Rotating Electric: Alternators Are Stressed-Out These Days
These rotating electrical components are a frequently replaced item on many older vehicles – even some newer ones. Starters are lasting much longer these days, thanks to quick-starting fuel-injected engines, but alternators are really taking a beating.
Water Pumps: Do It Right The First Time And Be Done With It
Most late-model original equipment water pumps should run well over 100,000 miles before they start to leak or squeak.
Motor Oil: So Many Kinds, So Much Confusion
The “right” oil for any given application is one that meets all OEM requirements for the vehicle.
Taking The Fuel Pump Challenge Head-On
Electronic fuel injection is fairly reliable most of the time and requires minimal preventive maintenance. But as the years and miles add up, things can go wrong.
O2 Sensors Keep Watch Over The Air-Fuel Mixture
A slightly rich fuel mixture makes more power but it also increases carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. A leaner mixture helps fuel economy, but if the A/F mixture is too lean the engine may misfire, lose power and spew unburned fuel into the exhaust.
Powertrain Control Module (PCM): Brains of the Car
The PCM controls ignition timing, fuel delivery, valve timing in engines with Variable Valve Timing), emissions functions, turbo boost pressure in turbocharged engines, idle speed, throttle position and cruise control.
Mass Airflow Sensors Control The Air-Fuel Mixture In A Vehicle’s Engine
A sluggish MAF sensor that is slow to react to changes in airflow can cause a variety of drivability and emission problems.
Lighting Options For Today’s Cars And Trucks: The Big News Is LED Technology
A customer who is buying a replacement headlight or other bulb is often an excellent prospect for some type of upgrade. Anyone who drives a performance-oriented vehicle or does a lot of night driving may appreciate some type of high-performance headlamp.
Automotive Fuel Pump Misdiagnosis Continues To Be A Major Issue
If a fuel pump has failed (quit working altogether) or fails to meet minimum pressure and volume specifications for the application, it needs to be replaced with a new pump.
Recommend Replacing All Of A Vehicle’s Ball Joints At Same Time
A loose or worn ball joint can be dangerous and should be replaced as soon as possible. Why? Because if a ball joint pulls apart or breaks, it will cause the suspension to collapse.
Automotive A/C Systems Evolve To Keep Motorists Cool
The compressor is the heart of the air conditioning system. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant so that the refrigerant can dump heat as it passes through the condenser.
How Long Should An Automotive Water Pump Last?
You should recommend a top-quality replacement water pump if a customer’s old water pump has called it quits.