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Vehicle Serviceability - A Real Issue |
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Serviceability is not a top priority for vehicle design teams, but it should be. Vehicle designers will surely read this article and remonstrate that there is no real issue here, and that modern computer-aided design makes vehicle repairs logical, efficient, and affordable. Any first year mechanic’s apprentice knows better.
To prove the point, let’s look a couple of real repairs. Chrysler will take the sharp point of our whoopin' stick in these examples, but the sins of the industry are not bounded by brand. And nowhere is bad service/repair design more evident than in the industry's antiquated approach to heating and air conditioning systems.
Let’s start with a 2000 Chrysler Concorde, a car with, well... issues. Other egregious offenses aside, this particular Concorde’s air conditioner blows more hot air than a freshman congressman, now that the evaporator core has sprung its characteristic leak.
The thoughtful addition of a foam blanket wrapped around the evaporator traps moisture and creates a fertile breeding ground for bacteria large enough to fly in formation through the air vents.
Ick. This thing reminds me of my high school gym locker, also a health hazard. The mold smell with the AC on was so intense that scented sprays and anti-fungal treatments were impotent. Why would anyone place large-pore foam that collects moisture in the bottom of the evap case?
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Read more... [Vehicle Serviceability - A Real Issue]
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Air Lift |
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 Air Lift Cooling System Filler
— copy and photos by Ralph Birnbaum
Time to drain and refill that cooling system? Draining the coolant isn't too hard on most makes; but what about refilling? Purging all the air from the system during a refill can be difficult. Heater cores can trap enough air to do a good impersonation of The Poseidon Adventure.
And mini vans with rear heaters can be particularly difficult to bleed due to their large capacity and long, convoluted system of connecting hoses and pipes. If you aren't careful, you'll overheat the engine before the thermostat opens, and end up dodging a hot coolant shower when Old Faithful cuts loose.
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Read more... [Air Lift]
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Temperature Measurement |
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 AIR 1200 Infrared Thermometer— copy and photos by Ralph Birnbaum
Temperature measurement is an essential part of automotive diagnostics. Temperature is a core input for powertrain management and HVAC operation. Knowing the exact component temperature eliminates guesswork when evaluating system performance.
Temperature measurement is also important for component failure troubleshooting. Excessive heat is the enemy of many vehicle components—from the engine to the brakes. Heat removal is so critical to component longevity that many vehicles now have multiple heat exchangers in addition to the radiator and heater core. Smaller “coolers” pull heat away from transmission and hydraulic fluids in power accessories. Cooled EGR is commonplace in modern diesels.
Clearly, we have ample need for fast and accurate temperature measurement.
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Read more... [Temperature Measurement]
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Modern Diesels |
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 Modern Diesel Technology
— written by Ralph Birnbaum
In spite of their native torque and superior fuel efficiency, diesel engines spew some pretty toxic emissions that contain high levels of particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen, sulfur, some HC and CO, and a slew of other malodorous nasties that contribute to smog and respiratory distress. In fact, one of the big problems with diesel exhaust is that the soot particles killing us may be too small to see. To paraphrase an old saying: “Out of sight, out of breath.”
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Read more... [Modern Diesels]
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Refractometer Use |
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 Using the Refractomer— copy and Flash slideshow by Ralph Birnbaum
(This article includes a Flash slideshow demonstrating refractometer use.)
Here in the Midwest, we normally have many winter days when the temperature drops to single Fahrenheit digits. Occasionally, however, we join our friends to the icier North, and experience arctic temps that blast down from Canada like a runaway freight train at 10 or more degrees below zero F.
When it's colder than a well-digger's belt buckle, it sure is nice to know that the tester you used to check your antifreeze last fall doesn't have a horseshoe pit accuracy of +/-10 degrees. Close enough won't get it. It's the reason I traded my hydrometer for a refractometer.
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Read more... [Refractometer Use]
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Prius Service Opportunities |
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 Prius Service Opportunities
— copy and photos by Ralph Birnbaum
Forget about the hybrid system and look at the Toyota Prius as a car that has brakes and spark plugs and filters; a vehicle that offers profitable service opportunities. Let others steer clear of hybrids, while you steer them into your shop!
Brakes, oil and fluid changes, and filter replacements are all low tech, and easy to do. You’ll need to use recommended fluids and procedures, but that’s to be expected with any modern vehicle. Prius owners commonly take great pride in their cars; many appreciate finding a shop that is hybrid-savvy and shares their interest in these unique vehicles.
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Read more... [Prius Service Opportunities]
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The Old Headlight Trick |
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Find and Fix Short Circuits Faster
— written and illustrated by Ralph Birnbaum
Fuse-popping shorts in electrical circuits can be hard to locate. Younger techs have been known to incinerate a couple dozen fuses looking for a voltage short to ground, while the truly fearless among us simply install a fat jumper wire in place of the fuse, and follow the smoke from burning insulation. Neither approach will garner the "top troubleshooter" award.
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Read more... [The Old Headlight Trick]
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Voltage Drop Testing |
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 Effective Voltage Drop Testing
— written and illustrated by Ralph Birnbaum
We are about to provide you with a simple, step-by-step process that will let you divide and conquer common automotive circuit problems. It is called a Voltage Drop Test, and it works! Voltage drop tests are an effective way to test an electrical circuit’s ability to deliver power to electrical loads.
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Read more... [Voltage Drop Testing]
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Third Generation Prius |
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 Third Generation Prius
— copy and photos by Ralph Birnbaum
Love it or hate it, the Toyota Prius is the stereotype for emerging alternative automotive technologies. With a trend setting hybrid drive system that blends electric and gas engine power through an ingenious transaxle, the Prius has done something that other OEMs have only dreamed about: they've sold a million plus copies worldwide, and counting.
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Read more... [Third Generation Prius]
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