A/C Cooling Loss Caused by Numerous Factors
It may be hard to think about A/C refrigerant this time of year, but when warmer weather arrives, the demand for refrigerant always jumps. Refrigerant is the working gas inside an A/C system. Refrigerants are gases that condense and change to a liquid at a certain temperature and pressure. They are normally a gas at
Thinking Like A Modern Transmission Can Accelerate Your Diagnostic Efforts
The transmission game has changed. Solenoids, sensors and computers have replaced vacuum lines, governors and kickdown cables on modern automatic transmissions. The tools have also changed: scan tools, scopes and meters have replaced pressure and vacuum gauges. Even with codes and datastream information available, you must be able to think like the transmission to find
Driveability Diagnostics and Direct Injection
Direct injection is becoming standard on more and more late-model vehicles. These systems can be a diagnostic challenge, but with the right foundation, problems can be solved profitably. Years ago, all a low-level technician needed to diagnose a fuel problem was a set of “noid lights,” a fuel pressure gauge and maybe a meter. These
ASE G1: Drive Belt Inspection, Replacement
The ASE G1 Certification test contains 55 scored questions, plus 10 unscored research questions, that cover a range of skills and knowledge related to maintenance and light repairs in engine systems, automatic transmission/transaxle, manual drivetrain and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical, and heating and air conditioning. As part of the engine systems portion, you
Loads, Faults and Drains
A good battery with an adequate charge is absolutely essential for reliable cold starting. A weak battery, or one that is rundown, may not deliver enough amps to crank the engine when temperatures plunge and the oil thickens. Cold weather can be hard on batteries, but so can hot weather because it increases water loss
Battery Charging Tips
Do not turn the charger on until both leads have been connected to the battery. Connect positive to positive and negative to negative. Do not reverse the connections as doing so may damage the charger and battery. Slow-charging at 6 amps or less is best because it develops less heat inside the battery (which can
Catalytic Converter: Service and Replacement
Since 1975 catalytic converters have been the most effective devices for controlling exhaust emissions. Before that, carmakers had done a somewhat effective job of controlling emissions by use of other systems. But controlling emissions with these systems alone meant lean mixtures and exotic ignition timing, which severely penalized power and fuel economy. When the use
Diesel Injection Components
For some time now, most of the development in diesel technology has been aimed toward making the engines environmentally friendly. But as diesel engines have become cleaner, the power levels have also increased. This is somewhat backward to what the country went through in the 1970s with gasoline engines. The problem back in the ’70s
Hand Wire Splicing for Sensitive Connections
Get the hang of splicing wire when solving electrical service problems.
GM Autoride
k absorbers. The ESC module has the ability to store DTCs as current or history codes. The system uses an ignition cycling diagnostic approach in order to reduce the occurrence of false or intermittent DTCs that do not affect the functionality of the system. This allows for the fail-soft actions to be taken whenever a
Take Charge Of A/C
Get familiar with what refrigerants are used in automotive A/C systems, as not all use the same type.
Honda Timing Belts: The First Step In Replacement Is Selling The Job
Learn to effectively replace timing belts, an often under-scheduled problem.