Tech Tip: Tire Rack Offers Answers to ‘Top Five’ TPMS Questions
Over the last year or so, Tire Rack has been conducting an informal and unscientific survey of its customers regarding the reoccurrence of issues dealing with tire pressure monitoring systems. Thanks to its wholesalers, service technicians and counter sales people in the field, just to name a few, Tire Rack developed a list of the Top Five most common TPMS questions.
Tech Tip: Special Timing Chain and Belt Tools
Before you replace a timing belt, chain or gear set on some engines, you will have to look up the timing reference marks. Some engines have multiple timing marks that can cause confusion if you don’t know which ones to use or how to line them up. Many engines also require special tools when changing a timing belt or chain. At the very least, you should have a belt tension gauge to make sure the tension on a timing belt is correct.
Hankook Takes the High Road (Literally) with Dynapro ATm RF10 Intro
Hankook Tire America invited media and dealers up to Big Bear Lake, a 17,000-resident ski resort community high up in the San Bernardino Mountains outside of Los Angeles. And by "high up" I mean 7,500 feet above sea level, parked along 400 miles of off-road trails that wind through a national forest. Big Bear Lake is entirely man-made, and the men who made it made out quite well financially.
Ingenuity Welcome at Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) is stepping into the spotlight through the recent launch of a new brand communications platform and refreshed corporate identity that incorporates a new logo (called the "open globe"), corporate slogan and advertising campaign – all designed to better align its image and marketing efforts with the company’s current strategic direction.
Tech Tip: Diagnosing and Servicing Automatic Transmissions
Automatic transmissions and transaxles fall into two categories: mechanical and electronic. Older vehicles with mechanical automatics use engine speed, throttle cables, governors and valves to shift gears. Newer vehicles with electronic transmissions use engine RPM and sensor inputs to operate solenoids that route internal fluid pressure to shift gears.
Current Trends for Ignition Systems
As automotive technology moves forward, ignition systems are becoming more and more entangled with other systems on the engine. The current generation Nissan Maxima 3.5L V6, which was introduced in 2004, has a fairly conventional coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system. The individual coils are driven by the powertrain control module (PCM) using the input signal from
Carley’s Corner: A Car Guy Goes ‘Green’
There have been a lot of headlines lately about global warming, climate change, environmental concerns and high gasoline prices. These are huge, complex issues with no easy answers. The bottom line is the world has a lot of people driving a lot of cars, and they are burning up a lot of fuel. There are
Bosal Expands Direct-Fit Exhaust Line; Adds Truck and SUV Coverage
Bosal USA has introduced 86 new part numbers to its direct-fit import exhaust line. More than one third of the new SKUs cover light trucks and SUVs. The new coverage now includes model years 1998 – 2004 for Toyota Tacoma, Highlander and 4 Runner; Nissan Pathfinder, XTerra, Frontier and D21 Pickup; Honda Passport and CRV; Mazda Tribute; Hyundai Santa Fe; and Isuzu Amigo and Rodeo.
Hybrid Engine Diagnosis & Service
The Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids have been around since 2001; the Honda Accord, Ford Escape and Lexus RX 400h hybrids since 2005; the Honda Civic, Toyota Highlander, Mercury Mariner, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrids since 2006; and the Lexus GS 450h, Saturn VUE Green Line, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima hybrids since
Decoding the Past
“I’d like for you to hook it up to the code machine and see what it says to replace” – anonymous customer Sound about right? It sure does. Of course, as auto repair professionals, we know better. We know that reading the code is not diagnostics, but rather that is where diagnostics might begin. We