Open Your Mail – It Could Save Your Life
Spring 2020 \ ACCESS ACM 22
A Learning Lab:
Automotive Technology Program
Raymond “Ray” Hunt, ACM’s Automotive Technology
Program Director, wants you to open your mail and answer
your phone. He’s serious.
The reason? Takata air bags.
“We know that many individuals in our region may still
be driving older model vehicles with Takata air bags that are
under recall. A separate group of defective Takata air bags
was recalled in 2019, and many aren’t aware of it but it
impacts an additional 1.4 million vehicles” explained Hunt.
Vehicle owners affected by the recall are being
contacted by automobile manufacturers, with some
companies using mailings and phone calls to alert
owners. Hunt encourages owners of vehicles with an
affected Takata air bag to make arrangements to get your
airbag replaced free-of-charge. If you have not received
a notification but suspect you may have a faulty Takata
air bag in your vehicle, visit the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov/Recalls to check
your vehicle identification number or VIN.
In the original recall, long-term exposure to high heat
and humidity can cause these air bags to explode when
deployed resulting in injuries or deaths. The second recall
is an issue with defective inflators due to a faulty seal that
may explode or cause the air bag to not inflate properly
when it deploys, causing injury or death.
“We know that people are busy, but it’s unwise and
dangerous to ignore a recall of this magnitude,” said Hunt.
“Take the time to get it repaired.”
One of the college’s oldest programs, the Automotive
Technology program had its start in the early 1960s
at Allegany Community College with students
working on cars that would now be considered antiques.
Today’s program offers the
nostalgic smell of grease
and cars and trucks on lifts,
but with an added focus
on diagnostic equipment
for gasoline and light duty
diesel engines.
With state-of-theart
tools, diagnostic
q
e
equipment, and lab
facilities for extensive
hands-on training, our Automotive ti T Technology h l program i
is an
ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Education Foundation
certified program.
Designed to accommodate full-time and part-time
students, ACM provides a one-semester Automotive Service
Attendant Certificate, a One-Year Automotive Technology
Certificate, and a two-year career option which qualifies
students for an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology
or transfer to a four-year college. All students are fully
prepared to take the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
tests at the completion of training.
In 2018, a federal Appalachian Regional Commission grant
enabled the college to purchase two diesel engine trainers
and the equipment needed to enhance current courses
with diesel technician training. Diesel elements have been
added to all relevant auto tech courses. The program’s first
independent diesel course will be offered this summer.
What is ASE certification?
It’s the gold standard for automotive professionals. It certifies
professionals and automotive shops in the automotive repair and service
industry in the US and Canada, offering automotive technicians improved
employability and a level of distinction.
/Recalls
