Exide Launches Advanced-Technology Battery Geared Toward Longer Life
Exide Technologies unveiled its newest automotive battery technology and a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation at its Columbus, GA, facility, producing AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries. The March 13th event brought together officials from Exide as well as the local chamber of commerce and a representative from the U.S. Department of Energy.
TPMS Update: Sensor Replacement
More than 68 million vehicles on the road today have direct TPMS systems. With the average age of a vehicle on the road lasting more than 10 years, a vehicle with four TPMS sensors will have all of its TPMS sensor replaced during the life of the vehicle. This is the business opportunity of the decade and you should not let it pass you by.
Memory Lane: Reverse Technology: Engineering the 6-Volt Alternator
Not having an engineering degree does have its advantages – your thought process is wide open with no restrictions and no rules. However, my final working 6-volt alternator design proved to be a lot more expensive than I could have imagined.
BRAKE JOB: 2004-2009 Mazda3
The 2004-2009 Mazda3 is based on the Ford global C1 platform, shared with the European Ford Focus and Volvo S40. Nothing is really groundbreaking about the brake system. But, not paying attention to the details can end in a post brake job comeback.
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 Update: Working on Wipers
It’s right after a major snowstorm, and there’s ice and snow on everyone’s windshield. You’re at the shop waiting for the phone to ring. The phone leaps off the receiver and it’s Captain Chaos; he’s managed to find a second use for his wiper blades. Apparently, Captain Chaos was in too much of a hurry to clean the ice off the wiper blades before turning them on. In his frantic attempt to go to work, the wiper blades have become completely useless. He can hear the wiper motor running, but the blades refuse to move.
Diagnosing Common Pattern Failures on Mercedes-Benz Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz cars have long been associated with fine design and manufacturing quality. The proof for me is its use as hired transportation (taxi and bus) in many Third World countries. But for the U.S. market, the addition of power accessories and electronics is much more prominent than in other parts of the world. A quick overview of the most common complaints and repair patterns points to electrical problems as a serious problem for many M-B models produced in the last 15 to 20 years.
Tools and Tips For Selling More Winter Tires
Tire dealers in cold climates understand that when temp
Diagnostic Dilemmas: When Over-Voltages Electrocute PCMs
During the past nine months, I’ve had three instances of powertrain control module (PCM) failures on Jeep Wrangler vehicles that were evidently caused by an over-voltage condition. The first case involved an owner who requested that a local shop replace the fuel pump because his 1998 Wrangler was slow-starting in the morning. The shop found the pump pressure was marginal and replaced the pump. Because the Jeep still had the problem, the owner complained about the fuel pump, first to the shop and then to the local jobber supplying the pump.
Tech Update: Can ‘Add-Ons’ Affect CAN Systems? Yes, They Can!
Get any teenager their first car and the first thing they want to do is modify it with new wheels, a different exhaust, seat covers or, the most important and popular upgrade, the stereo. You know, when they have to get to school with all their buddies in the car, they’ve got to have those tunes. They can’t be seen around town with a dull factory radio or wimpy stock wheels.
Tech Tip: Nissan DTC P0420 Stored in ECM
If you confirm DTC P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold) is stored in the ECM, determine if this bulletin applies by checking the ECM part number.
Tech Feature: Diagnosing Push Button Keyless Start Systems
Push button keyless start systems began appearing on several import cars about six years ago, and are now being offered on more and more new vehicles, both import and domestic. Motorists say they like the push button keyless start systems because they are convenient to use. There’s no ignition key or switch to fumble with, and you don’t have to do anything other than have the smart fob in your pocket or purse when you get in the car.