Tech Tip: Honda Suffers From Hard Start/Long Crank Time
If a an owner of a 2003-’04 Honda Accord complains their vehicle is experiencing excessive cranking or hard starting, there are two possible causes – contamination in the fuel pressure regulator or exhaust gas backflow into the intake manifold at engine shutdown.
Tech Feature: Dissecting The Control Module – PCMs, TCMs And BCMs
With the complexity of automotive electrical systems increasing steadily, manufacturers have developed troubleshooting trees and strategies to make it easier for technicians to diagnose problems. These steps and strategies are very helpful for technicians when followed, but they can also prevent them from using their cognitive skills.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Approaching No-Code Diagnostics
Thanks to the increasing reliability of modern vehicles, most diagnostic technicians are seeing fewer pattern-failure driveability complaints. For that reason, many techs won’t gamble expensive shop time chasing an illusive no-code driveability complaint. Instead, many will write “no problem found” on the repair order and move on to the next vehicle. Unfortunately, at some point in time, the intermittent, no-code driveability will either be solved or the vehicle will be traded or sold for scrap.
Mercedes: Diagnosing a P0301 Misfire Code Harnessing the Benefits of an Amp Probe
Electronics Diagnostic Specialist Sergio
Tech Feature: Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus Topology
At the typical repair shop, six-year-old vehicles (and there are 184 million of them on the road today) are some of the most common vehicles driving into the bays. And, since these vehicles are out of warranty, they will fuel service opportunities for the aftermarket and require more attention from independent repair shops like yours. In particular, one growing service area is diagnostics, especially as it relates to the expanding electronic content in today’s vehicles.
Delphi Launches Free Webinar Series on its New Diagnostic Scan Tool
Delphi Product & Service Solutions has launched a free webinar series on its new diagnostic scan tool beginning Feb. 7, 2013 at 2 p.m. EST, which will run every other Thursday until March 21, 2013. Each webinar is hosted live by a Delphi trainer, and will have a question and answer session at the conclusion
Directions: Selling The Fuel-Cell
A collaborative partnership between Daimler, Ford and Renault-Nissan was announced to begin mass producing hydrogen-fueled fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the next four years.
Pulling Codes: This One Didn’t Go ‘Zoom Zoom’! The Story Of P1345
Top EPA Codes: Carlton Banks investigates a P1345 code – CMP Sensor Circuit Malfunction – in a 2000 Mazda Protege. This is a code that involves the cam sensor input to the PCM. In many situations, one may be tempted to replace the cam sensor right away. This article will attempt to provide a possible plan of attack.
Tech Tip: Cold Temps Set DTC On Some GM Vehicles
Some GM customers may find that their vehicle’s malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates after starting the vehicle when using the engine coolant heater in very cold ambient temperatures.
Ford Tech Tip: Cackling Powerstroke Injector
Some Ford diesel vehicles with the 7.3L engine may experience a misfire or “cackle.” The injectors in the 7.3L diesel run off of the high-pressure engine oil pump.The #8 injector is the farthest away from the oil pump, causing a filling problem, which may result in a misfire. Ford replaced the #8 injector in some vehicles as needed with a different injector to solve the problem.
2013 VISION Set to Offer Power-Packed Industry Training
Four full days of education cover management, technical and educator topics. Registration for individual courses will be available Feb. 15.
Diagnostic Dilemmas: Multiple Failure Diagnostics On High Mileage Engines
Gary Goms explains that in tough economic times, a driver has no way of knowing how many maintenance-based and component-based failures will accumulate before he or she can afford to have a technician investigate the problem once a Check Engine light comes on.