Diagnostic Solutions: Fluid Maintenance Issues
Several factors are driving modern fluid maintenance services. First, a modern vehicle’s service life often extends to well over 200,000 miles and good fluid maintenance practices are, in part, responsible for that remarkable achievement. Second, car counts in many shops are declining because late-model vehicles require less scheduled maintenance and less frequent repairs. Consequently, many shops are looking at add-on services, such as fluid maintenance, to boost shop revenues.
Alignment Update: Chevy Cruze
The Chevy Cruze is the replacement for the Cobalt. The Cruze on the outside and under the hood is a big upgrade from the Cobalt, but underneath it is about the same setup as the Cobalt. The Cruze uses a strut setup like on the Cobalt. The caster is not adjustable. Camber is adjusted by enlarging the lower bolt hole on strut to knuckle mount. The inner hole should NOT be enlarged beyond that of the outer hole.
11 TPMS Commandments
1. Every time a stem-mounted TPMS sensor is removed from a rim, it must be serviced, no ifs, ands or buts. This goes for sensors that are six months old to six years old. Do not reuse seals or stems. 2. Always use a new kit. The typical kit includes a nut, valve core, grommets
Alignment Specs: 2010-2012 Buick LaCrosse
The second-generation Buick LaCrosse is built upon the mid-size Epsilon II platform. The Epsilon II platform will be the bread-and-butter of GM’s mid-size product strategy with revamped Malibu, Impala and Cadillac XTS models being launched soon. The chassis of the LaCrosse sets the bar high in terms of alignment service.
Tech Tip: TPMS Sensor Service
Every time a stem-mounted TPMS sensor is removed from a rim, it must be serviced, no ifs, ands or buts. This goes for sensors that are six months old to six years old. Some drivers may complain, but it is a lot better than having them comeback with the TPMS light on.
Diagnostic Solutions: Diagnosing Chassis Noises
Customer interviews are critical to the noise location process. Keep in mind that the grinding noise that you hear might not be the squeaking noise that the customer hears. In most cases, a test drive with the customer might help to identify the noise with which he or she is most concerned.
Tech Feature: Nissan Undercar Noise and Vibration Repairs
When it comes to Nissan undercar work, Import Specialist Bob Dowie discusses the first challenge you face and that is selling the work. While he uses the word “selling,” what you are actually doing is making the customer aware of issues that need to be addressed to maintain the reliability and, more importantly, the safety of their vehicle.
When A Recall Is Just A Recall: It a leaking seal, not a smoking gun …
You probably noticed that I kept quiet during the entire Toyota unintended acceleration fiasco while the rest of the media ran with the story giving it new levels mass hysteria. The media was even gift-wrapped an LAPD-style car chase as one driver faked a stuck gas pedal in his Prius on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Tech Tip: How to Bleed Slave Cylinders Without Bleed Screws
Technology is constantly changing and hydraulic release clutch systems are no exception. It is not uncommon for once familiar features to disappear from new vehicle models, replaced by “new and improved” designs. This changing landscape can cause confusion, and occasionally result in damage to system components when technicians mistake new features for old ones. Hydraulic slave cylinders without bleed screws are a perfect example.
Tech Feature: Steering Gear Diagnostics
We need to understand the basics of how a power steering system works before we can develop an assessment technique. At its most basic level, the steering system’s power steering pump can generate up to 2,000 psi of hydraulic pressure. This hydraulic pressure is metered to a steering assist cylinder through a steering gear pressure control valve. Both the cylinder and valve are integral to the steering gear assembly on modern vehicles.