My Apologies
All of us are human. Being able to admit when you made a mistake is an admirable trait. This month I am going to address turbocharged vehicles...
In Front of the Flywheel
If you did not know, the engine has to be operating properly before we can diagnose transmission problems. Air flow measurement is a HUGE input on Mass Airflow...
In this final installment of this module programming series we will address Toyota, Honda and touch on a few other Asian engineered vehicles. The processes...
In this installment, Programming Part IV, we will take a stab at Chrysler vehicles. The FCA programming process is not as forgiving as Ford or GM as described...
In parts I and II of this series of articles, we covered the basics of module programming and Ford Motor Company vehicles, respectively. In this installment...
In last month’s article we covered the basics of module programming. From this point forward we will delve into individual manufacturers. Each of these...
I have to be honest, swapping a TH-350 from one vehicle to another was easy, nuts and bolts, compared to replacing any modern transmission. Replacing almost...
Continuing with our recent theme of inputs, this month we’ll cover oxygen sensors. There’s a lot of information you need to know to understand oxygen...
Two months ago, we covered testing potentiometers, such as TP and APP sensors. Both of those sensors could cause driveability complaints, transmission shift...
A faulty throttle position sensor (TPS) or accelerator pedal position sensor (APP) can cause engine or transmission issues. Hesitations, surging, hard starting...
In the last two issues of GEARS Magazine, we covered engine mechanical testing using high current probes for relative compression testing in conjunction with...
Last month’s article covered the tooling and some basic theories regarding mechanical testing using electronic means. This month we’ll dig a bit deeper...
In the October/November 2017 issue of GEARS, the column In Front of the Flywheel addressed an intermittent compression issue on a 2010 Ford F150. The article...
This past October, I presented a class at the ATRA Powertrain Expo in Las Vegas. The event was amazing! I’d personally like to thank everyone who was...
Can a vehicle have a misfire caused by intermittent compression? If so, can a compression gauge catch it? The answers are “Yes,” and “Only if you’re...
Many technicians today still don’t have to deal with ethanol. Others do, but they aren’t usually the ones who get caught with their pants down when it...
Backprobe or pierce? That’s a philosophical question that has plagued technicians for years. Turns out there may be a real benefit to piercing wires instead...
Almost every system on today’s vehicles requires the use of a scan tool for diagnostics or reprogramming. Which leads to a common question: “What scan tool...
Have you ever replaced a major component, such as a cylinder head or an engine, and then, after you thought your repair was complete, the vehicle wouldn’t...
In the last issue of GEARS, we explored testing techniques for failing digital sensors, and covered a sound diagnostic plan of attack. In this issue, we’ll...