Tech Feature: Go Back to the Basics to Solve Power Steering Pump Issues
We often take the commonplace power steering pump for granted until the driver begins to notice a lack of power assist during parking or the pump itself begins to develop an irritating growling or whining noise. Although installing a new or remanufactured replacement pump usually remedies the majority of power assist and noise complaints, a technician may still encounter a few of these complaints that appear to have no outward cause.
Taking The ‘Ho-Hum’ Out of Ride Control Sales
Despite the increased quality of ride and stability control systems during the past decade, remember that springs, shock absorbers and MacPherson struts wear out just like tires, brakes and other expendable parts. Don’t miss sales opportunities for this often-overlooked system.
Tech Feature: Understanding Your Market Can Increase Performance Exhaust Revenue
Depending upon the market your shop is servicing, the term “performance exhaust” can have different meanings. The first market actively seeks out the throaty rumble and chrome-plated look as part of the “vehicle personalization” scene. The second installs an exhaust system that produces the most horsepower for a performance application. Sometimes the two are one and the same, sometimes they’re not.
Tech Feature: Rediscovering Your DMM Relationship
Sometimes we become so caught up in leading-edge diagnostic technology that we forget that a professional-grade digital volt-ohm meter (DVOM) or digital multimeter (DMM) is a vital tool in any technician’s diagnostic arsenal.
What It Takes To Be An Automotive Technician — These Days
Most people inside and outside our industry drastically underestimate what it takes to educate the modern automotive technician.
Tech Feature: Diagnosing Repeat Fuel Pump Failures
During the past several years, I’ve encountered many vehicles that were running on their third or fourth new fuel pump in as many years. As with many repeat failures, the initial fuel pump installations were sloppy or a brand of fuel pump with a known high failure rate had been installed. In the remaining cases, an OE or aftermarket-equivalent fuel pump had been installed, but fuel tank contamination had been overlooked as a cause of the premature failure.
Master Cylinders: Reliable, Hard-Working Components Still Need Periodic Inspections
If nothing else, modern master cylinders are notable for their long and relatively trouble-free service lives. The modern master cylinder evolved from the single-piston types popularly introduced in the 1930s to the modern dual-piston, dual braking system cylinders in use today. Master cylinders intended for drum brake use contain one or more residual pressure check valves that maintain a slight pressure in the system.
Tech Feature: Replacing Water Pumps as Preventive Maintenance
In today’s import repair market, it’s not uncommon to see a vehicle with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer that still is in cosmetically and mechanically "great" condition. The importance of this trend is that many parts that were formerly being replaced on an as-needed basis are now being replaced on a preventive basis. Water pumps are a good example because they serve as an idler pulley on many engines equipped with timing belts and, due to accessibility issues on many transverse engines, should be replaced during any ….
Diagnostic Solutions: Rediscovering Oxygen Sensors
If you’re like me, you more often than not find a correct diagnostic direction by going back to what trainers are fond of calling “The Basics.” I capitalized “The Basics” because they are the foundation upon which all of us should be building our diagnostic strategies. The Basics were brought to mind recently when I
COP Connection: Investigating Common Coil-on Plug Misfires
For a number of reasons, the trend of modern engine management technology is leaning toward using coil-on-plug (COP) ignition systems. One reason is that COP ignitions are very compact and are very adaptable to individual cylinder tuning. With the exception of a few designs that incorporate a driver or “module” into the COP assembly itself,
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Down to the Wire
Five years ago, I began seeing a very small number of General Motors products come through the door with a variety of trouble codes indicating a “circuit failure” in the intake air temperature (IAT) sensors, mass air flow (MAF) sensors, throttle position (TP) sensors and idle air control (IAC) systems. In all cases, these failures
Diagnostic Solutions: Replacing Water Pumps as Preventive Maintenance
In today’s import repair market, it’s not uncommon to see a vehicle with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer that still is in cosmetically and mechanically “great” condition. The importance of this trend is that many parts that were formerly being replaced on an as-needed basis are now being replaced on a preventive basis.