Mazda Tech Tip: P1443, Engine Idles Rough, Replaced Idle Air Control Valve
The car might be more than 20 years old, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want it to run smoothly. In this case, the component related to the code was not the culprit. Follow along with this Real Fix to learn about the cause.
MINI Tech Tip: Multiple Components Losing Power
Customer says their MINI loses power between 30-40 mph for a couple of seconds. It also seems like other things “power down.” The A/C blower drops down, and once the engine picks back up, the CEL flashes once.
Honda Ignition Service Tips
Most Honda original equipment spark plugs have a life of more than 100,000 miles thanks to electrodes that contain precious metals like platinum and iridium. If the plugs fail sooner than the recommended interval, first solve any related problems before installing new plugs.
Fuel Trim And AFR Sensors
This summer, an old friend and former teaching partner arrived at our local car show with the check engine light illuminated on his 2004 Holden Monaro, which was imported from Australia and rebadged and sold in the U.S. Its unique corporate history aside, this relatively rare imported muscle car had the all-too-common P0171 and P0174 trouble codes stored in its diagnostic memory.
Volkswagen Tiguan Brake Job
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact SUV built on the A5 platform that is shared with the Golf and Jetta. The brake system is straightforward, but it has two quirks that can make a brake job difficult: a vacuum pump and electric parking brakes.
Mercedes-Benz TPMS Service
On different Mercedes-Benz models, you will see two types of TPMS systems. Low-line systems do not display individual tire pressures. These systems just monitor inflation and alert the driver if there is an underinflation or overinflation problem with one antenna. Mid-line systems display the individual pressures, and some systems have four antennas mounted near the wheel wells.
Subaru Pulse-Width Modulated Fuel Pumps
I think it might have been a 2003 Subaru WRX, but it was parked in front of my local Subaru specialist’s shop after going on its fourth fuel pump replacement from other shops in less than six months. Both the Subaru specialist and I agreed that fuel pump failures on Subarus were relatively rare, so the previous repair shops had obviously overlooked some very important details.
Toyota Charging System Diagnostics
A remanufactured alternator has just been installed on a 2008 Toyota Tundra. A few days ago, it left your shop with a happy owner, and now it has returned with the battery warning light glaring in your face. What’s your next move?
Lexus: Flex Lock-Up Shudder
Some 2011 model year GS 350 and 2011-’12 model year IS 350/350C vehicles may exhibit an intermittent flex lock-up shudder when lightly accelerating between 25-50 mph (40-80 km/h). Follow the procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
BMW Tech Tip: DSC Module Aborted When Programming Vehicle
The DSC module may no longer communicate when connected to ISTA/D or ISTA/P. As a result, the DSC module cannot be reprogrammed.
Acura Driveability Issues
Import Specialist Bob Dowie looks at a 2006 Acura MDX that belongs to one of his shop’s long-time customers. This well-maintained, high-mileage vehicle has treated its owner well over the years, but it was getting older and with 150,000 miles on the odometer, it was causing some concern.
Honda Civic: Failed PCMs And CAN System Diagnostics
This case study involving three failed PCMs in a 2002 Honda Civic illustrates the real-world complexities of diagnosing on-board modules linked together by a bus communications network.
