Diagnostic Solutions: Noise, Vibration & Harshness Diagnosis
Since the earliest days of the automotive service business, “squeak and rattle” diagnostics has become a euphemism for low-profit, nuisance repair work. Unfortunately for those of us in the auto repair business, even our best customers have the occasional need for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) diagnostics. On the plus side, if NVH diagnostics are
Honda Tech Tip: Dealing with EGR Issues
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) has been used for years to control combustion temperature to prevent spark knock as well as control NOx emissions. For the most part, these systems were trouble-free and required service only if you were dealing with a spark knock issue, or if the valve opened too early, resulting in a tip-in acceleration stumble, or the more common, bad idle quality caused by the valve not closing completely at idle.
EGR Issues: Dealing with P0401 Codes
ht=”245″ alt=”” align=”right” /> As emission controls got tighter, and with the advent of OBD II, things started to change. We not only saw additional driveability complaints, but we also had the check engine light (CEL) telling the customer there was an emissions failure that had to be dealt with for the good of the
Pennzoil Offers Advice on Switching from Conventional Oil to Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oils have been available for almost 30 years and a number of inaccurate myths have developed during this time. Some areas of misunderstanding are clarified in this article, including manufacturer requirements for using synthetics, how to switch from conventional to synthetic oil and the effects of synthetics on an engine.
Walker Exhaust Announces Aggressive, Continuing Coverage Expansion to Support Customer Sales
Tenneco Inc. has announced an aggressive, ongoing product coverage expansion that will bring more than 600 new exhaust/emission control part numbers to the Walker exhaust product line throughout 2008. Tenneco has invested in more than 1,600 new exhaust/emission control SKUs since 2004 to help automotive service providers capture new sales and customer relationships.
Mischievous Cats
By definition, a catalytic converter should last the lifetime of the vehicle. It can last this long because a catalyst is something that, just by being present, causes a reaction to other materials without itself being a participant in the reaction. However, real life has proven that the life span of a catalytic converter varies
Tech Tip: Sulfur-Like Smell Coming from Toyota Exhaust
Some owners of Toyota vehicles my experience a sulfur-like or rotten egg odor coming from the exhaust system. Sulfur is a natural component of crude oil from which the gasoline is refined and the amount of sulfur can be decreased through the refining process.
Diagnostic Solutions: COP Ignition Systems
For a number of reasons, the trend of modern engine management technology is leaning toward using coil-on-plug (COP) ignition systems. One reason is that COP ignitions are very compact and are very adaptable to individual cylinder tuning. With the exception of a few designs that incorporate a driver or “module” into the COP assembly itself,
Pennzoil Discusses Switching from Conventional Oil to Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oils have been available for almost 30 years and a number of inaccurate myths have developed during this time. Some areas of misunderstanding are clarified below, including manufacturer requirements for using synthetics, how to switch from conventional to synthetic oil and the effects of synthetics on an engine.
Saab Tech Tip: Rattling from Turbocharger
On certain Saab 9-5 models with B205E and B235E engines, the clip holding the turbocharger pushrod to the arm on the wastegate valve can come loose. If the clip comes off, the pushrod can slide off the pin on the wastegate valve arm. As a result, boost pressure control will not function and the valve disc will cause a rattling from the turbocharger.