Tech Tip: Volkswagen Coolant Pump Leakage
Coolant pump seals are designed to use coolant as a lubricant. This design intentionally uses a small amount of coolant to coat the seals during pump operation. Any excess coolant that accumulates will exit the weep hole when the engine cools down. Minute traces of coolant or lubricant residue around the weep hole is not evidence of a faulty pump. Do not confuse a leaking coolant pump with one that is functioning as designed.
Spirit of the Wild: Snap-on Teams Up with Ted Nugent
For technicians who love to pack up the truck Friday after work with rods, rifles and bows and head for the woods – there’s a new tool box designed just for you. Snap-on Tools has teamed up with legendary rocker and gonzo sportsman, Ted Nugent, to introduce a new line of limited edition roll cabinets and accessories.
Diagnostic Solutions: Power Steering Pumps
Going Back to the Basics Can Often Resolve Troublesome Power Assist and Noise-Related Issues We often take the commonplace power steering pump for granted until the driver begins to notice a lack of power assist during parking or the pump itself begins to develop an irritating growling or whining noise. Although installing a new or
Mitch Schneider: Did You Just Say What I Think You Just Said?
I just finished writing a piece for our sister publication, Counterman. This particular article centered on a warranty issue for a defective master cylinder that we purchased and installed just the other day. In and of itself, there shouldn’t be much to write about. But, unfortunately, in this case there was. It turns out this particular master cylinder had been purchased years before by the supplier who got the call. And, again, there shouldn’t be much to write about. After all, it’s not like we’re talking about chicken or fish: something likely to "spoil" over time.
Tech Tip: Selling Performance Modifications
The sport compact car market is hotter than ever. The market has moved beyond the simple bolt-ons such as wheels, tires, brake rotors and spoilers. It’s not unusual today to see sport compact engines producing upward of 400 horsepower on the street. With so much power under the hood, the challenge is getting the horsepower to the tires and maintaining reasonable traction and handling.
Point of View: This is Customer Service?
Sometimes I can be a little opinionated, and sometimes I can be a little cranky. Today is one of those days when I am both. I am a simple consumer: I am a BIG fan of GREAT customer service and I HATE BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I recently tested the customer service-ability of one of the
Tech Feature: Reasons for Piston Replacement
Though pistons can often be salvaged when rebuilding or remanufacturing an engine, sometimes they have to be replaced. The original pistons may have worn or damaged ring grooves, wrist pins or skirts, or they may have cracks. New pistons may also be necessary if the cylinders have too much taper wear and the block has to be bored to oversize. Or, maybe you just don’t want to reuse the original pistons if you’re building a performance engine or a high load engine like a diesel light-duty pickup truck.
Tech Tip: Jeep Multiple Cylinder Misfire
The customer may experience an incident of engine misfire during certain vehicle operating conditions. The misfire may occur when the vehicle is operated between 50-70 mph and under light loading conditions, e.g. slight uphill road grades. This condition may occur at all ambient conditions, but is more noticeable when ambient conditions are less than 0° C (32° F).
Mac Tools Mac Card Dream Garage Sweepstakes Winner Takes Home $40,000 Worth of Mac Tools Product
The Mac Tools Mac Card program teamed up with Bristol Motor Speedway and Ray Evernham Motorsports for the first-ever Dream Garage Sweepstakes. The contest reached its highly anticipated finale Saturday, August 25 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN, where one lucky winner received $40,000 worth of Mac Tools product to outfit their "Dream Garage."
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.