Vehicle studies that highlight key points to remember when working through the diagnostic repairs that come into the shop every day. Astronaut Garrett Reisman tells an incredible story of quick thinking and problem solving while he was on a spacewalk to install a new...
A study in Toyota’s pink coolant and some of the cooling system components that utilize this coolant including electric coolant pumps, EGR coolers and heat exchangers. In 2004, Toyota transitioned from red Long-Life Coolant (LLC) to the improved pink Super Long-Life...
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...
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...
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...
After 55 years the Corolla has not only survived, but thrived. Join us as we take a look at the history, common issues and technology of the world’s best selling car. Despite all the difficulties and unknowns of 2021, it was a good year for Toyota; in fact, it was a...
Crank-no-start with a hybrid is a little different, but they're actually easier to diagnose than conventional cars. When you grab your repair order and read, “Vehicle towed in. Engine cranks but won’t start,” you’re probably pretty happy. And why not? It’s likely to...
Some months ago, I was called to a shop to assist in the diagnosis of a 2007 Lexus ES350 (Figure 1) with a code P0051, “A/F Sensor Heater Control Circuit Low (B2S1)” (Figure 2). We’ll call this shop “Shop B.” Another shop, let’s call them “Shop A,” had installed a...
