New I-Car courses

In addressing the need for body repairers to stay ahead of the changes in technology, Richard Pratt of I-Car Australia has announced a series for new courses which deal with hybrid vehicles and selected high volume vehicles.

“These courses look at disabling systems and differences between different cars,” Pratt said.

“They also delve into OH&S issues and look at handling different air conditioning units which can be either electrical driven or a combined electrical/belt driven unit on hybrids.”

The Hybrid-Electric and Alternative-Fuel Vehicle course has been developed to give repairers an insight into the technologies being employed in these new vehicles.

It will specifically look at Ford, Mercury and Mazda hybrids, along with Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and Honda hybrid-electric vehicles.

More general topics in the course will look at the hybrid-electric system, and the hybrid-electric vehicle application.

This will look at belt alternator and starter systems and two mode hybrid systems, looking at the hybrid vehicle battery and how it should be disconnected and reconnected.

A third module will delve into alternate fuels, including biofuels, propane, compressed natural gas, plug-in electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

A second new course from I-Car is the Collision Repair For Selected High Volume Vehicles.

Models include Toyota Camry and Carolla, Honda Accord and Civic and Holden Commodore/Pontiac G8.
It will include technical information as well as disabling and enabling SRS, refinishing, joining methods, glass, NVH foam and where not to heat vehicle bodies.