If there’s a problem in an automobile, whether it be electrical or mechanical, it’s more than likely Oxford High School seniors D.J. Kraniak and Donovan Scott can fix it.
That’s why they will be representing OHS at the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills state competition April 25 at Macomb Community College.
The nationwide competition is for 11th and 12th grade students in secondary schools and vocational training centers that offer courses in automotive technology. The objective is to encourage students to pursue careers as automotive service technicians.
Although 16 of Auto Tech teacher Daniel Balsley’s students were interested in the competition, Kraniak and Scott made it through the regional exam and qualified for the competition because they had the top two scores in the class.
Their combined score becomes their team score as they go to the hands-on competition, and counts as 40 percent of their score at the state finals.
At the state competition, Balsley said each of the 10 teams will be servicing a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis that is uniformly ‘bugged? so that each team has identical malfunctions to diagnose and repair.
Balsley said some of the glitches Kraniak and Scott may encounter are problems with interior/exterior lighting, the car may ‘crank? but not start, wipers may not work or the horn may not blow.
‘There will be a number of issues that they’ll have to take care of with getting the engine to run properly in addition to some electrical faults,? Balsley said. ‘There’s probably going to be 10-12 faults in each car.?
During the 90-minute competition, Kraniak and Scott will have to fix every single malfunction accurately and in a timely manner.
‘Say a spark plug wire was found to be defective. If it was installed, but not installed correctly, they would be deducted for that,? Balsley said.
There’s also the possibility of getting a demerit if they forget to wear safety glasses or leave a tool under the hood of the vehicle.
Although they’re excited about the competition, Kraniak and Scott, both 18-years-old, said they’re also nervous.
‘I just really want to represent my school in the best light possible,? Kraniak said.
Right now, Balsley is looking for a car dealership to donate a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis so the two competitors can become more familiar with the vehicle and its operations.
If Kraniak and Scott were to win the state competition, they would be provided with an all-expense-paid trip to the national finals in June.
Balsley has sent about 15 students to the Ford/AAA competition over the last 20 years.
In 1996, 2001 and 2004 teams have qualified for national competition.