Frank Scandura, Author at Import Car
Mercedes-Benz M272 and M273 Intake Manifolds Causing DTC P2006

Late-model Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with 3.0L and 3.5L V6 engines (M272 or M273) have experienced performance problems.

mercedes benz intake manifold featured
BMW Electric Water Pump Replacement

Let’s talk about water pumps of the electric variety.

Mercedes-Benz Hydraulic Suspension Evolution

When writing an estimate for an air ride repair, make sure you give the customer these options.

No-Start Condition Dilemmas? We Share A Few Lessons Learned

Do you have a Mercedes-Benz in your bay with a no-start condition? Don’t feel alone, we’ve been there, and would like to share a few lessons we have learned over the years that can also help you expedite the diagnostic process.

2004 Toyota 4Runner Suspension Maintenance Opportunities

This case study involving a chassis repair on a 2004 Toyota 4Runner underscores the value of customer education and using quality parts during the repair process. It was a unique situation we ran across where we advised the owner that one of the rear shocks on his vehicle was leaking, and we recommended replacement of both units.

Diagnosing V8 Engine Oil Leaks

You already know that there are plenty of BMWs with V8 engines on the road today, but you might be surprised that they can have issues with oil leaks. Inevitably, some of these will find their way to your shop in need of service, so here are some common items to be aware of when they arrive at your shop for repairs.

bmw v8 engine oil leaks
Toyota 4Runner Maintenance (Part 2)

This case study involving a chassis repair on a 2004 Toyota 4Runner underscores the value of customer education and using quality parts during the repair process. It was a unique situation we ran across where we advised the owner that one of the rear shocks on his vehicle was leaking, and we recommended replacement of both units.

toyota-4runner-featured
Toyota 4Runner Maintenance (Part 1)

This case study involving a chassis repair on a 2004 Toyota 4Runner underscores the value of customer education and using quality parts during the repair process. It was a unique situation we ran across where we advised the owner that one of the rear shocks on his vehicle was leaking, and we recommended replacement of both units.

toyota-4runner-featured
Hybrid Service Training

With more than 4-million hybrid vehicles sold through April 2016, service opportunities exist if you welcome them and are prepared with training, education and resources. The hybrid vehicle owner is a sophisticated customer, and servicing these cars can help bring additional revenue into your service bays – plus you can benefit from repair opportunities afforded by the other cars in your customers’ driveways.

prius-engine
Mercedes-Benz Hydraulic Suspension: Dos, Don’ts And Did-You-Knows

It doesn’t seem that long ago when the closest we came to any kind of active suspension on a Mercedes-Benz was the self-leveling rear suspension systems on the station wagons and 560 models (SEL sedan and the SEC coupe). Of course, there were some exceptions – European models and the 450SEL 6.9 starting in the late ’70s were available with hydraulic suspension at all four corners.

mercedes suspension featured
BMW Electric Water Pump Replacement

We recently had a 2007 BMW Z4 with the N52 engine in the shop. When diagnosing a faulty electric water pump, the first thing that needs to be done is to verify if there are any water pump-related diagnostic codes. There’s a very good chance there will be some. I then like to perform a visual inspection, but don’t look for the water pump from the top of the engine. You’ll want to drop the lower panels, and you will see the pump on the lower right side of the engine.

BMW water pump open
BMW Control Arm Bushing Replacement

This particular car, a 2009 BMW 3 Series coupe (E93 chassis), had a knocking noise in the front of the car during slow parking lot driving when the brakes were quickly applied. You know, like when you finally see that up-close parking space you’ve been driving around trying to find. Once we were able to determine where the noise was coming from and how to duplicate it, it was time for the inspection. When the vehicle was on a service lift, we saw right away that the front suspension arm bushings were leaking their hydraulic fluid.