Special Report: Alternative Fuel – Honda Announces First FCX Clarity Customers and World’s First Fuel Cell Vehicle
Breakthrough zero emissions electric vehicle to be delivered in July
Green Driving: It’s What’s Inside That Counts
National Survey Finds the Quest for Fuel Efficiency Is Changing Americans’ Car Consciousness
Crossword Puzzle: May 2008
Across 1. Automotive anti-whiplash device 5. Straight-cut or ____ gear 9. Mr. MacPherson’s suspension invention 10. Brand name, broken fastener extraction tool (4,3) 11. Item connecting piston and crankshaft, briefly (3,3) 12. Trade talk for windshield pillar
Shop Lessons: Accessing Repair Data – A Report From the Field
Gary Goms explains how today, diagnostic technicians are dealing with networked computer systems that are impervious to reverse engineering and other diagnostic techniques.
Engine Tech: A Look Into the Future of Engines and Transmissions
GM – Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future
Component Connection: A Little Homework Goes a Long Way
A Study in Starter Failures – In the early days of the automobile, starting an engine consisted of first retarding the spark and adjusting the hand choke to optimum fuel mixture. The next step was to pull a cylinder onto compression stroke and “snap” the piston past top dead center with the hand crank. Modern starters, of course, use an electric solenoid to close the circuit between the battery and starter motor and to keep the drive pinion engaged with the flywheel until the engine achieves idle speed.
Service Advisor: No Escaping Hybrid Service
The hybrid Escape and Mariner vehicles are full hybrid vehicles, meaning that, at times, the vehicle will run 100% on electric power only. In fact, it is capable of traveling up to 25 mph (40 kph) without ever starting the engine.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Shedding Light on Headlamp Service
Your job as a technician is to help customers “see the light” when they need a replacement lamp or bulb.
SPECIAL REPORT: Future Shock – Toyota to Start Sales of Lithium-ion Plug-in Hybrids by 2010
The Toyota PHEV prototypes are powered by oversized packs of nickel-metal hydride batteries that effectively simulate the level of performance Toyota expects to achieve when it eventually develops its own more advanced, compact and powerful battery systems.