Brake Tools: Brake Service Tools & Equipment
Brake work is one of the cornerstones of the automotive repair business, so it’s important to make sure you have the right tools and equipment to service the brakes on today’s vehicles. Most shops that do brake work have some type of brake fluid flushing and bleeding equipment (a power bleeder, vacuum bleeder or injector
The Impact of Lift Choice on the Bottom Line
A vehicle lift provides ergonomic, convenient access to all of a vehicle’s systems, enabling technicians to work as efficiently as possible for maximum productivity. Productivity is the key to shop profitability – the more jobs technicians complete in a timely manner, the higher the revenue.
Get it Straight
Customers these days are pickier than ever about the work performed on their vehicles —and an alignment isn’t an exception. If customers aren’t satisfied with how their cars ride, steer and handle after driving them out of your shop, you’ll likely see those customers again — for the redo. What follows are some simple steps
OTC LeakTamer Plus Offers Industry Best Practices for EVAP System Testing
The LeakTamer Plus EVAP Smoke Machine (P/N 6521) by OTC, a business unit of SPX Corporation, is a versatile, diagnostic, one-button tester built from the ground up to specifically test and repair OBD-II EVAP system leaks while operating in accordance with major automakers’ EVAP testing specifications and needs.
Automatic Transmissions: From Mechanical to Electronic to Hybrid
A long time ago in a service bay, preventive maintenance for an automatic transmission was an oil change, band and throttle linkage adjustment. The 1960s saw the end of external band adjustments. In the 1970s, the drain plug went away and the pick up screen was replaced with a filter. In the 1980s, a turbo
Foreign Affairs: VW P Codes — … Putting Out The MIL
After 10-plus years of dealing with OBD II, it should be apparent that we are on a learning curve that probably has no end. Almost daily we have a Volkswagen model come into the shop with a check engine light on, or a “state OBD II failure” form. Although we have the latest scanner software
Wheel Bearing Hub Unit Q & A
Can I use an impact wrench to remove or install a wheel bearing hub unit? While it may appear to be easier to use an impact wrench, it is not recommended. We recommend the use of a certified, calibrated torque wrench. Impact wrenches can damage the wheel speed sensor.
Tech Tip: Engine Analyzers Can Diagnose a Wide Variety of Engine Performance Problems
An emissions analyzer is one of the most useful pieces of diagnostic equipment you can own. By revealing the exact composition of the exhaust gases that are coming out of the engine, you can see if the fuel mixture is running rich or lean, and if a misfire is ignition, compression or fuel related.
Selling Services: Wheel Bearing Hub Unit Q&A
Can I use an impact wrench to remove or install a wheel bearing hub unit?
Emissions Analyzers: What is Really Going On Inside that Engine?
An emissions analyzer is one of the most useful pieces of diagnostic equipment you can own. Scan tools are great for reading fault codes and sensor data, but a scan tool by itself can’t tell you what is actually going on inside the engine’s combustion chambers. A scan tool can read misfires and tell you