In this clip, taken directly from Midtronic’s live streaming In-Vehicle Battery/Starter/Alternator Diagnostics class, Dan Cox reviews the different battery type, the history of batteries and the difference in energy densities between different […]

By Dave Hobbs. Oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and continual conflict in the Middle East always mean the same thing – fuel prices aren’t going down, and will most likely increase in months and years to come. Combine that with increased CAFÉ standards, and you have the ultimate recipe for changing powertrain technology. Alternative fuels, turbocharged small engines, clean diesels, hybrid electric and pure electric are all examples of new technologies to increase efficiency. Whether one of these technologies will win over the others, or there will be a combination of technologies on the road, it is a sure thing that hybrids electric vehicles are gaining popularity. For the service professional, like them or not, they’re here to stay. That means opportunity for the automobile HVAC technician willing to keep up with the changes they present.

By Dave Hobbs. If you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to increase profits at your shop by finding new repair opportunities, look no further than hybrids. It’s predicted that by the end of this decade, over 25 percent of all new vehicles produced will contain some type of hybrid electric technology. In the December 2010 MACS Service Reports, we took a dive into the HVAC system on the Toyota Prius line, along with a quick overview on how hybrid vehicles work in general. We also covered safety tips, electronic controls and the Gen II Prius electric compressor. This month, we’re going to dive in deeper.

In this tip clip, Instructor Dave Hobbs talks about the Hybrid A/C compressor fuse on a Gen 3 Toyota Prius. He provides some hands-on info about how and where to find the fuse. He discusses safety and techniques for properly testing the DC current air conditioning fuse to the DC mini inverter compressor used in late model Toyota and Lexus.

The first step in any diagnostic strategy is to figure out whether or not your customer’s vehicle actually has a TPMS problem. Any number of things can cause the TPMS […]

In this clip, taken directly from Bartec’s live streaming TPMS class, Mike Rose goes over the basic functions, components and laws surrounding TPMS sensors. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems are now […]

October 12, 2010 By Andrew Markel Editor, Brake & Front End Magazine What is one of the leading causes of sensor failure? Corrosion, sensors or sensor stems can be damaged […]

In this clip, taken directly from Bartec’s live streaming TPMS class, Mike Rose goes over the first step to successful TPMS servicing: investing in the right tools. Tire Pressure Monitoring […]

The attention-grabbing headline in the world of air conditioning is usually the switching of refrigerants as the industry and regulators continue to search for the next level of environmental friendliness. […]

If an A/C system is found to contain sludge or black gunk, it means everything in the system is contaminated and must either be cleaned or replaced. The A/C compressor […]

Steve Schaeber of MACS shows you how to properly identify sealant in any A/C system. Steve uses a Neutronics tester kit, shows you exactly what comes in the kit, how […]

Steve with MACS runs through the various tools used for temperature testing procedures, explains how they’re used and demonstrates how accurate they are when compared to a non-contact thermometer. 

When I started working here at The Swedish ­Solution 30 years ago, every car I worked on had Continuous Fuel Injection (CIS). Incoming air would lift a plate, allowing the […]

In any shop, understanding how to properly diagnose is essential. In this tip clip, Ron explains how to determine the source of a misfire with any vehicle equipped with a […]

Important tips for replacing a high pressure fuel pump in a GDI system. These tips not only ensure proper pump function but will also help you avoid a catastrophic failure […]

The 2000-2006 Dodge/Mercedes-Benz/Freightliner Sprinter cargo van may seem unique for its small displacement diesel engine and large hauling capacity. But, at the wheels, the brakes are very conventional. There are […]

In this clip, taken directly from Robert Bosch, LLC’s live streaming TPMS class, Bob Pattengale explains how the high pressure fuel pump on the first generation Sprinter function and the […]

In this clip, taken directly from Robert Bosch, LLC’s live streaming TPMS class, Bob Pattengale goes into some detail about the first generation Sprinter. Please enable Javascript to watch this […]

All new management tips on being prepared, customer service and etiquette. Check out the latest Auto Shop Monthly Management Tips from the Automotive Management Network to get inside secrets on managing your shop and increasing your bottom line.

BorgWarner supplies its leading turbocharging technology for Hyundai’s new 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) engine.

Following a new clutch installation, there is nothing worse than experiencing slipping or release problems. Many times installers even begin to believe that the new clutch kit is defective. This is not correct, in most cases!

Shift problems can arise from the most unlikely, unsuspected issues. In this case a Jaguar spends months in transmission shops only to discover that this erratic behavior is being caused by Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI).

This tip clip focuses on a very common harsh shift and engagement problem on 2003-’04 Lincoln LS and Aviators caused by extremely high line pressure.

In this teaser clip taken from Dave Hobb’s eye opening class on deceptive diagnostics.

If you watch any amount of television, you’ll notice that this is the time of the year that new vehicle dealerships are pushing out their old inventory to get ready for the 2014 models.

Thank you everyone for tuning in to our free, live Brake Technology class. Without your desire to seek education, we would not be broadcasting live training videos. We hope you gained some knowledge on the subject of brake technology and encourage everyone to keep seeking that knowledge.

In this quick clip, Dave goes over a case study that had everyone stumped.

In this quick clip, Dave goes over a case study that had everyone stumped.

AVI and Dave Hobbs brings you a new course that will helps you work through tricky diagnostics, Deceptive Diagnostics. There are not many things more frustrating than running a scan […]

How can a 100 Pound person stop a two-ton vehicle? On a mechanical level, it is easy to understand how brakes work. We all understand that brake fluid transfers force […]

Is your shop seeing more ABS, stability control and traction control light complaints coming into your shop? Find out and learn all you can with Bob Pattengale. Hosted by AVI On Demand December 10th, 2013.

  In this week’s “Morning Minute” sponsored by Shop Owner magazine presenter DJ Harrington give some inspirational and motivational tips on how to WOW your customer.  “Morning Minute” is weekly motivational clip for managers […]

What happens if you do not complete a relearn procedure?

What happens if you do not complete a relearn procedure?