Perspectives
I was reading my local paper and came across the headline that read, “black boxes” are urged for automobiles. With all the political sparring in the news this election season, my skeptical mind has been in overdrive. Seeing this headline, I read on to find “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday recommended for
BMW Performance Upgrades
When you talk about performance cars, a list of several manufacturers comes to mind. Before the explosion of Asian-made mini rockets, you needed to go European, and specifically German, to get the latest in performance machines. BMW has been the performance marque of choice for several decades. While BMW makes it difficult to improve on
Underhood Service: Troubleshooting Troublesome Injectors
Clean fuel injectors are a must for peak engine performance, fuel economy and emissions. If the injectors are dirty and can’t deliver their normal dose of fuel, then performance, fuel economy and emissions are all going to suffer. Dirty injectors can’t flow as much fuel as clean ones, nor can they deliver the correct spray
Perspectives: How’s Business?
Looking at the automotive market from a macro perspective, all of the major indicators are moving in the right direction. The total number of miles driven continues to increase, approaching 2.8 trillion miles per year; cars and trucks are lasting longer, therefore requiring more service over the total life of the vehicle; the average age
Carburetor Repairs & Recalibrations
As a follow-up to “Dusting Off Fuel System Fossils” in April’s edition of Underhood Service, I will share many driveability concerns and emissions failures that I’ve repaired by rebuilding, and sometimes modifying, certain carb circuits. But before diving into a carburetor rebuild or recalibration, be certain that you understand the system you’re working on, including
Confronting the Complete Cooling System Service
By now, it’s obvious to most service shops that cooling system service is an absolute “must-do” on any nameplate. Once a cooling system suffers long-term neglect, it turns into an ongoing source of problems for the owner and his service technician because, when corrosion starts to take place, the effects can’t be reversed. For that
ImportCar’s 2004 Import Repair Specialist Study
m in peak-operating condition. ImportCar recipients, who represent the repair network dedicated to servicing this specialized vehicle population, are reaping the benefits of the proliferating import marketplace through their dedication to professional, high-quality repairs. Their business data and shop status reports prove it. Featuring the results of a recent random survey of ImportCar recipients, this
Nissan Engine Diagnostics
You don’t have to be an import specialist to know that Nissan cars and trucks have a good reputation for reliability and longevity. Nissan, under the Datsun name, was one of the first Japanese automakers to break into the U.S. market. They did it right, by establishing a strong dealer network and offering a quality
Perspectives
Over the last two weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of attending some tool and equipment shows – and seeing a lot of cool tools, such as a pneumatic oxygen sensor remover, a magnetic socket holder and all kinds of flashlights and work lights. It seems that all the equipment is well-built, more powerful and user
Aftermarket Update: Underhood Serivce, July 2004
ASA Offers Right to Repair Course Beford, TX – In an effort to educate the automotive service and repair industry about the availability of service information, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) now offers a three-hour seminar, “You Have the Right to Repair.” The course will be offered at several ASA affiliate events this year and