions, solutions that enable the automotive as well as semi-conductor industries to attain performance advancements and improved efficiency. Partnering with an organization offering industry specific advanced technology solutions in the focused areas of Automotive Electronics, Engineering Design, Product Engineering, Auto Infotainment & Telematics, Instrument clusters, Industrial automation, Powertrain, Chip design, Embedded software, Analog mixed signal design, Electronic design, Physical design, Semiconductor design outsourcing, ASIC/SoC development, Vlsi design, FPGA design solutions, and support services such as Verification & Validation, Offshore testing and Automotive embedded software, is a viable option that can leverage the technology expertise in automotive electronics & semi-conductor solutions. It further helps in accelerating product development cycles and push the envelope of innovation.