ADAS Secrets – What Are The Senses Telling You?
Don’t assume the process to service all ADAS sensors will be the same.
Electric Brake Pad Wear Sensors
Never forget to reset the brake life service indicator. Read this technical article before your next brake job.
VIDEO: Checking Sensor Integrity Before Service
When solving a TPMS problem, it’s important to know what you don’t know about the system. Andrew Markel explains the important step of testing sensors before performing service. Sponsored by Bartec.
TPMS Theory & Operation: Sensor Signals And Triggers
A typical wheel-mounted TPMS sensor will transmit data about tire pressure and temperature. Newer, tire-mounted models can also gauge acceleration and, in some cases, the direction that the wheel is spinning. Some systems display tire pressure by location on the instrument panel, but most do not.
Wheel Speed Sensor: Understanding ABS Brake Passive Sensors
The passive wheel speed sensor has been around a long time. It works quite differently than the active speed sensors that are found on most cars today. The passive speed sensor creates its own AC signal that changes frequency with wheel speed. This signal is only present while the wheel is turning at a rate fast enough to create the AC signal.
VIDEO: The Evolution Of The Brake Light Switch
Andrew Markel discusses how a switch that formerly only operated the brake light evolved into a sensor that sends information to the rest of the vehicle based on pedal position. Sponsored by Standard.
VIDEO: Most Common Error When Installing Programmable TPMS Sensors
Andrew Markel discusses the most common error some shops make when installing a new set of programmable TPMS sensors on a vehicle. This comes from the support lines at Bartec USA. Video sponsored by Bartec USA.
Snap Test: MAF Sensor Diagnostics
You’d think a service light would be the first indicator of a mass air flow (MAF) sensor problem, but there are times a problem develops with the MAF and no service light comes on. Scott “Gonzo” Weaver explains how poor idle, loss of performance, sluggish performance and even stalling are all associated with a failing MAF sensor.
OBD II Misfire And Diagnosis
When diagnosing misfires, it’s important to use tools that allow you to go beyond a simple code reader that displays a P03XX. Even an OEM-level scan tool can’t tell you what the firing voltage is or what the ignition pattern looks like. Nor can it tell you if the serial data is accurate or correct. For that kind of information you need a DVOM or a graphing multimeter/oscilloscope that can look at sensor voltages directly and display primary and secondary ignition patterns.
Diagnosing EGR And Secondary Air Systems
The perfect internal combustion vehicle would be able to put the exact amount of fuel and air into the combustion chamber. If the perfect combustion event happened, you would get nothing more than water and carbon dioxide. We are not there yet. In the mean time, we have exhaust gas recirculation systems (EGR), secondary air injection and catalytic converters.
Fuel Trim Diagnosis And O2 Sensor Performance
A useful diagnostic tool is to determine if the fuel trim problem exists in more than one engine operating range. Fuel trim should be checked at idle, at 1,500 rpm and at 2,500 rpm. In addition to these no-load checks, drive the vehicle at various steady load conditions and watch for fuel trim variation.
Tech Tip: Volkswagen Check Engine Light Is On With Trouble Code P2187
The check engine light is on, with trouble code P2187, too lean off idle bank 1. This “Fast Fix” from Identifix shows how one tech solved this issue.