Automotive Technical Support Services (ATSS) and Diesel Forward, a diesel engine repair service and distributor of aftermarket diesel engine fuel systems and technical components, presented two diagnostic training programs for professional technicians in Windsor, Wis. on February 21-22.
The two-day, eight-hour seminar covered automotive and truck electricity and electronics diagnostics, as well as Ford 6.7L powerstroke diesel diagnostics.
The instructor, Mike Cleary, has been in the vehicle repair industry for nearly 40 years and has held many prominent positions including serving on two Ford National Technician Advisory Boards. He is an ASE certified master technician in both the automotive and heavy truck categories and is L1, L2, and F1 certified.
For the past 19 years, he has been traveling the U.S providing training on an assortment of vehicle repair topics with the philosophy “don’t let anyone tell you: you can’t.”
Cleary describes his trainings as more “non-traditional” in the sense that he offers real-world experiences, including mistakes that he has done himself since he has started as a technician.
The first class was titled “Auto and Truck Electricity and Electronics Diagnostics: What you didn’t learn in school.” Attendees were encouraged to bring in their own multimeter in order to perform different testing functions, in addition to become more familiar with their own equipment.
The electronics diagnostics course provided information on electrical circuits, Ohm’s law and Kirchoff’s law of electricity, voltage drop tests, issues with injectors, relays, along with common diagnostic mistakes and how to avoid them.
Throughout the day, Cleary passed around actual case studies of wiring diagrams from vehicles that he has worked on. He first allowed a few minutes for the attendees to review on their own and then as a group they discussed the correct diagnostic procedure required to adequately diagnose the issue at hand.
“I like the relaxed atmosphere, the real-work knowledge that he provides, and his experience,” Jeff Schweitzer, a local firefighter, noted on Cleary’s style of teaching. Schweitzer attended the electrical diagnosis class to learn more about electrical troubleshooting issues.
Tom Thiele, public works manager for the town of Delevan, attended as a refresher and found that learning ways to do voltage drops was very beneficial.
Cleary’s second class, “Ford 6.7L Powerstroke Diesel Diagnostics,” included the latest updates, testing procedures, and design changes for the Ford engine design.
The class covered dual cooling systems, injector replacement procedures, injector quality adjustment (IQA) programming, exhaust aftertreatment system testing to repairing common fault codes, and technical tips.
Alberto Bonilla, technical support for Diesel Forward of nine years, said that his shop is starting to see more 6.7L diesel engines and wanted to learn quick tips and additional information on how to diagnose them. Bonilla also attended the electrical class. “There is always room for more knowledge,” he said.
Cleary’s training classes are well-known and many of those who attend often go to more than one. At the classes held at Diesel Forward, 30 students were in attendance with majority of them attending both classes. Attendees ranged from automotive and heavy duty equipment technicians, shop owners, firefighters, and more.
“It never hurts to learn more,”,” said Joe Canales, owner of JC Truck and Trailer Repair. He said he attended both classes “to sharpen up on skills.”
Cleary said he enjoys teaching and sharing his professional experience.
“The most rewarding part [in teaching] is being able to share my knowledge,” Cleary said. “I enjoy watching [the attendees] learn and seeing the light bulb go on.”
