Independent Repair Shop Summit 2010 Draws 195 Technicians
The 9th annual Independent Repair Shop Summit (IRSS) took place on October 2-3 in Minden, NV. Hosted by Ramac Industries, the IRSS is the 2nd largest technician and shop management training event on the West Coast.
Tech Feature: Finding Electrical Shorts on Multiple Circuits
When I was a kid, I saw a movie called the “Juggernaut” with Richard Harris as the main character. It was about a cruise liner that was about to blow up because a terrorist had planted 55 gallon drum bombs all over the ship. The premise of the story line is that Richard Harris was going to save all the people on the ship by defusing the bombs. All through the movie, there were references to the different relays and electrical circuits.
Tech Tip: GM PASSLOCK Relearn Procedure
Vehicle will not start after the original ECM has been replaced. The original ECM has a security code (PASSLOCK) stored in its memory that matches the vehicle’s instrument panel cluster or security module (if so equipped). The replacement ECM can only receive the PASSLOCK code after it is installed in the vehicle and a relearn performed on the ECM.
Tech Tip: How to Bleed Slave Cylinders Without Bleed Screws
Technology is constantly changing and hydraulic release clutch systems are no exception. It is not uncommon for once familiar features to disappear from new vehicle models, replaced by “new and improved” designs. This changing landscape can cause confusion, and occasionally result in damage to system components when technicians mistake new features for old ones. Hydraulic slave cylinders without bleed screws are a perfect example.
Mitch Schneider: At Any Rate…
I was out of the shop all day Thursday and most of Friday. Realistically, coming in just before three on a Friday afternoon didn’t seem to make much sense, but there was a “big job” that just “had to go out” – a project car with lots of hours. It seems like there is always a big job with lots of hours that just has to go out. So, let’s just say that going back to the shop on a Friday afternoon after being gone for a day-and-a-half wasn’t a first-choice option! Nevertheless, I found myself sitting at my desk at a quarter to three, drowning in a sea of unopened mail.
Tech Feature: The DeLorean – Back From the Past
The DeLorean was often referred to as “the ethical sports car,” leading to the relatively small V6 engine and stainless-over-fiberglass construction with good fuel economy and long life in mind.
Bringing DeLoreans Back to the Road
How We Found Ourselves in the DeLorean Business
Diagnosing Airbag Systems After Suspension Repairs
Diagnosing airbag systems is a matter of having the correct scanning equipment and the correct repair procedures. There are several manufacturers that offer a way to count the flashes of the airbag light for diagnostic purposes. Determining faults and repair procedures differ from manufacturer to manufacturer – way too many to break down into one article. My advice is to read up on those systems that you will be dealing with and learn everything there is to know about them.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Harnessing in a Wiring Fault
During the summer, the speedometer on the Taurus would quit on an intermittent basis. Of course, when the speedometer would quit, the automatic transmission would default into an intermediate gear and fail to shift into the higher ranges. Although a local transmission shop installed a new VSS and performed other repairs as well, the Taurus ran only a few days before the problem resurfaced.
Instructor Insight: The ‘Trick’ to Student Employment Referrals
One automotive instructor’s advice to students as they prepare to join the ranks as a technician in the automotive service industry.