Ball Joint Inspection
It’s important to remember not to miss a worn joint. If a ball joint fails, the driver loses control of the vehicle.
Mazda IActivsense ADAS Systems
Mazda’s ADAS technologies use radar, cameras and lasers to identify objects and hazards and help drivers be safer.
The Problem Is Not In The Transfer Case
The most important part of any repair work is locating the cause of the problem that causes the customer complaint.
VIDEO: Switch Failures Caused By COVID-19
Cleaning can kill COVID-19 but what’s it doing to your vehicle? This video is sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper.
Bartec USA Announces Second 2020 Software Update
A better working tool means more vehicles serviced and an improved bottom line for their service partners.
VIDEO: HID Modules And The Infinite Resistance
Andrew Markel discusses the HID ballast module and how the internal construction of the bulbs can render diagnosis with a voltmeter useless. Sponsored by Standard.
VIDEO: TPMS Signal Transmission
TPMS sensors last a long time on a vehicle because they wake up for use and sleep when not in use. How do they know? Andrew Markel explains. Sponsored by Standard.
VIDEO: Test Before You Touch
Andrew Markel shows how Test Before You Touch can help avoid comebacks and improve customer relations by testing the sensors before performing a repair. Sponsored by Bartec USA.
GM: Intermittent Check Engine Light, DTC P2138 With Reduced Engine Power
Some customers may comment on an intermittent malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being illuminated with a message or an indicator that displays Reduced Engine Power. The technician may observe on a scan tool DTC P2138 – Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 1-2 Correlation set as Current or in History.
Ford Fiesta Tech Tip: Automatic Transmission Grinding Or Rattling
Some 2011 Fiesta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and built on or before 1/13/2011 may exhibit a grind/rattle noise from the transaxle in 2nd and 4th gears. In some vehicles, the noise may also occur in reverse, in addition to 2nd and 4th gears. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
Troubleshooting ABS Modulator Mechanical Problems
Mechanical issues with the ABS modulator, or hydraulic control units (HCU), are rare, but they can happen. With more vehicles on the roads with older ABS systems that have not seen proper brake fluid maintenance, mechanical issues are becoming more common.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: ‘Wanna Be’ Technicians
There’s one situation every professional automotive technician has had to deal with from time to time, and it involves the home-grown garage guy who just so happens to own a couple of ratchets, a repair manual and a broken-down car. In a recent case, the car in question wouldn’t start, and a neighborhood mechanic did his best to read and understand what was on the diagnostic pages of the manual, but he couldn’t make any sense of the wiring diagram for the fuel pump circuit. His final verdict, “It’s not getting any voltage to the fuel pump.”
