Finding Leaks: The Latest In Leak Detection Equipment
In this article, we’re going to review some of the current technology available for leak detection, and go over some useful leak detection procedures. We’ll cover “wet” leaks, which includes fluids that can be seen, or systems that have a liquid carrier for dye, making these a little easier to get a handle on. We’ll
MLS Gasket Update: Touting Their Advantages
The days of getting away with composition gaskets in extreme combustion situations were back when the deck surfaces on blocks and heads were thick and strong, and the heads were clamped with 5-6 head bolts per cylinder. However, all that changed when carmakers became extremely weight conscious for MPG reasons and they started removing material out of blocks and heads.
Servicing Decoupler Pulleys
Alternator pulleys are not so simple anymore. Many late-model vehicles are equipped with special pulleys that are engineered to reduce NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and extend the life of the alternator. An Overrunning Alternator Pulley (OAP) has a one-way clutch mechanism inside the hub that allows the belt to turn the alternator in one direction, but allows the alternator to “free wheel” and spin at its own speed when the engine suddenly decelerates.
Demystifying Scopes: Camshaft And Crankshaft Waveforms
Having to remove valve or front cover of an engine to check engine timing marks can rarely be completed in under an hour on most modern engines. But, capturing the waveforms from the camshaft and crankshaft sensors can be completed in under 30 minutes. This diagnostic approach can also diagnose circuit and sensor problems.
VANOS BMW: Variable Valve Timing Diagnostics
Diagnosing a VANOS system does not require that you speak German. What it does demand, however, is knowledge of how the actuator adjusts the camshaft, how the solenoid controls the actuator and when the engine control module changes camshaft timing. As for tools, you will need the appropriate tool set to lock the crank and camshaft. You will also need a scan tool and a scope to observe the crankshaft and camshaft signals to accomplish more advanced diagnostics.
Poor Engine Performance Linked To Converter Failure
Today’s modern vehicles are equipped with a sophisticated emissions control device. These fail when the engine is not tuned up, as this leads to overworking the converter, overheating and possible clogging.
The Ins And Outs Of Oil Testing: Standards Change As Engine Technology Evolves
Oil specifications are not so much about the ingredients in the oil, but more so about how the oil reacts to standardized conditions. Oil specifications are set by industry groups or the vehicle manufacturer. Testing procedures are not “trade secrets,” as they are shared with the companies making engine oils. These document the specific tests, equipment requirements and limits needed to pass the standards.
The Diagnostic Shell Game: Why The ECM Can’t See A No-Code Stalling Complaint
Remember the old carnival game where a dealer hides a pea under one of a half-dozen walnut shells? After the dealer artfully shuffles the six shells, you’re supposed to pick the shell with the pea hidden under it. Good luck with that. As veteran diagnostic technicians know, diagnosing a no-code intermittent stalling complaint can be like playing the old carnival shell game. We know it’s one of maybe six sensors, but why can’t we find the diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that tells us where to find the pea?
Are You Using Your Scan Tool To Its Fullest?
Plug it in, scan for codes, it seems like the same thing over and over again, and when you’ve got one eye on the clock, it’s easy to rush through a few steps to get from point “A” to point “B.” But are you getting the most out of your scan tool? We’ve all been
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.
Rethinking Fuel Pump Diagnostics And Sensors
The technician diagnosed the 2011 Rogue as a bad fuel pump by squirting propane into the air intake. With propane, the engine runs, without propane, it stalls. But, after the fuel pump was replaced, the Rogue exhibited the same problem, which was a very slow, unsteady idle followed by an engine stall.
Fuel Injector Function Testing
If a fuel injector is not operating within set parameters, it can cause driveability symptoms and codes that can point to components other than a faltering fuel injector.
