Tech Stuff
Fuel Trim: Finding a Vacuum Leak and Performance Issues Using Fuel Trim Data
A customer doesn’t generally care about whether their vehicle is in fuel control, but they certainly care if it’s not running correctly or the service engine soon (SES) light is illuminated. Accurate fuel control is needed to maintain the correct air-fuel ratio (AFR) that is supplied to the engine’s combustion chambers for ignition.
7th Annual ‘Tips From Techs’
Our industry is made up of dedicated people who share a passion for all things automotive. Technicians who service vehicles on a daily basis routinely discover solutions for various repairs that go beyond what a service manual provides.
Shop Referrals: A Shop’s Got to Know its Limitations
Who among us doesn’t smile when we watch the classic 1973 movie “Magnum Force,” as Clint Eastwood, playing his iconic character Detective Harry Callahan, walks slowly away as the corrupt Lieutenant Neil Briggs’ (Hal Holbrook) car explodes and he mutters his infamous line, “A man’s got to know his limitations”?
Lift Overview: They’re More Than Just a Riser with Muscle
The decision-making process involved in purchasing a new lift involves a number of factors in order to suit your specific needs.
Airbag Deactivation Tips: How to Avoid Accidental Deployment and Prevent Expense and Injury
Airbag deactivation procedures differ among makes/models/years, so always refer to the appropriate service manual for the correct method. NEVER assume that any specific deactivation procedure is correct for all airbag-equipped vehicles.
6.4L Powerstroke Diesel Fuel System
As you know, a diesel engine differs from other liquid fuel engines in one major respect: the fuel/air charge is ignited by cylinder pressure and resulting heat, instead of via an electrical ignition system (diesel-fueled engines don’t use spark plugs).
Why Your Shop Should Worry About Faulty Airbags
Faulty inflators are fueling concern for airbag service safety. According to reports, this includes approximately 34 million vehicles in the U.S. and over 85 million individual airbags, when we consider steering wheel, passenger and side airbags.
Understanding Vehicle Stability Control
Just what is stability control? And why do we have it? My GMC pickup caught me totally off guard when I was going up a familiar hill on a damp morning recently. I was accelerating normally when the rear end started to break loose. Before I could react, however, the StabiliTrak light started to flash, the rpms dropped, and I could hear the anti-lock brake system (ABS) pump running and the solenoids cycling. I never hit the brakes but my immediate reaction was to let off the gas... but by then my truck had already returned to the direction that I’d always intended. Almost before I lost control, I had it back again.
Fuel Pump 101: The Basics of Fuel Pump Diagnosis and Repair
The most common cause of fuel pump failure is frequently running the tank low on fuel, which causes the motor to overheat. The second most common cause is fuel contamination, usually dirt and rust particles that clog the fuel strainer and prevent the pump from drawing enough fuel under high engine load. If enough contamination gets past the pump’s intake strainer, it can actually jam the pump and stop the engine immediately.
Diagnosing Steering System Noises
The most common cause for power steering noise is low power steering fluid level. The resulting noise will likely be a whining that is heard when turning the steering wheel. A high-pitched or “screeching” noise is usually caused by a worn or misadjusted power steering drive belt.
