Loaded Shocks & Struts: More Application, Better Solution
When loaded struts were first introduced, the target market was the DIY crowd. However, it was clear that being able to source a spring and related hardware in one box was a big advantage for shops. These units can be a productivity gold mine that can help you bill more hours in a bay by eliminating the disassembly and assembly when transferring the spring and upper plate.
Tech Talk: Career Building — Developing Engine Building Experiences in School
Though many high school automotive programs have been cut or reduced in recent years due to funding, community colleges and technical schools are seeing steady enrollment in their automotive programs.
Centric Parts Now Offers Brake Coverage for More Than 400 Model Year 2012 or Newer Vehicles
Centric Parts has announced the immediate availability of more than 20 new applications covering several of the hottest new 2013 model year vehicles. The new applications, which are now available, enhance Centric Parts’ line of aftermarket brake and clutch components for most popular late-model foreign and domestic vehicles, and bring the total number of 2012 or newer supported vehicles to more than 400.
A 360° Look Into the GM 60° 3.1L Engine
Over the years, GM has saved a bundle on manufacturing the 3.1L engine by using the production line tooling it originally developed for the 2.8L V6. By simply changing the bore diameter, the displacement of the same engine block could now be increased for more power and torque.
Road Trip: Leading the Pack — 100 Years of Indy Pace Cars
The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, PA, will commemorate the event — Coming May 6 through October 9, 2011
Tool Tip: Intermittent Chuggle/No DTCs Set
Some customers may comment on an intermittent chuggle or fishbite on light acceleration or at steady-state highway speeds (typically 50-65 mph) with no PCM DTCs set. This condition may lead the technician to suspect the TCC circuit or torque converter. This condition may be caused by intermittent operation of the Throttle Position (TPS) Sensor.
Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: The TPMS System That Knows The Road.
Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are ones that do not have air pressure sensors inside the tires. Rather, they detect a low tire by comparing relative wheel speeds via the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) wheel speed sensors. When a tire loses air, its diameter decreases slightly.
Second Generation Repairs: Servicing the GM 3800 Series II Engine
The GM 3800 Series II engine, introduced in 1995, is quite a different engine from its predecessor, the Series I engine. While the stroke for the 3.8L engine remained at 3.4″ (86 mm), and the bore remained at 3.8″ (97 mm), the engine architecture changed dramatically.
Quality Tools vs. Low Cost Tools
By Jack Cameron, Guest Writer
Tech Tip: Servicing GM’s 3800 V6 Engines
The Buick 231 cu. in. 3.8L V6 engine has had a production run lasting more than 30 years. Like the small block Chevy V8, this engine has undergone many changes over the years to keep it abreast of changing consumer expectations and emissions regulations. The first Buick 3.8L was offered in the 1975 model year Skyhawk, Apollo, Century and Regal. The engine was based on an earlier 198 cu. in. V6 that Buick introduced back in ….