An added bonus for those attending this year’s TMC Fall Meeting in Raleigh, NC, in September is the TMC’s PTDC (Professional Technician Development Committee) Technician Training Fair.
It is a series of hands-on training sessions created to help commercial vehicle technicians, shop supervisors and fleet managers stay current on the latest technologies and techniques related to vehicle service and maintenance.
The PTDC Technician Training Fair will offer various separate educational opportunities based on the 14 skills stations held during the TMCSuperTech - a national competition for technicians. Additionally, this training qualifies for continuing education credit units accepted by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). NATEF is a separate foundation within the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) organization.
MONDAY SESSIONS
The Technician Training Fair sessions set for Monday, September 20, are:
Session #1 — Basic Electrical/Electronic Diagnostics. This training has been designed to advance the understanding of basic electrical theory. Among the subjects to be covered are how to properly check and troubleshoot electrical circuits using a digital multimeter, voltage drop, current flow, resistance and diode checks.
Session #2 — Interpreting Scan Tool Data. There are two common problems with fault codes. One is that technicians pull fault codes and then don’t know what to do with them. The other is they pull the codes and don’t record them so there is no record and no one else can follow up without starting over. This training session will discuss how to logically approach a problem once the data has been collected, and how to better interpret and understand scan tool data when conducting vehicle diagnostics.
Session #3 — Introduction to Multiplex Communications for Technicians. Manufacturers rely on multiplex communications to control more vehicle systems with fewer components, reduce the total amount of vehicle wiring and eliminate redundant sensors and controls. An introductory training session on multiplex communications, it will examine the types of communication used; the different configurations, speeds and protocols of communication; and message structure and fault diagnosis.
Each session is held three times: 8:30 am - 9:20 am; 9:35 am - 10:25 am; and 10:40 am - 11:30 am.
WEDNESDAY SESSIONS
Training Fair sessions taking place on Wednesday, September 23, are:
Session #4 — Preventive Maintenance Inspection. This will offer an overview of how to properly conduct a preventive maintenance inspection.
Session #5 — Essentials of Heavy Duty Onboard Diagnostics. Coming are new challenges posed by an onboard computer systems that have the ability to provide unparalleled guidance and data. This new information is very powerful for the trained technician but can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the terms, strategies and equipment requirements needed to be successful. This session will provide an overview of the essential skills that need to be mastered in order to be successful in diagnosing and maintaining 2010 and newer engines equipped with heavy duty onboard diagnostics.
Session #6 — Powertrain Management Basics. This session will be an overview of powertrain systems and include a discussion of sensor/controller operation principles and CAN bus basics, referencing SAE J1939 protocol as it pertains to TMC RP 1210B. This Recommended Practice, “Windows Communication Application Program Interface (API),” was designed to provide guidelines for the development of any software application that uses the Windows operating system and communicates with a vehicle datastream.As with the Monday sessions, these, too, will be conducted three times back-to-back. The times are: 7 am - 8 am; 8:15 am - 9:15 am; 9:30 am - 10:30 am.)
