“Hybrid vehicle electronics are dangerous and only the dealerships will be able work on them.” “The independent garage is on its way out.” Have you heard statements like these before? I have, and I have to disagree with these opinions, based in part on history.
By George Witt. I remember my first job as a Service Advisor in a dealership, before shop management computer systems. The training was intensive— “Here’s your clip board, there’s your […]
Cummins are one of the easiest systems to work on, if you are not doing diesel repairs this is a great way to get yourself involved in the diesel market.
New Twist on an Old Story: GMs Variable Valve Timing
December 11, 2009
Powertrain engineers continue to extract more power from and reduce emissions on conventional internal combustion engines. When both intake and exhaust camshafts get involved, GM’s variable valve timing system meets both goals.
By Peter Meier. Fuel flow and injector faults can result in drivability problems. Some OEM scan tools, as well as some high end aftermarket tools, allow you to perform power […]
By George Witt. It gets plenty cold in Nebraska and we have a saying that “the only thing between us and the North Pole is a barbed-wire fence”. The wind […]
By George Witt, AAM. There are some who will argue that there is a Great Division now forming in our Industry between the shops who don’t attend training, don’t buy […]
By Drew Technologies. The days of diagnosing and repairing automobiles without a laptop beside you are quickly fading. Newer vehicles include a large number of onboard computers that are each […]
In this video ATSG instructor Pete Luban gives us the lowdown on several scenarios concerning diagnosing and repairing a Ford 500 with a noisy transmission.
Have you spent hours trying to repair a driveability or emission problem and couldn’t resolve the issue? Many of these problems can only be repaired thru flashing. John Thornton gives you the training you need so you can be prepared when you come across a problem that cannot be fixed without a software update.
The electrical system is the perfect place to begin building a foundation for an automotive education. This program takes a complex system and gives you the fundamentals in terms easily understood by students and technicians of all levels.
By George Witt. Occasionally, all shop owners have to deal with personnel problems of one sort or another. It may be keeping the shop clean, work quality, attendance or any […]
By Richard McCuistian. Diesel engines all fire their mix using high compression, and they need precisely controlled fuel delivery, both in regard to timing and volume. Diesels typically spin slower […]
In this excerpt from Mark DeKoster’s new thoroughly detailed breakdown of today’s Ford Enhanced EVAP Systems, learn the difference between the current emission standards, and what your shop needs to do to comply, along with analysis of stubborn EVAP codes, how they are set, and how to diagnose.
By Doug Fentiman. When dealing with service failures (screw-ups) and angry customers you really need to think about the long term consequences of how you respond. Social Networking is all […]
Would A Woman Consider You A Good Salesman? If you really want to know what makes a good salesman, ask a woman. Holy mackerel! Ask that question of any woman who has shopped for anything and then had to depend on that company to do the work or repairs. You will learn volumes about making customers happy and the proper way to sell work and end up with the woman raving about how wonderful you are.
By George Witt. These are common consumer complaints and a frequent source of conflicts with customers. If you work on many older cars, fixing oil leaks can get you into […]
Hybrid Safety: Important Tips That Could Save Your Life
August 7, 2009
I sure hope the average tech prepares very well before he or she starts to work on a hybrid car. A large spark that would sometimes make a tech jump and a co-worker laugh may not seem so funny if the technician is hurt or, worse yet, dead. The safety issues are real. Read this carefully and pass it on to each associate in your shop.
Mode $06 continues to be a hot topic with techs. Nevertheless, there are many techs who have not even heard of Mode $06 or do not even use the Global OBD2 side of the scan data. Knowing how to use Mode $06 could really help in the day-to-day diagnostic problems in your shop.
If we take a look at a shop that survives slow times and another shop that closes its doors we will find the difference is typically in several key numbers. And, contrary to what many believe, those numbers are primarily due to the choices and the decisions of the shop owner.
In this program, Dave Hobbs provides extensive information on GM safety restraint systems to help you with issues in steering column repair. He tells you what to do and what to avoid when working on and handling airbags while providing plenty of tips and test procedures on these systems.
If things don’t match the book’s description of problems, where do you go? The customer, of course! This class explains why questions are the answer. Find out as Dave Hobbs goes under the hood with some off-the-wall diagnostic troubleshooting of GM’s recent powertrain innovations.
The new 6.4L Powerstroke is different from the 6.0L and 7.3L and this class will help you understand the differences. Former Ford factory trainer Mark DeKoster provides an overview of the major systems on this engine with component locations, maintenance issues and information that Ford provides to their own technicians.
Mode $06 has become a mainstay in automotive diagnostics these days, but many technicians still struggle with determining DTC sources. In this program, Jim Wilson will show you detailed steps to show you how to access the most intuitive tests through Global OBD II and Mode $06.
Back in the days of my youth, a new set of tires that offered a different tire circumference meant a slower or faster speedometer and a trip to the dealership for a new speedometer cable gear to prevent a possible speeding ticket.
If you remember the three critical points of a secondary waveform discussed in our previous article (March 2002), it’s time to continue what we learned and apply it to Distributorless Ignition Systems, (DIS) now known as EI systems.
On a daily basis we hear the words “how can I afford training if I can barely afford payroll?” Although this year was predicted to be a good year for automotive repair shops, car counts are still low and you can hear a pin drop in many service bays across the country. There is an end in sight, however, as business has begun slowly picking up over the last couple of months for many repair shops that we do business with.
Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are now required on all vehicles in the US. Dave Scaler from MEA brings you this TPMS class so that you can be completely up to date on these systems. Learn the latest information on the changes that have been made, new techniques and answers to tough questions that techs have with these systems.
Jim ‘The Injector Guru’ Linder shares his BEST FUEL SYSTEM TIPS based on his actual results with proven testing procedures and service techniques. Fuel up on knowledge and learn more about fuel system diagnostics in this video clip.
I think of the Ford/International 6.0L platform as a “bridge” because it spans the gap between the 7.3L with electric-over-hydraulic injectors and the coming 6.4L common rail engine. Common rail injection, made possible by today’s powerful on-board microprocessors, will be the industry standard for a long time to come. The fuel rail pressure, ranging from 5,000 to more than 20,000 psi, is controlled by the electronic control module (ECM). The operation of the injectors is very simple: They still pop, but high fuel pressure on top of the injector piston prevents it until the ECM or fuel injection control module (FICM) sends about 90 volts to operate the injector solenoid, which opens a pressure bleed in the chamber above the piston.
Since the laws of inductively charging the primary circuit and capacitively firing the second circuit have not changed much, I can’t help but wonder why a quick secondary scope check is not part of most modern-day technicians’ diagnostic strategy.
How you communicate, verbally and non-verbally, is very important in conveying a sense of importance and recognition to customers. They want to be understood, and be recognized as important to you and your business.
