November 17, 2017 - The mechanical skills of the Badger High School automotive program were put to good use recently in the repair of a vehicle to be donated to The Time Is Now to Help, a local charity helping the less fortunate.
The vehicle, a 2000 Ford Taurus, donated by Badger Visual Arts teacher Michael Kern, needed significant repairs to its fuel system.
The students in Tom Sheeley’s Auto III class took on the project of readying the car for its new owner. After inspecting the vehicle top to bottom, the students installed a good used battery and a new battery hold down. Sheeley said the students were beginning their fuel unit and installed a fuel pump unit on a different vehicle for practice. They then replaced the leaking fuel pump on the donated car. But with the vehicle being old and rusty, other parts continued to deteriorate as they worked on the car and they ended up with more work than they first anticipated.
Additional repair included fabrication and installation of fuel lines. Then a new fuel filter and fuel tank filler neck also were needed to get the fuel system in shape. After the fuel filler a new fuel tank and mounting straps were purchased and installed, and the fuel injectors were cleaned.
Students then diagnosed an inoperable fuel gauge and replaced the fuel gauge module. An inspection and cleaning of the front bakes estimating there to be 20,000 miles remaining. On the rear of the car, new brake shoes, hardware and self-adjusters completed the brake job.
A power balance test was performed, and the students tuned up the vehicle, checking the fuel injection system making sure the spark plugs were clean and properly gapped, confirmed that the ignition wires and coil were functioning properly, and repaired leaks in the PCV, EGR and exhaust systems.
When looking to replace one bad tire, a call to Mike’s Auto Repair in Lake Geneva yielded a donation of four brand new tires, mounted and balanced by the students.
Finally, the students cleaned the interior and exterior of the vehicle and installed new windshield wipers before declaring the vehicle ready for donation.
Sal Dimicelli, founder of The Time Is Now To Help, received the vehicle and its title on November 10th and already has a family in mind to receive it.
Real-world examples of auto work offer teaching moments that do not happen in lab exercises, Sheeley explained. For example, at times the fuel work was frustrating, as one problem fixed would reveal another. However, it taught the students what they may encounter in their future careers.
The students involved found the project to be worthwhile. “It is good to give back,” said Mark Lisnyy. And classmates echoed the sentiment.
Badger Auto students receive free college credit from Gateway Technical College that is transferable into any Wisconsin Technical College.
Badger High School’s Automotive program is aligned to Gateway Technical College’s Associate Degree program. Students receive 2 transcripted credits in Auto Fundamentals, 3 credits in Brakes, 3 credits in Steering and Suspension and 2 credits in Electrical, saving students time and tuition costs.
Students compete in The Technicians of Tomorrow Competition sponsored by the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee (ADAMM) and SkillsUSA sponsored by the Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association.
Badger also has a school racecar, a 1992 Ford Mustang that runs at Great Lakes Dragaway for the "Beat the Heat" program.