Tough Times Bring Out Creative Types
Tough economic times bring with them differing circumstances for different industries. For those of us in the independent automotive-service field, we may be seeing more and more repairs being attempted by less- and less-qualified technicians. It seems like there is an endless supply of advice to help automotive-service “newbies” figure out their car’s technical woes, thereby saving them the time and trouble of taking a car to a “professional.”
Serviceability Report: 2010 Subaru Outback
The first Subaru Outback was a hit with consumers. Over the years, many other original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) came up with similar crossover wagons and SUVs. By the year 2000, everyone was in the game but Subaru continued to raise the bar and now has a third-generation Outback for 2010.
Adventures in engine cooling
The coolant level in the overflow was “full”; however, the level in the radiator was a half gallon low. Even after I topped off the radiator, the engine overheated after running for only 10 minutes. The cooling fan worked, and the temperature of both radiator hoses indicated that the thermostat was wide open. I wondered if there was a circulation issue such as a water pump that decided to fail, or a radiator with internal blockage. The radiator and coolant both seemed clean, and I observed flow when I peered into the radiator neck.
Diagnosing without Testing ‘Like Throwing Darts in Dark’
This particular 2003 Toyota Corolla came to my friend’s shop with a simple miss and a code for the No. 4 coil confirmation signal not being received by the PCM. The first part tried was a coil from the dealer. With the same code coming back and the engine still missing on the same cylinder, more testing revealed that the injector for that cylinder was not operating, and another was substituted. This resulted in no change, and another coil was tried, then switched to another cylinder. Injectors were switched around, and then a PCM was ordered and the car was sent to us for programming. My friend assured me that he wanted nothing further to do with the car and told us to find the problem.
Serviceability Report: Honda Insight Hybrid
Honda introduced the first hybrid to America in December 1999, a month that changed a lot of what we thought we knew about cars. That was the past century. Since then Honda has produced a hybrid that flopped, the Accord HEV (2005-2007), and a Civic hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that sells well. The first generation of the Insight was discontinued in 2006 and the Civic HEV was on its own, holding the hybrid flag for almost two years until now. In April of this year, another Insight was offered as a 2010 model.
Simple Tips for Technicians
During certain lessons in our training facility, we impart many tips and tricks to our students. Often simple and always handy, these useful “nuggets” reduce headaches, save money and keep us safer. I’ve accumulated these tips during the 15 years that I worked as a full-time technician as well as during the 14 years that I’ve been an automotive instructor. Over the course of my automotive-service career, I have been fortunate to pick up many of these helpful hints from forums, fellow technicians and publications.
A Tale of the Blue Catera
We just finished a Cadillac Catera for a customer of another shop that took the car to still another shop that brought it to me to put on a timing belt. We were told that the first shop had replaced most of the parts because the technician found a Web site that addressed the problem this car was having. The different fixes, the Web site suggested, were to replace most of the parts – none of which seemed to fix his problem. I’m sorry if anyone gets offended out there, but it just seems that there is something inherently wrong with an auto shop that fixes cars by popular opinion on an Internet Web site. As I’ve heard Mark Warren say, “A monkey with a dart board would have a better chance at guessing right.”
Ford Mustang: Does Ford Really Have a Better Idea?
This year, we continue our series on redesigned cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Ford will now go under the technician microscope as I compare the 2004 3.8-liter Mustang to the 2009 4.0 to see if it is easier to service or a step back in time.
Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All …
Once I found the termination of the ground wires, I could not believe where they were bolted – not to a clean engine ground but to the motor side of the starter motor! That’s right: When the starter motor was cranked, 12 volts was applied to the ECU ground wires. This explained perfectly why the spark disappeared when the starter was cranked but returned when I let off the key.
The Proper How-Tos of Scopin’
I’m working on a 1997 Chevy truck that has an “intermittent transmission,” as the owner puts it. He goes on to explain, “It works fine most of the time but when it gets into its spell of acting up, it seems like all I get is one or two gears of bad gas mileage and no power.”
Serviceability Report: The Acura RL, Honda’s Top-End Car
How does the 2009 Acura RL compare with the 2003 Acura RL in terms of serviceability?
It has been six years ago this month since I was asked to speak for you in AutoInc. The purpose of my quarterly article is to have a dialogue in terms of a technician’s point of view when it comes to the design of cars and trucks.
The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary Service
Quality cannot be compromised when cars are repaired, and customers should never be surprised the way my wife was when picking up her truck. If we have to wait for the “right” clip, or even weld, grind, tap and drill a part to ensure it is “right,” we need to communicate that information to the customer so they can make an informed decision. We all need to be diligent about the “little things” when we finish a job. Who wants to have the “Check Engine” light pop on or have parts fall off on their way home?
