Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1) I was thinking of just doing 30 more hours of internship at the mechanic shop. 
2) This will meet 30 hours of work because I will be doing 4 hours on Monday,Wednesday, and Friday and 8 on Sautday, just like I'm doing now. 
3) My independent component relates to my EQ because it's auto mechanics and there's no better way to find an answer #2 than to work hands on with what you're trying to figure out. 

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

The restoration of my car.

Literal:

A) I, Omar Rodriguez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

B) Sclar, Deanna. "Auto Repair for Dummies." Auto Repair for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Worldwide, 1999. Print.

C) It's the link above this.

D) My parents bought me a car on the condition that they got to choose the car and that I would do any work that had to be done to it, myself. So, they came home one day with a 1996 Honda Accord LX that didn't run at all. It didn't even have an engine. So, I took that car and got it to run. Now, I take it everywhere.

Interpretive:

My component demonstrates 30 hours of work because it was the complete restoration of the engine of a car. Not just the engine, though, but also the installation of the master cylinder, the timing belt, the hoses, the radiator, and oil filter. If anyone has ever tried to do any work on a car that requires you to work with the engine, then you know its very time consuming. My evidence is the pictures my cousin took of me working on my car.

The first thing I changed were the brakes, because they were the easiest thing to change. Here are the old brake pads. As you can see, they're really old.

These are pictures of the motor mount the engine we found in the junkyard had. 

This is the motor mount that I put in as a replacement. 

This is the really busted tensioner for the timing belt. 

Here's the replacement tensioner installed. 

This is a picture of one of the most important parts of the car - the fuel pump. This is the old fuel pump. 

This is the fuel tank without the fuel pump. 

This is me working under the car. If I remember correctly, I was changing the fuel pump pressure sensor. 

Here, I'm working on the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve. 

Here is the old EGR valve that I finally managed to take out after about an hour's struggle. 

Here is the old crank sensor of my car. This little part caused me SO much trouble to take out. 

Here, I'm working on taking out the oxygen sensor that's part of the exhaust emission system. As you can see, the tip of it is really old and rusty. 

Here is the old and rusty oxygen sensor in full view. 

Here is the replaced oxygen sensor. If you look at the tip, you can tell that this one is actually in good condition. 

Here, I took out the track rod of the car. It was a pretty big achievement. I had been struggling to take it out for maybe about an hour and a half. 

This is the newly installed track rod. 

And all of the above are all the pictures I was finally able to get from my cousin's phone. 

Applied:

My topic is auto mechanics and the restoration of my car was nothing but. I don't see how I could explain it even more.

Mentorship Should Be Fun...

So, today was my first weekend of mentorship and I really learned a lot and got to spend a lot of time getting to know my three mentors. One thing I'm sure to never forget is this. My mentor and I were doing an oil change for a car and, in a really serious voice, my mentor tells me, "It can get dangerous working with cars, so incase you ever need it, the fire extinguisher is right over there." and points to this. I look over and all three of my mentors bust out laughing. These guys think they're funny, so it should be a good year. (It turns out they actually have a fire extinguisher at every door, so there's five in total.)

Finally Got Mentorship!

So, after going almost a full semester without a place to do mentorship, I finally found a place that was willing to take me and it was all thanks to my good friend, Yareli Castro. Check out her blog here! My mentor's name is Jorge Ramos. He is the owner of Daniel's Auto Center in La Puente. I also met Victor Mendoza and Carlos Ortega, who were also willing to be my mentors and help me with anything I needed. They seem really outgoing and funny as well welcoming. I think I might have fun this semester.

Blog 13: Rough Draft of 30 Minute Presentation

Rough Draft

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1) What is the most important factor in maintaining a classic muscle car?

2) What is the most important part of an engine?

3) What is the most crucial part of a car that needs to maintain in good condition on the outer part of a car?

4) What do you think is the biggest difference between the maintenance of a classic muscle car's engine and a modern muscle car's engine?

5) If you were a muscle car owner, would you want to keep the car looking good or working well? Why?

6) When you see a muscle car, what is the first thing that you note about it?

7) How do you feel about restoring a classic muscle car? (is it worth it, do you think it's pointless, etc.)

8) In general, what do you think is most difficult about being a mechanic? 

9) What do you feel is the most difficult part in restoring a classic muscle car? 

10) If you had a classic muscle car that needed restoration, would you restore it? 

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hour check

I still haven't been able to find a mentor because everywhere I go, they tell me that I'm not covered by the insurance, I have to take a class and complete it before I start working with them or they don't have any room for me. I have an uncle in East LA that can help me out because he owns a mechanic shop, but that's my last option.