Introduction
Welcome to the exciting, challenging world of auto-
motive technology! You have selected a rewarding field
of study.
Modern Automotive Technology is an easy-to-
understand, up-to-date book summarizing the operation
and repair of all makes and models of vehicles. The text
uses a building-block approach that starts with the simple
and progresses gradually to the more complex. Short sen-
tences, concise definitions, and thousands of color illus-
trations will help you learn quickly and easily.
Modern Automotive Technology is a valuable refer-
ence for anyone interested in the operation, construction,
and repair of automobiles and light trucks. Vehicle
owners who need a general guide to automotive service
will find the book both interesting and informative. Those
who are preparing for a career in automotive technology
will find the text a “must.” Experienced technicians can
use it when preparing for the ASE certification tests.
No longer can the untrained person hope to fix the
modern automobile. Multiple on-board computers are
now used to monitor and control the engine, transmission,
suspension, braking, emission control, and other systems.
Although computer systems are discussed in almost
every chapter, three chapters—Chapter 17, Computer
System Fundamentals; Chapter 18, On-Board Diag-
nostics and Scan Tools; and Chapter 19, Computer
System Service—explain the operation and service of
these important systems in detail.
Additionally, Chapter 46, Advanced Diagnostics,
emphasizes the use of the latest diagnostic equipment and
techniques to locate engine performance problems. A few
of the other topics discussed in the text include anti-lock
brakes, four-wheel steering, four-valve cylinders, active
suspension systems, passive restraint systems, security
systems, and navigation systems.
The 2009 edition of Modern Automotive
Technology is organized around the eight ASE automo-
bile test areas and is correlated to the NATEF Task List.
Each automotive system is presented in two or more
chapters. The first chapter explains the construction and
operation of a specific system. The following chapter
expands on this by detailing the troubleshooting and
repair of the same system.
Type Styles Used in This Text
Various type styles are used throughout this text to
emphasize words, identify important terms, and highlight
figure references.
Italic type is used to emphasize words and terms. For
example, the word not is often printed in italic type when
it is imperative that an operation be avoided.
Important terms appear in bold-italic type. These
terms are defined when introduced and most are listed in
the Important Terms list at the end of the chapter, as well
as in the Glossary at the back of the text. Study the bold-
italic terms carefully.
Figure references in the body of the text and in the
captions always appear in bold type. This makes them
easy to identify.
Chapter Components
Each chapter opens with a list of learning objectives.
These objectives identify the topics covered and goals to
be achieved in the chapter. Review the objectives before
reading the chapter to determine what you can expect to
learn. After completing the chapter, read the objectives
once more and make sure you have met each objective.
A summary is found at the end of each chapter. The
summary highlights the material covered in the chapter.
Review the summary after completing a chapter.
A list of important terms is also included at the end
of each chapter. The terms in the list appear in the
order in which they are presented in the chapter. After
completing a chapter, review each term. If a term cannot
be defined, review the related section in the chapter.
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