Strikes, Reflashing, Plastic & Oil – What Keeps Me Up At Night
Since moving into the position of director of content for ImportCar, I have had some sleepless nights. I often find myself diving deep into service information, forums and parts websites trying to confirm small details like whether the latest Audi has a plastic drain plug for the oil pan, or if the latest calibration for an ECU will solve a catalyst efficiency problem.
Electronic Brake Pad Wear Sensors Diagnostics
Electronic brake pad wear sensors can be found on a variety of vehicles, including domestic, European and Asian cars and trucks. These give a more accurate reading on brake pad depth compared to squealer metal tabs that make noise that most drivers manage to ignore assuming it will go away over time.
No-Start Condition Dilemmas? We Share A Few Lessons Learned
Do you have a Mercedes-Benz in your bay with a no-start condition? Don’t feel alone, we’ve been there, and would like to share a few lessons we have learned over the years that can also help you expedite the diagnostic process.
Servicing TPMS Sensors With A Little Tender Loving Care
Most TPMS sensors are held in with the use of just a screw or a nut, but if they are 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.
Flash Or Pass? Don’t Leave Money On The Table
These days, nearly every car on the road has multiple on-board computers. They often need to have their software updated or be reflashed because a component has been changed or upgraded.
VW Brake Job: 2009-2014 Routan Applications
The customers who drive the Routan and the Chrysler minivan are two different customers judging by the TSBs. The Routan has five different TSBs about addressing customers who complain about brake noise, while the Chrysler minivan has zero. The two vans have almost identical brake systems and are assembled in the same plant. But don’t treat the Routan driver like a Chrysler minivan driver as far as their vehicle service needs are concerned.
The Changing World Of Telematics And How It Will Change Your Business
Telematics has created a lot of anxiety and skepticism for shops. Some of it is justified, while some is due to not seeing the opportunities it presents. Telematics is very simple when you view it as a tool to connect the customer to their vehicle and your shop.
Pinpointing Oil Consumption Issues: Now You See It, Now You Don’t
Oil consumption has become an issue because oil change intervals now extend to 10,000 or more miles and because modern engines consume so little oil that many vehicle owners forget to regularly check their engine’s oil level. Worse still, many owners will often run their engines out of oil because they don’t know how to check the oil level. For that reason, oil level warning systems are becoming standard equipment for many vehicles.
Can Tires Make A Difference?
Dealerships are selling tires at really low prices to capture the automotive service work of consumers. This is compared to independent repair shops that thrive on customer relationships to contribute to the success and profitability of their businesses.
Ridesharing Won’t Displace Consumers’ Affinity For Personal Vehicles
The rise of alternate transportation options for consumers like Uber and Lyft, along with the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology, might be viewed by some as a threat to personal vehicle transportation. In fact, some OEMs have expressed concern about the impact that increased usage of these options will have on consumers’ interest in purchasing vehicles in the future.
Colorado High School Students Get By With A Little Help From Their Friends
Starting with 16 students, Chuck Sprague announced to the very first Wheat Ridge STEM Engineering Team that they were going to build a car and compete in the Shell Eco-marathon, which challenges student teams across the globe to design, build, test and drive ultra-energy-efficient vehicles.
Why Springs Matter: More Than A Coil Of Steel, Springs Are The Foundation Of Stability
When a wheel reacts to a bump or body motion, the spring is compressed and then releases the energy. During each compression cycle, a little bit of life is taken out of the spring’s steel. It’s not the amount of travel that matters, but the frequency of the cycles.
