Cooling System Tips For The 6.0L/7.3L Powerstroke Engine
One of the most overlooked preventive maintenance items in a diesel engine is the coolant system. Maintaining the coolant system is just as important as an oil change – in fact, the coolant condition in a diesel engine may even be more important than in a gasoline engine.
Breaking Down Why Engine Oil Breaks Down
First off, all oil breaks down. That generally will include base stocks and additives. Without focusing on performance characteristics, the most significant difference from one oil to another is how quickly breakdown occurs. Although there are many factors that contribute to the breakdown of an oil, heat is one of the most important.
Clamp-On And Snap-In TPMS Sensor Installation Procedures
Most TPMS sensors are held in using just a screw or a nut, but if not assembled or torqued properly, the results can be catastrophic.
Carelessness can result in a broken sensor or even a customer stranded with a flat tire.
Why Shocks And Struts Wear Out
Ask any one working the front counter what is the most difficult items to sell and two items will always come up, diagnostic fees and struts. When shocks and struts wear out, there are almost no visual clues. The car will not turn on a light or leave the customer stranded. The clues are all in the “seat of the pants” of the driver. When a unit is leaking, it is a sign of failure and not wear. Even the “knee on the bumper” test can give false results due to how some units handle low-frequency movements.
ASE A5 Prep: Electronic Brake Distribution (Video)
Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and the HCU are replacing proportioning, combination and other valves to change the braking forces in the front and rear. This is called Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and it can dynamically change to proportioning to take into account if the vehicle is turning or is loaded. The system can also use EBD to perform a “soft stop.” This routine is performed when a vehicle is slowing at low speeds and the brake force is varied in the front and rear so the vehicle’s attitude is controlled and weight is evenly transferred. This means a flatter and more stable stop.
TPMS Sensor Corrosion: 5 Tips To Help Avoid A Snapped Stem
Since TPMS became standard equipment in 2008, many sensors are starting to show their age. While some of these sensors may have a lot of battery life left, the sensors’ stems are starting to fall victim to corrosion. Here are five tips that can help you avoid snapping stems and have the shop eat a sensor.
Tech Feature: Parasitic Draw Hunting With A Voltmeter
In the past, I’ve always hunted down parasitic draws with my multimeter set on the amperage scale in series with the battery cable, along with jumper leads to open and close the connection, so I could watch for the amperage drop. I also needed to know what a safe level was in order to see the actual draw (or lack of). Some techs use a dead-man switch attached to the battery post instead of jumper wires. For me, it’s whatever I have handy at the time, and time is money so the quicker I can get to the source of the problem, the better that is for my bottom line.
4WD/AWD Hub Service On Kia Sportage And Sorento Models
While you may never have to replace the entire transfer case or transmission on the popular Sportage and Sorento SUVs, you will have to replace hubs, sensors and solenoids on your customers’ vehicles. In this article, we’ll start with the early systems on the 2000 Sportage.
Tech Feature: Hall Effect Sensor Diagnostics
Hall effect crankshaft position (CKP) and camshaft position (CMP) sensors are critical components of an engine management system. The inputs they provide enable the powertrain control module (PCM) to determine engine speed and position including where a given cylinder is within the four-stroke cycle.
Air Ride Height Sensor Diagnostics
Some ride height sensor modules connect to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus or other SAE or ISO bus or ride control module. The module can connect directly to the ABS/ESC module on a CAN bus or it can be part of the overall CAN Network in a loop that connects various modules in the vehicle.
ABS/ESC Brake Solenoid Diagnostics
The ABS computer or HCU is a node on a high-speed vehicle bus. This means that the information can be typically accessed through the OBDII DLC. The ABS controller/modulator is the heart of any ABS or ESC system. The modulator gets the brake pressure from the master cylinder. Inside are the valves and solenoids that control the pressures to the wheel. During normal operation, the pressure from the master cylinder goes through the HCU unaltered.
‘Exploring’ Service Needs On The Ford 4.0L V6 Engine
Rated at a rather anemic 210 horsepower, the 4.0L SOHC V6 is not exactly a high output engine. It also has an unusual overhead cam drive setup. Unlike most other OHC V6 and V8 engines that drive both overhead cams directly from the crankshaft with a belt or chain, this engine has an intermediate jackshaft in the middle of the block where a pushrod cam would normally be located.