Automotive/Expert Profile

Expertise

The challenges I most enjoy are thoughtful technical questions of a trouble-shooting nature in both electrical, power electronic and mechanical systems, mainly automotive but also machine control and small-machine PLC applications. Please note, however, that I am NOT a walking shop manual for every car in existence! While I have been described by colleagues and students as having an encyclopedic knowledge of automotive and transportation equipment in general, I do NOT have a collection of shop manuals and detailed specifications for every vehicle in existence! What I DO have is a good collection of literature and hands-on experience with 1950s to 1980's Ford products (plus a developing database of information and practice with the Mercedes diesel cars), along with an engineering perspective and the ability to design and implement custom control, electrical and mechanical subsystems for vehicles. For that reason, I am happy to make my thoughts and efforts available to those who are similarly making a point of learning about their vehicles. In regard to manuals and specifications, your automotive parts shop, automotive parts houses and, often, the public library are good resources for these. I also have a good track record for trouble-shooting and solving emissions problems in older carbureted vehicles. Doing the latter requires that one has the interest and makes the effort to learn how combustion systems are intended to work and can appreciate how the various systems and settings interrelate - there are no short cuts nor "quick fixes" here; this is a job definitely doing properly and with one's eyes open, as the payoff is not only an honest pass of an emissions test, but an engine which will perform with its intended power, economy and reliability!

Experience in the area

One of my key skills both in my work and in my hobby pursuits is STRATEGIC TROUBLESHOOTING. In addition to having been the Power and Driveline resource on the Edsel Owners' Club "E-Team" for the past several years, I am a senior instructor in the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. My main area is Electrical Power and Industrial Control (including PLC applications and programming), and I round this out with course development and teaching of courses in electrical and electronics design and manufacturing, and in AutoCAD and electrically related CAD/CAE software. From the hobby perspective, I do automotive restoration of all aspects of automotive systems (1959 Edsel Corsair since 1972 and 1978 Ford E250 van since 1985), class-B motorhome conversion (my reason for reworking an E250) and electrical and mechanical custom upgrades as viable ideas and opportunities present themselves. I have designed and produced custom circuit boards to bring back or add features to vehicles when no new parts were obtainable or where a better specification or operation could be had using a more modern circuit. I designed, installed and continue to revise a custom electrical system for my E250 motorhome conversion and, since 2002, this has been managed by an onboard industrial PLC (programmable controller) which has made many revisions since as easy as plugging in my ThinkPad and uploading new firmware. I am also remanufacturing a sixties-vintage travel trailer, and am using a Moeller 620 mini-PLC in that application as a battery manager. Also keen on vintage cameras, telecommunications equipment, railway passenger equipment and locomotive technology, fusion cuisine and renaissance music and chorale activities. Current project - and the one which drew me to this website - is my "new" but very nice Mercedes 300CD, one which developed a minor vacuum problem ... I do not have a shop manual for it yet, so thought I would pose a question ... thanks!

Organizations

IEEE - senior member ... WCC Student Activities chair 1985 - 87 SME - senior member ... greater Vancouver chapter chair 1988-89 Edsel Owners' Club - have served in various capacities on chapter executive during earlier years

Education/Credentials

B Sc in Physics, UBC

Awards and Honors

Certificates of appreciation from both IEEE and SME for work in student and chapter activities

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

Continued learning ... One must be a lifelong student to fully engage the mind and embrace life!