racing to rescue

Posts Tagged ‘Modern’

The atv, or all terrain vehicle, once considered pure recreation and excitement has emerged as much more than that. Years of innovations in the atv industry have produced superior machines with extraordinary reliability and performance. Aside from enjoying the wooded trails and sand dunes, the atv has found itself in numerous practical roles including search and rescue, law enforcement, agriculture and farming, snow removal, hunting and patrol of gamelands, and just about any job that requires access to areas previously unreachable by four wheel drive trucks. The four wheel drive (4×4) atv models in particular have exploded onto the scene. These utility atvs capable of being driven by all four wheels, are able to perform far more tasks than originally anticipated. The addition of accessories including luggage and storage racks and powered winches have also impacted the use of atvs for business and practical purposes. Engines can range in size with maximum displacement as high as 800cc providing plenty of power for towing, dragging, and other tasks. A reverse gear provides much more versatility than the mono-directional atvs of earlier years. Shaft drives have replaced chain and sprocket drives on the original sport models. PTO has become an option providing power for those who need to drive external accessories and machinery. With a plethora of options available, the 4×4 utility atv can be considered a viable off-road vehicle and useful tool rolled into one.

Law enforcement is a fine example of atv use from a practical standpoint. The police have begun making use of atvs for patrolling as well as search and rescue. The ability of the atv to travel off-road in less than perfect road or trail conditions makes the atv the perfect tool for police in rural areas. In areas where horseback and foot patrol used to be the only option, the atv can provide a reliable means of travel, and in some cases a much longer range. In a city environment, atvs play a huge role in crowd control. The atv has also made beach patrols far easier for enforcement officers. Large areas of sandy beach can be patrolled in a relatively short period of time versus good, old fashioned walking. Firefighters also can reach wooded areas normally off-limits to firetrucks and medical personnel now have a  means of assisting and retrieving individuals in need of emergency medical care.

The use of atvs in agriculture and farm operations is most predominant of all. Small and medium sized farms have made use of atvs performing tasks previously performed by horses and by good old human power. The application of pesticides has become more efficient due to the availability of atv-mounted pesticide applicators. The feeding of livestock has become easier using atvs for hauling and distributing feed. Mowing smaller fields can be more efficient with atvs over full size tractors especially in areas with limited access. The relocation of dirt and gravel, a simple task done for a variety of reasons, has been made easier as atvs can reach areas not accessible by pickup truck or tractor. Seeding is another example of life made easier on the farm by means of atv, an attached atv spreader can ease the workload associated with seeding crops as well. Tilling can also be accomplished via atv. A cumbersome tiller attached to a full size tractor may not always work well in areas with limited access or difficult maneuverability.

Anyone who has ever ridden an atv for recreational purposes knows how gratifying and enjoyable riding can be and it is always interesting to see exciting new roles played by the all terrain vehicle as they continue to emerge year after year. Through the use of new and innovative accessories, larger engines, better suspension and control, we can only imagine where we’ll find an atv next.

Thanks to the increasing complexity of modern automobiles over the past few years, most professional auto shops and garages now require a selection of automotive scan tools with which to carry out day to day diagnostic work in order to pinpoint any problems with an engine or engine management system in order to discover what action is needed in order to effect a repair with the minimum of error and maximum efficiency.

There are a variety of different tools available to carry out diagnostics and scans on different types of car and to prepare to repair as effectively as possible. Knowing in detail what issues are causing a car engine to behave in a particular manner is the key to being able to correct the fault in a timely and effective manner.

Perhaps the best known manufacturer of automotive scan tools is OTC, who make a range of tools designed for the highest quality and best price. A comprehensive range is available to enable mechanics to be able to tackle any job they come across, and the range of OTC automotive scan tools is recognized as one of the top choices for the professional, as well as being affordable enough for domestic use under certain circumstances.

Different jobs require different tools, and some are more complex than others. Typically, any job to repair a modern car begins with plugging the scanner into the engine management computer and downloading a log of current performance date. This will include fuel consumption, and time since the last service. It will give the mechanic a complete overview of how the engine is operating, and where there might be errors occurring. The scan will show the mechanic examining the engine whether there are any problems with the fuel supply, the electronics, the air filters, and the running temperature, it will also provide plenty of insight into whether any problems are related to an issue within the engine itself, or indeed within the way the management system has been set up.

A complete diagnostic of a car’s engine management computer system will typically offer an almost immediate list of the performance details for the vehicle, and a good automotive scan tool will shave hours off an otherwise lengthy repair task, as the mechanic will be able to tell almost immediately what is wrong, and what needs to be done in order to repair the damage.

Of course, technology only works well in the hands of those who understand it, and are able to sift through the data provided through a scan and interpret it correctly. However, the latest OTC automotive scan tools have been designed to be almost fool proof, and are able to draw on the experience and insight of hundreds of different programmers and mechanic’s personal records in order to provide a more accurate overview of the data and even present possible solutions to many of the most common problems that a mechanic might encounter.

While some manufacturers release their own range of tools, that are aimed at main dealers, a commercial mechanic may deal with many different models and manufacturers in their day to day role, and this is why it is often an idea to purchase OTC automotive scan tools, as they will be compatible with a range of different vehicles from different international makers, and therefore offer greater flexibility without having to compromise on quality or pay repeatedly for scanners for every single car that is on the market.

While commercial level automotive scan tools are expensive to install and themselves require regular system updates that carry the latest settings for every new vehicle released, they pay for themselves almost immediately thanks to the time that they are able to save, and the fact that without them, even the most experienced mechanic would struggle to discover the inner workings of the latest car engines, which have been designed to be efficient, and robust, but are increasingly too complex for anyone but the experts to consider carrying out any work on.

Jobs within the automotive industry are extremely varied. Depending on which element you would like to enter defines what kind of jobs to go for. Put simply there are two major sectors dividing the industry; those who work in the development, manufacture and sale of new cars, and those involved in the after sales garage industries.

Both can be lucrative industries to enter, especially the latter as the majority of people lack any real mechanical knowledge so your skill with an engine is often required by many.

Employment within the car manufacturing industry has a wide scope and is not necessarily defined by engineering qualifications. Sadly the British motor industry had been in decline for some years, most will remember the ghastly scenes outside Rover’s Longbridge plant during its closure in 2005.

It seems to have settled down in recent years with large plants in Ellesmere Port, Southampton and Sunderland still open, producing cars for Vauxhall, Ford and Nissan respectively. These construction jobs will most probably come under threat eventually, as with much of the automotive industry in Britain, cheaper production abroad means companies are less inclined to use the British workforce.

Construction is not the only field available in the motor industry. In terms of creative development, many British applicants have gone on to work for the major car companies to design future models despite production being moved overseas. Added to this, thanks to British universities leading the way in engineering scholarship, the talents of British design engineers are required worldwide.

Their knowledge has helped bring the motor industry forward, creating new technologies and providing expert advice is clearly a niche that British engineers have managed to chisel out in an extremely competitive global market.

However if you are in the process of looking for jobs in the automotive industry do not be disheartened by lack of engineering know-how or the dwindling opportunities in vehicle manufacture. Showroom sales and after sales care are a very important part of the business and pay handsomely for employees who can sell well.

As a car sales representative being able to bend people to your will is a requirement as this will help in selling cars. Subsequently pay is often performance related and those who have a clear drive for earning would be suited to this type of job as the reward of an extra big pay packet can be enough to pursue sales fervently.

The vast majority of UK motor trade vacancies however are in the garage and after sales industry. The legislative insistence upon the MOT test, added to a car’s need to be serviced regularly creates a constant stream of work for garages.

Employment within the industry varies from MOT testers to panel beaters, whilst running a garage can be extremely lucrative. When beginning in the trade, options include college courses that will qualify students to work on cars and apprenticeships that allow on the job training.

Knowing your way round an engine is no longer a sure fire way into the modern automotive trade. Increasingly cars are becoming more advanced, with electronics and electronic diagnosis becoming a major constituent of the job.

Today’s mechanical engineering college courses are not wholly practical either and contain a large theoretic element requiring much study and written examinations. Seemingly the days of the ‘grease-monkey’ are over, as the industry evolves those who can work a lap top will be increasingly required to diagnose and repair engine malfunctions.

Applicants for jobs in this industry vary from engineering graduates to mechanics’ apprentices. Those in manufacture take pride in the production of evermore modern and improved designs whereas those in after sales care ensure that people’s cars are roadworthy and running well. Both sets of skills are valued equally in an industry that prides itself on getting people moving