Diagnostic Dilemmas: Solving Late-Model Charging System Dilemmas
This month’s Diagnostic Dilemma involves a pristine 1995 Buick Park Avenue with a customer complaint of dimming instrument cluster lights, a flickering voltmeter needle, a driveability bucking complaint and a dead battery. The alternator had been replaced due to an indication of excessive AC ripple on the shop’s hand-held battery and charging system tester. A P1630 trouble code was present, indicating a high/low condition with battery voltage.
Nissan: Solving Rotating Electrical Issues
Maybe the warning light on the dash has caught the attention of the customer who was lucky enough to make it to your shop, or not so lucky and their car needs to be towed, says Import Specialist Contributor Bob Dowie. Whatever the scenario, don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions when diagnosing rotating electrical issues.
Tech Tip: Ignition Coil Polarity Check on Early Model Vehicles
On classic and antique vehicles, you can test for correct polarity of the ignition coil by using a voltmeter.
Memory Lane: Reverse Technology: Engineering the 6-Volt Alternator
Not having an engineering degree does have its advantages – your thought process is wide open with no restrictions and no rules. However, my final working 6-volt alternator design proved to be a lot more expensive than I could have imagined.
Diagnostic Solutions: Ignition Coil Diagnostics
Import Specialist Gary Goms says there are a variety of opinions about how to test ignition coils and ignition systems. The most basic method is measuring a coil’s primary and secondary resistance. But meeting primary and secondary resistance specs on the bench is no guarantee that the coil will perform correctly under extreme heat and load.
Book Report: Automotive Electrical Performance Projects
For the automotive professional with electrical experience, Automotive Electrical Performance Projects by Tony Candela is a great edition to their technical library as it details a variety of popular performance project upgrades. In this “Performance Projects Series” title from CarTech books, brilliant color photos and explanatory step-by-step captions detail the installation of the most functional and beneficial upgrades for enthusiasts of varying skill levels.
Tech Feature: Straight Up Look at the Vortec 3500 Straight-Five Engine
The five-cylinder was seen as a way to achieve better fuel economy and performance than the six, but with more power and torque than the four.
Directions: Performance Powered – Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Years
For its first 40 years, Chevrolet seemed content designing, building and installing four- and six-cylinder engines in its
Wells Team Tackles Jeep No-Crank Issue in Latest Free Diagnostic Video
A challenging no-crank/no-start condition on a 1996 4.0L Jeep Cherokee is the latest diagnostic case study featured in the popular, free “Wells Tech” video training series from Wells Vehicle Electronics.
Tech Feature: Vehicle Ignition Interlock Devices
An increasing number of vehicles are being equipped with ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat drunk driving, so it’s smart to have a plan in place if one arrives in your shop.
Service Solutions: Lessons Learned Regarding ‘Old School’ Ignition Diagnosis
Recently, I’ve been confronted with driveability complaints on older vehicles that appear to defy conventional wisdom. Diagnosing such problems usually forces me to re-examine the fundamentals of engine
Tech Tip: DTC P0335 Stored in Nissan’s Self-Diagnosis Results
Use the information in this bulletin to repair a vehicle built prior to the applied VIN and date if the vehicle has DTC P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor [CKPS] [OBD]) stored in Self-Diagnosis Results.