Tech Tip: Top Reasons and Causes for Camshaft Failure
Cam failure is rarely caused by the cam itself. The only things that can be controlled during manufacture pertaining to cam lobe wear are lobe taper, lobe hardness and surface finish.
Tech Tip: Ford Camshaft Tick Noise
Some of the affected vehicles built Jan. 17, 2006 and later equipped with the 3.0L 4V Duratec engine with exhaust camshaft-driven water pumps may exhibit a ticking noise from the left bank cylinder head with the engine at normal operating temperature.
Tech Feature: Straight Up Look at the Vortec 3500 Straight-Five Engine
The five-cylinder was seen as a way to achieve better fuel economy and performance than the six, but with more power and torque than the four.
Tech Spec: Tackling Old Timers – Salvaging Pre-War Era Engines
It’s often surprising to some people that parts for these cars are still available. For other engine specialists, it’s sometimes more surprising when they aren’t.
Tech Tip: Camshaft Installation and Break-In Tips
Most American production engines cannot accept more than .500″ lift without modifying the valve guides. When installing a cam with more than .500″ lift, it is absolutely essential that clearance between the valve spring retainer and guide be checked.
Flexing Rocker Arm Muscle
How a Time Tested Technology Has Provided Proven Performance
Tech Tip: Toyota Matrix MIL ON/DTC’s P0011, P0012 or P0016 Set
Under certain conditions, customers may experience an MIL On condition with DTC P0011, P0012 or P0016 stored in the Engine Control Module/ECM.
Tech Spec: Nailing Down the Misunderstood Buick Nailhead
Like the Small Block Chevy, the Rocket 88 Olds, the Ford Flathead and the Chrysler Hemi, the Buick Nailhead engine is one of those that has the immortal smell of history all over it. Yet, unlike its more familiar brothers, cousins and even competitors, the Nailhead has an aura of mystery about it as well.
Tech Feature: Family Ties – Servicing Chrysler’s Versatile 3.3L and 3.8L Engines
First introduced as a family back in 1990, these engines have been upgraded and improved to provide good torque for the necessary applications, reasonable fuel economy and a reputation for durability and appropriate performance.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Solving No-Code Performance Complaints
For many diagnostic techs, nothing is more discouraging and time-consuming than dealing with a no-code driveability complaint. Today’s second-generation On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II) can be extremely sophisticated because the OBD II powertrain control modules (PCMs) in modern vehicles have far more computing capacity than did the older, pre-1996 OBD I vehicles. Nevertheless, we occasionally have to deal with a no-code performance complaint on a modern OBD II vehicle.
Tech Tip: Cam and Crank Sensor Diagnosis
Today’s cars have several different methods of producing spark and setting fuel injector pulses. All of the sensors create a nominal voltage by way of what is referred to as a “Hall effect,” either from an external magnet mounted on the cam gear or body of the distributor housing, or it has its own small magnet inside itself and the Hall effect is created by passing the sensor over or near a piece of slotted metal.
Tech Feature: Courage Under Misfire
Generally, when a customer brings a vehicle into a shop that has a misfire concern, they will describe it as bucking, jerking or loss of power. They also may describe it, depending on the cause, as a jerking when they take off from a start, but smoothes out once the vehicle gets moving. They may tell you the check engine light has been flashing.