Marketing Mufflers: Muffler Replacements Are a Fast, Easy Way to Improve Your Shop’s Bottom Line
Have muffler inspections become a low-priority undercar service in your shop? With the introduction of stainless-steel exhaust systems into the import market, it’s easy to forget that muffler and related exhaust parts sales are still a lucrative service that can enhance any profit and loss statement. Muffler replacements can be profitable at any skill or
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Navigating OBD II Scan Tool Diagnostics
Although some hybrid OBD I/OBD II versions existed as early as 1994, the current version of OBD II was introduced in 1996. Because OBD II is a scan tool-based diagnostic system, diagnostic techs have become much more reliant upon the scan tool as a primary method of diagnosing malfunction indicator light (MIL) issues. In addition
Muffler Technology: A Look Inside
Is a muffler nothing more than a steel can with some baffles and tubes inside? That’s how most mufflers look, but there’s a lot more to muffler science than meets the eye. A muffler’s job is to muffle sound. That’s why we call them mufflers. In England they’re called silencers. Regardless of the name, they
Diagnostic Dilemmas: The Effects of Warm-Up Laps on a Running Engine
Most diagnostic technicians have experienced the frustrations of troubleshooting temperature-related engine performance problems. All too often, the true nature of the problem is concealed by the very fact that it occurs only at specific engine temperatures. If the engine quickly passes through the critical temperature range needed to duplicate the problem, the problem can easily
Why Go Digital? For Precision and Protection
These days, no matter what kind of automotive repair work you specialize in, virtually every system has a certain amount of electronics. Consequently, one diagnostic tool every technician needs is a digital multimeter. To figure out electrical and electronic problems, you have to “see” what’s going on inside the circuits and components. Trouble is, you
Underhood Service: Troubleshooting Troublesome Injectors
Clean fuel injectors are a must for peak engine performance, fuel economy and emissions. If the injectors are dirty and can’t deliver their normal dose of fuel, then performance, fuel economy and emissions are all going to suffer. Dirty injectors can’t flow as much fuel as clean ones, nor can they deliver the correct spray
Matching Your Techs with the Right Job
Just a single decade ago, many industry experts speculated that 80% of the workflow passing through an independent repair shop would involve some type of high-level diagnostic process. Today, it’s obvious that, with the infusion of electronic operating systems, high-level diagnostics is now approaching that level of total workflow. Nevertheless, many others continue to ridicule
NASCAR Performance
NASCAR Announces Changes to Provisional Qualifying
A/C Update
Once a year the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) hosts a trade show for A/C shop owners and technicians. This year’s event was held in Orlando, FL, January 22-24, and provided a wealth of service information to those who attended the technical sessions. For those who could not be there, we pass along some of
Understanding Today’s Multi-Coil Ignition Systems
Distributorless Ignition Systems (DIS) have been around for more than two decades, but in recent years the trend has been to multi-coil systems such as Coil On Plug (COP) or Coil Per Cylinder (CPC) ignition systems, and Coil Near Plug (CNP) ignition systems. COP systems have become the hot setup for a number of packaging,