Automotive Archives - Page 149 of 179 - Tomorrows Technician
O2 Sensors Keep Watch Over The Air-Fuel Mixture

Keeping an eye on the air/fuel (A/F) mixture is an essential function of the engine management system because it affects emissions, fuel economy and performance.

Understanding Collision Warning & Automatic Braking Systems

Anything that moves under its own power also has to stop, so brakes have been a safety feature on cars since day one. Over the years, technical innovations such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) have improved the ability to stop with minimal skidding on wet or slick surfaces. The addition of stability control allowed each

Do’s And Don’ts Of Head Gaskets

Do: Clean the Holes To ensure accurate torque values and to avoid cracking the cylinder block, clean any dust, dirt, oil and fluid from the cylinder block head bolt holes before installing the new head gasket and head bolts. Never lubricate the head bolts with a friction-modified oil. Unless otherwise specified, lightly lubricate the bolt

Component Connection: Gasket Q & A

Question: When replacing gaskets on an engine, do I just scrape or peel off the old gaskets, or do I have to do something else? Answer: Removing gaskets used to be a fairly simple procedure. Most engines used to have cast iron blocks and heads, with iron manifolds and stamped steel covers. Iron castings could

Volkswagen: Identifying And Mixing Factory Fill Engine Coolants

Coolants G12+, G12++ and G13 are lifetime coolants when used exclusively in the coolant system (not mixed with other coolants). Coolants can be mixed, as shown in the chart in this article, but it is always a best practice to change the coolant due to reduced corrosion protection when coolants are mixed.

10 Tips For Diagnosing And Installing Control Arms And Bushings

With wide adoption of large diameter wheels and low-profile tires, suspensions on late-model vehicles have changed. The extra weight of larger wheels has meant that suspension components have had to go on a diet of aluminum. Less sidewall area has transferred the role of absorbing road impacts to larger bushings in order to achieve the same ride quality.

Torque And Runout: Measure Twice, Install Once

There are two critical measurements when installing a modern hub unit or cartridge bearing: torque and runout in the flange. Ignoring these critical numbers to save time will only lead to more comebacks and angry customers.

Mazda Truck TPMS Service Precautions

Do not use metal stem caps. Some vehicles may experience the aluminum valve stem (B) breaking off of the TPMS wheel unit (C) when removing aftermarket valve stem caps during procedures such as routine checking of air pressure in tires.

Contaminated Fuel Can Wreck Havoc On Fuel Delivery Systems

Although cases involving contaminated gasoline are relatively rare nowadays, they still occur. In many cases, the technician has replaced the fuel pump or mass air flow (MAF) sensor to address a P0171/P0174 “lean-condition” DTC with no result. In all likelihood, the technician didn’t consider the possibility that the vehicle’s fuel might be contaminated with E85 gasoline, diesel fuel, stale gasoline, or, to a lesser degree, sugar and water.

Conventional Or Synthetic Engine Oil? How To Choose The Right Motor Oil

In recent years, the variety of different motor oils that are now available to consumers has multiplied exponentially. To keep up with the lubrication requirements of all the different vehicle manufacturers, oil companies have had to expand their product lines to include new ultra-low, multi-viscosity, fuel-saving oils, as well as products with special additive packages for specific engine applications.

2007-2014 Ford Edge Brake Service

Protect the caliper piston and boots when pushing the caliper piston into the bores. Make sure that the caliper guide pin boots are fully seated, or damage to the caliper guide could occur.

Next Generation Start/Stop Systems

Although stop/start idle ­systems have been used on ­hybrid vehicles for many years, a growing number of non-­hybrid late-model import models are also being equipped with this fuel-saving technology.