Memory Lane: Culture Club – Restoring a Vehicle to ‘Car Culture’ Status
What some call the “car culture” still exists today as many large, organized “cruises” are held in various metro areas during the summer, as well as a number of car shows in the country’s smaller towns. This year was special because my body and paint (B&P) man and I had just finished putting the finishing touches on my old 1st-series 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, which I inherited from my dad in 1973.
Diagnostic Solutions: Testing Automotive Batteries and Starters
In the real world, battery and starter testing data can vary widely and for no apparent
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Solving Late-Model Charging System Dilemmas
This month’s Diagnostic Dilemma involves a pristine 1995 Buick Park Avenue with a customer complaint of dimming instrument cluster lights, a flickering voltmeter needle, a driveability bucking complaint and a dead battery. The alternator had been replaced due to an indication of excessive AC ripple on the shop’s hand-held battery and charging system tester. A P1630 trouble code was present, indicating a high/low condition with battery voltage.
Consumers Can Save Up to $40 by Choosing Champion Automotive Spark Plugs
Now through Nov. 30, 2012, consumers can receive up to $40 in mail-in rebates by purchasing Champion Iridium, Champion Double Platinum Power, Champion Platinum Power or Champion Copper Plus spark plugs for their automotive engines.
Johnson Controls Brings AGM Battery Technology to North America
Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) recently announced it is launching a line of Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries in North America to support up-and-coming Start-Stop vehicle technology, as well as the higher electrical loads that are increasingly being required of the battery in newer vehicles with combustion engines.
Customers Charged Up About Their Long-Lived ACDelco Batteries
In 1986, Ronald Reagan was president; oil prices dipped below $10 a barrel; an upstart software company named Microsoft issued an Initial Public Offering for stock; Bobby Ewing was brought back to life on the TV soap “Dallas”; and Jeff Becker bought an ACDelco Freedom 60 battery in suburban Los Angeles.
Mazda3i Vehicle Maintenance Checks
For this article, we’ll be looking at a 2006 Mazda3i. We won’t spend much time on performing routine maintenance services, as we should all be familiar with the nuts and bolts of the job. The most important thing to ask yourself is, why are you doing this service? Sure it’s important to get fresh fluids and
Tech Tip: Acura’s Battery is Dead, A/C Cools Poorly
If a 2007-2011 Acura MDX’s battery dies after the vehicle is parked for a short time or overnight, and/or the A/C system blows warm air, the A/C compressor clutch relay may be stuck closed. The A/C compressor may also be noisy and may be emitting refrigerant vapor from the relief valve.
Nissan: Solving Rotating Electrical Issues
Maybe the warning light on the dash has caught the attention of the customer who was lucky enough to make it to your shop, or not so lucky and their car needs to be towed, says Import Specialist Contributor Bob Dowie. Whatever the scenario, don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions when diagnosing rotating electrical issues.
Exide Launches Advanced-Technology Battery Geared Toward Longer Life
Exide Technologies unveiled its newest automotive battery technology and a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation at its Columbus, GA, facility, producing AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries. The March 13th event brought together officials from Exide as well as the local chamber of commerce and a representative from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Driving Technology: Curbing the Possibility of a Volt Electrical Fire
In early January, General Motors announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash. The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) preliminary evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.
Driving Technology: The Quest for Improved Battery Output
The search is on for new materials to boost battery energy storage and output.