auto mechanics then and now

AUTO MECHANICS THEN AND NOW

By George Branscom

My name is George Branscom, and I am writing this article
from my own experiences as an Auto Mechanic. I worked in the field for twenty
nine years. I taught High School for six years and taught in Fort Grant State
Prison near Safford Arizona for
three years.

When I started my Auto Carrier in 1972 vehicles were still
very basic and easy to work on. These were the days of breaker point ignition systems
and ignition coils. The tools needed for the basic engine them was a timing
light, dwell meter, feeler gauge, and a allen wrench for GM distributors as
GM’s point and condenser was a one piece unit, and could be adjusted with an allen wrench . Cerebration
was the only source of fuel injection for American made autos. Electronic Ignition
came out in the mid to late 70′s.Volkswagen
was the first manufacture to produce fuel injection in cars back in 1968. It
was a mechanical fuel injection system that they used both for their gas and
diesel four cylinder engines. It was not until the early 80′s that Auto makers
in America began to experiment with fuel injection the first being Throttle Body
injection which looked like a carburetor body with two fuel injection nozzles on
top. The fuel injection was controlled by a computer. By the med 80′s GM began
using multi-port fuel injection on their V6 engines. As time progressed all
manufactures began using electronic fuel injection on all of their vehicles. In
the mid 80′s GM was the first manufacture to come out with distributorless
ignition systems which also demanded more computer systems to control both
ignition as well as fuel distribution and timing.

Today’s Auto Technician faces many new challenges, and must
have extensive training and experience in order to keep up with the changing
field of the Auto market. They must have special training in the various fields
and also the tools that will enable them to do the work. Such things as Books
on Trouble Codes, Fuel Injection Trouble Shooting, Wiring Diagrams, Books on
Timing Belts which gives them instructions of how to properly install the belt.
Technical Specs. Engine Management Systems. Specialty Tools such as Flare Nut
Wrenches for Fuel Lines, Fuel Line Service Tools for separating fuel lines. Bleeder
Wrenches for Brake Systems. Brake Service Kit for doing Brake jobs. They will
also need to be familiar with trouble codes and what they mean. There are Tech
Books for Trouble Codes for various vehicles. They can only be read with a
scanner which is plugged into the computer system. Today’s Tech with also need
fuel pressure gauges in order to check for proper fuel pressure from the fuel
pump in the fuel tank, as well as the proper pressure between the fuel pressure
regulator and the fuel rail which provides fuel to the injectors.

In today’s cars and truck all of the engine functions are
controlled by one or more computers , sometimes as many as six computers are
used to control all of the various systems in the vehicle. Being a mechanic in
today’s auto market requires a great deal of knowledge and experience as well
as the tools that are required to be able to properly do the job that you are
paid to do.

FROM

(www.bargainbarnexpress.com)

About the author

My name is George Branscom and I was in the Auto Mechanic
field for over 25 years and was ASE Certified for 10+ years. I began my carrier
in 1972 and simply learned by hands on experience and observing and asking
questions. So basically I am a self taught mechanic. I also drew a great deal
of knowledge for senior mechanics in the field and was able to incorporate the
knowledge that I gleaned from them and put it into practice.

I also was taught Auto Tech in High School for six years as
well as three years at Fort Grand State Prison in Southern Arizona.
I set up my own business in my carport in Safford Arizona
for six years and was very successful in that business.

Tags: allen wrench, auto carrier, auto mechanic, auto mechanics, auto technician, carburetor body, cerebration, cylinder engines, electronic fuel injection, fuel distribution, fuel injection nozzles, fuel injection system, mechanical fuel injection, mid 80s, point ignition, port fuel injection, safford arizona, throttle body injection, timing light, v6 engines