No More Free Tire Rotations!
Tire rotation is a cornerstone of vehicle preventive maintenance and tire longevity. It is a well-proven fact that tire tread life can be greatly enhanced by regular and timely tire rotation. During rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from a vehicle and moved to a different position to ensure that all tires wear evenly
Modern Charging Systems: Cover All The Bases During the Diagnostic Process
To quote a familiar situation: “My customer’s car is now on its third alternator in six months and my jobber store refuses to warranty a fourth.” In other words, the parts supplier believes that an underlying problem is causing these alternators to fail and, therefore, won’t warranty more alternators. While we occasionally experience a sequence
Intermittent Engine Misfire Analysis
Even for an experienced diagnostic technician, attempting to diagnose an intermittent misfire condition that occurs only under specific driving conditions can be a frustrating exercise. Let’s begin by getting the basics out of the way. As we know, the general causes of a misfire fall under the general headings of 1.) ignition, 2.) fuel density,
Tech Tip: Hybrid Converter / Inverter Service Opportunities
This Tech Tip is taken directly from Dave Hobbs’ newest Hybrid Service course called Making Money Servicing Hybrid Vehicles. This Tech Tip covers service opportunities available to you in and around the inverters and converters. These components can either be one serviceable piece or two separate components and can range in price anywhere from $1,500
Custom Wheels And TPMS: What Are Your Options?
Selling, mounting and balancing custom wheels can be a profitable business, but what about tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is a violation of the TREAD Act to disable the system, which includes vehicles with aftermarket or custom rims. In early 2011, the Tire Industry
Tech Tip: Hybrid Motor Generators
This Tech Tip is taken directly from Dave Hobbs’ full course – Making Money Servicing Hybrid Vehicles. This course covers everything from general Hybrid driving habits and best safety practices to the main service opportunities and unique component functions. The Motor Generator (s) are big ticket items in the transaxle / transmission category. Hybrid transmissions
Expert Alignment Starts With Steering Angle Inclination
The most commonly misdiagnosed condition following a collision repair is often alignment related, according to Mark E. Olson, chief operating officer for Verifacts Automotive, and the reasons why are prevalent both inside collision repair shops and shops specializing in alignment. Olson, who is also a regional trainer for Hunter, got right to the point in
Kia: Added Grounds Can Set Codes
Additional grounds can typically benefit a vehicle’s electrical system. That is, unless the vehicle is a 2008-to-present Kia equipped with a battery sensor. If an extra ground cable is installed on the negative battery terminal, it can cause the battery sensor to send incorrect information to the engine control module (ECM), which can generate all
How Ride Height Affects Toe Angle
How can a mysterious case of tire wear occur in a perfectly aligned vehicle? It happens and the answers aren’t always simple. To better explain, let’s go back a few decades when I aligned a 1983 Mitsubishi rear-wheel drive (RWD) pickup, only to have it return a month later with a tire scuffing complaint. My conclusion was that many independent front suspensions often require a “custom alignment” to compensate for variations in ride height caused by uneven loading.
Telltale Signs Of Cooling System Component Failure
Springtime brings with it the vacation season when many families will hitch a boat or camping trailer to their fully loaded family car, SUV or pickup truck and travel to some remote wilderness hideaway. Needless to say, both the parents and their vehicle’s cooling system will be stressed out long before the trip is over.
The Mathematics Of Packaging, Selling Brake Services
When we advertise a “$XX.95” brake service, we’re often stepping over the proverbial dollar to pick up the proverbial dime. Since brake repairs should be a major profit center for any shop, it pays, in the most literal sense, to occasionally review the mathematics of selling brake services. In this feature, I’ll explore how brake
Mercedes-Benz Tech Tip: Engine Diagnosis Warning Lamp
Complaint: The engine diagnosis warning lamp is activated due to one or more of the following fault codes stored in the engine electrical system control unit: 0059, 0060, 0063, 0064, 0271, 0272, 0275, 0276. The fault code is recorded as current and stored in the fault memory, and/or the camshaft adjustment solenoid is not oil-tight.
