By Sergio Fernandez. Real-life repair scenario: 2003 E320, with 3.2L V6 engine and 120,000 miles. A customer brings his car into the shop with a “strange vibration.” After we scanned the vehicle, we found the following DTCs: P0305, misfire on cylinder #5; and P0301, misfire on cylinder #1.

By Scott ‘Gonzo’ Weaver. So many manufacturers are now running the brake lights through BCMs, Integrated Power Modules, bulb detection systems, or the anti-lock brakes. Along with just about every other system in today’s cars, computers are doing a lot of the work for us.

By Tom Ham. What do you say when your customers ask how many miles are on your car? Are you a member of your state’s automotive trade association? When is the last time you checked your shop for heating and air conditioning leaks? 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.

Join instructor Bill Fulton in this tip clip excerpt from the AVI training program “GM Antitheft” as he talks about Pass Lock Systems Status and modes of operation of these systems.

In this tip clip excerpt from Running a Zoo, an AVI class for services managers and shop owners, AMI approved instructor George Witt discusses “Seagull Management.” George hates to tell you this, but there’s far too many business owners that do this to their workers. Watch the clip to learn more and find out how to avoid being a seagull manager.

Check out the latest tech tip from Delphi. Take a look at the engine management system and common types of oxygen sensors and how they work, as well as common failures and faults.

For all 2012 model year vehicles, stability control is standard. For model year 2008, the majority of vehicles sold were sold with ABS and optional stability control. Most of these systems have something in common, sensors that measure the dynamics of the vehicle and the intentions of the driver.

By Andrew Markel. A smoke machine may seem like an expensive piece of equipment if it is just used for testing EVAP systems. But, if you factor in other diagnostic tests it can perform, it is a worthwhile investment. The following are 10 tests for smoke machines not involving the EVAP system.

By Andrew Markel. While there are many times where you will be able to repair a vehicle’s brakes without a scan tool, you only have to run into one car that needs this to make it worth having. The reality is that if your customer’s vehicle is 10 years old or newer, there’s nearly a 100% chance that you could need a scan tool to perform some sort of test/repair on the brake system.

In this tip clip from the Vehicle Stability Control class, instructor Dave Scaler measures the DC bias voltage of a wheel speed sensor and shows you how understanding these sensors will make active wheel speed sensor testing much easier.

Bill Haas outlines how to develop an advertising strategy for Generation Y in this tip clip from Marketing to Generation X & Y. Bill tells you what media works best to reach Generation Y and why traditional media doesn’t successfully reach them as it did previous generations.

By Andrew Markel. The overall response to the 7 Brake Myths Busted article was huge. I took a lot of abuse, but that was the goal of the article. Too many times technicians get stuck in a mindset that leads to false diagnoses. The point of the article was to shake things up in your diagnostic thinking.

Training, that is. You’re going to get trained one way or the other. When it comes to business, you can do it the hard way or you can do it […]

In this short video clip from the A4 Suspension and Steering class, Delphi instructor Dave Hobbs discusses and shows some basic tips and knowledge to help you better diagnose alignment issues based on tire wear helping you more quickly and accurately use the alignment machine to put everything in spec.

Join Bob Pattengale in this video tip clip as he works on a 2007 FJ Cruiser with an EVAP code. He uses the scan tool to discover a leak in the system. Using a smoke machine, the Bosch SMT 300 to look for the leak he demonstrates and discusses how to quickly and efficiently use smoke to diagnose EVAP codes.

By Andrew Markel. There are some myths about brake pads, rotors and hydraulics that need to be busted. These myths can hurt and hinder a technician’s ability to diagnose and solve some brake problems and customer concerns. On the surface, some of these myths make sense. The logic can seem sound and explain a problem, but they do not resolve the real issues with a brake system.

By Tom Ham. Are you using the latest methods to send reminders to your customers? Do you share positives with your customers before you tell them what’s wrong with their car? Does your shop take photos of various failures? How do you share them with your customers? 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.

Check out this tip clip video from instructor Bill Fulton’s class on Gasoline Direct Injection to learn more about GDI systems and components. He shows us around under the hood of a GM Equinox and talks about each of the components while pointing out service and safety procedures.

By Dave Hobbs. In addition to his work with Delphi, Dave Hobbs serves as an instructor for Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College. He is also a frequent speaker at national training seminars, is a qualified hybrid instructor and writes for various industry magazines. Two decades of training engineers and service technicians around the world has provided Hobbs the unique ability to bridge the theoretical with the practical. Today, Hobbs talks with us about turbochargers and superchargers — what they are, how they run and what technicians can expect when servicing or installing these engine performance components.

By Tom Ham. Do you pay close attention to your Google Reviews? How do you keep up communication between you and your employees? How does your shop follow up on Estimate Requests? 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.

In this case study–an excerpt from the MACS Quick Hits training video–Paul DeGuiseppi talks about a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with a blend mode issue diagnosed to be a problem with the control head. The vehicle ended up being a comeback with the customer complaining about the same issue. Paul goes on to talk about how important the ability to diagnose electrical and electronic issues has become in HVAC repair and service.

In this tip clip from the Quick Check Diagnostics class, instructor Jim Wilson talks about some simple test you can perform to verify proper functionality of the PCV valve. He goes on to discuss what to watch out for and how fuel trim can be effected.

So you don’t have an electronic control valves testing unit like the MT 1400 for testing AC solenoids while in operation? Well in this tip clip from the MACS Quick Hits AC Service class, trainer Paul DeGuiseppi gives you some helpful tips and pointers.

Learn when it is necessary use Enhanced Data Modes on your scan tool in this clip from Jim Wilson’s Quick Check Diagnostics Class. He goes on to discuss some key terminology and details the steps needed to perform an Automated System Results test.

In this tip clip, ASA’s Bill Haas talks about the importance of email marketing. He goes on to talk about some helpful tips, how to effectively build a list of your customers emails and how to use that info to generate additional sales.

In this excerpt from the 2011 ATSG Seminar class, Instructor Wayne Colonna talks about 41TES and 42RLE VLP transmissions with a P1745 DTC. These codes are usually the result of a problem with a pressure control solenoid that should be reducing line pressure at idle.

By Tom Ham. How often do you check your email? Does your shop look busy enough? Are you still using the fax machine to receive parts diagrams? 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.

Automotive Video brings you the Top 5 Most Watched Tip Clips for 2011! The most popular clips include everything from battery drains to ABS, misfire testing to intake restrictions, as well as O2 slow response codes. Check out what others are watching and share your favorite tip clips.

Check out this technical tip clip on CAN Data with Dave Hobbs. In this clip Dave talks about Class 2 layouts, specifically the ‘loop configuration’ systems. He breaks down the layout of theses systems in an easy to understand manner and talks about how the modules communicate on this type of system as well as how they are electrically wired.

In this tip clip excerpt from the complete Fuel System Testing Strategies class instructor Bill Fulton talks about the Ford Electronic Returnless Fuel systems and how to perform tests on this system using your DSO. He shows us the parameters to watch out for on your scope and how to interpret the info you see.

In this excerpt from Dave Scaler’s complete training program ‘Base Engine Analysis,’ Dave shares a quick case study on a Pontiac Grand Am with a Quad 4 that came in with misfire DTCs. He discusses the diagnostic procedures and details of the compression test on this vehicles Quad 4. He gives some best practices and helpful hints for dealing with valve timing issues like those exhibited in this case study.

In this excerpt from Dave Scaler’s complete training program ‘Top 10 OBD II Codes: How to Fix Them Fast,’ Dave discusses alternative tests for mass air flow sensors (MAF). He talks about how to use your scan tool in order to check several different things to determine the state of the MAF.

In this tech tip, instructor Bill Fulton gives you a quick modern day tech tip that you don’t see on their scan tool. It’s called Lambda. This is what we call the corrected air-fuel ratio. He discusses Lambda, how it differs from manufacturer to manufacture, and what numbers to look for.