Basic Visual Checks Key to Successful Diagnosis
We have all read our share of tech articles that end up with the fault being traced to a failed component. We’ve also seen plenty of information about vehicle subsystems creating “false positives” for a component that was incorrectly identified as being bad. Well, this article blends these two scenarios with another added issue: a previous repair by a careless technician.
No-Start after Fender Bender
When the ’96 Lexus was dropped at our door, it came with a simple concern: “Vehicle stopped running following accident. Airbags have deployed.” A trip to the ES300 confirmed that both airbags had indeed “popped” (Figure 1). With just over 100K on its odometer, and needing two airbags and a new front bumper, I wondered if this vehicle was worth saving. My customer was motivated to have us dig into the diagnosis, so we accepted the challenge.
Vacuum Testing AW 60-41SN
From the TASC Force we reprint a series of in-depth test instructions for checking the serviceability of valve bodies.
Recruiting Is like a Blind Date
Like going on a blind date, you never know what you are going to end up with in recruiting. We are all going on more blind dates than we would like nowadays.
Unfortunately, recruiting is a game with no defined rules. A lot of promises are made and not kept in this game, and that leads to an unacceptable turnover rate that is hurting our industry. It is a stressful, frustrating and emotional roller-coaster ride that will eventually test every emotion you have. Let’s take a look at the situation and see whether we can do something to make things easier for the shop owner and the employees.
‘Catch-22’ Bureaucracy Gone Wild
The purpose of this article is to show you that in business and in life, even when you are 100% right you can still be wrong. So you’ll just have to bite the bullet sometimes and try to make it up somewhere else.
When Should You Ask for the Sale?
Today, I’d like to share a recent revelation with you – a concept I’ve just learned about from an avid reader (who wishes to remain anonymous), who proclaims that you should “never deliver bad news on a Friday.”
His idea is that a transmission shop should never tell a customer that their car needs a new transmission on a Friday afternoon. He alleges that the customer will “think things through” and simply buy a new car on Saturday.
NSG370, Jeep’s First 6-Speed Manual Transmission
We have seen many changes in the companies that manufacture automobiles. Chrysler got married to Mercedes, the love affair didn’t last and now Chrysler is part of The Fiat Group. While Chrysler was paired with Mercedes, it chose a German-design six-speed for use in Chrysler vehicles. Thus we saw the NSG350, a six-speed manual transmission fitted to 2005-2008 Jeep Liberty, 2005-to-present Wrangler, 2004-2006 Chrysler Crossfire and the 2006-2008 Dodge Nitro, as well as some Mercedes ML models.
NSG is a German acronym for “new shifting manual transmission,” although you may also say NSG stands for “not so good.” This six-speed manual transmission has an integral bellhousing in the front case and as is common in European design is loaded longitudinally. Fifth gear is 1-1 ratio (direct drive) and sixth is overdriven, so be aware of this when you are diagnosing a problem.
2010 Escalade Noise: What’s the rattle under the hood?
A 2010 Cadillac Escalade equipped with a 6.2L engine and 6L80 transmission arrived with a somewhat erratic rattle noise from under the hood. At first glance (or sound, actually), there was not a particular condition that would trigger the noise. And noises being what they are, this made for a tough diagnosis.
May 2014 Issue
In This Issue
FNR5: inconsistent 5th gear
45RFE: engagement issue caused by filter failure
Jeep Rubicon transfer-case position light
