I had never been to Vegas. I was a part of the 2020 virtual AAPEX show which was outstanding but being able to present our ADAS course live at AAPEX 2021 is something I could not have imagined. AAPEX is an amazing event to attend and I’m bummed that I was late to the party and missed so many previous years.
The ADAS course we presented at AAPEX has evolved into a 500+ slide PowerPoint that covers everything from the system design and operation, theory, tooling, diagnostic strategies, and case studies. I started teaching automotive technology around the same time our company was diving into ADAS service. Naturally, I documented just about everything I learned and used it to build a class written for technicians who are just starting out. From there the second part of the course takes a deep dive into the real-world struggles even experienced techs will face in the field.
At AAPEX 2021 we presented information that not only explains what ADAS calibrations are but also why calibrations are critical. We break down what the dangers are of NOT performing a calibration. We covered how these sensors control the steering and braking of the vehicle and how they integrate into almost all systems in the vehicle. From there we examined case studies and broke down calibration failures. It is this knowledge that will allow technicians to perform better service, educate their clients better, and promote professionalism within the industry.
A few years ago, when I first started presenting this class it was apparent that there was plenty of misinformation surrounding ADAS systems and that most technicians were unfamiliar with the components and how critical they were to driver and occupant safety. Looking back now it is impressive how much things have changed. Awareness has skyrocketed, but more importantly, we are seeing technicians willing to stay ahead of the curve.
I’ve always enjoyed attending training courses and listening to a room full of technicians share their battle stories and victories. But a failing crank sensor only makes a great story so many times. That has been the beauty of presenting this ADAS class. Rarely are ADAS failures pattern failures and because of that, a diagnostic strategy based on theory and operation is critical to finding a solution.
For me, some of the best parts of this presentation are listening to others share their ADAS-related experiences. AAPEX was no different and it is always so refreshing to be around technicians who are not afraid of new technology and are also willing to share their own battle stories.
It’s this type of energy you simply can’t replicate in the shop. And if you could, your shop wouldn’t likely make much money as you would have a bunch of technicians gabbing about automotive tech all day. Events like AAPEX that put so many technicians who are passionate about their work and eager to learn more is reinvigorating, and an experience you simply can’t get anywhere else.
Thank you to everyone at the Auto Care Association and AASA for putting this event together. It was an honor to present this year. And special thank you to all of the attendees and vendors who helped make this such a remarkable event. See you all in 2022!
