Tech Tip: Rough Running Pontiac Montana Due to Fuel Pump Problem
A customer complaint consisted of an early model Pontiac Montana that was running rough with a Service Engine Soon lamp illuminated. Following an initial inspection, Diagnostic Trouble Code P0300 was found to have been set. The technician continued his diagnosis and repair on the Pontiac fuel system with a look at the fuel injectors. Examining the vehicle, it was found that the engine misfire could be traced to a number of fuel injectors.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Problem ‘On’ The ‘In’-Side
The tow truck came around the corner of my shop with a 2003 Focus strapped down on the bed. It’s Stacey’s daughter’s car. Stacey is the office manager at the body shop just down the street. Her daughter’s little Ford had given up at a stop sign. Now it was up to me to find out what’s going on with it.
Cylinder Head Sealing – Gasket Surface Machining Is The Most Critical Area of Cylinder Head Repair
Early this year, I had a chat with a technical representative for a major aftermarket gasket manufacturer who shed some light on some of the problems facing the cylinder head gasket market. According to this representative, the relatively short production life of modern engines also shortens the time that an aftermarket gasket company needs to
Diagnostic Solutions: Diagnosing Misfires
Although diagnosing misfires can be a tough assignment for any driveability technician, the diagnosis can be made much simpler if he understands the basics of misfire diagnosis. For example, when the first OBD II misfire monitor was first introduced in 1996, technicians were puzzled by problems with false misfire diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Case in point, vehicles being driven on washboard dirt roads began recording false misfires.
Solving Common Honda Driveability Problems
One of the common check engine light problems you’ll encounter on Hondas is a misfire code with no apparent misfire. Many times, this problem will be traced back to tight valve lash. Obviously, a tight valve will pass the audible test every time. But, it’s the tight valves that will set the check engine light in the best case, and if it’s ignored long enough you’ll be looking at a low-compression situation caused by a burnt valve.
Diagostic Dilemmas: Lost in ‘The Diagnostic Woods’
This real-world case study of a 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup, a 1995 Buick and a 1995 Lincoln Town Car illustrates why “chasing” trouble codes can get you lost in the Diagnostic Woods.
Tech Tip: Toyota MIL On with DTCs Set in Subfreezing Temperatures
Following a cold soak in subfreezing ambient temperatures, some 2003-’08 Corolla and Matrix vehicles equipped with a 1ZZ-FE engine may exhibit an MIL on with one or more of the following DTCs as the result of a vacuum leak at the intake manifold.
Tech Feature: Courage Under Misfire
Generally, when a customer brings a vehicle into a shop that has a misfire concern, they will describe it as bucking, jerking or loss of power. They also may describe it, depending on the cause, as a jerking when they take off from a start, but smoothes out once the vehicle gets moving. They may tell you the check engine light has been flashing.
Toyota Underhood Maintenance
Our twin daughters just graduated from high school. For a graduation present, we allowed (and funded) them to accompany a group of other students on a 30-day trip through nine countries in Europe. They stayed in hostels, traveled by train and rental vans, and did a fair share of hiking. They took thousands of pictures, and gained experience and stories that will serve them for years.
Tech Tip: Shim Calms Chirping Noises in Honda Models
Some Honda owners may complain of a chirp from the lower timing belt area. The noise is most often noticed at idle, usually after the engine has warmed up. The probable cause is the idler pulley mounting surface is tilted, causing the edge of the timing belt to rub against the side of the pulser flange on the drive pulley (gear).