Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
David E. Link, owner Quality Racing Toledo, OH ALLDATA – I’ve tried the others, but nothing out there is as comprehensive – especially for auto-electrical. Blue-Point Rechargeable UV Leak Detector Light and Dye Injector – A definite must-have for A/C work. Blue-Point EEDM504B Multimeter – I don’t know how I went so long without
Accelerate your Throttle-by-Wire Repairs: Ford Electronic Throttle Control
What Was Wrong with a Cable? As if a simple cable linking the gas pedal to the throttle plate wasn’t good enough, engineers have now made that design complicated too. Why do engineers do these things to us? That expensive throttle body can’t cost less than a cheap little throttle cable; or can it? Are
No-Start and Rough-Running: 1996 Chrysler Sebring Coupe
Anyone who has been around the block a few times in the service and repair industry is bound to get called at some point by a customer (or another shop) that has a problematic vehicle that nobody can figure out. Usually at this point some ridiculous amount of money and time has been spent on
Replacing Oxygen Sensor: Saving the Environment and Your Customer’s Catalytic Converter
The oxygen (O2) sensor is the master switch in the fuel control feedback loop. The sensor monitors the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and produces a voltage signal that varies from about 0.1 volts (lean) to 0.9 volts (rich). The computer uses the O2 sensor’s signal to constantly fine tune and flip-flop the
Ignition Control Modules
Their Important Role in Creating Voltage at the Spark Plug Electrode
Top 5 Tools
Brian Courtney Allied Fleet Services of Texas Pasadena, TX Ingersoll-Rand 231c 1/2" Impact Wrench – It never fails to deliver. It’s 16 years old, and I’ve only had to replace the anvil. Saves my money, for sure! Raytek Non-Contact Thermometer Raynger ST2 – I don’t have to wait for a temp reading from
Austrian MotorsThriving on Mercedes-Benz Repair
Most every motorist with a responsible job and a family to take care of – and many other things on their mind – usually relies on the expertise of their automotive service provider to keep their car or SUV running smoothly. More so, owners of sophisticated high-end vehicles know that they have little time and
Battery, Charging & Ignition System Diagnosis: Getting Around those Difficult-To-Diagnose Faults
What do you really need to know about diagnosing and repairing starting, charging and ignition systems? Basically two things: that electrical and ignition problems are often difficult to diagnose (especially intermittent faults), and that a lot of electrical and ignition parts are unnecessarily replaced in an attempt to repair problems that are hard to diagnose.
Viewpoint: The Bi-Polar Aftermarket Image
Last month’s editorial titled the “Pricing Game” spured an unexpected discussion with fellow readers on the current state of the image of the aftermarket and what should be done to create a more uniform message that benefits all involved. There have been numerous threads on iATN making this problem sound like an “us against them”
Diagnosis of Faulty ABS Systems
ABS diagnosis typically starts with accessing the associated DTCs and then applying the appropriate flowchart. There will be times when this type of approach will not be possible, or the occasions when it doesn’t yield positive results. When this is the case, it is always helpful to have an understanding of how the systems and