July 1, 2008
By:
Peter F. Meier
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When I first started in this business, you could diagnose most running problems based on a generalized set of rules. Of course, this was in the day of carbureted engines and mechanical ignition systems. Today, the Engine Control Module (ECM) does a pretty good job of keeping an eye on things. While there are general methods used by the ECM for testing, the specific testing procedures programmed by an individual manufacturer can have an impact on how you proceed with your diagnosis and repair.
June 1, 2008
By:
Richard McCuistian
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When the 4.6L first appeared under the hood of brand new Crown Victorias back in 1992 (Town Car got it a year earlier), those of us who pounded the concrete and pulled steel in Ford dealership service departments expected a host of new problems. You know, those weak links in the chain that the engineers didn't catch before they released the new platform?
May 1, 2008
By:
Richard McCuistian
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I have trained and placed quite a few technicians in the past six years, and up to this point, I've managed to place all my graduates in dealerships or independent shops. I like to see my guys do well. They call me sometimes for advice, sometimes to tell me about a particularly interesting job they did or just to say hello.
April 1, 2008
By:
Richard McCuistian
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One Friday morning, I left the house on my way to Dothan, the big town down the road where I worked for so many years. The Ford dealership parts manager had a brand new 7.3L engine block he needed to dump either on me or in the scrap iron bin. I'm teaching an engine repair course next semester, and the 7.3L block might be a nice training aid. So I fired up my old pickup, left my subdivision and headed up the boulevard.
March 1, 2008
By:
Peter F. Meier
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The Jeep Wrangler belongs to a fellow employee and just needed a routine oil change. A simple task, right? No matter what the customer complaint is, I always do a complete visual inspection so I can advise my customer on his or her car's current condition.
February 1, 2008
By:
Richard McCuistian
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The survival of a $5,000 engine rests on a 1-inch piece of colored plastic, a Chinese-made replacement part, and some painted marks. How crazy is that?
December 1, 2007
By:
Peter F. Meier
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Medical diagnostics and automotive diagnostics are not as different as you may think
June 1, 2007
By:
Curt Marsh
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Motor Age Garage Test #520 6/07: 1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS that lacks power.
June 1, 2007
By:
Curt Marsh
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Click here for the June 2007 Motor Age Garage Answer Key. (Available Aug. 15, 2007)
