Volkswagen Motronic
Motronic systems combine ignition timing with knock control, fuel injection, fuel economy and emissions control. Combining all these functions into a single control unit allows adaptive strategies to control idle speed, ignition timing and fuel injection, depending upon actual operating conditions.
Test Bench: Raytek Raynger MX4+
At the risk of borrowing an overused analogy one too many times, what’s the first thing the doctor does after he asks for your medical insurance card? He starts his checkup by taking your vital signs, beginning with your body temperature, right?
Tech Tips
1998 Tech Tip Winner Nissan Intentional Backfire Cure Tension Please! Honda Brake Pointers
Honda Code Breaker Part One: Fuel Injected Hondas
The self-diagnostic systems for Honda automobiles equipped with PGM-FI fuel injection have followed a very consistent strategy. The beginings of this strategy can be traced back to the 1985 CRX Si, the late production 1985 Prelude Si and the 1985 Accord SEi. Three different methods of diagnostic trouble code retrieval have been employed and the […]
Subaru Maintenance Inspections
Regular maintenance inspections are the first step to assure each Subaru owner many miles of trouble-free service and long vehicle life.
Subaru Scheduled Maintenance
The frequency of scheduled inspection and maintenance services required by late model Subaru vehicles is minimal when compared with vehicles of the past. If the owner has the good sense to bring the vehicle to your shop to perform these services, it’s up to you to do the rest.
Shop Tools (January 1999)
Drill Bit Sharpener Power Flush Plus A/C Flusher and Solvent Recycler Vacuum Bleeder Offroad Creeper Rechargeable, Battery-Powered Grease Gun Fluid Containment Bench High-Tech Workbench New Tire Changer Rotary Screw Compressor Rim Clamp Tire Changer Waste-Oil Heater Asymmetrical Overhead Lift Digital Lube Nozzle Power Steering Flush Machine Folding Engine Hoist Pro Charger 50 TranServe II+ R.I.M. […]
Diagnostic Tools
ALLDATA Version 3.0 Software Release; Toyota Handbook; Automotive Multimeter; Halogen Hawk Leak Detector; and more…
Parts
1998/1999 LuK RepSet Catalog; New Products from NAPA AUTO PARTS; Spark Plug Merchandising Program; ‘Loaded’ Calipers; and more…
Hand Tools
Hose-Pulling Ergonomic Pliers; Metric Stud Extractors; Locking Pliers; Ergonomic Drivers for Tamper-Proof Torx Fasteners; and more…
Pump Up The Volume
Here’s a pressure-puzzle for you: Inside the combustion chamber during a WOT power stroke the burning gases can momentarily exceed 1500 psi.
Information Lockout: Audi Remote Locking Systems
It’s been said that a typical automobile today has more electronics on board than you would have found on a commercial airliner just a decade or so ago.
Hydrocarbons and Hybrids
Pull any electric cars into your shop lately? Probably not, and probably not soon, if ever.
Circuit Savvy Part One: Parallel Circuits
It would seem that series circuits are all we need to make our electrical systems do the things we need them to do. Not everything can be accomplished with series circuits alone.
Test Bench: EASE Simulation PC-Based OBD-II Scan Tool
The classical definition of a tool would be something like a hammer or a screwdriver; a tool that lets you do a job that you wouldn’t be able to do as well with your bare hands.
Diagnosing Honda Ignition Systems
During a complicated diagnosis, the most important piece of information needed could be an answer to the question “What does the system want?”
Tech Tips
Editor’s Note; Don’t Be Misled; Nissan Charging System Symptoms; Idle Speed And Warm Restart Woes; and more…
Test Bench: Mac Tools Scanalizer
It may be wrong-headed, but if the manual’s a tough read, I’d rather try to figure it out on my own first.
Measuring Job Profitability
How do you decide if a job is profitable?
Counterwobbling the Flailing Reciprocals Part Two
No engine vibrates when it’s shut down, so how does crankshaft RPM turn into vibrations and how can we ‘unwobble’ them?
Circuit Savvy Part Two: Series Circuits
Voltage and current measurements of components that exhibit dynamic resistance will not jive with calculated values if we insert the component’s OFF resistance into the Ohm’s Law equation.