Car Engine Electronic Control Systems
Ford F350 TSB: P1633 KAM Voltage Too Low From Bad Battery Terminal

Faulty battery terminals aren’t always easy to spot with a visual inspection. Follow this Real Fix to see how a bad battery terminal causes a P1633 code.

VW Beetle, Golf And Jetta: Broken Tensioner, Root Cause Of Failure Is Alternator Pulley

This type of failure is the result of severe vibrations in the accessory belt drive system. While a broken tensioner may be the result, the root cause often lies elsewhere in the system.

Winter Maintenance Tips From Some of America’s Coldest Cities

Staying on top of your inspections is important, but there are some parts of the U.S. where winter maintenance takes on a new level of importance.

Honda Odyssey Power Sliding Door Repair Tips

Many times the trap detection logic that’s built into the power sliding door control unit can’t tell the difference between unwanted friction and something actually blocking the door’s path. To help you troubleshoot this sort of problem, we’ve put together some handy tips.

Ultimate Underhood Retro: Ignition Points

The ignition contact points that conduct the battery voltage are typically made of tungsten, and can be slowly eroded by the spark. The contact pad that rides on the shaft of the distributor can wear and change the dwell. The spring can lose tension over time and even break. Most point systems could not go past 4,000 RPM without the timing becoming unstable due to the arm bouncing on the distributor shaft.

Finding The Cause Of Battery Drain In A Chevrolet Impala

Finding the cause of battery drain can be tricky, but sometimes your ears will help you find the culprit.

The BMW M12: One Horsepower Per One CC

In 1986, the turbocharged BMW M12 engine for F1 could produce an amazing 1,500hp for qualifying trim. Not bad for a 1,500cc engine. Even more amazing was that they used stock blocks from their road cars to manufacture the engines.

Spark Plug Replacement Basics: Removal, Installation And Choosing The Right Plug

Spark plug replacement is considered one of the least complicated tasks at a shop, but ignorance of what you are dealing with can get you into trouble.

Alternator Testing: High-Draw Accessories Bringing Change

An alternator is designed to turn at approximately two to three times crankshaft speed. Total alternator output is generally rated at 6,000 alternator rpm. Consequently, a 2:1 alternator drive ratio can usually be found on high-performance engines or constant-speed, over-the-road truck engines where the average engine speed is about 3,000 rpm. For most passenger cars, a 3:1 ratio between alternator and crankshaft speed translates into maximum alternator output of 2,000 engine rpm, which is the engine speed at which most alternators are tested.

VIDEO: Decoupler Pulleys

Andrew Markel shows how decoupler pulleys overcome belt issues like slippage from speed variations to keep the engine running efficiently.

Battery Going Dead, Replaced A/C Control Module And Actuators

Shortly after a charging system test, while looking for loose wiring, a clicking noise was found and appeared to be moving throughout the dash in a cycle. The temperature control doors were clicking, attempting to move, but were in fact stuck to one extreme. Scanned the HVAC system and retrieved 3 codes.

How a battery works
Fuel Pump Diagnostics: Using Scan Tools

The most common diagnostic procedures for fuel pumps in the past were analog and hands on. Most fuel pump-related problems could be solved with a pressure gauge and voltmeter. Today, the scan tool is the most important tool when diagnosing a fuel supply problem.