The Changing Functional Fluid & Filters Market
What ever happened to the $19.95 oil change? The answer is that it disappeared, along with the “dinosaur” oils of the day. Using the $19.95 oil change as an example of the unique challenges faced by the auto repair industry in general, its original intent was to attract vehicles into the service bay for visual
Good or Replace? Testing Today’s Batteries
A weak battery, or one that is rundown, may not deliver enough amps to crank the engine when temperatures plunge and the oil thickens. While cold weather can be hard on batteries, so can hot weather because it increases water loss from the electrolyte inside the battery. That’s why batteries in hot climates usually don’t
Making Money with Mode $06
Nothing is more frustrating than “fixing” a customer’s vehicle and then have it come back a few days or weeks later with the check engine light on and the same fault code or a new fault code. You look bad, lose your customer’s confidence in your ability to fix their vehicle, and in states that
Antifreeze: Premixed Or Straight?
Antifreeze is a product that is in every liquid-cooled vehicle’s cooling system. Most brands of antifreeze are made of Ethylene Glycol (EG), although some brands use Propylene Glycol (PG) because it is somewhat less toxic if ingested. Antifreeze is mixed in equal parts with water to create a coolant solution that provides both freezing and
Hybrid Fluid Service 101
Does the phrase “hybrid fluid maintenance” scare you? It shouldn’t. With more than 3 million hybrids on the road, and many of your customers considering purchasing one, servicing hybrid vehicles is in your future. Some special procedures must be followed when working on a hybrid. Most dual-mode hybrids do not use a conventional starter attached
Intake Manifold Gaskets: A Service Rundown
Back in the days when most engines had cast iron blocks, heads and manifolds, the intake manifold could be easily sealed with simple and relatively inexpensive die cut fiber-faced metal gaskets (solid or perforated core). Sealer was usually required to ensure a leak-free installation. But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fuel systems and
Cabin Air Filters Serve A Dual Purpose
Cabin air filters, like other filters, are a maintenance item that needs to be inspected and replaced on a regular basis. Yet, in spite of the aftermarket’s efforts to educate the public, many motorists still don’t know their vehicle even has such a filter. It’s out of sight and out of mind for many motorists.
Late-Model Vehicles Place High Demands On Batteries
Long, cold winters are hard on car batteries, but long hot summers can be even harsher. Batteries in hot climates like Arizona, New Mexico and Florida typically need to be replaced a year or two sooner than those in states with more moderate climates. The reason is that heat causes the electrolyte inside the battery
Rack And Pinion Unit Repairs
When your professional alignment technician inspects a vehicle’s steering linkage, it’s very easy to spot a leaking rack and pinion steering gear because the rack boots are filled with leaking oil. Similarly, a conventional recirculating ball steering gear is usually worn out when oil is leaking from its steering shaft or sector shaft seals. An
Keeping Drivers Cool with Proper Maintenance
Spring has sprung, so that can only mean one thing: A smoking hot summer is just around the corner. So it’s a great time to remind customers that their air conditioning systems could use a little post-winter TLC. HVAC systems often fail because the air conditioning compressor fails. Not following the proper service procedures or
Diagnosing Electrical/Electronic Automatic Transmission Failures
Don’t be alarmed if you pull an automatic transmission trouble code when diagnosing a “check engine” warning light! Since the automatic transmission operation has a major effect on grams-per-mile exhaust emissions, you’re going to see the occasional “global” P0700 to P0900-series diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). The fact is, if you understand basic transmission operating principles,
10 Tips for Serpentine Belt System Inspection and Service
1. Where is the wear? Like a tire, the friction between the belt and pulleys wears away at the belt, usually on the tops and walls of the ribs. Eventually the grooves of the pulleys will bottom out on the grooves of the belt, and then the belt will start to slip. According to one
