BMW Electric Water Pump Replacement
We recently had a 2007 BMW Z4 with the N52 engine in the shop. When diagnosing a faulty electric water pump, the first thing that needs to be done is to verify if there are any water pump-related diagnostic codes. There’s a very good chance there will be some. I then like to perform a visual inspection, but don’t look for the water pump from the top of the engine. You’ll want to drop the lower panels, and you will see the pump on the lower right side of the engine.
Jeep Liberty Alignment Specs
The Liberty (2002-2007 KJ and 2008-2012 KK) was Jeep’s replacement for the Cherokee (XJ). The major changes from the Cherokee to the Liberty were an independent front suspension and trailing arm rear suspension. Compared to the Cherokee, the Liberty is actually easier to align.
Diagnosing Belt Wear
The original equipment belts on late-model vehicles are made of synthetic materials and are far more heat-resistant and wear-resistant than older materials. These innovations mean serpentine belts may last up to 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced. If a belt fails sooner, you need to be a detective and investigate why it failed.
AGM Batteries And Testing
Two of the greatest changes we’ve seen in starting/charging systems during the past few model years have been the expanded use of the Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery as standard equipment and the accelerating pricing structures of both AGM and conventional flooded-cell batteries.
The Story Behind The Bundle Of Snakes Exhaust System
When the phrase “bundle of snakes” is uttered about an exhaust system, two cars come to mind: the Ford GT40 and Lotus 38. These were not the first vehicles to use this type of exhaust configuration, but they were the first to be called a “bundle of snakes” and make exhaust systems look more like art than science.
Plastic Repair: Adhesive Repair Or Plastic Welding?
In my journeys through shops all over, I get a lot of questions about equipment training and procedures. Lately, a lot of the focus has been on aluminum repair and the equipment needed for it. The second subject most asked about is plastic repair. Often, I am asked which repair is better, adhesive repair or plastic welding, and which company’s welder is best.
ALI’s 2016 Vehicle Lifting Points Guide Available
This updated guide is a quick-reference single-source manual for lifting point information as recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. The 70-page Lifting Point Guide (LP-G) for domestic and imported cars and light trucks uses over 200 undercarriage images to cover the most recent 25 model years.
New Or Old, Rotors Must Be Measured
Installing new rotors without ever measuring and documenting the condition of the old rotor is like playing chicken with a comeback. Sooner rather than later, you will find a vehicle that will not be magically fixed by a new set of rotors. In fact, the new rotors may cause even more problems and lead to an unsatisfied customer.
2007-2011 Ford Expedition And Navigator Air Suspension
The Ford Expedition air suspension does more than just lift and raise the vehicle. The system levels the vehicle under loads and when a trailer is attached. The system uses only two air bags on the rear axle unlike previous models with air bags on all four corners.
Ignition System: MIL On, Ignition Coil DTCs Set
Some 2006 Zephyr; 2006-2008 Fusion and Milan; 2007-2008 MKZ, Edge, and MKX; and 2008 Taurus, Taurus X and Sable vehicles may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on with diagnostic trouble codes P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355 and/or P0356 present in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and with one or more damaged ignition coil-on-plug(s).
Diagnosing Vehicle Signal And Chassis Ground
When it comes to electricity, there are two potential energy sources you have to keep in mind. One, being the positive side, and the other, the negative side. Just like a magnet, these two opposite forces react the same way. That is, two positives or two negatives will not meet, while a positive and a negative source of energy will attract each other. This attraction will continue until all the potential energy is equalized.
Stretch Belts: Inspection And Installation
Why stretch belts? For the more than two decades, automakers have consolidated accessory drive components onto one belt. It worked for most engines, but for some it presented issues with noise and vibration as the A/C compressor engaged.
