Under the Hood: Current Events — The Stresses of Working ‘Under a Load’
If the charging system fails for any reason or does not produce enough power to meet all of the vehicle’s electrical demands, the battery quickly runs down. And once battery voltage drops below a certain threshold, the onboard electronics, ignition and fuel systems may stop working normally or cause the engine to stall.
Crossword Puzzle: October 2010
Across 1. Getaway-car driver’s Ford 4. GMC vehicles 9. Specific ____, 8-Down device reading 10. OPEC-oil description 11. Stereo’s CD-retrieval button 12. Tachometer’s warning mark 13. Precision measuring instruments 18. Automatic-transmission action 20. Wheel-nut description, perhaps 22. "Not Street ____," racing-parts description 23. "If I Had a Million Dollars" car 24. 2010 Mazda RX-8 engine
Crossword Puzzle: September 2010
Across 1. Getaway-car driver’s Ford 4. GMC vehicles 9. Specific ____, 8-Down device reading 10. OPEC-oil description 11. Stereo’s CD-retrieval button 12. Tachometer’s warning mark 13. Precision measuring instruments 18. Automatic-transmission action 20. Wheel-nut description, perhaps 22. "Not Street ____," racing-parts description 23. "If I Had a Million Dollars" car 24. 2010 Mazda RX-8 engine
Truck Stop: In for the Long Haul
H-D Service and Maintenance Tips: The following is a basic checklist of items that need to be scheduled for maintenance and repair of trailer dry vans and bodies developed by a national trailer manufacture:
Service Advisor: ‘Starting’ an Electrical System Diagnosis
Fixing Electrical System Faults the First Time Eliminates Returns
Under the Hood: Plugging Away with Diesel Service
Understanding VW Glow Plug Diagnostics
Under the Hood: Charging Ahead into Electrical System Testing
Although checking charging voltage at the battery terminals is the most popular method for testing an alternator, a charging voltage test seldom reveals less common problems like open or shorted alternator diodes, intermittent high or low charging rates, charging system wiring problems, intermittent cranking/no-start complaints or intermittent dead battery complaints.
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.
Mastering Early Honda & Acura ABS Systems
Adapted from Larry Carley’s article in BRAKE & FRONT END