Tech Feature: What’s Rockin’ In Performance Rocker Arms and Valve Springs
Horsepower is in the heads. But for a cylinder head to breathe efficiently, the valvetrain must be rigid and strong to minimize flex, but also lightweight. For most performance applications, that means replacing the stock rocker arms, valve springs and pushrods with some type of aftermarket roller rocker arms, stiffer valve springs and stronger pushrods. The way in which rocker arms are designed has changed in recent years. Many companies now use sophisticated computer software to develop new rocker arm designs. An engineer sits down in front of a ….
Tech Feature: Understanding Valve Design and Alloys
To the naked eye, a valve is a valve is a valve. Sure, there may be two, three, four or more of them in the cylinder head, but unless you have x-ray eyes, one alloy looks pretty much the same as another. The importance of coatings to today’s valves should not be overlooked, of course. Coatings on titanium valves or steel valves that have a black nitride coating may give different manufacturers a unique appearance but that beauty, as they say, is only skin deep. Underneath it all, is there any difference between valves ….
Tech Tip: Rotor Runout Checklist
The vehicle owner may say that under light braking the vehicle pulses to a stop, or under heavy braking the vehicle shudders. Technical service bulletins (TSBs) often describe these symptoms as a "judder." There are only two causes for judder – lateral runout and disc thickness variation on the rotor’s friction surface. What could have caused the lateral runout? The causes of the condition range from ….
NAPA Provides Recommendations for Avoiding AAA-Cited Top Preventive Maintenance Problems
Dirty air filters are the most common preventive maintenance problem for vehicle owners as identified in nationwide clinics conducted by AAA clubs. As a leader in preventive maintenance, ASE-certified technicians at NAPA AutoCare Centers are trained to look for common preventive maintenance areas before they turn into problems ….
Tech Tip: Diagnosing Fuel Pumps and Injectors
One of the first questions that should always be answered when diagnosing a fuel-related complaint on a fuel-injected engine is, "What is the fuel pressure?" All too often, technicians assume fuel pressure is "good" without actually measuring it with a gauge. If the engine runs, they assume the injectors are getting adequate fuel pressure. If the engine cranks but won’t start, and they depress the service valve on the ….
Rotor Runout Check List
The vehicle owner may say that under light braking the vehicle pulses to a stop, or under heavy braking the vehicle shudders. Technical service bulletins (TSBs) often describe these symptoms as a “judder.” There are only two causes for judder — lateral runout and disc thickness variation on the rotor’s friction surface. What could have
Tech Feature: Diagnosing Fuel Pumps and Injectors
One of the first questions that should always be answered when diagnosing a fuel-related complaint on a fuel-injected engine is, “What is the fuel pressure?” All too often, technicians assume fuel pressure is “good” without actually measuring it with a gauge. If the engine runs, they assume the injectors are getting adequate fuel pressure. If
Servicing Solutions: 15 Tips on Servicing Ford F-150s
A bold new look and some subtle changes probably best describe the 2004-and-up Ford F-150. To the technician, it is the subtle changes that he or she needs to be aware of. Beginning with the 2004 model year, Ford launched a new body style for the F-150. It is a new vehicle inside and out.
Rat Rods – Not as Low Buck as They Might First Appear
While the economy stalls – enthusiasts are building "Rat Rods" in record numbers. Right in the middle of the economic slowdown and our government’s bailout of Wall Street, a little West Coast car event called the Primer Nationals was taking place in Ventura, CA. Did the hard times affect the turnout or enthusiasm for this dominate new hot rod culture? Heck no! In fact the event has grown to more than 500-600 cars, and the spectators swarmed the fairgrounds by the thousands ….
ASE Introduces New A9 Auto Series Test
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is introducing a new addition to the Automobile Technician certification test series – the Light Vehicle Diesel Engines Test (A9). The new A9 test comes as a response to industry interest in having ASE provide a ….