The Trainer #160: Performance Evaluation-Part #1 (DC Motors)

May 22, 2025

This new miniseries is sure to inspire! Learning how the components we see everyday function, and how to test them is the key to diagnostic success!

Brandon Steckler

Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler is back with the latest episode of “The Trainer!” This is only the first in his 8-part mini-series “System and Component Performance Evaluation.”

Join Brandon as he walks you through the process of learning how each individual electrical actuator component in the series functions. This includes understanding the common physical laws that drive their functionality, referencing the wiring diagram to determine component location and the proper test points, implementing the digital storage oscilloscope and current probe to monitor their function, and lastly (but certainly not least), building anticipation on what to expect from a good- vs poorly performing device, as well as where to test next!

The mindset of this approach is that these components can be found on nearly every single vehicle you will encounter; past, present, and future! Approaching any component or system in this fashion will aid in determining preliminarily just what is functioning properly on the vehicle, limiting the amount of wasted time, energy, and money testing components (or areas of a system) unnecessarily.

Whether you’re a novice to diagnostics, a DIY’er, or and experienced technician that just wants to understand at a deeper level, be sure to tune into this first installment of this mini-series called “System and Component Performance Evaluation.” This video is based upon DC-Motors. This type of down-to-earth, immediately applicable instructional demonstration can only be found here on Motor Age’s “The Trainer!”

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About the Author

Brandon Steckler | Technical Editor | Motor Age

Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.

Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability.

Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.

Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).

He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.