ImportCar Archives - Page 5 of 70 - TechShop Magazine
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Sometimes You Get More Than What You Pay For … But That’s Not Always A Plus

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 something wrong with the seat motor. He asked me, an auto electric technician, if I would take a look at it.

Tech Tip: Nissan Front Brake Caliper Fluid Residue

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 replace the caliper for castor oil residue.

Reading Tire Wear Patterns

Modern tire construction has generally trended toward low aspect ratio tire casings with more flexible sidewalls and rigid treads. Although this type of construction has made tires less sensitive to negative camber angles used in many current steering geometry designs, many types of tire wear patterns continue to indicate problems in a vehicle’s steering geometry.

Mazda’s SKYACTIV Technology

Mazda has been making big waves in the automotive world with its SKYACTIV technology. Introduced in 2011 in the Japanese market, Mazda’s ultra high-compression, direct injection gasoline engines are achieving fuel economy numbers that rival many hybrids – and at much less cost. These engines include the SKYACTIV-G 1.3L engine in the 2012 Mazda 2, the 2.0L in the 2012 Mazda 3 and 2013 CX-5, and the 2.0L and 2.5L engines in the 2014 Mazda 6 and CX-5.

Curt’s Service Inc. Taking Customer Service To The Next Level

At Curt’s Service Inc., what you see is truly what you get. Recently, a photo submitted by Curt Massoll’s 15-bay shop in Oak Park, MI, won a contest sponsored by Robert Bosch LLC. Curt’s Service is a Bosch Car Service center (BCS) – part of an exclusive network of shops whose standards meet the Bosch criteria for excellence in the services they provide.

Tech Tip: 2004-’05 Nissans Have MIL On With DTC P0300-P0306, P1273 Or P1283

Technicians may encounter an MIL “On” with one or more of the following DTCs stored: P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306 (cylinder misfire); or P1273, P1283 (A/F ratio lean). Injector resistance may cause one or more of the listed DTCs to be set. Check the resistance of the injectors against the values in this bulletin.

Power Steering Fluid Is Just Power Steering Fluid, Right? Not Necessarily, Especially When It Comes To Imports …

Savvy technicians know to use dedicated power steering fluids for the many models, both import and domestic, that call for them. There are still many cars on the road for which ATF is appropriate. However, in recent years, some European automakers have specified a more advanced synthetic fluid for use in power steering systems.

Tech Tip: BMW Intermittent No-Start Problem With A Dead Battery

Some 2006 BMW vehicle owners may complain that their BMW has an intermittent no-start problem and the battery has gone dead. This may be the result of an incorrect battery or the comfort access module.

Ultimate Underhood: Jaguar XK Six

The Jaguar XK inline six-cylinder engine had one of the longest

Audi Tech Tip: MIL On With P1545, P0121, P0123, P0221 Or P0222 Stored In ECM

The MIL is on, with a number of incident memory entries with regard to the throttle valve are stored in the ECM. In most cases, the entries are sporadic. This may be the result of contact resistance in the ECM wiring – throttle valve.

Tech Tip: Heater Core Leak Repair

A classic sign of a heater core problem is when the inside of the vehicle’s windshield persistently keeps misting. Warm coolant is leaking out of the core into the vents and then condensing against the cooler surface of the windshield.

Tech Tip: Nissan Xterra Hesitates Upon Acceleration

The technician connected a scan tool and found code P0102 – Mass or Volume Air Flow “A” Circuit Low. He then performed an inspection of the mass airflow (MAF) sensor and related wiring harness, but found no obvious faults.