Episode 16 – Diagnostic Strategies, 5: Keeping Techs Current
Dave Facciuto is and the former owner and ASE Master Technician Technician of Dave’s Import Service in Medford, Oregon. Kevin Orndorff is a former technician working at Dave’s and current owner since he purchased the shop from Dave. Dave is still active in the...
The Toyota Park-By-Wire System Explained: A Walk Through the Park
Toyota created a “shift”-by-wire system and a park-by-wire system for their hybrid vehicles. We’ll explore how the park by wire system works. When you park your car on a hill, you’d like it to still be there when you get back. A runaway car is very bad. The car can be...
Volvo Steering Column Lock (SCL)
The steering column lock probably won’t be a problem until it is. The steering column lock locks the steering wheel in place when the vehicle has been shut off and the key or fob is removed. Different from the conventional key and tumbler, the steering column lock is...
Understanding, Diagnosing and Resolving Nissan Noise, Vibration and Harshness Issues
Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) is an important topic and one that auto manufacturers take very seriously. Large amounts of time and money are devoted to research and development in this area. Engines and transmissions spend hours on NVH test benches before ever...
Volvo Fuel Injectors
Volvo has been using fuel injection on their cars as long as we can remember. The designs have changed over the years, but the basic idea has remained the same. History Volvo first used fuel injection on the P1800 series cars in 1970. Volvo used a Bosch-designed...
2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Heater Blower With No Speed Control
This specific HVAC system has no self-diagnostic abilities, but does control the blend doors and A/C while manually controlling the blower motor speed. This article is intended for the learning technicians that have an interest in diagnosing and testing a Hyundai HVAC...
Episode 15 – Diagnostic Strategies, 4
Dave Facciuto is and the former owner and ASE Master Technician Technician of Dave’s Import Service in Medford, Oregon. Kevin Orndorff is a former technician working at Dave’s and purchased the shop from Dave. Dave is still active in the industry as a consultant and...
Volvo MIL Codes and Faults
Codes or No Codes: That is the question. Here's how to deal with MIL codes and faults. In this article, we will go over MIL codes and faults and how to deal with them. We will also go over Volvo no-code diagnosis, and how to approach vehicles that come into your shop...
Understanding the Nissan HVAC System Components
There are many issues that can arise in the HVAC system, and new regulations to be aware of. Let us dissect the HVAC acronym and take a closer look at each of the letters individually. HVAC is a very familiar acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. From...
Episode 14 – Diagnostic Strategies, 3: Resources, Libraries, Training, and more…
Dave Facciuto is the former owner ASE Master Technician at Dave’s Import Service in Medford, Oregon. Dave is still active in the industry as a consultant and shares his technical and business management knowledge with his former shop and the industry at large. His...
Volvo TechTips Spring 2022
In this issue: Four Common High Mileage Repairs • MIL Codes and Faults • Fuel Injectors • Steering Column Lock (SCL) • P1 Volvo Oil Separator (Oil Filter Housing) Replacement
Four Common High Mileage Repairs
Different terrain, temperatures, and road conditions affect vehicles differently. Here are some common problems found in high mileage Volvo vehicles. Like all cars, as Volvos get older and start to clock a lot of miles on the odometer, some common problems can start...
Running Out of Time: Diagnosing an Infiniti Q50 Timing Problem
We will take a look at an Infiniti suffering from a timing problem. It has been said that time waits for no one, and that is certainly true for auto technicians. There is always a vehicle to diagnose or a repair that has to be done by the end of the day. There are...
Episode 13 – Diagnostic Strategies, 2: Differential Diagnostics, Habits, How It All Starts, and More
Dave Facciuto is the former owner ASE Master Technician at Dave’s Import Service in Medford, Oregon. Dave is still active in the industry as a consultant and shares his technical and business management knowledge with his former shop and the industry at large. His...
Troubleshooting a Hyundai Tucson No Start with Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
How can an investigation go from bad to worse and solve these issues in a cost effective manner? Back Story 1 The Tucson arrived at the repair facility because the Check Engine light was illuminated, and secondhand information indicated that “The engine tended to run...
Diagnosing Prius Hybrid Battery Pack: Sometimes They Come Back…
It’s possible to do everything right and still find the Prius you just fixed waiting for you on a flatbed Monday morning. Battery Testing A blue 2008 Prius was waiting for Jim when he returned from lunch. (Actually, it was Seaside Pearl Metallic color code 8S2, but...
Episode 12 – Diagnostic Strategies: Strategy-based and Differential Diagnostics, and More
The different types of diagnostic strategies. Dave Facciuto is the former owner ASE Master Technician at Dave’s Import Service in Medford, Oregon. Dave is still active in the industry as a consultant and shares his technical and business management knowledge with his...
Volkswagen Touareg Tech Assist: Someone to Lean On
VW TECH Assist hotline is supported through local Volkswagen wholesale parts department to aid independent repair technicians working on Volkswagen vehicles. Bill Withers said it best with these lines from one of his most popular songs, “I just might have a problem...
Episode 11 – Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Diagnostic Tips
Different types of EGR valves and offers some specific diagnostic and testing tips for troubleshooting trouble codes involving the EGR system. Ken Coleman is an ASE Master Technician at Great Falls Auto Repair in Great Falls, Montana who knows a lot about emission...
Understanding the Toyota Hybrid Braking System
Not all Toyota hybrid brake systems are the same. In this article, we’ll be exploring the braking system on the 2004–2009 Toyota Prius. I remember when the first 2001 Prius rolled into our shop for a 5K service. I couldn’t wait to remove the wheels and look at the...
Understanding Volvo Start/Stop Systems and How They Work
The automatic start and stop systems will be part of the way car makers are meeting the tighter emission standards for the foreseeable future. Whether you like the Start/Stop feature or not, you should get to know these systems because the automatic start and stop...