Differentials Service and Function in Mercedes-Benz AWD Vehicles
4MATIC is available on virtually every Mercedes-Benz vehicle so you should know the ins and outs, including service and maintenance recommendations. At the heart of the matter, the 4MATIC® system applies power to the front axles through a transfer case in the...
Volvo TechTips Spring 2023
In this issue: Timing Chain Replacement on a Volvo 3.2L Engine • Testing, Repairing, and Servicing Volvo Seats and Seat Belts • Three Common Interior Repairs on Volvo Vehicles • Supercharger Service on High Mileage Volvos
Supercharger Service on High Mileage Volvos
This is part of a continuing series of articles that cover some common issues that you may experience on Volvos with higher mileage and age. Supercharger Air Leaks, Late Style 2.0L Twin-Charged Engines (2015 and up) In the new-to-most-of-us-in-the-aftermarket world,...
Three Common Interior Repairs on Volvo Vehicles
In this article, we will cover a few different repairs that don't take a lot of time, but knowing these situations can definitely help with repairing these vehicles. Electric Trunk Repair Here we have a customer with a 2010 S40, stating that the trunk will not operate...
Accessing Mercedes-Benz Head Unit Info
Some tools to help capture intermittents and more Mercedes-Benz head units generally have two features useful for catching intermittent faults and other diagnosis tasks: Screen Capture and the Dealer Menu. If you have a customer experiencing an issue and you think it...
Pieces of the Diagnostic Puzzle: Diagnosing Mercedes-Benz Vehicles
How Your Strategic versus Tactical Approach to Diagnostics Makes the Difference Between Sweet Success and Frustrating Failures A lot is made of diagnostic strategy in training classes and speeches at technician conferences these days. And for good reason. However,...
Testing, Repairing, and Servicing Volvo Seats and Seat Belts
This article covers various repairs on seats and seat belts that you may find helpful, should they come through your shop. We all know that Volvo has always made it a point to set the standard in automotive safety. Over the years, Volvo has helped develop and perfect...
Mercedes-Benz Electric Vehicles: What do you need to do today to accommodate tomorrow’s models?
Your business model is going to change as we see a greater mix of EVs enter the market Ready or Not—Here They Come! Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all-electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow. They will be shifting their focus from...
Timing Chain Replacement on a Volvo 3.2L Engine
The 3.2 liter engine is a six-cylinder non-turbo engine. In this article, we will cover the replacement of the engine timing chain and related components on an XC90. The procedure may differ on other models. To do this job you will need some special tools: front...
Quiescent (Rest) Current Draw Diagnosis on Mercedes-Benz Vehicles
Stop chasing your tail with this methodical approach Quiescent /kwē' esnt/ (adj.): In a state or period of inactivity or dormancy. One of the more vexing customer concerns is a dead starter battery. Of course, sometimes this is related to a failure of the battery or...
Volvo TechTips Fall/Winter 2022
In this issue: Replacing the Radiator and A/C Condenser • Replacing Pistons and Rings • Understanding/Diagnosing TF-80SC • Diagnosing/Repairing Manifold Exhaust Leaks
Diagnosing and Repairing Volvo Manifold Exhaust Leaks, Part 1
On a Second Generation Volvo XC90 (2016—Present) T6 2.0L B6324S Engine, With Supercharger and Turbocharger Volvo 2.0L T6 B6324S engine More and more of these remarkable second generation Volvos are coming into independent shops every day, as these cars come off of...
Crankcase Ventilation in the Modern Mercedes-Benz Engine
Understanding the system and diagnosing P052E and associated trouble codes They gotta breathe, right? The concept of crankcase ventilation has been around since the beginning of the internal combustion engine (ICE). If you consider the conditions on the inside of a...
Understanding and Diagnosing the Volvo TF-80SC Automatic Transmission in FWD and AWD Vehicles
The design and function of this transmission, what goes wrong, and how to diagnose problems. The Volvo TF-80SC transmission was used starting in 2005 in the V8 XC90 all the way through 2016 in most cars that had a 5-cylinder and all that had 6- and 8-cylinder engines....
StarTuned Fall 2022
In this issue: AMG Cylinder Management • Direct Fuel Injection• MB Maintenance • Radio Frequencies and MB Technology
Radio Frequencies and Mercedes-Benz Technology
It’s in the Air Around Us Today’s Mercedes-Benz vehicles use many different RF (Radio Frequency) and IR (Infrared) based devices for communications in several of their vehicle control systems. RF and IR signals touch just about every system onboard today’s car....
Replacing Pistons and Rings on a 2016 Volvo XC90 T6
When a high mileage Volvo is due for overhaul, pay careful attention to the installation of new pistons and piston rings. Have you ever had a customer come in and say, "I've been putting a lot of oil in my vehicle, but I don't see any leaking on the ground," only to...
Benz and the Art of Mercedes Maintenance
Maintenance procedures are not always as simple as you think. Service indicator display on the instrument cluster Saying that Mercedes-Benz invented the automobile could be argued, but there's no doubt that the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886 holds the distinction as...
Replacing the Volvo Radiator and Air Condition (A/C) Condenser
How to replace the radiator and A/C condenser on a second generation Volvo S80 with B6324S engine (MY 2007-2012). Replacement of the radiator and/or air conditioning condenser on these cars can be challenging for some technicians because of the number of hidden bolts...
On The Juice: A Toyota Prius Performance Enhancement to Beat the Competition
An overview of the onboard charging system as well as some tips you may be able to use for your next diagnosis and repair. Hybrid vehicle performance is best measured in miles per gallon rather than horsepower and torque. The primary benefit of a Toyota hybrid is...
Volvo TechTips Summer 2022
In this issue: Resealing Volvo XC90 V8 Front Engine Cover • Two Vexing Volvos • Volvo Lights • Catalytic Converters