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.
Oil-Related Engine Codes For Variable Valve Timing Engines
Variable valve timing is becoming a standard system on most late-model engines because it offers higher performance from a smaller displacement engine at higher rpms. Oil plays a larger role in VVT systems. They need engine oil not only for lubrication, but also to actuate the camshafts to change the profile of the lobes.
Electronic Parking Brake Diagnostics
A growing number of vehicles are equipped with electronic parking brakes (EPB) that automatically engage the parking brake when the transmission is shifted into park or it detects that the vehicle is on a hill. If you are doing a brake job on a vehicle with EPB, you will need a scan tool with the proper software for the EPB system to retract pistons calipers, adjust cables and perform diagnostics.
Shop Profile: From Antibiotics To Auto Body
Growing up in Flushing, Queens, N.Y., Jahid Habasi was engrossed in the automotive field. His father was a mechanic who wound up opening up his own body shop. But, once he retired, Habasi had to venture off on his own and find his own path. In 2007, Habasi entered the pharmacy program at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkhill, N.Y. “I did it to make my parents happy, to let them know that I’m book smart as well as street smart,” says Habasi. While he was in college, Habasi looked for a job. And like two magnets destined to snap together, he found himself working in a collision repair shop.
The Inner Workings of Variable Valve Timing Technology
Variable valve timing (VVT) is a way to advance/retard valve timing, and change duration, overlap and even lift in some applications while the engine is running. VVT is computer-controlled and typically uses oil pressure to change the position of a phaser mechanism on the end of the camshaft to advance or retard cam timing. VVT
Undercover: How Vehicle Software Is Changing Braking Hardware
There was a time when advancements in brake technology were entirely hardware based. Today, electronics is driving most of the advancements in braking technology.
Fuel For Thought – Issues That Pertain To “Bad Gas” In Today’s Market
Bad gasoline is not a myth. Fouled fuel found in a vehicle tank can usually be linked to a few suspects — it either came from the refinery, the distributor or the filling station down the street from your customer.
The Real World: In It to Win It — Grassroots Racing Engine Work
There are some basic differences to building an engine for road racing applications versus for circle track or drag racing. And, there are differences in your customers who are looking to have their engines modified.
UTI’s Tom Varrone Named 2010 Educator of the Year
Varrone who leads the BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP) and the BMW FastTrack program at the Universal Technical Institute, Phoenix campus, received the Mitchell 1-sponsored award at the NACAT conference.
Staying Active with Vehicle Electronics Technology
Tomorrow’s Smart Cars Will Bring Challenges for Technicians