Blog 10: Senior Project Update

1) I still haven't been able to find a class on auto mechanics so I think I'm just going to take an online class. As for the restoration of a car, well, that seems to be a bit of a problem because I haven't found anyone in my neighborhood that needs help restoring a classic car. I also haven't been able to find another mentor. Let's just say, things aren't going my way.

2) I actually read an article on muscle cars that wasn't part of my research that didn't exactly help me with what to do next but helped me find a possible answer to my EQ. It talked about vital things to take care of when you have a classic muscle car. Up to the point that I had read that article, I was focusing all my possible answers of my EQ on the inner workings of a car. The article talked about the vital things you have to take care of on the outside of the car - the chrome, paint, tires, etc. And now I know that I can't just focus my answers on the inner working of a car but also on the aesthetically pleasing parts of the car.

3) Well, I now have to find an online auto mechanics class, so I guess links of where I plan to get my classes would work, right? I might even try UTI but I think I might have to be graduated for that. But, it's worth a shot.

First choice

Second choice

Blog 9: Working EQ and Possible Answers

1) What was the working EQ you used during your presentation?

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

2) Did you decide to revise your working EQ after your presentation? If so, write your revised EQ here. If not simply write "I am not going to revise my EQ at this time."

I am not going to revise my EQ at this time. 

3) What are possible answers to your current working EQ? 

1) Checking for and controlling leaks

2) Periodic wash and buff of exterior 

3) Periodic transmission and engine check up 

Blog 8: Rough Draft of Presentation 1

CONTENT

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Content

1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component. 

Because I'm doing auto mechanics, I plan to fix up a beat up car for either my benefit, or someone else's  benefit. 

2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

The repair of a car takes a lot of time. This will, without a doubt, exceed the 30 hours I need to complete my IC 1. 

3) How does your independent component relate to your working EQ? 

My EQ will most likely be about the maintenance of muscle cars, so because I'll be repairing one, I'll have a complete understanding of what I'm doing and probably learn a thing or two that wasn't taught in class. 

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

Questions

1) What does a person need to be a certified mechanic? Are you a certified mechanic?

2) How long have you been working with cars? How long have you been working at your current shop? 

3) Where did you work before you started working at RPM Transmissions (current shop)?

4) What would you say is one of the main problems with working as a mechanic?

5) As an expert, what would you say is most important when repairing a car?

6) Different cars need different types of oils, right? So, how do the oils differ?

7) I read an article that said that to become a top mechanic, you have to take an ASE class for auto mechanics. How important would you say that an ASE class is?

8) In your opinion, what tools should be invented to make auto mechanics easier? 

9) During my research, I read an article that said that wheel alignment of a car is very important and another that stated it as a 'repair that can wait'. What's your take on the wheel alignment of a car? How important would you say it is?

10) What do you do when a customer doesn't know what is wrong with their car and the problem isn't one that the computer can tell you about?

11) In my last interview, I asked my interviewee what he thought was the best way to learn about auto mechanics and he said that the best way to learn it was through the hands-on experience. What would you say is the best way to learn auto mechanics? Would you agree with him?

12) Apart from my senior project, I have to do a science experiment that relates to my topic. I want to study the chemicals that go into oil and from what I learn, make a sort of universal oil that will work with most cars. Do you think it's possible to do so? If so, how difficult do you think it'll be? 

Blog 5a: Science Fair Problem Statement

1) Topic: 

Auto Mechanics

2) Problem in your topic. What will you do once you solve the problem?

A problem in my topic is the type of oil a car uses for lubrication and cooling throughout the whole system. I want to work with synthetic oils to try to find a way to dilute the weight of the oil to as low as 1w when cool and also modify it so that when hot, the oil will be as thick as 50w. If I can manage to do this, I will promote the shop in which I work by using this type of oil for cars that need oil changes. 

3) Problem in your topic. What will you do once you solve the problem? 

A problem in my topic is that when working on cars, you sometimes need to take apart a lot of the car or a whole part to be able to fix the diagnosed problem. The problem with this is that disassembling a part can be a very long process. I want to find a way to make this process easier and if I can figure out how to do so, I would like to get the method across to my mentor to help him out when he has to do such a thing, thus decreasing the time it takes to fix a car and increasing the amount of customers we get. 

Blog 4: Project Reflection and working EQ

The Pentagon 

Positive statement: What positive thing happened as a result of what you have completed so far?

Thanks to the interview, I found out that I had 2 uncles in East LA that both own an auto repair shop, which can help a lot with my senior project. I also learned that the best way to learn about auto mechanics, is to get a lot of hands-on training. 

EQ Content: How has your interview helped you improve the understanding of your topic?

My interview helped with the understanding of my topic because I learned that to really be successful in auto mechanics, you have to really like it because it's a lot of work and if you just don't have the passion or patience for it, you really have no business doing it. I also learned a bit more about how the transmission and engine differ and which is easier to work with and why. 

What has worked for you so far in the senior project? 

The hands-on work and note taking that I did when I was working at the shop has helped me more than any piece of research I've found. The only problem is that I haven't been able to go to the shop because of the location of it. 

What hasn't worked so far? 

The research checks haven't really helped me with the understanding of my topic. It might be that I'm maybe not doing the right type of research, but I haven't really found the research all that helpful. I learned more in one day at the shop than I did from 4 pieces of research. 

Finding Value: Based on your experience so far, 

What possible questions come to mind regarding what you want to learn this year? 
 I really just wanna study auto mechanics this year and learn as much about it as possible. Questions that come to mind about this are, mainly about what I will have to study to become a certified mechanic such as, will I have to take an auto technician class to be able to work with today's cars? Where can I take an auto mechanics class at my age? If I can't take a class on auto mechanics, is there another way, besides the mentor ship, to get a better understanding of my topic?

What is your end goal with this senior project? 
My end goal is for me to know enough about cars to be able to work as a mechanic along with my mentor because I know he could use an extra hand around the shop and I would also want to be able to have enough experience to be able to take an automotive ASE class to become a certified mechanic.

Who would you like to talk to next? Why?
For my next interview, I would like to interview my mentor, Charles Madrigal because I know he will be able to help me out with my project more than my first interview, only because my first interviewee lives in East LA and my mentor lives near me so I would be able to directly go to him for anything. I also haven't been able to go to the shop so I don't want my mentor to think that I won't be going back