Tech Tip: Variety of Oil Blends Required to Meet Today’s Engine Requirements
Years ago, an import shop could consider its shelves well-stocked if it contained a selection of single-viscosity oils in detergent or non-detergent blends. Today, a shop owner is confronted with stocking a variety of multi-viscosity oils, including 0w-20, 0w-40, 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30, 10w-40, 15w-40 and 20w-50, not to mention stocking some of these viscosities in synthetic and non-synthetic bases. Although the number of oil ….
Tech Tip: Giving Chevrolet Excessive Steering Effort the Boot
Owners of 2003 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo or Buick Regal and Century vehicles may comment on reduced power steering, excessive steering effort, rubbing or excessive noise in the passenger compartment. The cause of the problem may be due to the intermediate shaft lower boot between the bulkhead and the steering gear being incorrectly installed and interfering with the intermediate shaft. Follow the ….
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 ….
You Can Tune a Carburetor, but You Can’t Tuna Fish
I don’t know where the term “master engine tuner” originated, but I suspect it parallels that of “master piano tuner” because both disciplines transform apparent discord into apparent harmony. In this day of electronically managed engines, we forget that mechanically controlled spark advance curves and carburetor mixtures don’t compensate for changes in barometric pressure and
Ford Tech Tip: Avoid Over-Filling Oil in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Engines
Incorrect oil levels are being found in many 2002-2003 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. In most cases, the level is being misinterpreted because the oil level on the dipstick is not touching the top hash mark at the upper limit (or MAX mark), or it is partway down the crosshatch area. Ford is in the process of standardizing the marking across all vehicle lines. The markings shown in ….
Keeping on Track with Steering Position Sensors
Cars just keep getting smarter all the time. Sensors are being used to monitor more and more functions, and to share information between vehicle systems that formerly were mute or didn’t communicate with one another. One such sensor is the steering position sensor. The sensor’s basic function is to monitor the driver’s steering inputs. This
2008 LuK RepSet Catalog Provides Technicians with the Information and Parts they Need
Schaeffler Group USA Inc.’s 2008 LuK RepSet Catalog features clutch coverage for 95% of the vehicle population through 760 SKUs – including 58 new clutch sets. The 2008 edition is a resource for clutch professionals to find the information and parts they need for a complete repair and ….
Tech Tip: Super Duty is a Super Headache
One of our technicians was having trouble replacing the spark plugs on a 2005 Ford F-250 Super Duty. Even though he followed the updated service procedure, a couple of the plugs separated upon removal. Some 2004-2005 F-150 and 2005 F-Super Duty, Expedition, and Navigator vehicles with a 5.4L 3-valve engine may experience difficulty with spark plug removal which may cause damage to the spark plug and leave ….
Unlocking an Ignition Switch Repair
The ignition key cylinder on the Ford Focus is a common leak point, especially when the vehicle has racked up enough miles to get out of warranty. Over time, the tumblers wear out causing them to not completely retract resulting in a key cylinder that won’t turn. Of course, this is seldom without warning. Usually
Tech Tip: Mustang Burning Smell is a ‘Head’ Ache
Marty dropped off his 2002 Mustang GT saying there was a burning smell inside the car. He also noticed a wisp of smoke from the passenger side when parked in his garage. After some investigation with leak detection dye and a black light, I called Marty with the bad news.