Brake Booster: Service Fundamentals
Disc brakes are not “self-energizing” like drum brakes, so they require more pedal effort to apply. It’s the magic of power brakes that allows a 98-lb. little old lady to bring two tons of a you name it luxury sedan to a screeching halt with little more than a light caress of her foot against
40-Year-Old Volvo
Starring at an auto show near you, it’s “The 40-Year-Old Volvo,” a tale of a 1966 1800 that just keeps running, and running, and running. . . By Debbie Briggs, Contributing Writer When Irvin Gordon bought his sporty red 1966 Volvo 1800, or P1800 as it’s known in Europe, on June 30, 1966, he had
CAFs: Searching for Hidden Services
They call it the “hidden filter” because many motorists don’t realize their vehicles have separate air filters for the passenger compartments. Cabin air filters first appeared back in the mid-1980s. The earliest applications were on Audi and other European makes. Today, about 80% of all new import and domestic vehicles have a cabin air filter
Flashing Signals / Reprogramming PCMs
You don’t have to be Microsoft A+ certified to flash reprogram automotive PCMs, but the process requires a certain amount of know-how as well as special tools and access to the latest OEM software upgrades (which are not free!). What’s more, it’s not a risk-free endeavor. Certain precautions must be undertaken before you begin, and
A/C Update: Keeping the Black Death at Bay
Over time, moisture contamination in an A/C system will form corrosive acids that attack metal surfaces and break down the lubricating qualities of the compressor oil. The result is a dark-colored sludge called “Black Death” that can gum up the orifice tube or expansion valve and ruin the compressor. How does moisture get in the
Hot Summer, Cool Cash: Rancho Launches New ‘QuickCASH’ Promotion
Rancho is ready to power up consumers with a lucrative rebate program on the company’s new QuickLIFT and RS9000XL shock absorbers. Truck, SUV and Jeep owners can earn valuable cash rewards through the "QuickCASH" mail-in rebate program for the purchase of qualifying products from June 1 until July 31, 2007.
Computers: Why You Can’t Do Business Today Without Them
It’s hard to imagine any automotive repair shop doing business today without the benefit of multiple computers. Yet some shops continue to do business and fix cars the "old fashioned way" with no computers whatsoever. I can’t help but wonder how much longer some of these shops will stay in business.
Tech Tip: Improving Vehicle Handling
Shock absorbers and struts dampen the motions of the suspension to provide a smooth, comfortable and safe ride. Some OEM shocks have electronic valving that allows the driver or a body control module to adjust the dampening characteristics of the shocks or struts to changing driving conditions.
Mitch Schneider: Personal Axe Grinding Shows Ignorance, Especially When Done in ‘First Person’
After almost 41 years of working as a shop owner and a professional technician, I’d like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at dealing with broken stuff. However, every once in a while something occurs that shakes my confidence to its very foundation.
Tech Tip: The Science of Friction Materials
Friction materials are made from a variety of ingredients. These include various types of fibers for reinforcement and heat management, fillers for friction control and wear resistance, other ingredients to suppress noise and resin to bind all of the other ingredients together.