Performing an air filter inspection is a key part of the vehicle inspection process. A contaminated or improperly sealed air filter can have a major impact on the performance of the engine, its longevity, or damage to costly electronic sensors. In addition to inspecting the air filter for…
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Dealing with a customer who has been told that the excessive oil consumption with his vehicle is due to the oil filter and the lubricant that you installed can be a challenge. Most customers would not lend credibility to the claim, but the customer is in a difficult position…
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In previous articles we have cautioned on the importance of air filter maintenance on diesel applications to prevent catastrophic engine and turbocharger failures. This information is included in Tech Tips #110 Ford’s Power Stroke, #124 Servicing Dodge’s Turbo Diesel, and #139 Filtering GM’s Duramax Diesel. Those articles…
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The lube service technician often gets blamed for conditions that are beyond his control. While the symptom could involve an installation concern or the quality of the parts installed, it may be a condition inherited in the vehicle since production. When faced with a customer…
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Cleaning up the exhaust on a diesel application has been a challenge for the vehicle manufacturers. Much progress has been achieved with new fuelinjection technology and the addition of a three stage catalytic converter to control hydrocarbons (HC)…
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Identifying problems that are inherent with a vehicle can save your credibility with the vehicle owner and the shop some unnecessary expense. When servicing a vehicle, many times we get blamed for a condition that may have been inherent…
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Many vehicle owners are not aware that their vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) until the horseshoe-shaped light with an exclamation point in the center is illuminated. At that point they panic and call their repair shop, where they are made aware of the on-board technology…
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Aerated fuel can create some major performance problems for a diesel application and some difficult challenges for the technician. While some fuel injector problems may be inherent in the system by design, many of the issues are the result of improper fuel filter installation procedures, or poor lube and filter service intervals…
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When a fuel filter becomes restricted on a diesel application, the chances are great the system needs more than just a fuel filter replacement. Many erratic or poor performance related symptoms are due to fuel quality related conditions. Often these symptoms result from corrosion or deposit formations in the fuel tank…
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Factory-induced problems can drive a technician to assume some bad habits, as he often gets blamed for conditions beyond his control…
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When you encounter multiple fuel pump failures on the same vehicle, there is a good possibility that contaminated fuel may be the reason for the repeated failures…
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Rear axle differential service is the most commonly overlooked service by the vehicle owner and the technician. It is out-of-sight and out-of-mind…
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Often, driveline or suspension related problems are misdiagnosed as brake related conditions. The symptoms share many common characteristics that make it easy for the technician to miss the diagnosis, resulting in major expense to the customer and often lost labor hours for the shop…
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Imagine this scenario…you are driving a one ton truck with a 24-foot trailer attached and a 10,000 pound farm tractor loaded on the trailer…
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When examining an air filter, there is more to consider than the presence of a dirty filter. The shop owner had just bragged about how thorough his lube service technicians were in performing vehicle inspections and making service recommendations…
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Imagine changing the oil and filter on a 2006 Nissan Maxima, and a few days later the customer encounters droplets of oil on the carport…
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Occasionally you will encounter a system or component that develops a history of pattern failures that can elude your best efforts. Problems or premature failures can result from a manufacturing defect with a component, a problem due to the design of the system, or a secondary system malfunction may lead to a premature component failure. […]
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With the introduction of a new vehicle or powertrain, the vehicle manufacturers will log hundreds of thousands of test miles in an effort to identify any potential problem with a system, prior to the vehicle being put into production. Considering that, it is difficult to understand why a system may experience a major unforeseen problem […]
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Nothing can be more frustrating to the customer than a high-pitched belt squeal or an annoying chirping sound coming from the accessory drive belt or pulleys. The first suspect is almost always the belt, and is often replaced numerous times in a futile effort to eliminate the noise…
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Imagine changing the oil and filter on a customer’s vehicle and the engine developing a low or no oil pressure condition. To correct the problem requires several hundred dollars to cover the cost of parts and labor. Is it possible for this to happen during a routine oil and filter change? Unfortunately, it can happen. […]
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Are you up to speed on starting performance and electrical related concerns due to low battery voltage conditions? With today’s systems…
Read MoreWhen you perform maintenance or service a customer’s vehicle, are you inspecting the trottle body for contamination and recommending a clean-up when needed? If you are like the majority, you are not doing that…
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When the hotlines and brake technicians are inundated with multiple complaints of the same nature on a given series vehicle, it’s almost certain that the symptoms are a normal characteristic for that platform. While the symptoms may be normal for that vehicle, the owner may not be that understanding. For example, when a customer has a […]
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Unless your shop specializes in diesel repair, chances are your diesel knowledge is limited. The same applies to any power-train or system that we are unfamiliar with or have limited access to…
Read MoreWith a customer complaint of reduced air flow from the A/C vents, the technician questioned the customer as to when the cabin air filter was last replaced. The response from the customer was typical – “What’s a cabin air filter?” Most vehicle owners are not aware that their vehicle is fitted with a cabin air […]
Read MoreTurbo-charged diesel engines have a healthy appetite for air, consuming large volumes of it. Keeping the air system clean is the key to good engine performance. With an air system restriction, some major engine performance conditions will occur and damage to the system is almost certain. In most cases, the engine will get the needed […]
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Often the assumption is made that any level service technician or helper can make an air filter installation without difficulty or penalty. Maybe they can…
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Diesel engines have a healthy appetite for air. Couple that with a turbocharger, and the engine is really inhaling a lot of air. Any restriction in the airway can result in some major engine or turbocharger damage…
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The automotive information network has been filled with warnings and cautions concerning the 2003– 2004 Honda CR-V Sport Utility Vehicles and fires occurring after an oil change. When twenty-seven of the mentioned vehicles turn into an inferno following a lube service, it naturally causes concern. We have received reports that some lube shops are refusing […]
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Does the subject of headlights sound boring or unrelated to your business interest? Even if you are not interested in servicing headlamps or other lighting on the vehicle, there are a few facts that you and your technicians should know about the high intensity discharge (HID) lighting…
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Diagnosing a squeak, rattle or knocking condition can be a frustrating experience. The first step in the diagnostic process is to always make a road test with the vehicle owner…
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The positive crankcase ventilation system (PCV) is yesterday’s technology with a new set of challenges. While most consider the PCV system a simple and uneventful part of the emission control system, it can have a detrimental effect on the overall engine performance. A component failure can result in an array of problems including rough idle, […]
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There is much chatter going on in the repair industry concerning diesel powered vehicles and a fluid referred to as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)…
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Maintaining the proper engine coolant temperature is imperative, especially considering today’s computerized engine control systems. Failure to achieve a determined coolant temperature can result in poor fuel economy, high emissions output or costly engine damage…
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Too little consideration is given to basic maintenance and the effect that some of the seemingly insignificant components can have on the system. Fuel filter maintenance is a good example. Many vehicle owners neglect the fuel filter as a service item, and technicians often fail to recommend a fuel filter replacement during normal service intervals. […]
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How up-to-date is your belt knowledge? When the customer makes a belt noise complaint do you troubleshoot the noise condition or do you just throw a new belt at the symptom? Many design changes in the belts have been introduced to reduce belt noise complaints and provide longer life…
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With a customer complaint of a fading brake pedal, most technicians automatically assume friction as the culprit. Installing a new or different type of friction formulation may not satisfy the pedal fading symptoms, especially if the brake fluid is contaminated…
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Dealing with brake system complaints can be a challenge. Don’t complicate the problem by getting so anxious to fix the problem that you fail to take the time necessary to accurately diagnose the symptoms. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of responding to the customer’s request for a service…
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The crusty deposits that form on the intake valves and fuel injector tips can create major engine performance problems…
Read MoreDiagnosing engine performance problems can be a challenge. Heat and fuel related conditions can make the engine behave erratically, resulting in a rough idle or misfire…
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When cooling system or belt driven components encounter problems, don’t get so anxious to fix the problem that you miss the diagnosis. Nothing is worse than a customer having to return multiple times for the same repair, when a little detective work by the technician could have prevented the condition…
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Troubleshooting driveability symptoms based solely on a description provided by the vehicle owner can be a real challenge for the technician. A road test with the customer is the preferred method of obtaining the crucial information necessary to make an accurate diagnosis…
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Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) will become a daily part of our service activity. Maintaining the proper tire pressure is imperative for vehicle stability and control…
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The sensation is that of a sticking throttle linkage, as a higher than expected throttle effort is required to accelerate from the idle position. The condition can promote a lunging symptom or a loss of traction when the throttle valve resistance is eventually overcome. It makes for a frustrating and dangerous to drive vehicle, especially […]
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Are you recommending the proper lubrication service interval to your customers? Be aware that there is more to making the service recommendation than monitoring the miles driven between lube services…
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When the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) was first introduced to the automobile, many technicians were very skeptical…
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Getting the pulse out of a brake pedal is one issue; keeping it out is another. In the case of a 1999– 2002 Grand Cherokee, it will take a factory solution to alleviate the problem. Some problems are not fixable, at least without some factory modifications. Identifying these early on can save you and the […]
Read MoreComplaints of leakage following a fuel filter installation are not uncommon with the Duramax applications. The vehicles affected include GM’s Duramax turbocharged diesel applications produced from 2001–2009. Part of the problem is the accessibility of the filter…
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A customer complains about a brake performance condition involving a shudder, vibration, or squeal during brake application. The technician’s focus is on the normal conditions and procedures that are necessary to alleviate the symptoms…
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Travel any city in the USA and you will observe a market saturated with four-wheel drive trucks and SUV’s. With this fleet comes some required but neglected maintenance, which is imperative in preventing costly repairs. The majority of these 4×4 owners are not familiar with the operating procedures or characteristics that can result in major […]
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Diagnosing electrical problems can be challenging, even for the most experienced technician. Unfortunately, few electrical problems are hard failures and instead fit the challenging category of intermittent failures. Intermittent problems may be affected by heat, cold, or vibration…
Read MoreA customer brings a vehicle in for a routine service and a belt condition. Without diagnosing the symptom, the technician recommends and installs a new serpentine drive belt. All is quiet in the engine compartment…
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Ford’s Power Stroke Turbo Diesel has a healthy appetite for air, and with the assist of the turbocharger, it has the lung capacity to ingest more than just air. With a filter restriction, the turbo may pull the air filter from the air box, consume parts of the filter, or cause damage to the filter […]
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Imagine performing a fuel filter service on GM’s Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel. You just installed a new fuel filter and performed the proper priming procedure to bleed the air from the system…
Read MoreWhile installing a new set of tires on a 2005 Nissan Maxima, a safety inspection was performed as a courtesy to the customer. The technician recommended that the disc pads should be replaced and the calipers were seeping fluid around the piston seals…
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Nothing is more frustrating than performing a service on a vehicle and having the customer return with a complaint. The symptoms may involve a brake noise condition, a pulsation, premature wear, a suspension related condition, or any one of several symptoms. Diagnosing noise-related symptoms can be a frustrating endeavor.
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Neglecting routine maintenance on a gas burner may result in poor performance, loss of fuel economy and high emission output. Let the same service go on a turbo-charged diesel engine and you are in store for some expensive repairs, maybe even a turbocharger or engine replacement. While most shops leave the routine maintenance request up […]
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Today’s lube service technician is faced with many challenges, which can exceed the responsibility of just making certain an oil filter is properly secured, the drain plug is tightened, and new lubricant has been installed. Many find it hard to believe that performing a lube service could have an influence on the performance of the […]
Read MoreDiagnosing brake related complaints can be a challenge. A well trained brake technician can follow a methodical diagnostic procedure and still be faced with the same annoying brake complaint…
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Filtering Ford’s turbocharged diesel engines has proven to be a challenge. They have a thirsty appetite for air, and will get the needed volume by some means. In previous years, the Ford trucks have encountered numerous failures with air filters, some resulting in turbocharger and engine failure. When the filter became restricted, it would often […]
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With the exception of brake squeal, nothing gets the customer more irritated than belt squeal. And getting the belt noise out can be a real challenge. Rather than diagnose the condition, many just throw a belt or two at the symptom in a futile effort to eliminate the noise. While you are certain the third […]
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Diesel applications often present some challenging opportunities for the technician. Part of this challenge can be due to the technician being unfamiliar with the systems, as some shops do not get the opportunity to service that many diesel vehicles…
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Engines equipped with Variable Valve Timing have special lubrication and maintenance requirements. Neglecting the vehicle manufacturer’s service recommendations can result in major engine performance deficiencies. Imagine changing the oil and filter on a vehicle and having it return with some major driveability symptoms, in addition to an illuminated Check Engine Lamp and multiple codes stored […]
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When an electrical failure involves multiple circuits, two important steps should be taken. If the vehicle involved is of a recent production date, the first step should involve researching factory service bulletins for campaigns or field fixes. The second step should involve reviewing a wiring diagram to determine if the failed accessories or components share […]
Read MoreWhen the customer complaint is a pulsating brake pedal, several factors must be considered. Turning the rotors may not be the complete cure. While it may take care of the immediate problem, the vehicle may return in a few days with the same condition. And almost always the brake pads get blamed. A complete tear-down, […]
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