Tech Feature: Servicing Supplemental Restraint Systems
KABOOM!!! That’s kinda fun on the holidays isn’t it? Well, the pyrotechnics in a car can be satisfying as well. Satisfying to your wallet that is. I’m sure you’ve heard how "dangerous" air bags can be. Well they can be dangerous, but at the same time, they are pretty safe, too. An electronically controlled air bag requires a sufficient voltage and ground supplied to it or it will not detonate. Notice I specified "electronically controlled." There are some older models that were ….
Management: Highlights of the AAPEX and SEMA Shows
Every year in early November, Las Vegas hosts two huge automotive shows, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Exposition (AAPEX) at the Sands Convention Center, and the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The two shows this year drew more than 100,000 attendees from all over the world. These are the shows where automotive parts, accessory and equipment vendors reveal their ….
Getting a Grip on Traction Control
The basic principle of traction control is rather simple. A tire is breaking free and starting to spin so we’re going to place a drag on that wheel so that two things can happen. One is we want that tire to have a chance to regain its grip on the road surface. And two, we
Playing It Safe: Servicing Supplemental Restraint Systems
KABOOM!!! That’s kinda fun on the holidays isn’t it? Well, the pyrotechnics in a car can be satisfying as well. Satisfying to your wallet that is. I’m sure you’ve heard how “dangerous” air bags can be. Well they can be dangerous, but at the same time, they are pretty safe, too. An electronically controlled air
Carley’s Corner: Highlights of the AAPEX & SEMA Shows
Every year in early November, Las Vegas hosts two huge automotive shows, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Exposition (AAPEX) at the Sands Convention Center, and the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The two shows this year drew more than 100,000 attendees from all over the world. These are the
Snap-on Introduces 1/4-Inch Drive E8 Universal TORX Socket
Specifically designed for several applications on newer Mercedes-Benz models, the new 1/4-inch drive E8 universal TORX socket (TSE80) from Snap-on Tools works great on oil pan bolts, interior and engine fasteners, sensors and ….
The Ins and Outs of Indirect and Direct TPMS
This is the year of the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System). It’s been coming for some time. In response to a rash of highly publicized rollover accidents caused by tire failures on SUVs, Congress passed a law called the TREAD Act in 2000 which required all vehicle manufacturers to have TPMS on all their cars
Mazda: Timing Belt Replacement
A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way
Engine Tuning & Chassis Upgrades
When car manufacturers come out with a new engine design, some car enthusiasts eye the new technology from a perspective of how to squeeze more performance out of it. The smaller displacement engines that are turbocharged or supercharged tend to be the most likely chosen because of their power-to-weight ratio. When Saab introduced a turbocharged
Tech Tip: School Bus Inspection and Maintenance
Now that school is out, school bus inspections and maintenance is taking place in preparation for the next session in the fall. Many school districts are outsourcing the maintenance of their buses. This could be your chance to increase your shop’s customer base. While the coach work (body) of buses is changing to incorporate features like air conditioning, the tires, wheels, brakes and suspension the have not change much in 20 years. The biggest changes are under the hood ….