Feature Articles

A Question Of Balance

A Question Of Balance

Splitting the crankshaft’s work load four ways leaves each of the cylinders responsible for 90 degrees of crank rotation. Under the best of circumstances, this doesn’t make the four banger nearly as smooth as its 6, 8, or even 12 cylinder counterparts.

Tech Tips

Tech Tips

Lexus Coolant Leaks; Porsche Distributor Caps; Porsche Turbo Failures; Nissan ECM Warning; Tossed Timing Belt; Maxima Engine Vibration

Tech Tips

Tech Tips

Broken Injector Harness; Subaru Digital Dashes; Anti-Tamper Plugs; Voltage Drop Testing; Recycled CV Joints; Honda Power Windows; Porsche Cruise Control

Trooper Troubles: Part Four

Trooper Troubles: Part Four

It’s not that our long-term Trooper project had been a troublesome experience. It’s just that the Trooper hung around a little too long. you might say it had worn out its welcome.

Unintentional Grounding

Unintentional Grounding

The customer did his best to describe the problem with his vehicle, saying, “I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right. Like a lack of power when I accelerate, and it almost stalled on me.”

Dynos Soar

Dynos Soar

The dynamometer is about to become a representative symbol of new emission testing mandated by I/M240 regulations, regulations which are spreading to more and more cities across the country.

Cross Bolted: Part Two

Cross Bolted: Part Two

Last month we started our repair odyssey on a 380SL timing chain upgrade. This labor-intensive repair procedure requires a lot of bolt and nut turning, and even more attention to detail.

Tech Tips

Tech Tips

Ceramic Fuses; Dowel Pin Removal; Generator Test; Brake Fluid Contamination; Roll Pin Installation; Clutch Disengagement Problems; Fuel Filter Replacements

Pulse-Width Modulation

Pulse-Width Modulation

A PWM is very similar in nature to a square wave signal. When viewed on an oscilloscope, both PWM and square waveforms look similar.

On The Hook

On The Hook

Practitioners of the mechanical healing arts have been compared to doctors and surgeons. There are similarities, to be sure.

Cross Bolted

Cross Bolted

Prudent owners of these vehicles eventually opted for a total upgrade of the timing chain and sprockets to a double row configuration.

Audi Central Locking System

Audi Central Locking System

The old standbys, power steering and power-assisted brakes, have been joined on the optional accessories menu by power seats, power windows, power sunroofs and power door locks.