Wake Up to the Computer Age
I’m a 32-year veteran of the auto parts business and am ASE certified in eight areas. While it’s good to have paper catalogs at a backup, in some instances, an e-cat is better. At NAPA, we have an e-cat system that shows exhaust diagrams. It’s very useful and faster to look up online than on
Sorry, I Prefer Paper
With paper catalogs, an error is found once. I can make a notation or use sticky paper or a paperclip to mark it so it can be shared with other counter people. There’s no way to make notation with e-cats I’ve used. I have found e-cats may fix one listing but other new mistakes pop
Cylinder Head Oil Leak or Weepage Found on Some 4.6L and 5.4L Engines
Some vehicles equipped with the Romeo 4.6L 2V engine or 5.4L 2V Windsor and 5.4L Supercharged engine may exhibit an oil leak or oil weepage from the cylinder head gasket at the right-hand rear or the left-hand front of the engine. Oil weepage is not considered detrimental to engine performance or durability. An oil leak
Spark Plug Wire Inspection
Spark plug wires are designed to carry the electrical voltage from the ignition system to the spark plug. They are designed to have very low resistance so the maximum amount of energy is transferred. This transfer of energy can be interrupted by several factors:
Taurus/Sable Liquid Line and Orifice Tube
Four Seasons offers the following guidelines to assist in changing the orifice tubes on 2000-’07 Ford Taurus and 2000-’05 Mercury Sable vehicles. At first glance, the liquid line looks like one long hose. But, unlike the liquid lines of the ’80s and ’90s, this hose has a fitting in the middle. The orifice tube is
Park Avenue Lacks Power
Vehicle: 2000-’03 Buick Park Avenue 3.8L Symptom: Lack of power, hesitation, surge and/or possible DTC P0420. Problem 1 of 3: The catalytic converter has degraded and will need to be replaced. Test & Fix: DTC P0420 means the rear oxygen (O2) sensor has too much activity. This means it must be working and therefore the
GM DEXRON-VI Specs
By Walt Silveira, director of automotive products, lubricants, ConocoPhillips Company, Kendall, Phillips 66, 76 and Conoco brands. The new DEXRON-VI specification handed down from General Motors has created a lot of industry buzz and some uncertainty. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions and our answers to help prepare you for the
Volkswagen Radiator Fan Damage
If you encounter a 1998-’03 EuroVan with radiator fan damage, it may have been caused by improperly supporting the radiator assembly when previous repairs required the radiator to be tipped forward. When repairs require that the radiator assembly be tipped forward, do not prop (hold the assembly in the tipped position) using any device that
There’s No Substitute For Paper
I have been in auto parts for more than 30 years, both in the aftermarket, and in dealerships. There is no real substitute for the books. True, the e-cat may be faster, especially in conjunction with e-invoicing, but the books still win hands down. I have experienced, and still do on a daily basis, inaccurate
Why All the Fuss Over E-Cats?
Sorry people, the paper cat is going the way of the drum brake whether we like it or not. The benefits of going to e-cat is too great to let the current drawbacks stop it for long. So let’s quit complaining about all of the things the e-cat isn’t and get a few veteran parts
What are the alternatives to R-134a?
The Europeans are paving the way, driving alternative refrigerant technology. The European “F-Gas” rules have declared that R-134a must be replaced with a refrigerant that has a significantly lower global warming potential (a rating no higher than 150 GWP). The phase-out on new vehicles must start in 2011 and be complete by 2017. The European
What selling points do you recommend when a master cylinder must be replaced?
If a customer needs a master cylinder, slave cylinder or hydraulic throw-out bearing, you should recommend replacing all of the components at the same time. Replacing the whole system will restore the system to like-new condition and save the vehicle owner the inconvenience and cost of having to fix the clutch linkage again in the