Tech Tip: Chevy Malibu Suffers Engine Hesitation, Stalling, RPM Drop
Some Malibu owners may comment on the engine having a severe hesitation or a drop in RPM during parking lot maneuvers or during a deceleration. In a few instances, customers may comment on occasionally experiencing a stall at idle when the engine is fully warmed.
Tech Talk: ‘Baywatch’
Problem “models” that technicians see on a regular basis
New Airtex Vehicle Electronics Video Tackles Complex P0171 Challenge
The new seven-and-a-half-minute video, “P0171 Chevrolet Trailblazer Diagnostics,” explores the reasons for intermittent lean fuel conditions – and the resulting diagnostic trouble code – on a 2006 Trailblazer equipped with a 4.2-liter engine.
Driving Technology: The Quest for Improved Battery Output
The search is on for new materials to boost battery energy storage and output.
Driving Technology: Curbing the Possibility of a Volt Electrical Fire
In early January, General Motors announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash. The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) preliminary evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.
Memory Lane: Reverse Technology: Engineering the 6-Volt Alternator
Not having an engineering degree does have its advantages – your thought process is wide open with no restrictions and no rules. However, my final working 6-volt alternator design proved to be a lot more expensive than I could have imagined.
Tech Tip: Ignition Coil Polarity Check on Early Model Vehicles
On classic and antique vehicles, you can test for correct polarity of the ignition coil by using a voltmeter.
Diagnostic Solutions: Ignition Coil Diagnostics
Import Specialist Gary Goms says there are a variety of opinions about how to test ignition coils and ignition systems. The most basic method is measuring a coil’s primary and secondary resistance. But meeting primary and secondary resistance specs on the bench is no guarantee that the coil will perform correctly under extreme heat and load.
New Airtex Vehicle Electronics Website Offers Expanded Technical Content
Airtex Vehicle Electronics has introduced a new website which the company says offers extensive new technical content and user-friendly interactive features designed to help customers diagnose and fix driveability issues and other problems on virtually any popular domestic or foreign nameplate application.
ACDelco Adds 99 Ignition, Emissions System Part Numbers
ACDelco has added 99 remanufactured part numbers to its Ignition Systems and Emissions Professional product portfolios. According to ACDelco, these high-quality, remanufactured parts are designed to meet the needs of owners of a broad range of Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Saturn, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Geo models.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: 8 Simple Rules …
Many of the “Diagnostic Dilemmas” Gary Goms is called upon to solve aren’t really all that complicated – but were caused by basic oversights and incorrect assumptions on the part of the technician. This situation has largely been caused by a lack of training and, in some cases, poor training.
Book Report: Automotive Electrical Performance Projects
For the automotive professional with electrical experience, Automotive Electrical Performance Projects by Tony Candela is a great edition to their technical library as it details a variety of popular performance project upgrades. In this “Performance Projects Series” title from CarTech books, brilliant color photos and explanatory step-by-step captions detail the installation of the most functional and beneficial upgrades for enthusiasts of varying skill levels.