Maintaining Proper Fluid Levels
Several factors are driving modern fluid maintenance services. And these influences will shape the work you perform at a shop or dealership upon graduation. One of the biggest changes over the years is...
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Tips on Choosing the Best Ride Control for Customers
Shocking Evidence During the fall of 1989, when I was working as a mechanic for an off-road desert racing team, we raced the famous Mint 400 held in Las Vegas. At that time, the 400-mile road course...
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Under the Hood: Cooling System Diagnostics
Heed the Telltale Signs of Component Failure Springtime brings with it the vacation season when many families will hitch a boat or camping trailer to their fully loaded family car, SUV or pickup truck...
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Toyota Charging System Diagnostics
According to my experience, I estimate that replacing the alternator solves 95% of all charging system failures. If that’s true, what happens in the remaining 5% of charging system failures that...
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Engine Coolant Temperature Diagnostics
While old-school cooling system service often focused on coolant leaks and overheating engines, let’s begin thinking “new-school” by looking at modern cooling systems through the eyes of the engine...
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Intermittent Engine Misfire Analysis
Even for an experienced diagnostic technician, attempting to diagnose an intermittent misfire condition that occurs only under specific driving conditions can be a frustrating exercise. Let’s begin...
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Mazda6 Case Study: Data Gathering Is Critical To Your Alignment Diagnosis
About a year ago, I got a request from a private vehicle owner to help diagnose a steering problem on a 2010 Mazda6 iSport. Given the power of the Internet, it seems that this person had somehow...
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Thorough Brake Inspections Are Comeback Preventers & Profit Builders
How many times have you seen a hand-painted sign in a shop window that advertised a menu-priced brake pad replacement for “$XX.95 per axle.” Of course, a menu-priced brake replacement would be good if...
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Diagnosing Catalytic Converter Failure Symptoms
Although construction can vary according to engine application, the common three-way catalytic converter contains a reduction and oxidation stage. To create maximum surface area, each stage is...
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The Best Tests For Fuel Delivery Systems
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said that there is nothing permanent except change. Greek history aside, it’s easy to spot change in our current market because vehicle fuel delivery technology...
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The Mathematics of Selling Brake Services
Photo 1: Think of the pads, caliper, rotor and hose as integral parts of the brake assembly to help boost sales and customer satisfaction. When we advertise a “$XX.95” brake service, we’re often...
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Coil-On-Plug Diagnostics: Toyota Tundra
Understanding Coil-on-Plug Issues for the 2008 Tundra Sometimes simple = complex. For example, the modern coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system is perhaps among the simplest to diagnose, but to illustrate...
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AGM Batteries And Testing
Two of the greatest changes we’ve seen in starting/charging systems during the past few model years have been the expanded use of the Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery as standard equipment and the...
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Chrysler Transmission: The Case Of The Shiftless 48RE
Although automatic transmission diagnostics aren’t usually considered an “underhood” service, most transmission failures will nevertheless cause exhaust emissions failure that will exceed the...
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The Case Of The Missing Code On A Chevy Tahoe
In this photo, I have connected a fuel pressure gauge to monitor fuel pump operation and a DVOM to monitor the MAF sensor ground. When doing mobile diagnostic work, no-code stalling complaints are a...
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Contaminated Fuel Can Wreck Havoc On Fuel Delivery Systems
Although cases involving contaminated gasoline are relatively rare nowadays, they still occur. In many cases, the technician has replaced the fuel pump or mass air flow (MAF) sensor to address a...
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Brake Assist: Diagnosing Low And Hard Brake Pedals
Brake pedal assist complaints are often subjective in nature and, for that reason, can be difficult to solve. Grandma, with her arthritic feet, might be highly sensitive to a slight loss of pedal...
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The Evolving Oil Change Market
The only constant in the oil change business is change itself, especially if you’re trying to maintain an inventory of engine oil for all makes and models of vehicles. Since Volkswagen began requiring...
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Modern Charging Systems – Cover All The Bases During The Diagnostic Process
To quote a familiar situation: “My customer’s car is now on its third alternator in six months and my jobber store refuses to warranty a fourth.” In other words, the parts supplier believes that an...
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Installing Spark Plugs: Avoiding A Misfire
Most new spark plugs are packed with plastic or paper sleeves to protect the air gap during shipping. When a sleeve protector is present, the air gap is usually correct. The potential for inadvertently...
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