Lifetime Warranties: The Woes Of Discount Parts
There are warranties, and then there are lifetime warranties. Some people won’t buy anything unless it has a substantial warranty attached to it. My dad was one of those guys. It didn’t matter what it was as long as he could get a warranty with it, and he would be as proud as a peacock whenever he got the chance to take advantage of it.
Chevrolet Citation X-11: Remembering A Chevy Classic
The Chevrolet Citation was the replacement for the Nova and Monza in 1980. By the numbers, the car was about 800 lbs. lighter and had much better fuel economy, but it did have some teething problems with the rear drum brakes. For 1981, Chevrolet decided to make a performance model called the X-11.
Toyota Prius: Check Hybrid System Light On
It may be difficult to diagnose a vehicle that has components you aren’t familiar with. This Tech Tip will show you the ropes by guiding you through a diagnosis on the Prius. Hopefully your repair is as simple as this Real Fix and the loose DC/DC connector is the only issue.
Mercury Tech Tip: Air Conditioner Blows Warm Air
This 1999 Mercury Mountaineer had its door motor and heater door replaced, but the air conditioner still blows warm. Here’s what else it could be.
When Over-Voltages Electrocute PCMs
During the past nine months, I’ve had three instances of powertrain control module (PCM) failures on Jeep Wrangler vehicles that were evidently caused by an over-voltage condition. The first case involved an owner who requested that a local shop replace the fuel pump because his ’98 Wrangler was slow-starting in the morning.
BMW Tech Tip: Poor Performance, Noise From Turbocharger
The customer complains of loss of performance and turbocharger noise. The turbocharger oil supply may be restricted, causing oil starvation and resulting in the seizing of the turbocharger assembly.
Ford Focus Tech Tip: Inaccurate Fuel Gauge Or Distance-To-Empty Indication
Some 2012-2014 Focus vehicles may exhibit inaccurate fuel gauge indication and/or inaccurate distance-to-empty notices. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0420, P1450, P0443, P0452, P0456, P0460 and/or P2196.
Shop Regulation: Operation Torque Wrench
This month, the state of Michigan cracked down on nine unlicensed shops. The PR stunt was called “Operation Torque Wrench” by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. This is kind of ironic, because most unlicensed shops and mechanics do not use torque wrenches.
Chevy Silverado: Anti-Theft Light On, Engine Starts and Stalls
As technicians, we dream that all components can be diagnosed as fast as possible. More complicated faults can take hours to discover, but with some help, you can shorten the overall repair time.
TPMS Sensor Battery: Dead Sensors Cause Other Problems, Too
During the initial TPMS phase-in, many warned about what sounded like an impending crisis. It was the “tire guy’s apocalypse,” which sounds dramatic, but that’s the way I remember the situation being characterized. There was worry and paranoia from all sides. Some companies undoubtedly saw it as a marketing opportunity, and helped perpetuate some of the fear and anxiety. The gist I got from the marketing I saw was that changing tires would, as we knew it, never be the same.
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.
Automatic Temperature Control Sensors
When a driver sets a temperature in the control head of an HVAC system, what does it mean to the vehicle? New HVAC systems look at more than just blower motor speed, door position and the high-pressure switch voltage. These modern systems are looking at temperatures inside and outside the vehicle. They are also looking at the overall efficiency of the vehicle.
