It’s a tangled nest of link-rods and bushings, but there’s method to the apparent mess. A big advantage to being the first to solve a complicated problem is that you get to patent the simplest solution, so anyone who wants to achieve the same effect has to do it in a more complicated and less […]
A lot more goes into running a successful automotive repair shop than simply renting some space and hanging out a sign. At least some time must be devoted to attracting and keeping customers. This activity can be loosely described as “marketing your business.” Perhaps you have experimented by buying a Yellow Pages ad, subscribing to […]
Some of the mistakes and omissions I’ve run across, as well as detailing the trickier dance steps to help you turn out quality Honda brake work. When it comes to doing a quality brake service on Hondas, some folks are tripping over their tap shoes. How much difficulty is there in hanging a new set […]
For so long and so often, you’ve heard R-12 supplies are running out, you’ve probably stopped believing it ever will happen. EPA officials at the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) 2000 convention don’t blame you, but they say they have hard numbers now and suggest this summer will be the last with enough R-12. The […]
How far is it from that foam on the cap to rings and bearings? A cheery thing to find first thing in the morning – a little blob of oily foam inside the radiator filler cap. But my immediate alarm seemed overdone because there was no corresponding soap foam in the crankcase oil. Whew! No […]
The oxygen sensor has to be one of the most important sensors on a modern automobile. It helps the ECM maintain the optimum air/fuel ratio for effective catalytic converter operation, and with the advent of OBD-II it monitors the effectiveness of the converter as well. The main oxygen sensor lives in one of the harshest […]
Business computer programs are like lab scopes: You don’t need them if common sense gives you the answer, but there’s no substitute for them if the problem is complex. They can also be confusing and intimidating, and they work best with a suite of plug-in attachments. Yet they’re powerful tools around once you’ve mastered them. […]
A coil atop every spark plug. OK, it’s easy enough to see it’s possible. But the question is, why is this a reasonable way to set up an ignition system? Obviously, it costs more to build and buy (as well as to diagnose or fix) than any other kind of ignition system, but what are […]
John Forro operates an independent training company (A.S.T. Training) and teaches automotive technology mostly in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, venturing afield from time to time as people are interested. His training series includes a number of different courses covering various aspects of the automotive diagnosis and repair business, but the one I attended focused on […]
Some people find import engines really uplifting – so much, they’ve built airplanes around them.