Service Repair | |||||||
Source: Motor Age More studies of advanced diagnosticsOctober 1, 2009Welcome back for part two of advanced circuit diagnostics. We are going to take a look at some live scope captures taken from circuit defects installed on a test board.
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Source: Motor AgeTroubleshooting power windowsOctober 1, 2009A window that won't roll back up is not the only power window complaint you may face. Other common faults are windows that only move partially through their travel before grinding to a halt, work in one direction only or no longer respond to their auto up/down feature. A few simple checks, however, can often quickly and successfully locate the cause of these common problems.
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Source: Motor AgeWhich antifreeze is right for the vehicles you service?October 1, 2009Remember the old days when antifreeze was antifreeze? No matter which brand you chose, the color was green and the formula was glycol-based and contained silicates as corrosion inhibitors. You mixed the antifreeze 50/50 with water and poured it in the radiator. As the engine operated, the antifreeze would perform its primary duties of carrying heat to the radiator, preventing freezing (hence the name) and protecting against corrosion in the cooling system. Simply change the antifreeze at the prescribed service interval and life was simple.
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Source: Motor AgeParking brakes are necessities on some vehicles as is their serviceOctober 1, 2009For many drivers, parking brakes are an afterthought — if they're thought of — and that's not good. This too-often overlooked system serves an important purpose. That purpose has nothing to do with emergencies; banish the term "emergency brake" from your vocabulary! The parking brake is there to keep a stopped car where the driver put it, either by itself or backing up the transmission.
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Source: Motor AgeDetermining the missing elements in misfiresOctober 1, 2009Misfires are a common drivability issue. If the misfire rate exceeds the programmed threshold, the Engine Control Module (ECM) will record the problem and turn on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL). Misfires occur when the combustion process is not as it should be. Any factor, therefore, that affects this process is suspect when it comes to diagnosis.
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Source: Motor AgePutting time and money into older vehiclesOctober 1, 2009My spare ride is a 1980 model Ford pickup with a 300 straight six. While I enjoy tinkering with cars and trucks at work with my students, having to fix one of my own when it breaks is like having to repair the lawn mower when it's time to cut the grass.
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