Scott "Gonzo" Weaver, Author at Import Car
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Lessons From A Day Being Out Of My Comfort Zone

Being under the dash or hood of the modern car is my comfort zone, but it doesn’t hurt to get out of that comfort zone. I could use a reminder now and then that what I do for a living isn’t all that bad, and I owe my customers a great deal of gratitude for their patronage and for putting up with this snarly old mechanic.

Testing Active Wheel Speed Sensors

The best tool for testing the active speed sensor is a good scanner, preferably one that can show the separate speed sensors in graph form. A lab scope is probably the best for a more precise answer and can be attached directly at the sensor to read the individual sensors or wires, rather than the entire system as with the scanner.

HFO-1234yf: Regulations And Requirements

SAE standard J2843, for “R-1234yf (HFO-1234yf) recovery equipment for refrigerants used in mobile air conditioning systems,” establishes the minimum equipment requirements for the recovery, recycling and recharging of R-1234yf.

Where’s That Machine? That Thing That Tells You What’s Wrong With The Vehicle

Scan tools and meters are machines that provide information, so they can do only so much in the way of formulating a diagnosis. They provide strategic direction for the repair, allowing a trained mechanic to know which path to take. These folks are the “real” machines who have the skills to pinpoint what is wrong with a car. But, most of the public likes to believe that a “magical mystery machine” does all the work.

Catalyst Efficiency Monitors: What Are The O2 Sensors Telling The PCM?

The catalyst efficiency monitor verifies that the catalytic converter is operating at a high enough efficiency rating to keep exhaust emissions within the predetermined values. The PCM compares the signals from the upstream and downstream oxygen sensors to determine the state of the converter. These “tests” are called readiness monitors.

One Penny At A Time: Bargain-Hunting Customer’s Lesson Learned

In attempt to drum up some new business, I decided to run a cash discount promotion for large jobs thinking it might bring in new customers. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but the best-laid plans often go awry.

Second-Hand Information: When Critical Details Get Lost In Translation

Do you remember when you played the game of “telephone” as a child, and the original information being conveyed was often totally different by the time the last kid commented? The same thing can happen with a vehicle problem when more than one person is involved in getting the information to the person at the end of the line. And who’s usually at the end of the line? The tech.

Flash Or Pass? Don’t Leave Money On The Table

These days, nearly every car on the road has multiple on-board computers. They often need to have their software updated or be reflashed because a component has been changed or upgraded.

Understanding Diesel Exhaust Filters

The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is a ceramic filter that has thousands of tiny channels or honeycomb-shaped openings that trap the soot onto the channel walls and prevent the particulate matter (down to 1 micron) from exiting out the tail pipe.

How Accurate Are Reviews? Our Industry Is Under The Microscope

According to some surveys I’ve seen, over 80 percent of the buying public relies on reviews as a way to determine if a product or service is a worthwhile investment. The problem is that it can be difficult to tell when those reviews are a true depiction of the business or product and when they’re being skewed by a person’s attitude and biases.

The Importance Of Personal Preventive Maintenance

After decades of being behind the service counter, as well as under the hood, I do get a bit frustrated that people won’t do any preventive maintenance, or neglect to tell me about an intermittent problem they’ve had forever because they feel it has nothing to do with the problem for which they brought their vehicle into the shop.

Being A True Professional

I try to approach each and every job as a professional. This includes detailing my ­repair work and striving to make each repair as neat and orderly as possible. It doesn’t matter whether the job is for a customer off the street or for another repair shop, it’s important that you do the most professional job possible to establish your reputation.

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