Finding That Spark Of Genius: Diagnosing Cranking, No-Start Failures
By the dawn of the Industrial Age, the gasoline internal combustion engine had replaced steam power as the driving force behind America’s great economic expansion. In that day, a cranking, no-start condition could easily be diagnosed by testing the available spark at the spark plug. If there was no spark, we touched a test light to the coil negative terminal to determine if the distributor contact points were switching the coil on/off. If the test light blinked, the primary circuit was switching as designed, so we replaced the coil. A pretty simple diagnosis, right?
Direct Injection Engine Problems
Gasoline Direct Injection engines go by many names including GDI, DI, FSI and more. Car manufacturers have introduced this engine technology in response to federal emissions and fuel mileage requirements. While these engines offer a lot of upsides as far as fuel economy, horsepower, lower displacement and fewer tailpipe emissions, they also have some downsides.
The Ins And Outs Of The SAE J2534 Vehicle Communication Interface
The ultimate goal of J2534 for 2018 model year and, in some cases, much earlier vehicles is for shops to be able to run OEM and aftermarket scan tool software and programming applications to include vehicle security over a common standardized Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI).
Wideband Oxygen Sensors Vs. Narrowband: Understanding The Differences
Wideband air/fuel oxygen sensors may appear similar to conventional narrowband oxygen sensors, but there are quite a few differences that you need to be aware of to service vehicles with this new style sensor.
Servicing R1234yf: Are You Ready?
R1234yf, tabbed the replacement for R134a, has been in service now for a few years on certain models from FCA and GM as well as several European models. R1234yf is estimated to be fitted on 35 million vehicles worldwide. The EU has already banned R134a as of Jan. 2017, and the U.S. will follow suit by 2020. While most independent shops haven’t had to deal with it yet, you will start seeing them soon, so you should be prepared to service them by getting the right tools.
VIDEO: Thermostats Only Fail In The Best Way Possible
Andrew Markel discusses the importance of engine cooling, especially after the failure of a thermostat. Sponsored by INA.
Nissan Variable Compression: The Engine That Will Change Performance & Service
The new Nissan 2.0 L VC-Turbo (Variable Compression Turbo) offers similar performance figures to the 24-year-old 3.5 L V6 that it replaces, while providing 4-cylinder fuel economy. The first vehicle to receive the engine in the Nissan lineup will be the 2019 Altima SR. While it might be a few years before this engine is in your bays, the preparation and training needs to start now, not when you are stumped with a problem.
Preventing Turbocharger Breakdown
With more and more vehicles employing a turbocharger to achieve power and fuel efficiency from a downsized engine, the importance of maintenance is more critical than ever. Up to 50 percent of turbocharger failures are due to oiling problems, which can result from the lack of lubrication or not cooling down enough after the engine is shut down.
Motor Mount Logic
Engines have noticeably changed in the past decade. Fewer cylinders, more power at lower RPM and more detectable vibration at idle are just a few of the differences in today’s engines. With these changes, it should be no surprise that engine and transmission mounts have taken on new importance. New technologies are being used that access information from the engine to anticipate vibration before it reaches the driver.
A/C Compressor Replacement: Doing A Visual Inspection & Checking For Leaks And Debris Eases Diagnostics
The A/C compressor is a complex component in today’s vehicles. It not only compresses the refrigerant that is circulated through the system, but it is basically the heart of the A/C system and can be affected by other components not doing their jobs.
Modern Cooling System Design: It’s Not About Temperature; It’s About Powertrain
Reading engineering papers tends to be a boring exercise, but they do give a technician like myself a new perspective on how a common automotive cooling system could actually be improved. Of course, our immediate thought is how the cooling system can keep the engine cooler. Not so, according to one paper.
Understanding Misfire Events And Causes
When a spark plug fires, it is not an instantaneous ignition of all the molecules of air and fuel. When the spark kernel jumps between the two electrodes, the piston might be some distance from the top of the cylinder (this is usually described as degrees of crankshaft rotation).
