Automotive Archives - Page 154 of 179 - Tomorrows Technician
Troubleshooting ABS Modulator Mechanical Problems

Mechanical issues with the ABS modulator, or hydraulic control units (HCU), are rare, but they can happen. With more and more vehicles on the roads with older ABS systems that have not seen proper brake fluid maintenance, mechanical issues are becoming more common.

Environmentally Conscious Automotive Service

What is environmentally conscious auto service? Let’s face it: repairing automobiles is a dirty business.

Coolants Can Lose Their Ability To Protect The Engine

Coolant at 100,000 miles may look the same as coolant with zero miles. The real difference between good and bad coolant can’t be seen with the naked eye; it is in the chemistry.

Engine Bearings Under Pressure

Engine bearings have to withstand punishing loads in today’s engines. Smaller displacements, turbocharging and higher horsepower ratings mean crankshaft and connecting rod bearings are being subjected to heavier loads. This has led to the development of some new bearing alloys and coatings that enable these parts to survive.

The Key To Stopping Brake Noise

Noisy brakes are not squeaking door hinges waiting to be lubed. You cannot simply apply a magic substance to make them quiet.

Uncovering Unperformed Maintenance On Kia Vehicles

From a safety standpoint, it could be argued that the steering and suspension system on any car is the most critical. That’s why it’s so important that every Kia that goes on the lift gets a basic safety check. A good visual inspection takes only a couple of minutes but will provide huge benefits to both your shop and the customer. You also have the satisfaction of knowing you solved the problem and put the customer in a safer car.

Infiniti Creates Its Most Advanced V6 Engine Yet

The new compact and lightweight 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine is the most advanced V6 gasoline engine that Infiniti has ever offered, striking an ideal balance between drivability, efficiency and performance.

Coil-On-Plug Diagnostics: Toyota Tundra

Sometimes simple = complex. For example, the modern coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system is perhaps among the simplest to diagnose, but to illustrate the complexities, let’s look at how a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4.0L V6 might record various misfire codes.

What Water Pump Cavitation Means

The tiny “bubbles” of water pump cavitation can kill the pump. While you will never actually see the tiny bubbles of cavitation in pumps, you can see the damage of cavitation that looks like metal eaten by termites.

Regenerative Brakes: Basic Operation And Behavior

A hybrid vehicle is a different animal than many of us are used to seeing. After all, if the engine of a typical vehicle stalled out at a traffic light, the driver of that vehicle would know something was wrong with it. If that same vehicle still drove with the engine off, then that would mean they were probably going down hill. But in the hybrid world, that is all normal.

TPMS Maintenance Minute: Best-Practice Rules To Follow

Every time a stem-mounted TPMS sensor is removed from a rim or is disturbed, it must be serviced – no ifs, ands or buts. This goes for sensors that are six months old to six years old. Do not reuse seals or stems. You are not doing the customer a favor by reusing old parts.

Bad Engine Mounts: More Than Just A Bad Ride

Hydraulic engine mounts are getting more popular because they provide a much smoother and quieter ride than mechanical mounts. Because they are so critical to the vehicle’s handling and performance, hydraulic engine mounts should be carefully inspected to make sure they are working properly.