Overview
Familiarize the trainee with the set of the gap of the contact breaker points, the spark plugs, and adjust the engine timing. Trace and repair faults which may occur in the starting circuit, the ignition circuit, the charging circuit or the lighting circuit. Start the diesel engine when cold or hot.
Key and critical concepts you will learn
On completion of this module, the trainee must be able to do:
- The spark plug gap, the contact breaker points gap and the timing must be set according to the specifications given in the workshop manual.
- The correct methods must be used when tracing a fault in the electrical circuits.
- Capacitors must be tested as prescribed.
- Any broken or blown globes must be replaced with the correct types and sizes.
- Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of the correct size and current-carrying capacity.
- Any componnts that are removed must be disassembled, repaired and assembled according to the workshop manual.
- No nuts, bolts, studs or screws must be damaged or stripped when being removed or replaced.
- Any faulty wires must be replaced with wires of the correct colour and size.
- All the connections must be clean and tight.
- The glow plugs of the diesel engine must be tested correctly, and the engine must start under cold and warm conditions.
- Tools and Equipment must be used in a correct manner.
Whilst learning towards this outcome you are required to achieve the following:
- A combined theory and practical test will be set at the end of the module and must be completed without using references.
- A motor vehicle operates on two basic systems, namely, the electrical system and the mechanical system. These systems are dependent on each other. The engine is started by the battery which in turn must be charged by the generator or alternator which is driven by the engine.
- The electrical system is divided into four parts which differ for the different makes of vehicles. Each part is explained in this module. They are:
- Starting circuit
- Ignition circuit
- Charging circuit
- Lighting circuit.
Tools, consumables, equipment and machinery required
- A battery
- Volt/amp/ohm Meter [Multimeter]
- Thermometer
- Battery Load Tester
- Electronic battery Tester
- Battery Charger
- A motor vehicle. (Petrol and Diesel)
- The relative workshop manual.
- All the necessary tools and equipment.
Prerequisite modules
- ST- Safety
- LOP – Lockout procedure.
- RAE – 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE
The electrical system is divided into four parts which is different from different makes of vehicles. Each part is explained in this module. They are:
Application
All vehicles must make use of the:
- The electrical system that is divided into
- Starting circuit
- Ignition circuit
- Charging circuit
- Lighting circuit.
Additional resources & References.
- A demonstration by a competent person for e.g. your Instructor/HRD Officer/ETDP
- Workshop manual. [OEM “Original Equipment Manufacturer”] Specification and operational manual.