Bosch instructor Bob Pattengale talks about some best practices for inspecting an a/c compressor. Bob goes on to provide some tips on checking the a/c compressor clutch for proper air gap using both the feeler gauge method as well as the ‘nickel and dime’ method.

George Witt talks briefly about how best to handle technical information calls that you might get from other shops. He talks about the importance of evaluating who you help, when and how often, and most importantly what info you should never reveal.

By Bob Cooper. If you want to build a more profitable, successful business, here are five tips that work!

Consumers today want to stay connected and they want the drive to be an experience, especially since the amount of time Americans spend in the car has nearly doubled in the past 10 years.

Quickly open tech articles and tip clip videos from the Diagnostic News website on your smart phone and take them anywhere; the bay, on the road, you name it.

By Scott ‘Gonzo’ Weaver. At my shop I tend to do more electrical repairs than anything else. It’s what I’m known for, and sometimes I get my share of odd ball electrical problems. Sometimes it’s a factory defect where a harness has rubbed into a bracket behind the dash and shorted things out. But, a lot of the time it’s some add-on that causes the problems. Usually some sort of flashy-testosterone filled bling that the owner is using to show off his macho self to all who pass by.

In this tip clip George Witt gives advice on selling diagnostics to your customers. George talks about selling lists and inspections and how to present the diagnostic process in such a way that you are charging for your time, effort and expertise. He talks about the four ways this helps you in selling diagnostics and how to present the info in a way that leaves the customer happy and provides the info they need to make an informed decision.

In this tech tip clip instructor Bill Fulton presents some need to know info on the Chrysler NGC PCM’s introduced in 2003. He talks about the fact that there are two different manufacturers for these computers and some issues related to interchangeability.

By Tom Ham. Is your dumpster an eyesore at your shop? Are you using email correspondence to its fullest potential? What does your Customer Area look like? 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.

Bill Fulton talks about Chrysler data bussing. Talking about CCD and SCI data lines and using bus circuit schematics from a 1998 Dodge minivan as an example Bill gives some in depth insights into the operation and relationships of Chrysler data bus circuits.

In this transmission tip clip from the 2010 ATSG Seminar program Wayne Colonna presents some issues about bore plugs on Honda and Acura 5-speed transmissions. He talks about the resulting shift issues that can occur and ways you can fix the problem in such a way that comebacks are less likely.

By Scot ‘Gonzo’ Weaver. Jo was a new customer referred by an old-time regular. Her little KIA had a transmission problem that seemed to be getting the best of the transmission shop. The story goes that the SUV was constantly in limp mode, and would never shift properly… ever. As it always seems to be the case when a simple problem can’t be solved simply, somebody started the diagnostics off in the wrong direction. Little did I know this was a simple problem. But, as I see it, any type of diagnostic work that you do requires a certain step-by-step procedure that you must follow. Missing a step, or completely overlooking a step, usually means you’re going to miss that simple problem all together. This was no exception.

Our Time Relationship Table is most useful for technicians getting started with a labscope. Establishing an appropriate time/division can be confusing. To reduce uncertainty it is useful to know the normal time duration of the pulses that are being evaluated. Then, select a time per division setting that will accommodate the number of pulses desired on the display screen. To accomplish a proper scope control setting the relationship of milliseconds to microseconds as well as their fraction of a second is very useful.

The U140/240 – U150/250 transmissions have their fare share of valve body malfunction making the purchase of a new or a good used one a frequent occurrence. Such was one experience with a U140E valve body in a RAV 4. The tech working on the vehicle purchased a good experienced valve body from a hard part supplier which after it was installed had no reverse unless he played with the shifter.

A tech came to me with a P0305 code on a Dodge 1500 pickup with a hemi engine. The Question was, is there a quick way to determine which direction to take in the diagnostic procedure?

Instructor John Thornton presents this in depth comprehensive case study of a 2002 Ford Explorer 4.0L vin E with a misfire at idle speed. John details the use of his scope and pressure transducer to perform a cranking compression test and goes on to point out the various indicators you should be watching your scope pattern for and how to identify problems.

By Jim Wilson. Join Jim as he illustrates how to check Mode $06 data.

By Gary Goms. Although air and fuel filter maintenance is usually considered a “no-brainer” by most import repair shops, advancing technology is changing the way we should be performing air and fuel filter maintenance.

By Jim Taylor. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA issued a “significant new use rule” (SNUR) at the end of October for the chemical substance identified as 1-Propene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-. The chemical is also known as HFO-1234yf.

Watch this Tip Clip presented by instructor Mark DeKoster with information you need to know if you perform brake service and repairs. Mark shows us and talks about tips to determine if a rotor is acceptable to be turned and resurfaced, how to best prepare a rotor for being turned and best practices for reinstalling the rotor and other brake parts.

By Scott ‘Gonzo’ Weaver. Ok, you got me … I’m a Flasher … or more to the point a Re-flasher. With today’s cars and components, it’s not uncommon to have to flash some driveability controller or theft system. As an independent shop, most of the re-flashing you can do will be for driveability situations or theft systems. Right now, the federal laws (Clean Air Act) only requires the manufacturer to give access to the “emission” related systems which means, an aftermarket scanner may only be able to provide you with part of a download versus the entire download.

In this fun video clip Jim Linder presents some ‘teknical’ information you need to know if you work with ‘bubbas’.

In this video Tip Clip Bob Pattengale presents information you need to know if you need to perform relearns after replacement of any vehicle components. He talks about how to do the research to determine if a relearn is needed and shows us how to best prepare for the relearn or reprogramming process.

Bob Pattengale demonstrates how to use the National Automotive Service Task Force’s website as a guide for flashing and reprogramming. He shows us how to use the NASTF website to learn how to navigate the OEM sites and prepare you for the job ahead.

By Gary Goms. During the summer, the speedometer on the Taurus would quit on an intermittent basis. Of course, when the speedometer would quit, the automatic transmission would default into an intermediate gear and fail to shift into the higher ranges. Although a local transmission shop installed a new VSS and performed other repairs as well, the Taurus ran only a few days before the problem resurfaced.

By Gary Goms. Although digital storage oscilloscopes or “lab scopes” have now become standard equipment for most modern automotive repair shops, they still possess a mystique that tends to intimidate many technicians. Right off the top, a lab scope is basically a voltmeter that displays voltage signals along a time base. The vertical scale measures the amplitude or amount of the voltage and the horizontal scale measures an incremental time line along which the signals are displayed.

In this video Tip Clip Bill Fulton presents several hands on test you can quickly and easily perform when diagnosing GM Pass Key antitheft issues and problems. Watch this video and learn to use your multimeter to check and diagnose the various components of the antitheft system.

A 2003 Chevy Trailblazer with a rough idle condition comes in for repair with variable cam timing engine with P0106 and P0017 codes. Bill Fulton goes into detail talking about these codes, the conditions that can causes them, and how to complete your diagnostics by using your scope to accurately interpret the related data you get from the scan tool as well as your scope.

By Gary Goms. MIL diagnostics continues to be a “hot” topic for many import shops simply ­because the definition of the word continues to change. Looking at the history of modern vehicle diagnostics, most veteran technicians can remember the days when vehicles had no on-board diagnostic systems and, subsequently, ­required time-consuming pin-out procedures to diagnose electronic systems failures.

By Scott “Gonzo” Weaver. When I was a kid, I saw a movie called the “Juggernaut” with Richard Harris as the main character. It was about a cruise liner that was about to blow up because a terrorist had planted 55 gallon drum bombs all over the ship. The premise of the story line is that Richard Harris was going to save all the people on the ship by defusing the bombs. All through the movie, there were references to the different relays and electrical circuits.

By Tom Ham. What have you done about lost customers? Have you looked extensively at your website lately? Do you have any plans for your sign? 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 clip from the Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council, shot here in the AVI garage and presented by instructor Dave Scaler, we are presented some great ‘must know’ tips regarding fuel pump diagnostics. The clip contains info on voltage drop testing and on car hands on demonstrations.

In this excerpt, Bill Fulton current ramps the fuel pump on a high-mileage 2004 Dodge Status with P0300 and P0171 codes. In doing so, he determines whether there is a weak fuel supply or a bad pump. Watch Now.

In this excerpt, Mike Cleary gives you several quick fixes on various Powerstroke engine problems. Tech tips include 1994 ½ EEC tests, injector spill spouts, camshaft position sensor codes, and dead accelerator pedals. He also covers dual mass flywheels, air cleaner updates, injector replacement procedures, and loose IPR jam nuts, as well as injector performance analyzers, oil consumption, no start relay ratcheting, and much, much more!