Alignment Equipment
From the brake pad to the shock absorber, every product that you come in contact with at a shop has a history that goes back at least 75 years. We will look at different product categories and track the innovations that have shaped these products and the future for these segments. Alignment Retrospective In the
Honda Brake Service: Successful Jobs Are in the Details
You can’t argue that Hondas aren’t popular cars that have earned customer loyalty by giving many miles of trouble-free service to their owners. It’s safe to say that Honda has changed the way the world builds cars. And to think they’ve done it in 30 years is truly remarkable. All machines, even the good ones,
Aftermarket After SEMA
High-Performance Engine Upgrades For Your Customers
Timing Belt Replacement: Safeguarding Your Customers’ Vehicles From Major Engine Damage
Although better materials and manufacturing technology have extended the timing belt replacement intervals on many nameplates, timing belt replacements remain one of the most profitable scheduled maintenance services. They continue to be profitable because many other scheduled services like spark plug replacements, filter replacements, coolant changes and transmission fluid changes can be packaged with a
The Heat Is On…Helping Your Customers and Their Vehicles Keep Their “Cool”
What brings customers in for cooling system repairs? Usually, it’s a cooling system problem. No vehicle will go very far if its cooling system isn’t working. Sooner or later, the engine will overheat – possibly with dire results. Severe overheating can damage the cylinder head, head gasket, pistons, cylinders and/or valve guides. Many motorists don’t
Internal Engine Repairs: Begin with Diagnosing Engine Failure Culprits
Saab engine technology has evolved through the years, but the same basic design of the original B202 engine is still used in today’s Saabs. When the 16-valve 2.0L engine (B202) was developed in 1984, I was one of 10 people chosen from the East Coast area by Saab in the United States to attend a
Niche of Time: GM VTD Systems & Relearn Procedures
As we all know, in the world of automotive technology, things keep changing. In the aftermarket, we tend to feel these changes a little later than the OE dealers. That being the case, it’s no surprise that it has been only recently that many technicians are feeling the sting and frustrations caused by OE anti-theft
Engine Maintenance: Head Gasket Failure Symptoms and Diagnosis
Over the last decade, the engines that have been used in the Honda and Acura line of cars and SUVs not only deliver many miles of service, but their performance level sets a standard that few car makers in their class have been able to match. Additional proof of both the reliability and potential of
GM Timing Belt & Chain Service
Some overhead cam engines in General Motors vehicles use timing belts to drive the cam (the 2.0L for example), some use chains (2.3L Quad Four, Cadillac’s Northstar dual overhead cam 4.6L V8, the Aurora Northstar 4.0L V8 and Chevy’s Vortec 4200 inline six), and some use a combination of both (Chevrolet’s 3.4L V6). The rest
Mercedes-Benz Engine Diagnostics
I’ve always loved the puzzle. Check Engine warning lights have become an everyday chore for me over the last five years. It’s a challenge that extends my interest and creativity in the auto service profession. Before I deal with some specific Mercedes-Benz faults that I’ve researched, I must say that the ability to really solve