Why Modern Ignition Systems Require Precious Metal Plugs
Vehicle technology is continually advancing to meet consumer demand for better fuel economy, as well as government requirements for fewer emissions. The result is downsized engines with less displacement for fuel combustion, forcing original equipment manufacturers to design advanced spark plugs using precious metals to improve engine performance and reliability.
You Have An Oxygen Sensor Code, Now What?
With hundreds of diagnostic codes for oxygen sensors, it is no wonder technicians face a daunting task when identifying the cause (or causes) of an oxygen sensor-specific trouble code. Knowing how to accurately interpret location codes is the first step in the diagnostic process that can be used along with fuel trims and catalyst efficiency.
Test To Reduce Ignition Repair Time
Most of the time spent on an ignition problem is not the repair itself, it’s diagnosing the misfire code, conducting rounds of trial-and-error repairs and sometimes uninstalling and re-installing ancillary engine components.
5 Tips For Vehicle Storage
Improper long-term storage can lead to engine and cylinder surface rust, as well as carburetor and fuel issues. Preparing for long-term storage is the best rule of thumb in case of an emergency or a change of plans.
Making Sense Of Modern Emissions Sensors
For over 30 years, vehicles have used at least one oxygen sensor for fuel control, but modern emissions sensors are quite different. The traditional switching oxygen sensor is still common; yet most late-model vehicles are moving toward wide range, air/fuel sensors for primary fuel control.
The #1 Cause of Spark Plug Failure
Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination.
Leading Causes Of Ignition Coil Failures
It may be surprising to learn that the leading causes of ignition coil failures have nothing to do with the coils themselves. Ignition coil damage is often caused by underlying issues never addressed in engine misfire repairs. Issues like spark plug gapping, leaking valve covers or moisture intrusion.
The Effect Of Flash-Over On Ignition Coils
When diagnosing ignition components due to misfire codes, inspect the ignition coils, coil-on-plug boots and spark plugs as a complete system. The leading cause of an ignition coil damage claim is spark plug flash-over. Checking the inside of coil boots during routine plug maintenance can lead to fewer come-backs, less time spent on diagnostic repairs,
Spark Plug Designs For GDI Systems
To maximize fuel efficiency and lower exhaust emissions, many vehicle manufacturers are now using gasoline direct injection (GDI) systems to provide the fuel delivery for their engines. Gasoline direct injection places a fuel injector into the combustion chamber to provide a high pressure mist of gasoline which mixes with intake air, providing the air-fuel ratio
Understanding Misfire Codes And Ignition Coils
In a perfect world, a flashing check engine light for DTCs P0301 through P0312 would always be solved by installing a new ignition coil. If this were true, technicians wouldn’t need countless hours of diagnostics training. The reality is that a misfire can be more than a missing spark from an ignition coil.
Attention: Please Post This Important Safety Information for Your Customers
Last year, American Honda released a poster designed to help keep your customers safe. That poster identified certain Honda and Acura vehicles that may have been affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls affecting customers at that time. Since then, the inflator recalls have expanded, so we have provided an updated poster below that includes
