Techs Helping Techs is turning 12 And it’s time for another roundup of useful tips and tricks courtesy of your fellow technician readers. While our writers share their expertise in every issue, it’s extra special when our readers share what they’ve learned from their days and nights working in the service bay. Thanks to all who shared their advice.

Current ramping is an easy art to learn and returns many good returns. Virtually every 12 volt output device that is controlled by the PCM can be current ramped by using the low inductive current probe non intrusively by simply clamping around the voltage feed wire or the ground side control wire.

Keeping the internal combustion engine as close to the stoichiometric ratio as possible will result in optimum catalytic converter efficiency and fuel economy. The stoichiometric ratio simply means that all the air (14.7 parts) and fuel (1 part) going into the cylinders are being converted to water and carbon dioxide exiting the exhaust. This is the perfect combustion reaction, but this desired stoichiometric operation can’t happen without fuel control.

The process of supplying air to the internal combustion engine’s cylinders is called aspiration, and it involves the induction or intake system of the engine. Engine aspiration takes two forms: naturally aspirated (NA) or forced induction.

What happens when a vehicle’s fuel tank is filled with “bad” fuel? Well, it varies depending on how bad the fuel is and if the engine is gasoline- or diesel-powered. Fixes can range from cleaning the system with a fuel additive (isopropyl alcohol), flushing the system and refilling with “good” fuel, to needing to repair damage to the fuel system and/or engine.

Our early fleet of electric vehicles all struggled with range in the wintertime. A used 2011 Leaf had a range of 85 miles in the summer, but only 50 miles in the winter. A Chevy Bolt EV in 2017 had a range of 230 miles in the summer, but again the winters took it down to 160 miles. What did they have in common? The cabin heat was created by the high voltage pack heating antifreeze for the heater core. How old school.

S & G Tool Aid Crop. has released a clamp probe set tool that allows a single technician to test for voltage drop on top battery posts.  

ADVICS Aftermarket North America Inc. has expanded its rotor offerings with nine new, United States manufactured brake rotors, which adds 10 million vehicles in operation axle coverage to existing product offering.   

This bulletin applies to 2015-2021 Chevy Colorado vehicles. The brake booster may have a vacuum leak, possible hiss noise and/or DTC C0299 stored in the ECM. This is possibly caused by the vacuum pump leaking oil into the booster. 

Some 2018-2020 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and built on or before Sept. 11, 2020 may exhibit excessive oil consumption with no visible oil leaks or without DTC P0365 and//or P0369. To correct the condition, re-program the PCM and if necessary, replace the engine valve covers.

This bulletin applies to 2013-2016 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500/5500 trucks. Customers may experience one of the following: A “Key in Ignition” warning on the instrument cluster when the key fob is not in the ignition switch/node module or a no-start issue when turning the key fob in the ignition switch/nose module. 

This bulletin applies to 2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles equipped with a 4.0L engine, built prior to May 9, 2011. The vehicle theft alarm may intermittently sound, along with a no-start condition. Multiple attempts may be required to start the engine.

Unless you have just started in the automotive field in the last few weeks, you likely have faced this work order. A customer is concerned about exhaust noise. You get in the vehicle and start the road test. The exhaust is quiet, but the familiar hum or growl of a wheel bearing is oh so familiar.

During my five plus decades of being in the automotive service and repair industry I have learned that diagnosing an engine performance problem, drivability problem or electrical problem is not an exact science. I have always favored symptom-based diagnostics, where once we have identified the symptom we focus our testing on a specific area

High voltage (HV) is isolated from the chassis for good reasons. When any high voltage part has a connection to the chassis, that could spell trouble, depending on how much current the connection can carry. The engineers have cleverly designed circuits and strategies that can determine a “lack of isolation” and report that to your scan tool and set a warning light. How does that detection system work?

Performing diagnostics is something many of us do each day, without much thought, but most seasoned technicians have a detailed diagnostic approach that they employ. They have an action plan — a diagnostic checklist — that they follow from start to finish with remarkable success.

We're covering engine oil filters for gasoline-fueled engines, along with cabin air filters.

This article will compare the low voltage system to the high voltage system and explain how a 12-volt brain can get confused. It is essential that you master the principles of electronic controls, reprogramming, oscilloscope usage, reading wiring diagrams and all aspects of electronic systems used in today’s modern vehicles in order to transition into high voltage systems.

All technicians are aware that the scan tool holds the No. 1 priority in our initial diagnostic strategies. In my personal experience, the No. 2 tool in diagnostics is the DVOM, known as the digital volt-ohm meter or multimeter. In the event of an electrical problem, the DVOM is the essential tool.

While the installation of the correct engine oil may not be an important item to a customer when they arrive at our shop for service, the type of oil that is installed in the engine is beyond important. As technicians it is our job to ensure that the correct engine oil is installed that will meet or exceed what the manufacturer expects.

Check the bleeder valve. If you suspect a bad caliper, it may be an issue with sticky/seized piston(s), but don’t jump to that conclusion right off the bat.

Continental has expanded its ATE brake fluid line with the ATE Super DOT 5.1.