From the Magazine Archives - Page 6 of 543 - TechShop Magazine
Using Volumetric Efficiency to Determine the Health of an Engine

Using an OBD II scan tool/dynamometer simulation/calculation program that can graph volumetric efficiency (VE) over rpms, contributor Glen Beanard devised a test sequence using real-world vehicles. This article takes you step by step through his diagnostic process.

Intermittent Engine Misfire Analysis

Even for an experienced diagnostic technician, attempting to diagnose an intermittent misfire condition that occurs only under specific driving conditions can be a frustrating exercise. Contributor Gary Goms breaks it down, and includes tips for using a scan tool and a lab scope.

5 Mistakes Newbie Tire Techs Make

Nothing can turn a new tech into a veteran but time and experience, and often that experience is going to come from making mistakes – sometimes real bad ones – and learning from them (you hope). By addressing these most common mistakes right away with new tire techs, the worst of them can be avoided.

Rivet Bonding Comes Full Blast

Now that rivet bonding is in the mainstream with the Ford F-150, it’s time for shops to look into training and equipment for this repair process.

‘Test Before Touch’ – It’s No Waste of Time

To help reduce the headaches involved in servicing TPMS, it’s important to use the “Test Before Touch” procedures in your shop. Used properly, TBT can form a strong foundation for everything else you do regarding TPMS, reduce complexity and help you educate and keep your customers.

The Right Diagnostic Tools Save You From Extensive Disassembly Time

It can sometimes be difficult to make the correct diagnosis for a hard-to-start complaint. And diagnostic time may be extensive — and expensive. This article shows how certain tools have the ability to automatically analyze waveforms for you.

Know the Specs for Your Social Media Accounts

If you’re doing social media, are you doing it effectively? Are your accounts set up correctly? Are you posting often enough? Mark Claypool answers some questions.

Kaeser Presents 7 Deadly Sins of Compressed Air

When putting together a compressed air system, temptation is all around you. You want the best system, but having the best doesn’t mean grabbing whatever looks good. Build a system that meets your needs not your wants. Focusing on your system’s needs and avoiding these seven deadly sins will keep you from needing to confess when your utility bill arrives.

Domestic Vehicle TPMS Guide

This handy guide provides you with TPMS relearn procedures, sensor matching and troubleshooting for Chrysler, GM and Ford vehicles.

How They Work: Frame Machines

Karl Kirschenman advises if you’re not actively using your frame machine in your repair processes, you’re wasting a valuable resource that could be contributing to safe repairs and also making you money.

Modern Fuel Control Diagnostics: Sorting Through the Datastream

When confronted with a fuel control problem, contributing writer Gary Goms normally uses short- and long-term fuel trims to determine if the problem is caused by one of many failures such as a vacuum leak or a leaking fuel pressure regulator. He says some aftermarket scan tools may display AFR sensor data in a confusing way, so he helps techs sort out this datastream maze.

Pulling Codes: P0302: Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected Intermittent Activity

This article addresses a misfire code from a 1999 VW Passat. It will look at a plan of attack for when a P0302-Cylinder No. 2 Misfire Activity Detected code is being set intermittently. While this code has been encountered by many, this particular failure was unique in that it allowed one to witness theory truly come to life.