GDI System Maintenance: Preventing Misfires & Carbon Buildup On Intake Valves
Although GDI appeared in some post-World War II two-cycle engines and in some high-end performance engines, it didn’t come into its own for passenger car use until around 2008 when high-speed computing and piezoelectric fuel injectors turned GDI into a practical reality.
Belt Tensioner Inspection & Replacement Tips
Most late-model engines have serpentine belt drives for the engine-driven accessories, and most people know that belts are a maintenance item that eventually has to be replaced. However, many people don’t know the spring-loaded automatic tensioner that keeps a serpentine belt tight is also a wear item. Consequently, the automatic tensioner may also have to be replaced when the time comes to change the belt.
TPMS Sensor Service And Installation
Most TPMS sensors are held in using just a screw or a nut, but if not assembled or torqued properly, the results can be catastrophic. Carelessness can result in a broken sensor or even a customer being stranded with a flat tire.
Direct Injection Diagnostics: Taking Pressure Readings
Direct injection is becoming standard on more and more late-model vehicles. These systems can be a diagnostic challenge, but with the right foundation, problems can be solved profitably.
Nissan VQ V6 Coolant And Oil Leaks
The VQ35 engine series, found in 2001-current Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, is very reliable but does have some issues with coolant and oil leaks. What makes some of these leaks unique is that they do not show up as traditional signs or in conventional locations.
PCM And CAN Bus Communication Diagnosis
Although CAN bus was introduced by Mercedes-Benz during the early 1990s and adopted by many European manufacturers, many domestic and Asian auto manufacturers waited until the 2004 model year to introduce CAN bus in their lower-end, bread-and-butter vehicles.
Automatic Start-Stop Service
Spurred by stringent emissions reduction targets set by state regulators, the automotive industry has seen an increasing penetration of start-stop import engines in passenger cars since 2010.
O2 Sensor And Air-Fuel Ratio Troubleshooting
The key to locating bank one/sensor one, is to identify the #1 engine cylinder. In a V-type motor, sensor one is in the exhaust system before the catalytic converter. In an inline motor, the rear sensor (or sensor two) is in the exhaust system after the catalytic converter.
Engineered Accessory Drive Serpentine Belt Replacement
You might not be able to see it, but an accessory drive belt is always both speeding up and slowing down. When a piston accelerates downward after the ignition of the fuel and air, the crankshaft speeds up and then slows down as it reaches the bottom of the stroke. These changes in speed are minimal, but big enough to cause problems.
ADAS System Diagnosis And Service
A surprising number of Automated (or Advanced) Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are currently available on vehicles. These systems require special service techniques or additional service operations to perform some common maintenance services.
Automatic Engine Start-Stop And Lubricant Strength
Engines with the automatic start-stop feature have become a de facto standard in passenger cars and light-duty vehicles. One unfortunate consequence of frequent start-stops is that the tribological stress upon some critical engine components, such as bearings, increases significantly.
Cylinder Head Bolt Sequence
No doubt you have experienced this before while reassembling a cylinder head: You’re either refitting a newly machined head or changing out the head gasket and you can’t find the torque specs or the proper bolt sequence. The machine shop didn’t include the info when it sent the head back and the gasket packaging isn’t any help, either. So, the work has to stop and you have to go hunting for the specs.
