Diagnostic Oddities
This article is dedicated to some Ford specific issues that, after being brought to light, can save your shop thousands of dollars in wasted time and liability. There may be some other makes out there with some similar designs and quirks, but the only technical references will be for Ford vehicles. By Glen Beanard Giddy
Tech Tip: Acura Front Suspension Knock
A knocking noise from the front of any vehicle can be a cause for concern. If the vehicle is an old pickup truck with 150,000 miles of hard off-road use, noises usually come with the territory and are sometimes acceptable. But, if the vehicle is a 1996-98 Acura RL, not only will the owner notice it, they will probably want it fixed right away.
Mitch Schneider: It’s Late and I’m Tired
I’m sitting at my desk at home watching the greedy hand of darkness grab for the last few remaining moments of daylight. It’s not an unfamiliar ritual. In fact, it happens with frightening regularity. I try to make some sense out of the insanity that you and I accept so easily as just another day at the shop.
Steering Position Sensors: Keeping on Track
The steering position sensor’s basic function is to monitor the driver’s steering inputs. This includes the angle of the steering wheel and/or the rate at which the driver is turning the wheel. The information may be used to vary hydraulic pressure in a variable-assist power steering system, or by a stability control system to improve
Mitch’s World: Git’s Late and I’m Tired
Wrangling In A Herd of Repair Estimate Issues Stuck in the middle of a used car and spousal approvals I’m sitting at my desk at home watching the greedy hand of darkness grab for the last few remaining moments of daylight. It’s not an unfamiliar ritual. In fact, it happens with frightening regularity. I finish
Diagnostic Solutions: Steering Gears
Keeping Your Customers’ Vehicles on The Straight & Narrow Modern automotive steering gears evolved from the quaint tiller-controlled steering systems used in the first automobiles to the hydraulically controlled systems now used in most import vehicles. Unfortunately, steering tillers that attached to axles with little or no steering geometry didn’t provide much steering feedback from
Mitch’s World: It’s Late and I’m Tired
When The Day’s Events Take Their Toll I’m sitting at my desk at home watching the greedy hand of darkness grab for the last few remaining moments of daylight. It’s not an unfamiliar ritual. In fact, it happens with frightening regularity. I finish up at the shop, head home, have dinner and talk about the
Mitch’s World: Wrangling in a Herd of Repair Estimate Issues
I’m sitting at my desk at home watching the greedy hand of darkness grab for the last few remaining moments of daylight. It’s not an unfamiliar ritual. In fact, it happens with frightening regularity. I finish up at the shop, head home, have dinner and talk about the day with my wife. By the time
Power Options: Restoring a Vehicle to Like-New Performance
Replacing a worn or broken engine on a customer’s vehicle can be a very sensitive subject for many independent shop owners because it’s a time-intensive and possibly high-liability service. After a replacement is done, a shop’s greatest fear is that a minor ticking noise or oil leak may ruin the profitability of the engine replacement.
Mitch’s World: Wrangling in a Herd of Repair Estimate Issues
I’m sitting at my desk at home watching the greedy hand of darkness grab for the last few remaining moments of daylight. It’s not an unfamiliar ritual. In fact, it happens with frightening regularity. I finish up at the shop, head home, have dinner and talk about the day with my wife. By the time