Tech Feature: The Nuts and Bolts of Belt and Hose Service
Today, belts and hoses are a routine inspection item and may not need replacement even at 100,000 miles or more of service. Unfortunately, many vehicle owners and technicians forget that heat, load, pressure and atmospheric pollutants eventually deteriorate a vehicle’s rubber parts.
Tech Tip: As the Weather Heats Up, So Does the Demand for Cooling System Service
The hottest summer weather is almost upon us, so over the next couple of months you’ll likely see a surge in servicing cooling system parts such as thermostats, water pumps, hoses, radiators and radiator caps. The parts can fail during hot weather because many cooling systems today have very little reserve cooling capacity. If the cooling system has not been maintained ….
Tech Tip: Inspect the Cooling System When Replacing the Water Pump
Water pumps work hard. As the miles add up, so does the wear and tear on the pump shaft bearing, seal and impeller. Erosion inside the pump can wear away the vanes on the impeller, causing it to pump less efficiently as the impeller is eaten away. This may lead to engine overheating on hot days or when the engine is working hard. If the water pump seal becomes worn ….
Tech Tip: Diagnosing and Servicing a Coolant Leak
Water pumps work hard. As the miles add up, so does the wear and tear on the pump shaft bearing, seal and impeller. Erosion inside the pump can wear away the vanes on the impeller, causing it to pump less efficiently as the impeller is eaten away. This may lead to engine overheating on hot days or when the engine is working hard. If the water pump seal becomes worn, coolant will leak past the pump shaft or out of the small vent hole on the housing.
Chrysler & Jeep Cooling System & HVAC Service
Every car make has its quirks, and Chrysler and Jeep vehicles are no exception. In researching this article, we found several examples of heater problems in these vehicles that seem to be fairly common. On 2001 and 2002 Sebring Sedan, Sebring Convertible and Stratus Sedan, plus 1993 to 2002 Chrysler Concorde, LHS, New Yorker and
Tech Tip: What to Know When Coolant Leaks Occur
Engines run hot! Almost a third of the heat energy produced by combustion is absorbed by the engine itself. That’s why engines need a cooling system. The cooling system absorbs the engine’s waste-heat and prevents the engine from overheating and self-destructing.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: The Misfire Code As a Symptom
Without question, the 1996 and newer OBD II systems have greatly simplified the diagnostic process. Veteran mechanics well remember the technical loopholes that riddled the old proprietary OBD I systems. All too often, the complex diagnostic charts supplied by the auto manufacturers were time-consuming, erroneous and often concluded with the infamous “replace with component of
News: Popular Aftermarket Columnist Mitch Schneider Joins Babcox Publications
Mitch Schneider, nationally recognized automotive service professional, author and lecturer, has joined Babcox Publications as a senior contributing editor. Beginning in July, Schneider’s popular commentary will appear monthly in Babcox’s Tech Group publications, including Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service. In addition to frequent exclusives on aftermarketNews.com and Autocarepronews.com, another column written specifically
Aftermarket Update
Popular Aftermarket Columnist Mitch Schneider Joins Babcox Publications Akron, OH — Mitch Schneider, nationally recognized automotive service professional, author and lecturer, has joined Babcox Publications as a senior contributing editor. Beginning in July, Schneider’s popular commentary will appear monthly in Babcox’s Tech Group publications, including Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service. In addition
Volvo Service And Driveability: Ways to Simplify Repairs and Promote Maintenance
Keeping a record of scheduled maintenance and service repairs is probably the best selling feature when the time comes to trade or sell a vehicle. You know the type: They baby their car, and their friends and family want first dibs when they decide to sell it. In most cases, that level of upkeep is