About Us...

This site is made in Steve's home in Santa Rosa, CA. He sits at his computer in the bedroom and writes all the articles and books. His wife, Lynley, sits at her computer in the living room, ignores the mess the kids made again, and puts this stuff on the internet.

The Author:

My name is Steven McAfee. My first job as a "mechanic" was at a local gas station doing tune ups, oil changes, tire repairs and other simple things. I didn't really know what I was doing back then but I loved fixing things. It wasn't long before I realized I needed some help - I had to learn more about how these cars worked before I could fix them. So I did my Automotive Journeyman Certification (apprenticeship) at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. Now I knew more (confidence at last!)...until I started my new job at a BMW dealership when I discovered that Bosch systems worked differently than Ford ones did. So back to the books. This time to factory training with BMW. And the process continued. Eventually I had taken factory training from Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and GM as well as BMW.

My first teaching job was for SnapOn Tools. I was working at a Ford dealership at the time and became frustrated as I watched fellow mechanics work. Some were "parts-changers" - they threw parts at a car hoping one would fix the problem. This cost customers a lot of time and money and was very disheartening for the mechanics. They couldn't fix the problem. They didn't know enough and boy, were they frustrated! How could I help improve that situation? One word, teach. And that's how my teaching career started.

I ran training centers for Automotive Diagnostics who sell the Allen/Bear test equipment. Then I was offered the opportunity to teach at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA. I became certified as an Advanced Clean Air Car Course Instructor by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair and I have assisted in developing training materials for the California Bureau of Automotive Repair. Guys would come into class panicked because they had to take their Smog Exam and were scared they wouldn't pass. Not passing meant they could lose their jobs. When you work full-time and have to attend classes at night it's hard. Or if you live far away and can't get to the classes, that's a problem. How could I help? If students couldn't come to me, I would make my information available to them. So I wrote the "Smog Refresher Course" book and made it available to anyone who wanted it. It covered the same material I was going over in class. Over the years, many mechanics from various countries have used this information and I frequently get "thank yous" from them. Glad I was able to help.

I was recently asked to teach overseas so I am now in New Zealand, enjoying the beautiful scenery and helping more mechanics be empowered with knowledge. Fun stuff!

I teach entry level to advanced classes in the following subject areas:

Electrical; Autotronics; Emissions; Basic and Advanced Clean Air Car Course; Engine Performance; ASE A6 Preparation; A6 Alternative; ASE A8 Preparation; A8 Alternative; ASE L1 Preparation; L1 Alternative; OBD II (On Board Diagnostics - 2nd generation); Fuel injection and computer controls for: Bosch, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Autotronics, ABS Brakes.

Lynley - the website designer:

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Steven McAfee's Resume
Email: smcafee@unitec.ac.nz
Work Experience:
Assistant Professor, Automotive Technology, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA - August 1999 to current. Teaching entry-level to advanced classes including the Toyota specialty classes, Lab Scope Diagnosis, Air Conditioning, Electrical, Advanced Engine Performance, Basic and Advanced Clean Air Car Course, Smog Refresher, OBDII. Developed online Smog Refresher Training course for the Skyline College. Also teach classes for the associated Community College Foundation extended education program. Author of two published books; "Smog Refresher Course," and "Lab Scopes: Introductory & Advanced." Have factory training from Toyota and Chrysler. Use Word and PowerPoint for my handouts and presentations. Maintain my own faculty website using Dreamweaver with links for students to get information and worksheets online: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/mcafee/ Have been a guest speaker at the California Automotive Teachers convention giving presentations on Advanced Lab Scope Diagnosis. Please note that Steve is currently on a one year sabbatical teaching at UNITEC in Auckland, New Zealand (2007).
Director of Automotive Technology Center, Rohnert Park, CA - December 1996 to Aug. 1999. Developed and taught four month full-time program for people to be entry level smog technicians. Also taught update training courses to technicians in field including ASE A-6, A-8, L-1, Clean Air Car Course and Smog Refresher. I had our school certified by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as a Clean Air Car Course Site, and by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education as an approved site, six weeks after my partner and I started the school. We hosted guest speakers such as Dan Marinucci and Ellen K. Smith to teach update training to local technicians working in the field. We also hosted a basic car care course for women.
Manager of Automotive Diagnostics Training Center, Petaluma, CA - July 1995 to Dec. 1996. Revived a "dead" training center; wrote test questions for the State Smog License Test; wrote majority of test questions for Alternative ASE A-6 and A-8 for California Service Station Automobile Repair Association.
Part-Time Instructor positions held for Automotive Diagnostics, Petaluma, CA - November 1994 to December 1996 and for Snap-On, Santa Rosa, CA - April 1995 to July 1996.
Drivability Technician for Hansel Ford, Santa Rosa, CA - March 1989 to July 1995. Specialized in computer, electrical, drivability and emission repair, handling the most difficult problems in a shop of 30 technicians. Factory training from Ford.
Drivability Technician for Ambassador College, Pasadena, CA - 1983 to 1989. Wide diagnostic and repair experience of large fleet. Factory training from GM.
Automotive Technician for Allison Bavarian, Sunnyvale, CA - 1981-1983. Factory training from BMW.
Education:
Stanford University, Stanford, CA. BA Psychology, 1973 (good people skills)
De Anza Junior College, Cupertino, CA. Automotive Apprenticeship, 1983 (graduated Journeyman, top of class).
Ambassador College, Pasadena, CA. BA Theology, 1986 (extensive training in public speaking) Factory training from Ford, General Motors and BMW.
Certificates and Licenses:
California Vocational Education Teaching Credential Member of Society of Automotive Engineers Advanced Clean Air Car Course Instructor by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair California Private Postsecondary Certified Instructor - Automotive Technology Journeyman Automotive Technician Licensed Smog Check Technician Certified ASE Master Technician Certified ASE L-1 Member of Automotive Service Council Member of Service Technicians Society
Teaching Philosophy:
I enjoy creating a teaching environment where knowledge is dispensed in simple terms and people are treated with respect so they can really learn. I feel if you can't explain things in simple terms, you don't really understand it. One of my favorite sayings is: "Understanding turns complicated problems into simple solutions."

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