There’s No Escaping Hybrid Service
high as 40 mph (64 kph). Plus, when conditions are right, the engine may shut off at stops and not restart until after 25 mph. As a result, the advertised fuel economy of a full hybrid vehicle is typically much higher for the city driving conditions than the highway driving conditions. In theory, assuming the
Replacing Hubs with Wheel Speed Sensors
By Larry Carley, Technical Editor When engineers came up with the idea of putting the wheel speed sensor (WSS) and tone ring inside a sealed wheel bearing hub assembly, it seemed like a great idea. The sealed environment would help protect the sensor and make it less vulnerable to damage or contamination from the outside
Hybrid Engine Diagnosis & Service
The Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids have been around since 2001; the Honda Accord, Ford Escape and Lexus RX 400h hybrids since 2005; the Honda Civic, Toyota Highlander, Mercury Mariner, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrids since 2006; and the Lexus GS 450h, Saturn VUE Green Line, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima hybrids since
Hybrids: Service & Diagnostics
What do you do when a customer with a Toyota Prius hybrid says his Check Engine light is on and wants you to diagnose his problem? Can you do it? Or, would you send your customer back to the Toyota dealer? To help alleviate anxiety over the complexity and reliability of its hybrid systems, Toyota
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Symptom Diagnosis…The Journey Begins
When I first began my automotive career way back in 1957, the symptoms of an ailing engine were very apparent. A carburetor with a worn accelerator pump, for example, would characteristically stumble on acceleration and a closed-up set of distributor contact points would cause the engine to become very sluggish. Low fuel pressure caused by
All About Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)
With 6 million Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) on the road today, there’s a good chance that one has already been in your shop for service. The difference from the usual cars and light trucks you see is the FFV that pulls in today or tomorrow may have E85 as its primary fuel source, rather than
Hybrids: Basic Service & Safety Procedures
Hybrids are hot. As the price of gasoline goes up, so does the demand for new vehicles that can squeeze more miles per gallon from every drop of gasoline. Hybrids do that by combining the best of both worlds: electric power for low-speed, stop-and-go driving, and gasoline power for highway cruising and long-range driving. Current
Directions: The Evolving Story of Electric Vehicles
The latest chapter in the evolving story of electric vehicles (EV) begins with a tale of two very different models. One is downright sexy, with alluring aerodynamic lines and head-turning, sporty styling. The other is, well, downright cute — a spunky little thing that looks a bit like a colorful helmet on wheels. At first
Down the Road: Advances in Engine Technology
Two engine technologies that have been around for years are generating plenty of interest these days as the automakers look to create better fuel efficiency, without sacrificing power — direct injection for gasoline engines and turbocharging. Direct injection for gasoline engines is where fuel is injected right into the combustion chamber of each cylinder, as
Viewpoint, Someone is Mining Your Data
Your repair orders are being used to create a new tool What if you had a tool that could predict within 1,000 miles the failure of an oxygen sensor, EGR valve or bearing? What if I told you that some shops are helping to build this tool and they do not even know it? I
Carley’s Corner: Hybrid Hazards
Is E85 motor fuel a corny way to reduce American’s dependence on foreign oil? E85 is being touted as an eco-friendly, alternative fuel that can provide a home-grown solution to reducing our need for imported oil. E85 is a mixture of 85% ethanol alcohol and 15% gasoline. The alcohol is made primarily from corn, but
Publisher’s Perspective, Competition for Tomorrow’s Technician Intensifies
Here’s the headline in my local paper, “Construction skills in high demand. Industry intensifies recruiting of high schoolers.” The article goes on to say that many trade groups and employers are actively recruiting high school students to fill the growing need for plumbers, bricklayers, drywallers and other traditional trades. But it should be no surprise