Mitch Schneider: Taxi Cab Confessions
I travel a lot. Certainly, more than most of the shop owners I know. I wish I didn’t have to, but it has become a big part of what I do. I wish all the trips were to exciting and exotic vacation destinations, but in all honesty, they aren’t. Virtually every one of them is work related, delivering training or discussing issues critical to the future of our industry. There was a time when air travel was exciting. But, that was before we were forced to endure ….
Tech Tip: Servicing GM’s 3800 V6 Engines
The Buick 231 cu. in. 3.8L V6 engine has had a production run lasting more than 30 years. Like the small block Chevy V8, this engine has undergone many changes over the years to keep it abreast of changing consumer expectations and emissions regulations. The first Buick 3.8L was offered in the 1975 model year Skyhawk, Apollo, Century and Regal. The engine was based on an earlier 198 cu. in. V6 that Buick introduced back in ….
Tech Tip: Larry Carley Covers the Top 10 Domestic Diagnostic Codes and Fixes
Some people think a code is all you need to fix a fault and turn off the Check Engine Light (or Malfunction Indicator Lamp or MIL). A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) certainly helps, but it only tells you that some kind of fault has occurred, and maybe the circuit or component associated with the fault. But no code by itself can tell you which part to replace, because in many instances any one of several causes may have set the code ….
Mitch’s World: Taxi Cab Confessions
I travel a lot. Certainly, more than most of the shop owners I know. I wish I didn’t have to, but it has become a big part of what I do. I wish all the trips were to exciting and exotic vacation destinations, but in all honesty, they aren’t. Virtually every one of them is
Servicing GM’s 3800 V6 Engines
The Buick 231 cu. in. 3.8L V6 engine has had a production run lasting more than 30 years. Like the small block Chevy V8, this engine has undergone many changes over the years to keep it abreast of changing consumer expectations and emissions regulations. The first Buick 3.8L was offered in the 1975 model year
Tech Tip: Diagnosing a Clunky Chevy Truck
Bill’s 2004 Chevy Silverado made an odd clunking noise on the freeway when he ran over those little reflectors while changing lanes. He could hear and feel the "clunk" in the steering wheel. Some customers may comment on a clunk-type noise coming from under the hood that also can be felt in the steering wheel. These conditions may be more noticeable when turning at low speeds on ….
So There is No Con-Fusion
came on the scene in 2006. The 2006 Ford Fusion shares a design platform with the Mercury Milan and the Lincoln Zephyr. In 2007, the Zephyr is replaced by the Lincoln MKZ. The Fusion comes with a choice of 4-cyl. and 6-cyl. powerplants. The four cylinder is a 2.3L 16-valve DOHC engine. It uses a
Swaybar Tune Up
A long time ago in a service bay far away, the average tread life of a bias ply tire was 20,000 miles. Even with belted bias ply tires, you did well to get 30,000 miles. Shocks, ball joints and bushings averaged out at 40,000. Today, modern radials can get 60,000 and suspension parts can go
Tech Tip: Tire Rack Offers Answers to ‘Top Five’ TPMS Questions
Over the last year or so, Tire Rack has been conducting an informal and unscientific survey of its customers regarding the reoccurrence of issues dealing with tire pressure monitoring systems. Thanks to its wholesalers, service technicians and counter sales people in the field, just to name a few, Tire Rack developed a list of the Top Five most common TPMS questions.
Diagnostic Solutions: Transmission Electronics…Contined Refinement of Electronically Controlled Transmissions Shifts Fuel Efficiency into High Gear
Electronic automatic transmissions have gained popularity in recent years because of the flexibility that on-board electronics can provide in the area of powertrain management. Electronic transmission controls, for example, have done away with the rough, imprecise shifting patterns inherent in early mechanically controlled transmissions. With the continued refinement of electronically controlled automatic transmissions, an automatic