Power Window Regulator And Motor Service
Power windows are great as long as they roll up and down when commanded to do so. But sometimes a window may quit working for one reason or another. Sometimes the fault is electrical, such as a bad power window switch, a blown fuse, a bad relay or a loose or damaged wire. Other times, the fault is a bad window motor or a broken part in the window regulator mechanism that actually raises and lowers the glass.
BMW Tech Tip: K-CAN Wiring Shorted In Various Locations
Various functions in the vehicle are not operating. This includes instruments, door locks, wipers and other body electrical functions. This can also be accompanied by instrument cluster warning lamps, including the check control message “Electronic Malfunction.”
Subaru Pulse-Width Modulated Fuel Pumps
I think it might have been a 2003 Subaru WRX, but it was parked in front of my local Subaru specialist’s shop after going on its fourth fuel pump replacement from other shops in less than six months. Both the Subaru specialist and I agreed that fuel pump failures on Subarus were relatively rare, so the previous repair shops had obviously overlooked some very important details.
Combustion Chamber Diagnosis
Diagnosing misfires and emission problems is getting more difficult on modern engines. Understanding what is going on inside the combustion chamber and what comes out the exhaust valve is critical to being able to solve any emissions or driveability problem.
Spark Plug Diagnostics
If you are replacing spark plugs to solve a misfire problem, you might want to take a look at the original plugs to make sure you are replacing them for the right reasons. Most original equipment spark plugs have a life of more than 100,000 miles thanks to electrodes that contain precious metals like platinum and iridium. If the plugs fail sooner than the recommended interval, solve the problem before installing new plugs.
OBDII Port Diagnostics
The OBDII connector is more than 20 years old. 1996 was the first year all vehicles sold in the U.S. had to have this standard 16-pin connector. Most technicians now take this port for granted, and some do not even remember the days when a scan tool was more about the cables and ID cards than the tool itself.
Reflash Confusion And Car Software Updates
According to J.D. Power, 189 recalls and more than 800 TSBs have been issued concerning reflashing or reprogramming over the past five years. These numbers do not include the random updates that seem to appear out of thin air on the OE service information websites. Some of us may see this as a problem. But, we should see this as an opportunity.
Spark Plugs: Choosing A Heat Range
Choosing a set of racing spark plugs for a particular application is not as easy as it sounds because the plugs have to be closely matched to the application. Stock plugs are fine for stock applications and ordinary driving conditions. But when an engine is modified to make more power and is run under racing conditions, a lot of things change inside the combustion chamber.
Parasitic Drain II: Jeep Grand Cherokee
As a general rule, a “parasitic drain” of less than 30 milliamps (mA) is normal for most vehicles 15 years old and newer. Keeping in mind that most manufacturers now publish parasitic drain values, let’s assume that a battery drain exceeding 50 mA is cause for concern.
Ford F-150 ECOBOOST 3.5L Pattern Failures
With almost 400,000 3.5L EcoBoost engines on the road today, these engines have proven to be a solid power unit. Many of these engines are out of warranty and heading to your shop. Here are the top failures and what to look for.
Scan Tools: The Changing Field of Diagnostics
These past two months, I have been trying out a lot of new scan tools while trying to get better with my scope. I am quickly realizing how fast things are changing with tools, vehicles and diagnostics. When I started in this industry, the most advanced tool was a “brick” with a tiny monochromatic display, and the scope was the size of two large filing cabinets.
Bench Testing Can Reveal If The Alternator Is The Problem
Today’s computer-controlled charging systems tailor the charging rate not only to the electrical demands on the battery and alternator, but also to changing driving conditions. That makes diagnosis much more difficult when something goes wrong. Alternators have one of the highest return rates of any repair part – often because of misdiagnosis.
