iii
Introduction
Welcome to the exciting, challenging, and ever-
changing world of automotive technology! You
have selected a rewarding fi eld of study.
Modern Automotive Technology is an easy-to-
understand, up-to-date textbook summarizing the
operation and repair of all makes and models of
vehicles. The text uses a building-block approach
that starts with simple principles and general rules
and progresses gradually to more complex subjects.
Short sentences, concise defi nitions, and thousands
of color illustrations will help you learn quickly and
easily. Color is used extensively throughout this text
to enhance the educational value of the artwork and
highlight important information.
Modern Automotive Technology is a valuable
reference for anyone interested in the operation, con-
struction, troubleshooting, and repair of automobiles
and light trucks. Vehicle owners who need a general
guide to automotive service will fi nd the book both
interesting and informative. Those who are preparing
for a career in automotive technology will fi nd the text
a “must.” Experienced technicians and students can
use it when preparing for the ASE certifi cation tests.
No longer can the untrained person hope to fi x
modern passenger vehicles. Multiple on-board com-
puters are now used to control and monitor the
engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, emission
controls, and other vital vehicle systems.
Each major automotive system is covered in two
or more chapters. The fi rst chapter explains the con-
struction and operation of a specifi c system. The
second chapter expands on this by discussing diag-
nosis, service, and repair of the same system.
Although computer systems are discussed in
almost every chapter of this textbook, three chap-
ters—Chapter 23, Computer System Fundamentals;
Chapter 24, On-Board Diagnostics and Scan Tools; and
Chapter 25, Computer System Service—explain these
important systems in detail.
This edition of Modern Automotive Technology
contains an all new Fundamentals of Electricity and
Electronics section to better prepare students to
work on today’s vehicles. Additionally, Chapter 54,
Advanced Diagnostics, emphasizes the use of the lat-
est diagnostic equipment and techniques to pinpoint
diffi cult-to-locate engine performance problems.
Several new chapters, including Engine Reassembly,
Installation, and Break-In, Turbochargers and Super-
chargers—Construction, Operation, and Repair, and
Hybrid Drive Systems Diagnosis and Repair, provide
expanded coverage of important topics. A few of
the other subjects discussed in this textbook include
anti-lock brakes, four-wheel steering, variable valve
timing, direct gasoline injection, active suspension
systems, passive restraint systems, tire pressure
monitoring systems, and navigation systems.
The 2014 edition of Modern Automotive
Technology is organized around the ASE automobile
test areas and correlated to the NATEF Task List.
Chapter Components
Each chapter opens with a list of learning objec-
tives. 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 technical terms is also included at the end
of each chapter. After completing a chapter, review
each term in the list. If a term cannot be defi ned,
review the related section in the chapter.