Students walking to class at 10:40 a.m. on Sept. 29 witnessed paramedics and a rescue team rush through the MCC-Longview campus to the High Technology building. The Lee’s Summit Fire Department responded to a call made from the automotive department, where a student was injured during a routine lab class.

Automotive technology director Stan Abrahamson said that a student suffered a significant laceration to the lip.

“It happens more often than people think,” Abrahamson said. “We expect cuts and scrapes to happen all of the time in the automotive department.”

Abrahamson said that it is up to each instructor to decide whether or not to make the emergency call when someone is injured. Abrahamson said he would rather have faculty err on the side of caution.

The student’s name and condition were not released.

Q:  The engine light on my 1999 Mazda 626 is on when I drive and the radiator has no fluid, even after I fill it up, but I can’t find a leak. The antifreeze hasn’t mixed with the oil, and there’s no stench coming from the exhaust when the head is cracked. What could be the problem?

A:  The 1999 Mazda 626 can have one of a few different problems. First, check the transmission fluid because they share the same radiator. If there is no sign of an exchange, then a few tests need to be performed.

First, start with a pressure test. This will pressurize the system to check for any leaks. If no leaks are found with a pressure test, it would be best to fill the radiator and overflow to the proper level and run it. Start with the vehicle and bring it to operating temperatures for 10 minutes. Check under the car for any leaking. Turn off the vehicle and let it sit for 5 minutes. While the car rests, smell around the engine compartment for that sweet smell that comes from the exhaust when the head is cracked. If there is an internal leak, there could be coolant collected in one or more of the cylinders. Start the vehicle again, and check the exhaust for any white smoke from the coolant being burned.

If internal leaks are detected, then the leaks can be caused by a number of problems. Take the car into the shop, and there is a good chance that they will be repairing the cylinder head (the top of the combustion chamber).

Send your car questions to student experts.

by MCC-Longview Automotive Tech Writing

Q. Whenever the weather starts to get cold, I start seeing signs to “weatherize your car,” and I’m always skeptical. Should I be doing something to my vehicle to get it ready for winter? If so, what should I be doing, and why?

A. There are many reasons to winterize your vehicle because if not done, it could lead to costly expenses.  One of the main reasons to winterize your vehicle is to protect your engine by having your coolant freezing point checked. The reason for this is to ensure that the coolant does not freeze, which could lead to a cracked engine block. If this happened, you would have to replace the entire engine. Another thing you want done is a battery test. Over time batteries get old and cannot put out enough power to crank your engine in the winter. One minor thing to have done is to inflate tires 3 to 6 psi over your manufacturer’s recommended pressure, which can be found on the drivers’ door jam on a sticker. You would want to do this because in the winter, the air in the tires becomes denser, which lowers the pressure and causes your tires’ rolling resistance to increase. Ed. Note: LV’s automotive technology program will host a winterization clinic. Click here for details.

Q. My 2006 Pontiac Vibe is about to hit 100,000 miles. What should I be doing as far as preventative maintenance?

A. Doing preventative maintenance is almost the same on a Vibe as it is on any other vehicle. It could be as little as changing your oil every 3,000 miles or your air filter for proper air induction. One of the main things that people forget about is to check your other fluids. On a Pontiac Vibe at 100,000 miles, the coolant should be flushed along with cleaning out your radiator and overflow. If you do these operations by yourself, make sure that you have the right fluid. Check your belts, hoses, and all other lines on the vehicle that might leak. One of the main things that people look over is their tires; make sure they are inflated properly and have enough tread. Spark plugs should be changed to help with better spark, which will help with better fuel economy. If you do all these things and continue to check them, you should have a vehicle that will last a long time.

Q. All the oil changing places tell me to get my oil changed every 3,000 miles, but I’ve read online that if I use synthetic oil, I don’t have to change my oil as often. Is that true? Why or why not? What’s the difference between synthetic oil and non-synthetic oil? Are there any reasons I might want to change to a synthetic oil even though it’s more expensive?

A. Yes, you are correct about not having to change your engine oil as frequently if you use synthetic oil. Both regular and synthetic oil start out as crude oil that comes out of the ground. Next, they refine the crude oil and produce what is called base stock. After the refining process is complete, they then ship the oil to different companies and they add their own chemicals to make their oil different from the other oil brands. In making the synthetic oils, they add more wear protection additives and more cleaners to last longer through the life of the oil – that’s the main difference. Adding all the cleaners and wear protection, you can expect your oil to last you up to 10,000 to 15,000 miles between oil changes with synthetic oils depending on your driving conditions. The main reason you may want to change to a synthetic is to provide you with better wear protection and lubricate internal parts, increasing engine life. Another reason is it may increase gas mileage because of the added lubricants and allow the engine to work less hard by providing a smoother slicker surface for the moving parts.

Auto Tech students check under the hood (Uno Yi/The Current).

by Uno Yi

Every driver has had the experience of their cars breaking down on the highways, but many do not know how to deal with it. MCC Longview’s Automotive Technology program gives students the opportunity to learn simple skills to maintain their vehicles.These basic skills can be attained from the Fundamentals of Automotive Technology class, which helps drivers “understand the costs associated with purchasing, maintaining and repairing an automobile.” Instructor Rory Perrodin advises that “all drivers should be able to check the oil, jack up their car, and change a tire on the road. General knowledge of how the machine works is important, so drivers can give specific information to a technician and help shop focus in on what wrong with car.”

The department also provides repair services for students and members of community.

“We don’t charge labor, only the disposable we use, and parts. It’s much cheaper, but customers need to know the students are doing the work. So it takes longer than technicians,” Perrodin said.

Auto classes range from simple fundamental classes that teach students to diagnose the vehicles and to advanced levels where students become certified. Second year student Jesse Smith has been satisfied with the program.

“I feel like I learned a lot. I’ve always liked working on cars and I thought I had a good knowledge of them, but this class has shown me how much more I have yet to learn,” Smith said.

Classic car owners revved their engines at LV's auto show (Rachel Cantrell/The Current).

Classic cars shone forth in quiet, and sometimes noisy, brilliance at MCC-Longview’s Automotive Career Day. Under the bright, warm sunlight, classic cars and trucks basked in glory for fans new and old alike to see.  View slideshow.

The makes and models were diverse an awe inspiring, enough to make any diehard fan get a tear in the eye. From Camaros, Chevelles and Corvettes to Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the wide variety of cars and trucks could appease even the pickiest of autoshow frequent fliers.

The drivers, too, were part of a grand show. A combination of enthusiasm and grizzled exuberance, the owners, just like their prized automobiles, were a unique and diverse crowd. Most said they had garnered their passion when they were children. Others padded their craft over time. All the grandeur of the custom automobiles shone through the eyes of the auto-maniacs presenting their years of hard work and dedication to the craft.

The show was hosted by Longview’s Automotive program, which offers general courses as well as GM and Ford service certifications.

Rachel Cantrell contributed to this story.

When Ysabel Arias acquired her older brother’s 1976 Plymouth Volar, she added her own feminine touches — colorful Tinker Bell floor mats.

She also replaced the heater core and installed a radio and speakers. This summer, Arias, 17, plans to rebuild the carburetor.

Arias said she likes the famous fairy character because “Tinker Bell” was a nickname often given to her because it sounds like Ysabel.

Yet, it could also describe Arias’ talent at tinkering or fixing things, especially cars. Overhauling engines is one of her favorite repairs.

“She really has an aptitude,” said Bill Hansen, general service manager for Midway Ford Truck Center in Kansas City, North, where Arias worked as an intern. “How things work and how things are put together make sense for her.”

But Arias goes beyond fixing what’s broken, Hansen said.

“She wants to figure out why it broke.”

Arias is one of only two young women to graduate this year from the male-dominated automotive technology program in the district. But that hasn’t kept her from speaking her mind — softly but assuredly.

“She was shy when she first came to us,” said Amy St. John, career education coordinator. Students from the district high schools can apply as sophomores to be accepted at the district’s career and technical education center when they are juniors.

“Ysabel had hardly spoken a word when she pulled me aside one day and asked me to get her an internship,” St. John said.

But it wasn’t just any internship Arias had in mind. The district already had an internship course where students held down a job and earned credit for employability skills. What Arias wanted was to learn the ins and outs of a dealership.

“She owned her learning,” St. John said.

St. John arranged an internship for Arias with a dealership.

“I started in accounting and ended my internship in the body shop,” Arias said.

Arias will continue to pursue her passion for all things automotive at Metropolitan Community College -Longview in the fall. She will participate in a program that rotates eight weeks of classes with eight weeks on the job at Midway Ford. The dealership is sponsoring her in the program at the community college .

When Arias graduates in two years, there’s a full-time position awaiting her at Midway Ford.

• School: Winnetonka High School
• Honors/activities: SkillsUSA; Missouri A+ Schools program tutor
• Next step: Metropolitan Community College -Longview
• Career aspirations: To work full time as an automotive technician and eventually become a general manager for a dealership or have her own shop.
• Parents: Octavio and Marisela Arias of Kansas City, North

I drive a 2002 Ford Escort that is approaching 100,000 miles. At what point should I take my car in for a tuneup? Speaking of that, what exactly is a tuneup?

Depending on the vehicle’s make and model, tuneups will vary. For newer cars like yours, we recommend that you take your vehicle in and replace your spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter and the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The spark plug wires don’t need to be replaced if there are no signs of wear. If you have any further questions about service intervals, the owner’s manual or care guide will tell you what needs to be changed at different mileages.

I have a 1995 Honda Odyssey and a 1995 Toyota Camry. We are planning on replacing one with a green car. How do we decide which one should be sold? How do we decide which is the best greenie? Should we lease the new car assuming there will be a more fuel efficient one available in 2 to 3 years?

If you need room to haul around kids, dogs, and groceries, then you should replace the Camry. To truly decide which car to keep you should take both in to a shop and have the condition checked on both to see which one is in better shape. A Ford Escape Hybrid would make an excellent substitution. With an MSRP of around $29,000 and an average fuel economy of 34 MPG, you can still have enough room for a family and still get better gas mileage than most cars. If space is not an issue, we recommend getting rid of the Honda Odyssey because the Toyota Camry will get better gas mileage, and it will also be a more reliable car. Replacing it with a Honda Civic Hybrid would be a good idea. This car has an MSRP of around $23,500 for the base model and boasts an average fuel economy of 45 MPG. Either way you go, MPG should not be the only factor you look at when purchasing a new car. Although you can see the savings at the pump with a foreign hybrid vehicle, you may end up spending much more in maintenance and repairs. Cost of ownership includes more than just the cost of fuel.

I am having problems taking the lug nuts off of my car; is there some way to make it easier?

We would recommend buying a four-way lug wrench from a parts department to make it a little easier to take the lug nuts off and keep it in the trunk. It gives you more leverage to pull and to push at the same time which is much better than just pulling with a tire iron. Also, just loosen the lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground, but do not take them all the way off. Then place the jack in the appropriate jacking point and raise the car up. Make sure to secure the car with a jack stand if one is available and then remove the lug nuts. Once you get the lug nuts off, put some anti seize on the lug studs. This will prevent the lug nuts from rusting up on the lug studs, making it a little easier to take them off. Whenever you’re putting the tire back on, tighten the lug nuts as much as possible while the car is in the air, then let it down on the ground, and finish tightening the lug nuts.

The clear coat is starting to peel. Is there a cheap way to fix my car?

A:

If your clear coat is peeling, there is really no inexpensive way to fix it. One way you could fix it is take it to a body shop or MAACO and have them repaint it. Another way is to repaint it yourself, but we would not recommend it unless you have prior experience because you would have to sand down the body panel and then repaint it. If you just have small rock chips, then you could go out and buy clear coat touch up paint, but be careful because you could just make the problem worse.

by EDITH ERICKSON

Large groups of high school students stood in awe looking over the antique and vintage cars that lined the parking lot at the automotive building on the two Automotive Career Days, Sept. 30-Oct 1.

Car owners proudly displayed the engines of their cars and answered questions that high school students had. Longview automotive teachers gave an overview of the different automotive programs here on campus. Students also had the opportunity to observe current Longview students working on vehicles in a lab.

Afterward, high school teacher Jeff Green said, “Initial reaction was very positive; some of them were really excited and wanted to sign up right away.”

Outstanding Academic
Achievement:
Julia Black
Joel Boldrey
Patricia Clark
Ryan Crossland
Tim Cunningham
Mia Dale
Jennifer Goodman
Stephen Howe
Gregg Kessler
Eric Lambert
Deborah Emelee Liggett
Erin Jackson
Jill Lomonte
Ginger Martens
George Martin
Ryan McGee
Juliet Peel
Richard Rathbone
Francine Roberts
Sara Sampson
Natalie Smith
Audrey Swope
Heather Vanderpool
Tiffany Wallace
Benjamin Zibers
Deborah Zimmerman

Honors Program Graduates:
Douglas Bergman
David Griswold

PTK Enhanced Membership:
Allison Coontz
Karen Fletcher
Chris Palmer
Laura Robbins
Melissa VanderWal

All-Missouri Academic Team Members:
Andrew W. Morton
Chris Palmer

Outstanding Students in Math, Physics or Engineering:
Luke Harmon
Audrey Swope

Crystal M. Field Award
for Student Writing:
Danielle Hays

Outstanding Alumni
Achievement:
Denise Farris

Outstanding Alumni Service:
Carma Dodd

Debater of the Year:
Calvin Anderson

Outstanding Baseball Athlete:
Nick Basham
Rhett Rigby

Outstanding Cross Country/Track Athlete:
Krystal Porter

Outstanding Volleyball Athletes:
Marissa Bartolotta
Stefanie Williams

General Motors World Class Technician:
Rory Perrodin

Outstanding Student in Automotive Technology:
Micah Klausen

Outstanding Student Leader:
Austin Graham

Outstanding Contribution to a Special Interest Group:
Student – Andrew W. Morton
Employee – Bridget Gold

Outstanding Contribution to the College:
Student – Nicholas Basham
Employee – Jim McGraw

Outstanding Student Advocate:
Jan Rog

Blake writes:
What types of maintenance do you suggest for most cars once they have reached 100,000 miles?

Blake,
Once your car has reached 100,000 miles, it would be smart to check your owner manual for a list of maintenance items. If you don’t have your manual, here are some things that should be checked: fluids (some might need to be flushed and need all new fluid), air filter or cabin filter, fuel filter, belts (for cracks and rips), tires (see how much tread is left), wiper blades, brakes and rotors, suspension parts, and battery life. Doing this maintenance will extend the life of your vehicle.

Have a car problem? Email your questions for Rev Hard to casey.reid@mcckc.edu.