Who’s at Fault?…Top 10 Domestic Diagnostic Codes & Fixes
A Check Engine Light that’s illuminated is always a sign that something is wrong. But what? You usually can’t tell until you plug in a code reader or scan tool and read out the code(s) that have turned on the light. At least then you have a starting point for further diagnosis. Some people think
Automatic Transmissions: From Mechanical to Electronic to Hybrid
A long time ago in a service bay, preventive maintenance for an automatic transmission was an oil change, band and throttle linkage adjustment. The 1960s saw the end of external band adjustments. In the 1970s, the drain plug went away and the pick up screen was replaced with a filter. In the 1980s, a turbo
News Update
Federal-Mogul Introduces EDGE Brake Pad System (aUG) Federal-Mogul’s Wagner brake products brand has introduced a new complete brake pad system engineered for drivers, their vehicles and the increasingly demanding driving environment. The new Wagner EDGE brake pad system is the first technology engineered specifically for lighter, leaner, more precisely tuned automotive braking systems and the
Honda Performance Upgrades
Service & Diagnostics Call it what you want — the compact performance market, sport compact market, import scene or the tuner market — but there’s no denying the import car performance segment has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade. According to SEMA’s 2006 Compact Performance Market Report, retail sales for this niche
The Circle of (Engine) Life: The Important Role Water Pumps Play in Engine Preservation…Restoring the Engine to Precise OE Tolerances
Amazingly, up to one-third of the heat energy produced inside an engine’s combustion chambers ends up as waste heat that goes into the block. This heat must be eliminated, otherwise the engine will overheat and self-destruct. The water pump keeps coolant circulating between the engine and radiator to get rid of the heat. The pump
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Temperature Tantrums
Solving temperature-related, no-code intermittent failures can be a frustrating experience for the diagnostic technician because the exact level of heat or cold needed to trigger the failure is often hard to duplicate. It’s also important to keep in mind that all electronic vehicle components are exposed to temperature extremes and thus are vulnerable to temperature-related
Who’s at Fault?…Top 10 Domestic Diagnostic Codes & Fixes
A Check Engine Light that’s illuminated is always a sign that something is wrong. But what? You usually can’t tell until you plug in a code reader or scan tool and read out the code(s) that have turned on the light. At least then you have a starting point for further diagnosis. Some people think
Foreign Affairs: VW P Codes — … Putting Out The MIL
After 10-plus years of dealing with OBD II, it should be apparent that we are on a learning curve that probably has no end. Almost daily we have a Volkswagen model come into the shop with a check engine light on, or a “state OBD II failure” form. Although we have the latest scanner software
Find the Right Parts with Honeywell CPG’s I-Parts Online Catalog and New CD
Counterstaff and technicians have access to a plethora of product and repair information by logging on to the FRAM, Bendix and Autolite brand websites. Not only are there repair videos and the latest news from the brands, but now the sites feature Honeywell Consumer Products Group’s recently enhanced I-Parts online catalog.
Tech Tip: Engine Analyzers Can Diagnose a Wide Variety of Engine Performance Problems
An emissions analyzer is one of the most useful pieces of diagnostic equipment you can own. By revealing the exact composition of the exhaust gases that are coming out of the engine, you can see if the fuel mixture is running rich or lean, and if a misfire is ignition, compression or fuel related.