A/C Compressor Replacement: Doing A Visual Inspection & Checking For Leaks And Debris Eases Diagnostics
One thing on your customers’ minds during the summer driving months is air conditioning – as in, will it work when they need it. Driving around in the hot summer heat can take a toll on the A/C system, so, chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of HVAC repairs from now until the end of September.
Diagnosing Acura RDX Turbo System Problems
The 2007-2012 Acura RDX was Honda’s first production vehicle in North America with a turbocharger. The company took the proven K-series engine and lowered the compression ratio from 10:1 to 8:1, and added a turbocharger with the associated plumbing. But, it is a lot more complicated when it comes to managing the boost.
Acura Tech Tip: Chirping From High-Pressure Fuel Pump
With the hood open, listen for a chirping noise with the engine warmed up. If the noise is coming from the high-pressure fuel pump, follow the Repair Procedure in this Tech Tip.
Head Lift: Look Beyond The Gasket
In the 1980s, many race series were experimenting with turbochargers on stock block and specialty race engines. Huge horsepower and torque numbers could be produced for a short period until the engine self-destructed. What a lot of the engineers and engine builders could not see was at peak cylinder pressures the head was distorting the casting and allowing combustion gases to get in between the head, gasket and block. New technologies like direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging are pushing chamber pressures far beyond what they were a decade ago.
Crankshaft And Camshaft Signals
The key to diagnosing many cranking, no-start and stalling problems found on the late-model import is to understand how the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors function and what their mechanical relationship is to each other.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: From Here To There In A Snow-Plowing Chevrolet
In this installment of Diagnostic Dilemmas, we’re diagnosing idle air control problems by pursuing a no-code, cold-idle speed control condition on a 2002 Chevrolet 2500HD four-wheel drive pickup. Owned by a small local construction company, this U-code, 6.0-liter Chevrolet hauler performs admirably during the summer towing trailers and hauling heavy construction tools in its roomy, all-steel utility bed. During the winter, it plows snow in local commercial parking lots and on private mountain roads. Due to their simplicity and reliability, we still see thousands of these formidable workhorses performing their duties across our great country.
Part 2: Creating A Roadmap Of A Technician’s Career
When you look at the staffing issues currently affecting repair shops in either the collision or service space, as if you were an emergency room physician dealing with a patient who is bleeding to death, it is apparent that two life-threatening hemorrhages exist right now that need our attention. Often, it is easy to look at a problem globally. So, we get overwhelmed by the big picture, rather than taking the triage approach of identifying the most pervasive issues. This is where ER doctors, nurses and great diagnostic technicians can be our models for fixing the ails of our industry.
Understanding Misfire Events And Causes
When a spark plug fires, it is not an instantaneous ignition of all the molecules of air and fuel. When the spark kernel jumps between the two electrodes, the piston might be some distance from the top of the cylinder (this is usually described as degrees of crankshaft rotation).
Lessons From A Day Being Out Of My Comfort Zone
Being under the dash or hood of the modern car is my comfort zone, but it doesn’t hurt to get out of that comfort zone. I could use a reminder now and then that what I do for a living isn’t all that bad, and I owe my customers a great deal of gratitude for their patronage and for putting up with this snarly old mechanic.
Why I Hate Some Mobile Mechanics
Mobile technicians have been around since the 1920s. Back then, a mechanic would set up shop on a street corner or vacant lot and put up a sign. Today, mobile technicians put an ad on Craigslist or join an online referral service like Amazon, Otobots.com or YourMechanic.com. Other low-tech mechanics set up in the parking lot of the local auto parts store.
Domestic Oil Specifications
Engine oil can be one of the most confusing and controversial products to select for a domestic vehicle. Engines with turbochargers, direct fuel injection and advanced internal components are forcing OEMs to rewrite oil specification. These specifications are typically listed on the back of the bottle, on a product data sheet or the oil manufacturer’s website. In the case of some 5W30 oils, the bottle might not be able to hold all of the OEM specification the oil meets.
Automatic Belt Tension: Don’t Take It For Granted
Most late-model engines have serpentine belt drives for the engine-driven accessories. And, most people know that belts are a maintenance item and eventually have to be replaced. However, many don’t know the spring-loaded automatic tensioner that keeps a serpentine belt tight is also a wear item. Consequently, the automatic tensioner may also have to be replaced when the time comes to change the belt.
