Increased Cross-Selling Incidents Will Improve Your Shop’s Bottom Line
As miles rack up on your customers’ vehicles, are you getting the most mileage out of your oil change services and maximizing every service occasion?
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Taking A Leap Of Faith When Relying On Your Knowledge And Expertise Is The Best Diagnostic Plan
Dealing with unforeseen problems ends up in a never-ending stumbling block of false leads, misguided diagnostics, or, for the lack of better term, a typical “snafu.” There are a lot of situations when the tech just has to trust his own judgment and go with what seems right, rather than what all the information is suggesting. Call it a gut instinct, dumb luck or maybe a professional guess, but that may be all you have to go on.
Tech Feature: Parasitic Draw Hunting With A Voltmeter
In the past, I’ve always hunted down parasitic draws with my multimeter set on the amperage scale in series with the battery cable, along with jumper leads to open and close the connection, so I could watch for the amperage drop. I also needed to know what a safe level was in order to see the actual draw (or lack of). Some techs use a dead-man switch attached to the battery post instead of jumper wires. For me, it’s whatever I have handy at the time, and time is money so the quicker I can get to the source of the problem, the better that is for my bottom line.
4WD/AWD Hub Service On Kia Sportage And Sorento Models
While you may never have to replace the entire transfer case or transmission on the popular Sportage and Sorento SUVs, you will have to replace hubs, sensors and solenoids on your customers’ vehicles. In this article, we’ll start with the early systems on the 2000 Sportage.
Tech Tip: Fuel Filler Necks And Related Check Engine Light Conditions
Since the introduction of the OBD II system, manufacturers have continued to improve on the monitoring of evaporative emissions, with the complete evaporative system being under a scrutinized surveillance. Codes like P0440 to P0456 are all related to the fuel vapor control, including leaks.
Tech Tip: A Day In The Life Of A Contaminated O2 Sensor
Since the oxygen sensor is in the exhaust stream, it can become contaminated over time. Much like a spark plug, the oxygen sensor can be examined and “read” to determine what the cause of contamination might be.
Drum Brake Service: Single-Anchor, Floating Shoe Designs
Although four-wheel disc brakes currently dominate the import brake service market, millions of drum brakes are serviced each day in independent import shops. Thanks to their age, many drum brakes present problems related not only to normal wear, but also to extended age and mileage.
Editor’s Notebook: Mobile Ad Customer Engagement Spells Service Opportunities
A recent study issued by the Marchex Institute sought to answer some of the most pressing questions about consumer call behavior.
Frank’s European Service Hosts Grand Opening Of New Service Center; Third In Greater Las Vegas
Frank’s European Service, famous for its “Golden Wrench” service for European luxury cars and trucks, is celebrating 12 years of serving customers in the Las Vegas area and marked this milestone with the Grand Opening of its new service center on Rainbow Boulevard.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Understanding Electrical Circuits Will Expedite Diagnostic Repairs
A work order comes to you with this complaint: “My turn signal indicators light up when I step on the brake pedal or when I’m driving at night.” Do you have a good idea what the problem is? Or, are you completely lost and debating sending this job to another shop because it’s not something you think you can handle?
Diagnostic Solutions: Contaminated Fuel Can Wreck Havoc On Fuel Delivery Systems
Import Specialist Contributor Gary Goms discusses how contaminated fuel can mimic the symptoms produced by defective fuel pumps, fuel injectors and fuel control components like mass air flow (MAF) sensors. Although cases involving contaminated gasoline are relatively rare nowadays, they still occur. In many cases, the technician has replaced the fuel pump or MAF sensor to address a P0171/P0174 “lean-condition” DTC with no result.
BMW Feature: Understanding Variable-Capacity A/C Compressors
Diagnostic Specialist Sergio Fernandez discusses the ins and outs of the swash-plate compressor and how its variable cylinder displacement allows for the most efficient HVAC operation and boosts fuel economy.