The Complicated Truth Of Alternator Testing Diagnostics
One test is not enough if you are diagnosing a charging system problem. All too often, the alternator is condemned as the source of the problem if only battery voltage is present with the engine running.
Diagnosing, Servicing & Replacing Batteries
Just last summer, I had three batteries pass a conductance test, but fail to crank the engine on a sustained basis. The conductance tester indicated that these batteries were “good,” but they tested well below 100% capacity. In two cases, I was pursuing parasitic battery drain problems with used batteries. In another case, I had a new battery that would pass a conductance test, but not accept a recharge, said Gary Goms, Import Specialist Contributor.
Alternator Testing Diagnostics Are Getting More Complicated
One test is not enough if you are diagnosing a charging system problem. All too often, if only battery voltage is present with the engine running the alternator is condemned as the source of the problem. If this is the case, it means that the alternator is not charging, but does not reveal why.
Tire & Wheel Service Equipment: Where The Rubber Meets The Road
Tire and wheel service covers a range of items that provide opportunities for shops to enhance their profitability. These include wheel alignment, tire mounting, balancing, rotation and inspection, and flat repair.
Trailer Brakes: Connector Outlet Electrical Diagnostics
The owner of a 1999 Dodge 2500 Ram pickup called me mid-summer with an ABS and check engine warning light problem on his instrument panel and no trailer brakes on his fifth-wheel horse trailer.
When Over-Voltages Electrocute PCMs
During the past nine months, I’ve had three instances of powertrain control module (PCM) failures on Jeep Wrangler vehicles that were evidently caused by an over-voltage condition.
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.
Chrysler Transmission: The Case Of The Shiftless 48RE
The truck originally came into the shop with a broken band, which is a common and very cut-and-dried failure on a high-mileage 48RE transmission. The band and other friction lining was replaced and the valve body was cleaned. And, since the 3500 SLT had 240,000 miles on the odometer, the failure-prone electronic governor was replaced as well. Unfortunately, after the rebuilt transmission was installed and road-tested, the 48RE failed to shift out of first gear.
Under the Hood: ‘Plugging’ Away at Ignition Diagnostics
Whatever the configuration, an ignition coil has three parts: a primary circuit, a secondary circuit and a soft-iron core
Service Advisor: Tips on Solving Alternator Failure Issues
Catastrophic failures are usually due to an alternator malfunction, but can also be caused by a faulty drive belt or blown fuse.