Mazda Tech Tip: Key Code Retrieval Process
In the event that all vehicle keys are lost and the vehicle key code is not available on the Vehicle Retail Data Inquiry system, replacement keys may be acquired only by obtaining the key code using this repair procedure.
VIDEO: Stretch Belt Wear And Measurement
Andrew Markel shows why and how a stretch belt wears out, and how to interpret the signs and symptoms to determine when it needs replaced. Sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper.
Kia Tech Tip: New Part Cures EVAP Leaks
This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the Canister Close Valve (CCV) on some 2012- 2017MY Rio (UB) vehicles, produced from June 21, 2011, through March 28, 2016, which may exhibit the engine warning lamp DTCs P0455 and P0456 for an evaporative emission system leak due to the Canister Close Valve (CCV) stuck open.
Top Hyundai Tech Tips
Hyundai has been selling cars in the U.S. for more than 30 years. When the carmaker started operations, it had only one model, the Excel. Today, it has more than 10 models and a luxury car line called Genesis. As the cars have evolved, so have the service information and opportunities for independent import repair shops. Here are some of the top tips.
Nissan PCM Computer-Control Issues
The American writer Irene Peter said it best: “Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.” By 2018, I thought everything had changed since the days of On-Board Diagnostics I (OBD I). Since OBD I evolved into OBD II in 1996, many things did indeed appear to be different. But, once in a great while, engineers design a vehicle that is slightly ahead of its time. For me, it was a 1995 Nissan pickup equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 engine and manual transmission. Surely being an oddity, it would start and run with the distributor disconnected.
Acura Tech Tip: Chirping From High-Pressure Fuel Pump
With the hood open, listen for a chirping noise with the engine warmed up. If the noise is coming from the high-pressure fuel pump, follow the Repair Procedure in this Tech Tip.
Toyota Brake Repair Tips
If you are replacing a caliper that has locked up and created a great deal of heat, you should also replace the brake hose. This is a good practice anytime, but particularly important with the Toyota line, as the hose can fail at the caliper fitting after being subjected to the extreme heat.
Brake Shop Economics: It’s About Dollars Per Hour, Not Hours Per Dollar
Shop profitability is always a hot topic in the automotive service business. As a point of comparison for most shops, brakes, steering and suspension services usually top the list in profitability, while engine repairs rank somewhere near the bottom. The key to profitability is to establish a benchmark on how many dollars can be earned per hour.
Diagnosing Acura RDX Turbo System Problems
The 2007-2012 Acura RDX was Honda’s first production vehicle in North America with a turbocharger. The company took the proven K-series engine and lowered the compression ratio from 10:1 to 8:1, and added a turbocharger with the associated plumbing. But, it is a lot more complicated when it comes to managing the boost.
Asian Vehicle Oil Update: GF-6 Oils
September 1, 2018 marks the debut of the first new licenses for the new GF-6 oils issued by the API Auto-Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP). This release comes after a long delay that initially projected the oils would be available in early 2017. The cause of the delay for GF-6 is that engine technology has been moving so quickly. Since the inception of GF-6, it has been difficult to estimate where the technology will be in the next five years.
Honda: iVTEC And Timing Chains
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at a 2003 four-cylinder Accord that came in with a check engine light complaint, but no reports of driveability issues. It was due for a New York state inspection, so it had to be repaired. The code was persistent, setting itself consistently on the second startup.
Nissan And Infiniti ABS Service: Good Working Order Of The Basic Brake System Eases Diagnostics
On early models, wheel speed sensors send an AC voltage signal to the ABS control module. On later models, active wheel speed sensors change the voltage signal produced by the ABS control module. Active wheel speed sensors are more accurate and work at lower speeds. This is why they are found on most Nissan/Infiniti models after 2012.
