Uncategorized Archives - Page 2 of 158 - TechShop Magazine
Top 5 Tools: Kenny Younkins, Ken’s Auto Service Center

Kenny Younkins, owner Ken’s Auto Service Center Akron, OH While Ken first said his favorite tool is his fishing rod, he said in the shop he prefers these five:   Snap-on 3/8” Drive Impact Wrench Mastercool Brake Flaring Kit Mitchell 1 OnDemand 5 (now ProDemand) Automotive Test Solutions Labscope ­Pressure Transducers Power Probe  

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.

Using Recalls, TSBs as Brake Job Tools

You’re getting ready to perform a brake job, and while checking the vehicle’s torque specifications, you decide to hit the tab with TSBs and recalls. All of a sudden you’re staring at a screen of brake recall notices and TSBs for that make, model and year of vehicle. What should you do? Brake & Front End Editor Andrew Markel provides some insight on where to start and what to look for.

Specialty Chemicals Fix a Range of Issues

One of the hottest chemical categories these days is fuel cleaner additives. Contributing editor Larry Carley breaks down three types and recommends which ones work best for a variety of applications.

Wheel Weights: Are You Chasing or Catching?

It’s happened before: You balance a tire, put the weights on, drop the hood again for a check spin – and the balancer comes up asking for more weight. You add more weight and it asks for even more weights! This little play is called “chasing weights.” The first rule of chasing weights is simple: If the balancer asks for weights more than twice, some­thing is wrong.

Diagnosing Starter Misses

Contributing writer Gary Goms was called to a friend’s shop to help with a no-cranking condition on a 2006 Chevy Tahoe. After diagnosing a faulty PCM ground, locating the missing ground proved to be problematic. Find out how Gary solves The Case of the Missing Starter.

Pulling Codes: The Ghost of Code P0420

Every once in a while you come across a vehicle with a P0420 code that bears mentioning. Using one of his scan tool’s features, Carlton Banks tests the catalytic converter’s efficiency.

New 6/12V 4.0A Battery Charger / Maintainer from Clore

The PRO-LOGIX PL2140 utilizes advanced microprocessor-controlled logic to deliver a fully automatic, precisely controlled charging routine to optimally charge and maintain each battery serviced.