Corrosion And TPMS
It is that time of year again when the affects of road salt, deicers and potholes start to take their toll on vehicles. The latest victims of the salt belt are TPMS sensors and valve stems. The corrosion we are all most familiar with is that which affects steel, iron’s most common alloy. While just the presence of oxygen in the air, along with some moisture, is enough for something made of steel to begin to corrode, most of the time it is accelerated by some other environmental factor, which causes the most problems.
VW DSG Transmission: Fluid Maintenance & Service
Most of the drivers who will own a Volkswagen car or truck with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) will not know they have a dual-clutch transmission connected to the engine. Most of them will think they have an automatic that gets excellent gas mileage. It is not until a transmission component fails or a service interval elapses that they learn about DSG.
Are You Using Your Scan Tool To Its Fullest?
Plug it in, scan for codes, it seems like the same thing over and over again, and when you’ve got one eye on the clock, it’s easy to rush through a few steps to get from point “A” to point “B.” But are you getting the most out of your scan tool?
The Art of Diagnosing What the PCM Can’t See
The difficulties of diagnosing no-code drivability problems are best summed up by one of Yogi Berra’s famous quotes, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Fuel Injector Function Testing
If a fuel injector is not operating within set parameters, it can cause driveability symptoms and codes that can point to components other than a faltering fuel injector.
Using A TPMS Tool As An Information Database In The Bay
It might be tempting to think that your shop does not need to invest in a modern TPMS tool, but newer TPMS tools are a repository of information.
Piercing And Probing Wires With The Least Damage Possible
The Hippocratic Oath states a doctor shall “do no harm.” The technician’s oath is the same, but we “do no harm” to a vehicle we are trying to diagnose or repair.
Using A Scope To Diagnose Prevents Parts Swapping
Being able to use a scope allows you to make a more accurate diagnosis faster. It is a tool that can prevent that second call to a customer advising them the initial estimate did not work. It can also be a triage tool that can save you from having to remove plugs to perform a compression test or give additional evidence if a misfire is electrical or mechanical.
VIDEO: Using Airflow To Sell Cabin Air Filters
Andrew Markel introduces an inexpensive tool that can assist in selling cabin air filter replacements. Sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper.
Catching The Electron Flow: Multimeters And Fuse Box Diagnostics
Gary Goms explains why the multimeter is the first tool he reaches for in his diagnostic tool box when diagnosing electrical system problems.
VIDEO: Matching A Captured Waveform To The Correct Vehicle
Andrew Markel discusses how you can verify that a waveform you have captured is correct for the vehicle. Sponsored by ProDemand from Mitchell1.
TPMS Top Tips
If you are having problems with a relearn procedure or the TPMS light won’t go out after a test drive, look to see if the check engine light is on or if there are any codes related to the modules that communicate with the TPMS.
