Vacuum Power Assist Service
Most late-model vehicles use a vacuum booster to help apply the brakes. The booster is usually located behind the master cylinder on the firewall. A leak in the vent valve can cause a reduction in the performance of the booster and increase pedal travel. A manifold vacuum of 20 inHg or greater can be achieved during deceleration. The booster chambers can be evacuated and retained at this pressure by a properly operating check valve.
Acura Driveability Issues
In this article, we’ll be looking at a 2006 Acura MDX that belongs to one of our long-time customers. This well-maintained, high-mileage vehicle has treated its owner well over the years, but it was getting older and with 150,000 miles on the odometer, it was causing some concern.
Spring Is Pothole And Bearing Season
The classic symptom of a bad wheel bearing is typically a cyclic chirping, squealing or growling noise that changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound may only appear or disappear at certain speeds. The noise may get worse when turning, or it may disappear momentarily. So, it’s difficult to make a diagnosis based on noise alone.
Remote Diagnostics On Cars: The Future, Or Future Headache?
When I talk to technicians and shop owners about “remote diagnostics,” I find that there are many different levels of understanding as to what that term means. It’s clear that for many, the perception is that remote diagnostics means the ability to read codes.
The Copper-Free Brake Initiative
Spurred by the laws enacted by California and Washington, several other states such as New York, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Oregon drafted legislation over the past several years aimed at reducing brake pad pollution. However, the Copper-free Brake Initiative, in tandem with California and Washington’s existing laws, effectively made other state-specific laws unnecessary.
Safety In Numbers: It Pays To Replace Headlight Bulbs In Pairs
According to Philips Automotive, changing headlight bulbs in pairs assures that the road ahead will be properly illuminated and that drivers will get the full safety benefit of the vehicle’s headlights, just as the carmaker intended.
Buick Avista Concept: ‘Capturing The Spirit Of The Perfect Drive’
Buick’s Avista concept is a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic performance roots. A sleek, sweeping proportion is the foundation for this vision of a contemporary grand tourer, with a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 driving the rear wheels and a driver-focused cockpit offering a comfortable, connected center of
TPMS Signal Science: Performing The Relearn Process Outside
While TPMS is common on today’s vehicles, misinformation is still rampant as consumers and techs try to understand these systems. One of the TPMS misconceptions involves sensor signals. A sensor is a transmitter of information that sends pressure and temperature data to the vehicle. Some signals also include information that identifies the sensor and the
Aging Oxygen Sensors Hurt Fuel Economy, Performance And Emissions
Oxygen sensors are used to monitor the engine’s air/fuel mixture so the powertrain control module (PCM) can make adjustments that optimize fuel economy, emissions and performance.
Serial Data Bus Diagnostics
If serial data buses did not exist, a wiring harness would have to be five times its normal size and use twice as many sensors to deliver the same level of functionality and safety we see in the modern vehicle.
The Art Of The Refinish: Making An ‘Invisible Repair’
There is a lot that goes into making an “invisible repair” from the refinish side. Here are some procedures to get you off to a good start.
The Evolving Oil Change Market
The only constant in the oil change business is change itself, especially if you’re trying to maintain an inventory of engine oil for all makes and models of vehicles. Since Volkswagen began requiring application-specific engine oil in the mid-1990s, the oil change business has (pardon the pun) “changed.” While many Asian vehicles currently require only
