Right On the Mark: Lining Up Timing Belt Service for First-Generation Kias
This month, we’re going to take a look at timing belt replacement on the increasingly popular Kia line of vehicles. Kia has made strong inroads into the market by offering high-quality vehicles at an affordable price. As underhood car techs, we’re prepared to handle any of these cars: You have the required skills and, with
Handy Tools: No Longer Out of Sight or Out of Reach
Have you ever dropped a nut or a bolt into an open intake manifold? Or dropped a fastener and watched it disappear into a crevice in the engine compartment? Or tried to find a wiring connector, plug or fastener by feel on the backside of an instrument cluster up under the dash? These are all
Tech Feature: Hybrid Service will Increase as Hybrids Move Out of Warranty and into the Independent Service Bays
By now it’s no secret that the price of one gallon of regular-grade gasoline has topped the $4 mark and will undoubtedly be even higher one year from now. In light of rising fuel costs, consumers are once again returning to basic transportation by trading in their old gas-guzzling SUVs for more economical vehicles, especially those powered by hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology. On the one hand, the current popularity of hybrid technology seems to offer an ….
Federated Introduces New Training Initiative to Help Service Providers Improve Profits
Recognizing the importance of running a profitable business while still keeping pace with ever-changing automotive technology, Federated has introduced a new training initiative to provide professional service providers with business management techniques to improve profits and enhance customer satisfaction ….
Transmission Service and Clutch Replacement Essentials
You’ve probably all heard of the 15-minute clutch replacement time for a classic Volkswagen Beetle. The “fact” that you could pull the engine, change the clutch parts and reinstall everything with just a penknife and screwdriver and do that on the side of the road. Then there are the tall tales of pulling the engine
Tech Tip: Proper Tools Essential for Handling TPMS Issues
Just as the sports world claims you can’t identify the players without a program, the tire industry chants that you can’t fix a problem without the right tools. The world of tire pressure monitoring systems, or TPMS, is no different. In fact, having the proper tools is critical to servicing vehicles equipped with TPMS. While technology has done its best to ….
Mac Tools Announces the Launch of the 70th Anniversary Catalog
On Thursday, June 26, 2008, Mac Tools will be setting up a Macstravaganza show at the S motorcycle event in La Crosse, WI. At the event, Mac Tools will introduce its new 2008 70th Anniversary Catalog with 43 pages devoted to motorcycle tools. Mac Tools now offers the full line of tools from many of the top motorcycle tool manufacturers ….
Tech Tip: Misfires May Cause Engine to Feel Rough, Lack Power and Use More Gas
When you have a misfire code for a particular cylinder, you can focus on one of three things: an ignition problem, a fuel injector problem or a compression problem. Ignition problems that can cause misfires include worn or fouled spark plugs, bad plug wires, moisture on the plugs or plug wires, or a weak or dead ignition coil ….
Nissan: Head Gasket Replacement Procedures
With the reliability that late-model cars and especially their engines enjoy, we don’t find ourselves doing too much heavy engine work anymore. Many of us miss the feeling of accomplishment we’d get when completing an in-house engine rebuild. I know I always enjoyed the moment when the fresh engine would light right off and run
Work Lights: Lighten Up!
Adequate lighting is something every technician needs when working on a vehicle. Though some parts in today’s cramped engine compartments can only be changed by feel, most of the time it helps to see what you are doing. So a trouble light is an indispensable tool. The traditional drop cord style trouble light that uses