Four Seasons’ Tech Tip: Wintertime Heater Operation Guidelines
Wintertime heater operation presents numerous questions and problems. Four Seasons Inc. offers the following guidelines for professional technicians to ensure the heating efficiency of their customers’ vehicles when the weather turns cold ….
Tech Tip: Gurgling from Heater Core Accelerating through 1,400 RPM
Trapped air in the heater core of a 2001-’05 Honda Civic can cause an occasional gurgling that’s loudest when lightly accelerating through 1,400 rpm with the temperature control dial cranked all the way to maximum heat. Bleeding the cooling system might cut down on the noise, but, in some vehicles, the heater core may still gurgle even after extensive bleeding ….
Michael Papadopoulos, Mike’s Imported Car Clinic
Michael Papadopoulos, president Mike’s Imported Car Clinic Naperville, IL Tracerline — Ease of detection of old leak. Vacula — Makes bleeding easy and effortless. OTC Code and Reset Retriever GearWrench Tools — Turning precision. Snap-on Air Wrench — Good torque and easy on your hands.
Tech Tip: Don’t be ‘Shocked’ if Prius Owners Lose Their Cool
Some 2001-’03 model year Toyota Prius vehicles may exhibit a Master, Hybrid and MIL warning light on with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P3130, information code 346 (Inverter Cooling System Malfunction). This may be caused by reduced HV water pump performance or by the design of the inverter assembly during high ambient air temperature driving conditions ….
Tech Tip: Basic Checks Go a Long Way in Restoring Brake System Integrity
Brake work is fairly routine for most technicians. Even so, it’s easy to overlook some obvious problems with the hydraulic part of the system when replacing pads and rotors. So, following are some things you should always remember to check. If the fluid level in the master cylinder is low, it means one of two things ….
Brake Hydraulics: Don’T Overlook the Obvious
Basic Checks Go A Long Way In Restoring System Integrity Brake work is fairly routine for most technicians. Even so, it’s easy to overlook some obvious problems with the hydraulic part of the system when replacing pads and rotors. So, following are some things you should always remember to check. CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL If
Tech Tip: Honda Rear Suspension Clunk/Squeak on Bumps
Customers with an affected Honda vehicle may complain of a clunk or squeak from the rear suspension when going over rough or bumpy roads. This may be caused by a broken rear trailing arm bushing(s). Remove the rear trailing arm and follow the Repair Procedure provided in this Tech Tip ….
Transmission Service and Clutch Replacement Essentials
You’ve probably all heard of the 15-minute clutch replacement time for a classic Volkswagen Beetle. The “fact” that you could pull the engine, change the clutch parts and reinstall everything with just a penknife and screwdriver and do that on the side of the road. Then there are the tall tales of pulling the engine
Audi Tech Tip: Diagnosing Noisy Power Steering
Noisy power steering on an applicable vehicle may be caused by the following conditions: 1) Air drawn into the power steering pump if the power steering fluid is below the minimum mark during cold conditions; and 2) If any system components have been replaced or disconnected and the system filling or bleeding procedures were not carried out properly ….
Brake Caliper Diagnostics
The owner of a 2004 Malibu says that there is a squeaking noise coming from the right front wheel. A quick inspection shows that the master cylinder is low on fluid and the pads are down to the sensor. You tell the owner that she needs to have the brake pads replaced. She responds that