4WD Clutch Replacement
Here in the upper part of the West Coast, four-wheeling is a very large part of outdoor recreation. Vehicles of all kinds are taken to the forests and mountains every weekend. There are miles and miles of off-road trails, and organized clubs are available for every make, model and size of 4WD vehicle. Toyota trucks
Clearing Up the Cooling System Confusion
Would you believe cooling system failures are the No. 1 cause of mechanical breakdowns on the highway? That’s what statistics published by the U.S. Department of Transportation tell us. It’s not surprising considering how badly most cooling systems are neglected these days. In April, the Car Care Council offered motorists free vehicle inspections at more
Tech Tip: Avoid Cadillac Water Pump Installation Woes
Anyone who has ever changed a water pump on a 1985-’95 Cadillac 4.1L, 4.5L or 4.9L knows that it is a job they don’t want to have to redo due to a false step during installation. However, there is some useful information available that could help avoid a potentially big installation headache.
The Heat Is On…Helping Your Customers and Their Vehicles Keep Their “Cool”
What brings customers in for cooling system repairs? Usually, it’s a cooling system problem. No vehicle will go very far if its cooling system isn’t working. Sooner or later, the engine will overheat – possibly with dire results. Severe overheating can damage the cylinder head, head gasket, pistons, cylinders and/or valve guides. Many motorists don’t
Foreign Affairs: Servicing Secrets for the VR6
The Volkswagen VR6 engine has been around now for more than 10 years. And given its proven track record of reliability and durability, it’ll be around for years to come. Although not as popular (or as high in production) as its 4-cylinder brothers, we do see quite a few of these cars for regular maintenance,
Performing Hyundai Maintenance and Profiting From It
Like so many other late-model vehicles, the Hyundai vehicle lineup won’t necessarily keep your bays busy with “repair” work, but can present you with profitable maintenance opportunities. We can no longer afford to let any opportunity for service go unnoticed, and hope that the customer will come back for the next job. It’s an important
Oil Change Intervals
Oil Change Intervals
Timing Belt Replacement on a Sideways Engine
A timing belt failure can be a serious problem, not only because it strands the motorist, but also because of the extensive engine damage it can cause. If the engine is an “interference” application, a timing belt failure may result in bent valves, damaged pistons and a very expensive repair bill for your customer. For
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Navigating OBD II Scan Tool Diagnostics
Although some hybrid OBD I/OBD II versions existed as early as 1994, the current version of OBD II was introduced in 1996. Because OBD II is a scan tool-based diagnostic system, diagnostic techs have become much more reliant upon the scan tool as a primary method of diagnosing malfunction indicator light (MIL) issues. In addition
OBD II Diagnostics: Checking into Mode $06
In this scan tool diagnostics article, we take a look at Mode $06 functions which govern non-continuous monitors (EVAP, catalyst, EGR, etc.)