AUDI: Start-Stop System Information
This informational TSB applies to Audi vehicles with a start/stop system. The start/stop system allows automatic engine stops and starts. Although the driver expects it, the engine may not automatically be switched off due to many different factors.
VIDEO: Alternators And AC Ripple
Andrew Markel explains how AC ripple can affect modules’ communication and even damage them. Sponsored by Bosch Automotive Service Solutions.
VIDEO: Ohm’s Law And Modern Sensors
Andrew Markel explains how Ohm’s law can be used to diagnose issues in several different electrical components in a vehicle. Sponsored by Bosch Automotive Service Solutions.
VIDEO: Fuel Filters And Current
Andrew Markel shows how a restrictive filter can cause a fuel pump to work too hard and fail sooner. Sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper.
Common TIPM Customer Complaints
You name the electrical system, and chances are, it runs through the TIPM. But, the TIPM isn’t without its own faults, which is why I renamed it, “Trouble In Power Management.”
VIDEO: Battery Drain From Air Conditioning
In the hotter months, your shop may experience a boost in vehicles with dead batteries. Andrew Markel shows you how to prepare. Sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper.
Fuel Injector Circuit Waveforms
The electric fuel injector has been around for more than 50 years. The principles of operation are simple. An electromagnetic coil moves a pintle in a chamber that has pressurized fuel on one side and a nozzle on the other. The coil is typically energized by a driver pulling the circuit to ground. As the coil is saturated by energy, the pintle moves upwards against a spring. This allows fuel to be injected into the engine.
VIDEO: Diagnosing A Washer Pump With A Scan Tool
Andrew Markel demonstrates how bidirectional controls on some scan tools can allow testing and diagnosis of the washer pump and several other components. Sponsored by MAHLE.
Alternator Failures: Low Voltage To The Battery
One reason why alternators have a high failure rate is because they’re always working under a load. Generating electricity to recharge the battery, run the fuel pump, injectors and ignition system while powering all of the vehicle’s lights and electrical accessories places a substantial load on the alternator that generates a lot of internal heat.
Ford F350 TSB: P1633 KAM Voltage Too Low From Bad Battery Terminal
Faulty battery terminals aren’t always easy to spot with a visual inspection. Follow this Real Fix to see how a bad battery terminal causes a P1633 code.
VW Beetle, Golf And Jetta: Broken Tensioner, Root Cause Of Failure Is Alternator Pulley
This type of failure is the result of severe vibrations in the accessory belt drive system. While a broken tensioner may be the result, the root cause often lies elsewhere in the system.
Winter Maintenance Tips From Some of America’s Coldest Cities
Staying on top of your inspections is important, but there are some parts of the U.S. where winter maintenance takes on a new level of importance.
