Publisher’s Perspective: How’s Business?
There are some very strong signs that business will be good in 2004. Optimism among repair shop owners is as high as it’s ever been during the three years that we’ve been tracking this data. During the first week of January, we faxed a survey to 3,000 automotive service and repair shop owners across the
Secondary Ignition System Maintenance
As one might expect, the introduction of low-maintenance ignition systems has changed how we sell and service secondary ignition system parts for import vehicles. Most import nameplates have, for example, replaced conventional distributor ignition systems with distributorless or coil-on-plug (COP) ignitions in order to reduce the number of wearing parts in the secondary or high-voltage
Choosing Brake Friction Materials
The possibilities seem almost endless…
American Honda Announces Launch of Online Parts Catalog and Ordering System
Torrance, CA – American Honda recently announced a new online parts catalog and ordering system provided as an enhancement to its Service Express website. The Service Express website, available to independent repair facilities on a subscription basis through participating Honda and Acura dealers, provides service and repair information for every OBD II-equipped Honda and Acura
Flash Reprogramming
Would you believe flash reprogrammable PCMs have been in vehicles for more than a decade? The first such application was the 1990 Geo Storm. Why a humdrum car like the Storm would be the first to receive a flash reprogrammable computer system is unknown. You’d think GM would have chosen a more high profile vehicle
Installing Quality Disc Brake Pads
Because today’s lighter and more friction-efficient disc brakes have become very sensitive to differences in friction materials, the issue of selecting a quality brake pad is becoming increasingly relevant to the quality-conscious installer. To illustrate, aftermarket manufacturers of high-performance disc brakes offer literally dozens of racing pads that are qualitatively equal, but vary widely in
Analyzing Ignition Misfires and Plotting a Diagnostic Course
Uh oh. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is on, and you’ve just found a misfire code. It’s a code P0304, which tells you cylinder number four is misfiring. There are no other codes and the engine has a steady miss. Now what? Misfire diagnosis in this kind of situation should be fairly easy. You have