Viewpoint: Human Resources Opening Up at Work
Hiring, firing and quitting are unavoidable tasks in the automotive repair industry. Everybody hates to deal with these aspects of the business because it can be risky on both sides of the table, and not just monetarily, but emotionally. I have seen war veterans more open to talk about the most bloody battles than some
Automatic Transmissions: From Mechanical to Electronic to Hybrid
A long time ago in a service bay, preventive maintenance for an automatic transmission was an oil change, band and throttle linkage adjustment. The 1960s saw the end of external band adjustments. In the 1970s, the drain plug went away and the pick up screen was replaced with a filter. In the 1980s, a turbo
2006 Ford Explorer Pointers
Photo 2). Another change for the 4.6L in 2006 is that it no longer uses a knock sensor. Both, the 4.0L and the 4.6L use a PCM-controlled heated PCV valve. The PCV valve on the 4.0L SOHC engine is located in the back of the left valve cover, mounted horizontally, and is well hidden from
Oxygen Sensors: Pulse Measurement
Watching an oxygen sensor output on an oscilloscope is like watching a sporting event on television. You get to see the action, but can do nothing about it as it happens. Sometimes you miss the action and want an instant replay. It was a bad call. You saw the interference. If the referee didn’t see
News Update
Federal-Mogul Introduces EDGE Brake Pad System (aUG) Federal-Mogul’s Wagner brake products brand has introduced a new complete brake pad system engineered for drivers, their vehicles and the increasingly demanding driving environment. The new Wagner EDGE brake pad system is the first technology engineered specifically for lighter, leaner, more precisely tuned automotive braking systems and the
Honda Performance Upgrades
Service & Diagnostics Call it what you want — the compact performance market, sport compact market, import scene or the tuner market — but there’s no denying the import car performance segment has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade. According to SEMA’s 2006 Compact Performance Market Report, retail sales for this niche
Foreign Affairs: VW P Codes — … Putting Out The MIL
After 10-plus years of dealing with OBD II, it should be apparent that we are on a learning curve that probably has no end. Almost daily we have a Volkswagen model come into the shop with a check engine light on, or a “state OBD II failure” form. Although we have the latest scanner software
Carley’s Corner: No Time for Training? Read This
I may not fix cars for a living anymore, but I do make my living writing about auto repair. For me, training is absolutely essential to keep my knowledge up-to-date. So I can’t imagine how anybody who spends the better part of his or her day hunched over a fender can get by without it.
Scan Tools: Scan Tools Offer a Window Into a Vehicle’s Inner Workings
Scan Tools Offer a Window Into a Vehicle’s Inner Workings Larry Carley, Technical Editor [email protected] Technicians who attempt to make driveability or emissions repairs today without a scan tool are troubleshooting in the dark. A scan tool is absolutely essential because it provides a window into the inner workings of the engine management and onboard
Tech Tip: Curing Rough Idle and Hesitation on Mazda 626 Models
Some 2000-2002 Mazda 626 models with the FS 4-cylinder engine may experience a rough idle, hesitation, stumble and/or misfire during or immediately after a cold start. A DTC P0303 may also be stored in memory. In extreme cases, the engine may stop running and multiple misfire codes, like P0300-P0304, may be stored in memory.