As I've discovered recently, times change and so do the procedures for diagnosing inoperative fuel pumps. Just a few weeks ago, I diagnosed a case in which the owner had started his vehicle for several months by spraying starting fluid (ether) into his truck's air intake before he cranked the...
Electronic stability control (ESC) was introduced in 1995 and touted as the second most important advancement in auto safety, after seat belts, becoming standard equipment on every 2012 passenger vehicle. ESC is supposed to help drivers maintain safe control of their vehicles and prevent accidents. However, it's the tires that...
The addition of the balance belt won't cause any problems as long as it's timed correctly and the counterweights are in the proper position when the belts are installed. There are access holes in the block that allow you to insert a punch or screwdriver to ensure the weights are...
A useful diagnostic tool is to determine if the fuel trim problem exists in more than one engine operating range. Fuel trim should be checked at idle, at 1,500 rpm and at 2,500 rpm. In addition to these no-load checks, drive the vehicle at various steady load conditions and watch...
Import Specialist Bob Dowie takes a look at some of the more common ailments that will bring your Mazda customers into your service bay with a check engine light complaint, as he covers common DTCs, stalling and ignition issues and new technology.
If you confirm that the ABS light is on with one or more of the following DTCs stored - C1105, C1110, C1124, C1126 - and/or the ABS system activates with normal braking, follow the Service Procedure.
In case you haven't noticed, female buying power is on the rise. Women account for about 85% of all automotive sales in U.S. households, and 50-65% of customers at automotive service centers are women. And you know what that spells? Opportunity.
On one of many slow days at the shop, I had a small job come in from one of the local tire shops. This rather young girl brought the car to me from the tire shop that's just a few blocks away. She told me she was the owner and...
One day, one of my customers called and said he just purchased a car from the police auction, but it had some sort of strange noise coming from the driver's-side electric seat. It seems that every time he moved it, there was a strange electrical sound. He thought there was...
If you confirm there is oil residue on the brake caliper and it's not assembly lubricant, refer to the Service Procedure as part of your normal brake diagnostic procedure. Note: Castor oil assembly lubricant is applied to the brake caliper when it's built and some residue is normal. Do not...
