Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
David E. Link, owner Quality Racing Toledo, OH ALLDATA – I’ve tried the others, but nothing out there is as comprehensive – especially for auto-electrical. Blue-Point Rechargeable UV Leak Detector Light and Dye Injector – A definite must-have for A/C work. Blue-Point EEDM504B Multimeter – I don’t know how I went so long without
Rotating Electrical Parts Back to the Seller
Fighting the Urge To Return Electrica Components
Top 5 Tools
Brian Courtney Allied Fleet Services of Texas Pasadena, TX Ingersoll-Rand 231c 1/2" Impact Wrench – It never fails to deliver. It’s 16 years old, and I’ve only had to replace the anvil. Saves my money, for sure! Raytek Non-Contact Thermometer Raynger ST2 – I don’t have to wait for a temp reading from
Built-In Brains: Engine Analyzers Combine the Capabilities of Many Diagnostic Tools into One
When most people think of an engine analyzer, they think of a big box console with automated test capabilities that can detect a wide variety of faults. There are still some machines like these today, but many of the features of a traditional engine analyzer are now available in top-of-the-line scan tools. An engine analyzer
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
Volvo Service And Driveability: Ways to Simplify Repairs and Promote Maintenance
Keeping a record of scheduled maintenance and service repairs is probably the best selling feature when the time comes to trade or sell a vehicle. You know the type: They baby their car, and their friends and family want first dibs when they decide to sell it. In most cases, that level of upkeep is
Detection Equipment is Key to Finding Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant leaks are the number one cause of poor A/C cooling performance. The amount of refrigerant in an A/C system is critical for proper cooling. Any loss of refrigerant reduces the system’s ability to transfer heat, causing the compressor to work harder and the system to cool less efficiently. To make matters worse, the refrigerant
The Top 5 Favorite Tools of Top Technicians
Don Frantz Frantz Automotive Center Cary, NC I own and operate Frantz Automotive Center in Cary, NC. We are a six-bay shop with four techs – all of whom are ASE certified. I, myself, am ASE certified with L1 Certification as well. Frantz Automotive was recently voted "Best of Cary" by the readers of the
Diagnostic Dilemmas: The Effects of Warm-Up Laps on a Running Engine
Most diagnostic technicians have experienced the frustrations of troubleshooting temperature-related engine performance problems. All too often, the true nature of the problem is concealed by the very fact that it occurs only at specific engine temperatures. If the engine quickly passes through the critical temperature range needed to duplicate the problem, the problem can easily
The Origins to a Breakdown
It’s interesting to see the look on a technician’s face as a vehicle gets towed into a shop on the back of a truck. That’s the opening scene for a no-start problem. You can usually tell when a technician thinks it’s good, and you can definitely tell when he thinks it’s bad. Not many techs