Get the Drift: The Ins and Outs of Sport ‘Drifting’
Drifting is not a sport for SUVs. If it were, it would probably be called “rollovering.” Nor does it lend itself very well to cars with front-wheel drive. Drifting is all about sliding around curves with the rear wheels smoking all the way. Drifting sounds like an activity dreamed up by the tire manufacturers to
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Servicing Jeep and Ford Feedback Carburetors
Lately, it seems, more people are “going retro” by rehabilitating older cars and trucks. Perhaps it’s the longing for the simplicity of a bygone era or perhaps it’s the sentimental attachment to a particular vehicle that’s driving the retro movement. Although in the Rustbelt East, the survival rate of these vehicles is probably very low,
Industry Review: Bosch Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Pioneering Anti-Lock Brake System
Bosch is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the pioneering automotive anti-lock braking system (ABS), a landmark contribution to driving safety. Bosch first introduced its first system in 1978. Since Bosch introduced electronically controlled ABS to the automotive market, this groundbreaking technology has become the basis for all modern brake regulating systems. Today, nearly 75 percent
Tech Feature: Air Springs and Suspensions
Passenger car air helper springs have been around since the early fifties. Fifty years ago (1958 model year), GM introduced air suspension as an option for all of its passenger cars. It featured a single cylinder belt driven compressor from Bendix Westinghouse. Goodyear supplied its rolling lobe and sleeve type Super-Cushion air springs. The option lasted for two model years. In the late 1960s, Mercedes Benz applied air suspension to their SL sedans and limousines. Air springs returned in ….
ContiTech Reveals New Interactive Online Catalog
ContiTech’s Power Transmission Group has developed a new interactive online catalog that gives installers, jobbers and distributors the capability of selecting multi-rib belts, timing belts or raw edge belts for a variety of applications right from the service bay or wherever they have Internet access ….
Tech Tip: Becoming Attuned to Engine Sounds
Can you pinpoint abnormal noises coming from an engine? More often than not, internal engine malfunctions will reveal themselves first as an unusual noise. This can often happen before the problem affects the driveability of the vehicle. Unless a technician has experience in listening to and interpreting engine noises, it may be hard to distinguish one from another ….
Management: As Fuel Prices Rise, Educating Consumers about Nitrogen more Important
Holding the promise of longer tire life and improved fuel economy, this should be a great time for nitrogen inflation – and for tire dealers offering such services. But nitrogen inflation has been taking a few hits from the likes of Consumer Reports and other media, questioning the performance/cost value vs. regular air. While they don’t dispute the science behind nitrogen inflation, or the potential for fuel savings, they do ….
Cleaning Carbon from TDI Intake Systems
Volkwagen has been selling diesel-powered cars in the U.S. for almost 30 years. Turbocharged versions have been available for 25. That is a lot of experience and a testament to the development of a reliable, efficient and durable powerplant. The introduction and development of the TDI (turbocharged direct injection) brought the VW diesel into the
Tech Feature: Worn Steering and Suspension Parts are Often Overlooked
It’s a little known fact that many cars and trucks that end up in junkyards have never had any major steering or suspension parts replaced. They still have the original equipment shocks and struts, springs, ball joints, tie rod ends and steering racks. So does this mean junkyards all across America are full of perfectly good parts? Not these parts ….
Tech Feature: Gaining Access to Perimeter Anti-Theft Systems
It could use the same acronym, but is perimeter anti-theft the same as PATS? No, PATS, which stands for passive anti-theft systems, is a system that is designed to identify the key, and was discussed in the July 2007 issue of Underhood Service. Perimeter anti-theft is a system designed to identify unauthorized vehicle entry. There