Mitchell 1 Introduces 2014 Emission Control Application Guide
Mitchell 1 announces the release of its 2014 Emission Control Application Guide (ECAT14) for domestic and import cars, light trucks, vans (diesel engines) and Class ‘A’ motor homes with gasoline engines, model years 1966 – 2014. The new guide provides vehicle-specific emission system information for repair shops that perform smog inspections.
ASE L1: Understanding Scan Tool Modes
Section B, Item 8 of the ASE L1 certification task list states:
“Interpret OBD II scan tool data stream, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), freeze-frame data, system monitors, monitor readiness indicators, and trip and drive cycle information to determine system condition and verify repair effectiveness.” What ASE is talking about are the modes of OBD II scan tool protocol. Modes are usually denoted by a dollar sign and a two-digit number.
Fall Promotion Rewards Consumers For Walker Direct-Fit Catalytic Converter Purchases
Consumers can receive a $40 Visa prepaid card for a Walker direct-fit catalytic converter purchased between September 1 and October 31, 2013, through Tenneco’s Walker “Ultra Rewards!” promotion. Available at participating automotive service locations nationwide, the Walker “Ultra Rewards!” incentive offers a $40 Visa prepaid card to consumers who purchase a qualifying Walker direct-fit catalytic converter or Walker CalCat direct-fit catalytic converter.
TECH TIP: Using a Five-Gas Analyzer to Diagnose Catalytic Converters
One of the most effective ways to resolve emissions issues is by sampling the exhaust gases with a five-gas analyzer. Levels of the five gases can indicate the root cause of the problem.
Catalytic Converters: New Diagnostic Strategies
Catalytic converter failures on today’s vehicles are rarely caused by defects in catalytic converters. Most catalytic converter failures can be traced back to problems caused by what happens in the combustion chamber. Almost every part on the engine determines how long it will last. It could be a faulty line of computer code that pulses an injector too long, or it could be a stuck piston ring that allows oil to be sucked into the combustion chamber. These little details can limit the life of a catalytic converter.
Diagnosing Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
Exhaust gas recirculation is the dilution of the air/fuel mixture to control amounts of exhaust gas. Since exhaust gas does not burn, this lowers the combustion temperatures and reduces NOx emissions from the engine. At lower combustion temperatures, very little of the nitrogen in the air combines with oxygen to form NOx. Most of the nitrogen is simply carried out with the exhaust gases.
Tech Tip: White Smoke Blowing From Tailpipe?
A classic sign of a head gasket problem is when the vehicle is blowing white smoke from the tailpipe. This indicates that water/coolant is entering the combustion chamber and is then burnt off as steam through the exhaust. The white “smoke” is water vapor as the steam condenses when it hits the colder atmosphere.
Dorman Products’ July New Product Announcement Features More Than 120 Parts
Dorman Products has released its July New Product Announcement, featuring 126 new parts, 55 of which are exclusive formerly “Dealer Only” Parts.
Troubleshooting Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensors
Troubleshooting mass air flow (MAF) sensor problems can become a major headache for import technicians because the failure is usually one that involves a calibration error rather than an outright electrical or mechanical failure. Because calibration errors tend to be “gray-area” types of problems, we will begin by looking at the basics of how a “hot-wire” MAF sensor measures airflow through an engine running at various speeds and loads.
Delphi Product & Service Solutions Announces 16 Oxygen Sensors Covering Almost Two Million Vehicles
Delphi Product & Service Solutions (DPSS) announces 16 new oxygen sensors covering more than 1.9 million Ford, Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Cooper, GM, Nissan, BMW, Suzuki and Mazda vehicles from 2004 to present.
Diagnostic Solutions: Engine Coolant Temperature Sensors
Considering that roughly 1,500 or more different vehicle models are introduced into our domestic market each year, it’s becoming more difficult to predict how a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) will utilize data from a particular sensor or detect an out-of-range sensor in any single vehicle platform. The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor provides a good illustration of how many on-board diagnostic strategies have changed.
Catalytic Converters: Replacement Is Changing
If your shop is not in California, the replacement of the catalytic converter is simple and typically there is only one replacement option. Most shops understand that they must replace the converter and that using a test pipe or bypassing the converter is bad for business and against the EPA regulations and could result in big fines.