At Porter and Chester Institute (PCI), the Automotive Technology program is growing. In as few as 12 months, students can earn a diploma at the Hamden, Rocky Hill, Stratford, and Waterbury, Connecticut campuses or Brockton, Chicopee, and Worcester, Massachusetts campuses.

The Automotive Technology program consists of five terms that offer a broad range of courses that will prepare students with auto mechanic skills for a career in the field after graduation.

Engine Term

• Engine Repair – Cylinder blocks, valve train, and cooling and lubrication systems
• Engine Diagnostics – Diagnosing drivability, compression, leakdown, and vacuum testing, fluid leak detection and ignition and camshaft timing
• Shop Management – Basic automotive shop operations, completing repair orders, preparing estimates, ordering parts, and customer relations
• Heating– Automotive heating systems

Electrical Term

• Engine Electrical Systems – Starting systems and charging systems and reading and interpreting schematic diagrams
• Body Control Systems – Body and chassis electrical circuits including lighting systems, horns windshield wiper systems, power accessories, and reading and interpreting schematic diagrams for body and chassis electrical circuits
• Air Conditioning – Automotive air conditioning systems

Engine Management Term

• Electricity for Engine Performance – Testing engine electrical sensors, actuators and electrical circuits using meters, scan tools and test lights and reading and interpreting schematic diagrams on electrical circuits
• Engine Performance – Automotive ignition, fuel delivery, and computer control systems including electronic ignition and fuel injection, engine management computers, emission control systems, diagnosis and repair, On Board Diagnosis-Generation II, and failure code interpretation emphasis

Chassis Term

• Brakes – Brakes, brake hydraulic systems, ABS, traction control, and automatic stability control systems
• Suspension and Steering – Suspension concepts including control arms, ball joints, springs, shock absorbers, sway bars, wheel alignment, active suspension systems, and diagnosis and repair
• Welding Fundamentals – Oxy-acetylene heating, cutting, brazing, and fusion welding

Drivetrain Term

• Automatic Transmission – Torque converters planetary gearsets, multiple disc clutches bands, valve bodies, and computerized transmission control
• Manual Transmission – Manual transmissions and clutches
• Driveline Systems – Universal joints, driveshafts, final drive assemblies, transfer cases, and differentials

The Automotive Technology program at PCI will equip students with the automotive skills needed to jump into their new career field right after graduation. To find out more about the program, visit the program description page or the online application portal.