Tech Tip: Hyundai Timing Belt and Chain Replacement on 1996 Elantra Models
This bulletin describes the valve timing procedures necessary when installing a timing belt or transfer drive chain on 1996 Elantra models. The importance of this information cannot be over-emphasized, because improper valve timing can result in driveability problems, such as loss of power, poor idle quality and, in severe cases, stalling and cylinder head damage.
Tech Tip: Diagnosing Subaru Cooler Weather and Driveability Complaints
As the winter season approaches, cooler weather becomes apparent in many parts of the country. With this cooler weather comes the common cool-weather-related driveability complaints.
Tech Tip: Nissan Steering Pull Diagnosis and Repair
Customers may use the term "vehicle pull" to describe a number of different potential incidents. The following diagnostic and repair information is specific to steering pull.
Tech Tip: Trailer Wiring Offers Repair Opportunity
Every year, an estimated 15 million trailer hitches are installed on cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Industry statistics tell us that upwards of 65% of all trucks and SUVs have a trailer hitch installed on them at some point, and many passenger cars do too. That’s a lot of vehicles on the road that may need trailer wiring repairs at some point in their life.
Tech Tip: Understanding Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Are a good number of the vehicles on the road today equipped with underinflated tires? Look down at the tires on the car in front of you in traffic, and the answer may be obvious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted an inspection of 6,240 vehicles within a 14-day period in August of 2001. They did this at service stations with the cooperation from motorists who stopped to refuel.
Tech Tip: Regular Fluid Flushes are Good for Transmissions
Out with the old and in with the new. Transmission fluid flushing is a service that replaces old worn-out automatic transmission fluid (ATF) with fresh new fluid to prolong the life of the transmission. Considering the fact that it costs $1,500 to $2,200 or more to replace a transmission or transaxle these days, the cost of a fluid flush is peanuts by comparison.
Tech Tip: Nissan Strut Replacement Guidelines
This bulletin provides information to correctly identify a strut on any 1990-2000 model that has slight oil seepage, a condition that is considered normal, doesn’t affect the strut’s operation or performance and doesn’t require replacement. It also provides information to correctly identify leaking struts that require replacement.
Tech Tip: Preventing Brake Dust
Nothing looks worse than a relatively clean $50,000 car with black, grimy wheels. European luxury sedans are notorious for having dirty front wheels because of the black dust that’s generated by their disc brake pads. The dust sticks to the alloy wheels giving them an unsightly appearance.
Tech Tip: Air Flow Sensors – Understanding Their Function and Potential Problems
Most of us remember the "good old days" when an engine’s air/fuel (a/f) ratio was controlled by a mechanically operated carburetor. Due to the inherent design limitations of mechanical systems, however, carburetors don’t respond efficiently to changes in barometric pressure, temperature and humidity.
Tech Tip: Uncovering Brake Fluid Leaks on Acura Integras
The brake fluid level on 1994 Integras may be low in the ABS reservoir, and fluid may appear to be leaking from under the label on the ABS accumulator. The likely cause is that the ABS accumulator internal O-ring is damaged, allowing brake fluid to leak out.
Tech Tip: Replacement of Gear Lubes Can Prevent Expensive Driveline Problems
The lubricants that are used in manual transmissions, transaxles, differentials and transfer cases include a variety of different oils. Most of these lubricants are long-lived and hold up well for tens of thousands of miles. But none will last forever. The combination of heat, shearing action and oxidation eventually breaks down the oil and reduces its ability to lubricate and protect.
Tech Tip: Water Pumps – Why They Fail and When to Replace Them
If you’ve wondered how much work a water pump must do, remember that only about 30 percent of the heat energy produced by combustion results in mechanical energy. That estimate, of course, is a mathematical comparison between the heat value of the gasoline going into the engine, and the heat value of the mechanical energy coming out of the engine. The remainder of combustion heat must then be dissipated into the atmosphere through the exhaust, lubrication and cooling systems.