Under Pressure
According to the U.S Department of Transportation, cooling system failures are the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns on the highway. Many of these breakdowns are attributed to coolant leaks (hoses, radiators, bad radiator caps, etc.), water pump failures, thermostat failures and defective cooling fans. An industry survey conducted in 2003 by 1-800-Radiator reported that
Worn Tires Have a Lot to Say – If You Know How to Listen
Tires can tell you a lot simply through visual inspection. Your job is to tell the motorist that he or she has a tire-wear issue. Remind the customer that ice, water or dirt on the pavement substantially reduces the tire’s road-holding ability.
Travel Troubles En Route to the Big Easy
It sounds like a bad barroom bet: Buy a $250 car and drive it from New York to New Orleans and back. This is what a recent cross-country rally did when it challenged 28 competitors to take on the roads in a junker, jalopy or beater for the top prize of $1,500. The inaugural running
Carley’s Corner: Gas Pains
gasoline in the Chicago metro area is averaging $3.19 a gallon. It makes the $2 a gallon gas we were all whining about two years ago sound cheap by comparison. So what can you do about it? Drive less? Americans depend on their vehicles for absolutely everything: going to work, school, church, shopping, doctor visits,
Top Five Tools
Ron Promisson, owner Promisson Automotive Service Center Bushnell, IL Power Probe II — This is an indispensable tool for all kinds of diagnostic problems. Probably the one tool I couldn’t do without. Raytek AutoPro ST25 Infrared Thermometer — This is another favorite that can be used for many different applications. Snap-on Vantage — The diagnostic
A/C Update: Bad A/C Blowers & Fuses
One component air conditioners and heaters share in common is the blower motor. The blower motor is usually located in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) housing under the dash. The blower motor spins a squirrel cage fan that delivers both cold and hot air. If the driver wants cold air and turns on
Tech Tip: Diagnostic Information To Consider Before Replacing an A/C Compressor
A recently completed analysis of air conditioning compressors in General Motors vehicles that had been replaced for noise, vibration and insufficient cooling concerns has indicated a high number of "no trouble found" results.
Shop Management: Training Challenges Every Shop Faces
Although shop owners are routinely encouraged by industry leaders to provide from 40 to more than 100 hours per year training for each technician, some shop owners are failing to see a return on their training dollar.
Tech Tip: Are You Testing Your Customers’ Brake Fluid?
When was the last time you tested a customer’s brake fluid? Never? Many shops don’t bother to test brake fluid for several reasons. Some don’t think fluid tests are necessary. Others don’t test the fluid because they don’t have anything to test it with. And others say why bother if they’re going to bleed the brakes after relining the brakes?
Brake Fluid Testing, Bleeding & Flushing
Brake fluid is something that should always be changed when the brakes are relined or when replacing a caliper, wheel cylinder, brake line, hose or master cylinder. But what about other times? Should brake fluid be replaced for preventive maintenance? Most brake experts say yes! DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid contains glycol ethers