Tech Tip: Solving Intermittent MIL Illumination on Jeep Grand Cherokees
Some Jeep Grand Cherokee owners may complain of an intermittent MIL illumination. If you retrieve DTC P1499 – Hydraulic Fan Solenoid Circuit while diagnosing the problem, this Tech Tip describes how to complete the repair by replacing just the solenoid, not the complete cooling fan module ….
Tech Feature: Has Your Battery Life Lost its Charge? Tips to Get Back that Spark
The condition of the battery as well as its state of charge are critical in late-model vehicles not only for reliable cranking and starting, but also for the onboard electronics. Low battery voltage can cause control modules to misbehave, or in some cases to go into a sleep mode and shut down. A dead battery is even worse because extremely low voltage or no voltage can cause some modules to forget learned data, adaptive adjustments or even programmed settings in their Keep Alive Memory chips. This, in turn, may ….
Has Your Battery Life Lost Its Charge? Tips to Get Back That Spark
The condition of the battery as well as its state of charge are critical in late-model vehicles not only for reliable cranking and starting, but also for the onboard electronics. Low battery voltage can cause control modules to misbehave, or in some cases to go into a sleep mode and shut down. A dead battery
Evolving Ignition Control Systems
Require Knowledge of Crankshaft & Camshaft Sensor Function
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Taking Charge of Vehicle Voltage Testing
Although checking charging voltage at the battery terminals is the most popular method for testing an alternator, a charging voltage test seldom reveals less common problems like open or shorted alternator diodes, intermittent high or low charging rates, charging system wiring problems, intermittent cranking/no-start complaints or intermittent dead battery complaints. In addition, testing charging voltage
Tech Feature: Gaining Access to Perimeter Anti-Theft Systems
It could use the same acronym, but is perimeter anti-theft the same as PATS? No, PATS, which stands for passive anti-theft systems, is a system that is designed to identify the key, and was discussed in the July 2007 issue of Underhood Service. Perimeter anti-theft is a system designed to identify unauthorized vehicle entry. There
Subaru: The ‘Complete Service’ Value Proposition
Begins With Determining How Customers Use Their Vehicles
Diagnostic Solutions: Charging System Diagnostics & Troubleshooting
Although checking charging voltage at the battery terminals is the most popular method for testing an alternator, a charging voltage test seldom reveals less common problems like open or shorted alternator diodes, intermittent high or low charging rates, charging system wiring problems, intermittent cranking/no start complaints or intermittent dead battery complaints. In addition, testing charging
Alternators & Starters: How and Why These Hard-Working Components Fail
One reason why alternators have a high failure rate is because they’re always working under a load. Generating electricity to recharge the battery, run the fuel pump, injectors and ignition system, and power all of the vehicle’s lights and other electrical accessories places a substantial load on the alternator that generates a lot of internal
Exterminating Electrical Parasites
Any electrical circuit that is wired “hot at all times” has the potential to become a parasite to the battery. There are some wanted parasites on the vehicle that are necessary to have, and some that are not. We’re going to find out how to “fingerprint” and track down the unwanted ones systematically. A parasitic
Power Your Profits with Performance Mods
The sport compact car market is certainly a good place to be these days. One of the advantages of doing import performance modifications and upgrades is that you don’t have to wait for cars to break to get business. The people who drive these cars spend money on performance modifications regardless of the age, mileage
Starting/Charging System Diagnosis: Fixing Faults the First Time Eliminates Comebacks & Returns
How many starters and alternators are replaced unnecessarily every year because of misdiagnosis? Nobody knows for sure, but suppliers of both new and remanufactured rotating electrical parts tell us more than half of their warranty returns have “no fault found” when the parts are examined. Many of these returns are from DIYers who lack diagnostic