The PCM Effect on Oil Service
As with everything else under the automotive sun, technology is changing the lube, oil and filter market. More specifically, modern technology is making it possible to use the vehicle’s on-board engine management system to mathematically determine the length of an oil change interval. At the most basic level, the PCM simply adds up the mileage
Suspension Vibration Diagnosis
The song “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys may have been a big hit in its day, but there’s no such thing as good vibrations or noise when it comes to a customer’s vehicle. Vibrations are annoying and may be a warning signal that something is amiss. So don’t ignore such symptoms. Investigate any unusual
How Much Maintenance
How much maintenance is really necessary to keep a vehicle in good, running condition, safe and reliable? It’s a controversial subject for which there is no simple answer. Maintenance recommendations and requirements vary depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle, the type of driving it undergoes, the environment in which it operates,
Servicing Ford 4-Cylinders: Contour, Escort, EXP, Focus, Probe, Ranger & Tempo
Ford has used a variety of four cylinder engines over the years, ranging in displacement from 1.6 to 2.5 liters (see engine application chart on page 22). All of these engines are overhead cam engines, some with a single cam others with dual cams, and all have timing belts that need to be replaced at
The Right Tools at the Right Time
The toughest part about changing a timing belt on most engines is just getting to the belt. The timing belt is sealed inside a protective cover on the front of the engine. Replacing it typically requires removing everything on the front of the engine that obstructs the timing cover. This includes the serpentine belt and/or
CRP 2006 Belt Application Catalog Unveiled at AAPEX
CRP Industries, Inc. has announced that its 2006 Domestic and Import catalogs are ready for distribution. The new 2006 catalogs cover model years up to 2005 on an extensive range of cars, light trucks and SUVs in the NAFTA market. CRP has continued to add a complete range of the latest ContiTech serpentine belts, timing belts and timing belt tensioner kits to their already extensive program.
Tech Tip: Water Pumps – Why They Fail and When to Replace Them
If you’ve wondered how much work a water pump must do, remember that only about 30 percent of the heat energy produced by combustion results in mechanical energy. That estimate, of course, is a mathematical comparison between the heat value of the gasoline going into the engine, and the heat value of the mechanical energy coming out of the engine. The remainder of combustion heat must then be dissipated into the atmosphere through the exhaust, lubrication and cooling systems.
Timing Belt Replacement: Safeguarding Your Customers’ Vehicles From Major Engine Damage
Although better materials and manufacturing technology have extended the timing belt replacement intervals on many nameplates, timing belt replacements remain one of the most profitable scheduled maintenance services. They continue to be profitable because many other scheduled services like spark plug replacements, filter replacements, coolant changes and transmission fluid changes can be packaged with a
Tech Tip: Complete Timing Belt System Replacement Can Increase Sales, Reduce Comebacks
When servicing the import timing system, many technicians replace only the worn belt. They overlook the tensioner, tensioner pulleys and idlers because failure modes such as misalignment, loss of lubricant and weak spring force are often hard to detect.
Back to School – With the Car: NAPA Recommends Sending an ”Auto Care Package” off to College
As summer winds down and young adults prepare to head back to college, NAPA AUTO PARTS recommends that parents assemble an "Auto Care Package" to send with their students. Planning ahead will help keep the car operational and may prevent breakdowns that could leave students stranded along the roadside.