Consumers Can Save on Emissions Control Repairs Through Walker Catalytic Converter Promotion
Tenneco Inc., manufacturer of Walker emissions control products, will offer consumers $30 mail-in cash rebates on qualifying Walker catalytic converters purchased September 1 through October 31, 2010.
Using OBD II Diagnostics to Communicate with Your Customer’s Volkswagen
This article is about communication faults and problems that have occurred on Volkswagens over the last 10-plus years. Many of the same problems still exist on the newest models, but as these vehicles age, get repaired or damaged, problems come up that can challenge even the very best technicians.
Tech Tip: Installing Timing Belt Covers with Guides for 2001 Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe
Some 2001 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles may experience rough running, rough idle, lack of power at low rpm, or
the check engine light on. This may be caused by the exhaust camshaft coming out of time, which can be fixed by installing a new timing belt cover.
Tech Tip: Does a Generic OBD II Tool Show All Volkswagen Codes?
Generic OBD II tools may not give the complete picture of what is happening with a car. Consider what happened to me with my 2000 VW GTI 1.8T. The car had been intermittently stalling out over a period of a few weeks. The check engine light was not lit. One evening, as I was leaving work, the car stalled again. Fortunately, I had my laptop with me and had several diagnostic programs installed, so I ran a scan.
Wisconsin Proposes Changes to Emissions Inspection Program
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has scheduled a hearing on Aug. 12, 2010, to discuss proposed changes related to the state’s vehicle emissions inspection program.
Tech Feature: Taking it to the Streets
We have all seen in our industry that a “streetable” racing engine or a “raceable” street engine appeals to a broad spectrum of potential engine buyers because of its flexibility. Yet, everyday street driving is not the same thing as serious drag racing.
Tech Tip: Ford Truck No-Start Following CKP Replacement
After replacing the Crankshaft Position Sensor (CKP) and/or connector to correct another problem, the engine turns over, but does not start. The fuel injectors pulse a couple of times when the engine starts cranking, then they stop pulsing. There is an rpm reading on the scan data for a split second, then it goes to zero. There is no spark.
Tech Spec: 100 Years of Changing Internal Combustion Technology
It would be interesting to hear what Nicolaus Otto, credited as the father of the first functional four-stroke IC engine, would say after seeing some of the advanced powerplants dropped into vehicles today.
Man Arrested for Stealing 14 Catalytic Converters in Broad Daylight
Police have arrested a man for stealing 14 catalytic converters in Albemarle County, VA. The suspect used an electric Sawzall, which was connected to a generator in the bed of his truck. Police reported that the converters were sold out of the area for between $60 and $80 each. The thefts caused an estimated $23,988 in damages.
California Cracking Down on Smog Test Facilities ‘Clean Piping’ Smog Checks
The California Bureau of Automotive Repair is conducting undercover surveillance of repair shops in an effort to crack down on shops that are “clean piping.” Clean piping is when technicians test the exhaust from a clean vehicle, but enter the data for a dirty vehicle.
Directions: New Engine Oil Specification to Flow into Shops this Year
The International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) is finalizing the
Talking Shop: An All-Access Pass to Shop/Repair Information?
If you’ve spent hours struggling to master a new computer software system, you can well understand how a modern auto technician might feel when confronted with not just one, but hundreds of different software configurations built into the platforms of the 17 different vehicle manufacturers now being sold in our domestic market.