Electrical: Hand Wire Splicing for Sensitive Connections
A long time ago, I learned a method of splicing wire that has stuck with me since those early days. I actually picked this method up while I was in the military (USMC), so I can’t take credit for inventing it or perfecting it.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Handling Temporary Helpers
There are times when I find I have more helpers in the shop than I have on the payroll. I didn’t ask for this extra help, but there they are, right in the middle of the shop. Who are they, and where did they come from? Ah, yes, it’s those customers who want to keep an extra eye on their ride.
Gonzo’s ToolBox: Second-Hand Information
Do you remember when you played the game of “telephone” as a child, and the original information being conveyed was oftentimes totally different by the time the last kid commented? The same thing can happen with a vehicle problem when more than one person is involved in getting the information to the person at the end of the line. And who’s usually at the end of the line? The tech.
Gonzo’s ToolBox: Brain Damage
Throughout the evolution of the modern vehicle, there have been an increasing number of duties taken over by computers. These computers have not only made the engine more fuel efficient, but also more environmentally friendly. Nowadays, these systems are starting to “think” for themselves and make decisions for the driver. Things like park assist, keeping a safe distance between cars on the road and collision avoidance are just a few examples of the capabilities of the modern computer-driven automobile.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: One More Busted Knuckle That Comes With The Territory
I can go an entire week without cutting myself or jamming a finger, but then there are those days where I have to make a mad dash for the First Aid kit.
One More Busted Knuckle That Comes With the Territory
I can go an entire week without cutting myself or jamming a finger, but then there are those days where I have to make a mad dash for the First Aid kit.
Gonzo’s ToolBox: Customers Say The Darndest Things
Did you ever notice some people have an excuse for just about anything? Did you also notice how some people have a quirky explanation for the problems with their cars? I sometimes wonder what some of these folks would think if they actually heard themselves from my side of the counter.
Tech Update: Key Cycles and Codes
OBD II brought a lot of changes regarding how a technician diagnoses a vehicle. With OBD I, a failure had to occur in order to produce a service code, while OBD II can monitor failures or even partial failures. These days, codes have become part of the normal process in determining a fault. There are several different types of codes. Beyond engine, transmission, HVAC or body codes, there’s also a way to break down the priority of some of those codes.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Success is in the Details
The other day, the owner of one of the many body shops I do work for came by with a little problem on a 1998 Honda. Doug wanted to make sure I knew how much he appreciated everything that I’d done for him over the years. I’m not sure whether he was bragging, or just being complimentary. Maybe he was trying to soften me up, before I gave him the bill.
Gonzo’s ToolBox: A Jack of All Trades? In This Business, it Pays to Be a Master of One
When the phone rings and it’s a shop I’ve never heard of with a technical question for me, it doesn’t take me long to determine what kind of repair shop they really are. Listening to how they explain the problem or how they tested for the problem gives me enough clues about their abilities.
The Ins and Outs of Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Systems and Their Role in Vehicle Emissions
By the early 1990s, almost all import automotive manufacturers had a successful variable valve timing (VVT) system in production. These systems offered higher performance from smaller displacement engines at higher rpm. Do you know that VVT is playing a direct role in vehicle emissions and the way gases are burned in the combustion chamber?
Don’t Confuse Tool & Equipment Collectors With Tool & Equipment Hoarders
I recently watched one of those reality shows about hoarding, and, quite frankly, I wasn’t surprised at all. I’ve seen this same thing in customers’ cars, trucks and vans. There’s junk, trash and just about anything you could think of piled up inside the car and/or in the truck bed. It’s always a disorganized mess with no rhyme or reason where things are placed. Can you work like that?