Underhood Archives - Page 5 of 10 - Tire Review Magazine
How to Sell and Use Automotive Chemicals

In the modern era of reduced vehicle maintenance requirements, it’s very easy to develop a complacent attitude toward selling automotive chemicals. But, in our current market, automotive chemicals have become far more than just “snake oil” or “mechanic in a can” products. To the contrary — many are essential tools for keeping a modern vehicle

Tech Update: HVAC Diagnostics

Leave it to the OEMs to take a simple system like heating and air conditioning and turn it into an electronic jumble of wiring, sensors and computer components. HVAC units have come a long way from when I started in the business. A pressure switch was about all you needed back then; it’s not that

What’s New In Spark Plugs

The newest spark plug technology can be summed up in one word:Iridium. This relatively rare metal is challenging platinum as the metal of choice for today’s spark plugs. Iridium has a higher melting temperature and is six times harder than platinum.

R-134a Refrigerant Retrofits Are an Option – for a Price

Is it worth the trouble and cost to have the R-12 freon air-conditioning system retrofitted to R-134a refrigerant? It’s important to explain to the customer that the term “retrofit” describes special procedures that are required to convert a R-12 system to an alternative refrigerant. This service will depend on the need for this type of repair, the cost and how much the vehicle owner can afford.

Steering Angle Sensor Diagnostics

Measuring the steering wheel position angle and rate of turn, which are critical for electronic stability control systems, is the job of the steering angle sensor. The scan tool will typically display the information in degrees.

Understanding Engine Sensors

While the topic of engine management sensors might seem dark and mysterious, engine sensors share common functions in all modern vehicles. While their individual configurations might be different, the function of any engine sensor is to provide input data which the powertrain control module (PCM) processes to control output functions like the air/fuel mixture ratio,

Diagnostic Solutions: Engine Lubrication System Problems

Auto manufacturers, in general, are continuing to reduce vehicle maintenance requirements by extending oil change intervals. But extended oil change intervals are a mixed blessing. On the upside, extended oil change intervals are conserving precious oil and reducing carbon emissions. On the downside, many vehicle owners are forgetting to check their engine’s oil level between

Advances In Electrical System Testing

Shocking, electrifying, polarizing, spark of excitement, flash in the pan. What do all of these words/phrases have in common? They’re all terms from the world of electricity or electronics used to make a point. That point is that electricity and electronics are pretty darn important to our lives. As I write this article, the horrible

Understanding Modern Battery Functions

The function of a vehicle’s starting battery was very different when I first began my career in automotive repair in the late 1950s. Since the engines of that day had larger cubic-inch displacements, were equipped with full-field starter motors and used high-viscosity motor oil, the starting battery had to produce at least 400 cold cranking

Fuel Pump Diagnostics Using Scan Tools

The most common diagnostic procedures for fuel pumps in the past were analog and hands on. Most fuel pump-related problems could be solved with a pressure gauge and voltmeter. Today, the scan tool is the most important tool when diagnosing a fuel supply problem.

Service Tech 2013

Nearly every tire dealer offers vehicle service, whether basic maintenance or complete repairs. We’ve compiled an extensive collection of key questions often asked by service technicians of all skill levels, and responses from our cadre of auto service experts.

Gasket Surface Machining in Cylinder Head Repair

I recently had a chat with a technical representative for a major aftermarket gasket manufacturer who shed some light on some of the problems facing the cylinder head gasket market. According to this representative, the relatively short production life of modern engines also shortens the time that an aftermarket gasket company needs to remedy application-specific cylinder head sealing problems.