VIDEO: Relearning And Recalibrating Common Systems
Andrew Markel shows how a few common systems on late-model vehicles can be relearned or recalibrated.
Ken Block’s Tire Safety Tips
What’s on Ken Block’s “To-Do” list? Floss daily, exercise regularly and check tires monthly. And while you should already be checking your tires every month, what better month to make it a habit than National Tire Safety Week. This year National Tire Safety Week runs from May 28-June 3. In partnership with Toyo Tire USA
VIDEO: Test Before You Touch
Andrew Markel shows how Test Before You Touch can help avoid comebacks and improve customer relations by testing the sensors before performing a repair.
Stability Control And Brake Jobs
Automotive technology continues to evolve in several directions. While many manufacturers are concentrating on electric and hybrid technology, higher mileage, and smaller and lighter vehicles, others are focused on performance, horsepower and ever-higher top speeds.
Tire Pressure: Check Between Services
Never underestimate the value of proper tire inflation. Having the tires inflated to the correct pressure is critical for alignments, TPMS service and maintaining fuel efficiency.
5 Mistakes Entry-Level Tire Techs Make
Nothing can turn a new tech into a veteran but time and experience, and often that experience is going to come from making mistakes – sometimes real bad ones – and learning from them (you hope).
2005-2009 Subaru Legacy Alignment Tips
The fourth-generation Subaru Legacy was produced from 2005-2009. It was available as both a sedan and a wagon until 2008 when the wagon was dropped. The front suspension design uses a MacPherson strut. The rear suspension is a multi-link design that changes toe and camber dynamically as the suspension and body change position.
The Connected Vehicle: Exploring The Next Frontier In Vehicle Communication
Connected vehicles have been with us since 1996 when GM introduced OnStar. This first-generation connected vehicle system pioneered the way for similar systems that were to follow. OnStar offered hands-free cell phone calling, GPS navigation, the ability to monitor vehicle systems for potential problems and to summon help in the event of a breakdown or accident. Since those early days, most import and domestic automakers have jumped onto the connected vehicle bandwagon and now offer some type of onboard cell phone, navigation and infotainment connectivity package.
Thorough Brake Inspections Are Comeback Preventers & Profit Builders
How many times have you seen a hand-painted sign in a shop window that advertised a menu-priced brake pad replacement for “$XX.95 per axle.” Of course, a menu-priced brake replacement would be good if a simple brake pad replacement would cure all of the root causes of a brake performance complaint. Unfortunately, menu-priced brake pad replacements are a customer comeback in the making because the customer often leaves with the same squeaking, grinding, pulsation, grabbing or pulling complaints that brought him to the shop in the first place.
Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems – Making a Comeback
Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are the systems that don’t have air pressure sensors inside the tires. Rather, they detect a low tire by comparing relative wheel speeds via the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) wheel speed sensors. When a tire loses air, its diameter decreases slightly. Older indirect TPMS are not as sensitive to
