Using snapshot mode on automotive scanners
Actron 9580 snapshot scan tool
I get a few questions about using snapshot mode on automotive scanners. It is one of the features I use often when the diagnosis is getting complicated. It’s one of my favorite features of the tool because it can also be useful in pinpointing intermittent car problems that can be difficult to find using other reliable methods.
Let’s say you have an intermittent problem that is caused by a loose or corroded electrical connection to an automotive sensor. The problem turns on the check engine light or causes an issue when the vehicle hits a bump or slams a pothole in the road. The automotive scanner with a snapshot mode can provide data for diagnosis.
Information from the data stream can be reviewed right before and after the vehicle hits the bump or pothole. I have written some reviews of automotive scanners in several price ranges and a few of them are capable of taking these diagnostic snapshots of the data stream. When it comes to Diy auto mechanics it seems that this feature is underutilized.
The automotive computer is your friend Read more
Answers to Automobile Tire Questions
Cadillac SRX Tires
There are lots of places to go to get answers to automobile tire questions. If you have just read that last sentence I’m hoping that I will get a chance to provide some information to you. As a certified master technician I know a lot about the subject. God I love writing about tires. The way the rubber smells when there freshly manufactured, the little nubs on the treads ( Sorry).
I also recently replaced the original equipment tires on my 2009 Cadillac SRX. Not only are the tires expensive but the vehicle only had about 27,000 miles. The whole ordeal was unexpected and expensive. On my vehicle the rear tires are a different size than the front ones. This prevents rotating them on a regular basis (thanks Cadillac). Due to weight distribution and the steering action of the front axle, tire rotation can actually reduce the overall wear therefore extending the life of the tread.
People often ask me including (very cheap) family members when should I replace tires. Read more
Is it Covered Under Warranty
Is my car problem covered under warranty is one of the common questions I receive here at the auto repair information blog. In most cases this is a question that I can only shed some light on because ultimately whether it is covered under warranty or not is unfortunately a question that the dealership has to answer.
crankshaft position sensor
As an example let’s say the crankshaft position Sensor has failed on your vehicle and it wouldn’t start. Parts and labor including towing would be covered under the base factory warranty. But what if external damage is what caused the problem to the car part.
External damage is considered an accident and not covered under the base warranty. Example: The factory will not be responsible if the automobile fell into a sinkhole and this broke the crank sensor. It would be considered an accident. This means that it is really up to the dealership to determine what has caused the part to fail and whether it will be covered under warranty.
Although many dealerships are honest about this I have worked for a few that were not. I have seen service advisers more interested in how much money that particular customer has spent at the dealership in prior visits and use this to decide what failure code would be entered in the claim. Read more
Automotive Fuel Tank Problems
New Fuel Tank
Although fuel tank problems are not very common, I have seen issues that needed to be addressed from time to time. Since it’s not a common automotive problem it is also not written about on the Internet very often.
Some of the problems with fuel tanks that we will talk about in this short article have to do with the overall construction of it. These over-sized liquid storage containers are more complicated than most people realize. We will also talk about a vehicle not taking fuel . This is where the fuel tank doesn’t accept the gas fast enough and the pump nozzle turns off while trying to fill it.
Sometimes we think that we will never have to worry about our fuel tanks at all. And in most cases you are correct this is one car part that is engineered well for safety and performance. However as I write this article ford is getting the word out to there customers that it has issued a recall on about a decade’s worth of F150s. Ford is going to replace the fuel tank retaining straps on these trucks because of heavy rusting. Read more
More Ways to Check Fuel Injectors
Fuel injection Test kit
I have written about fuel injectors on many occasions and even included instructions on how to do what I consider is one of the best tests. This would be how to perform an injector balance test. Having a fuel pressure gauge mounted up and firing the injector while physically seeing the pressure drop is in my opinion the best way to check a fuel injector.
With that being said not everybody has fuel injection test kit with a pressure gauge and an injector driver. Plus on some vehicles mounting these two testing devices can be difficult. There are several other ways to check fuel injectors.
Remember a fuel injector is nothing more than a solenoid actuated fuel valve. Its operation is quite basic in that as long as it is held open and the fuel pressure remains steady it delivers fuel until the solenoid valve is closed. A fuel injector that is not opening and closing properly can cause hard starting poor fuel economy and other engine problems such as hesitation or rough running.
Do I Need A Throttle Body Service
People have asked me if they really need a throttle body service. I have touched on this subject in past articles but today I will go a little more in-depth. In my opinion dealership service departments and auto repair centers are recommending this service way too much. When I took my car in for the Cadillac recall the service adviser told me I needed one.
Clean throttle body
When I got home I removed the air intake hose and shined a flashlight into the throttle body. It was perfectly clean and almost shiny. It most certainly did not need to be serviced and cleaned. This is not to say that a throttle body service is never needed in fact I do believe they should be done as required.
This would mean a visual inspection to verify it is needed. Therefore if someone recommends this service to you I would ask them why do I need it. If they tell you, because it’s dirty I would then ask them how they know.
The correct answer to this question is they removed the air intake hose and performed a visual inspection. Or they scanned the vehicle and monitored the IAC (Idle air control motor) steps at base idle. If they did not do this I would not purchase the service or at least seek out a second opinion.
What does a throttle body do? Read more
Before You Replace the Oxygen Sensor
common 4 wire oxygen sensor
Before you replace the oxygen sensor on your vehicle let me make an opening statement. In my own personal opinion this is one of the most often replaced sensors. To make matters worse way too often it doesn’t fix the problem with the car or truck.
In most cases this sensor is not a returnable item at your local parts store because it is considered an electronic component. This is to avoid the try it out before you buy it out driveway warrior. Another problem with replacing the oxygen sensor is deciding which one to replace.
Most vehicles have at least 2 of them installed and four sensor systems are even more common. They are installed in the exhaust stream to sample the exhaust gas.
A check engine light diagnostic trouble code can be set if the part is bad or if the exhaust gas itself is out of balance from a fuel system problem. So how do you determine which oxygen sensor is bad if any. First let’s learn about what an oxygen sensor does and why.
What does an o2 sensor do?
Checking cooling hoses before a summer trip
Checking cooling hoses before a summer trip sounds like a boring topic to discuss. But if you think about how a blown hose could destroy a summer weekend, then it might just be worth a read. Of course the more mileage on the road trip vehicle the greater the likelihood that original equipment cooling system hoses could experience a problem.
kinds of hose clamps
There are three main things that should be inspected on all cooling system hoses on a regular basis. These would be (in no special order) leaking, chafing or rubbing and swelling. When it comes to checking for leaking hoses most often a problem that is developing will be visible at the hose clamp connection.
There are several different kinds of hose clamps and all of them are capable of having problems. The factory installed spring clamp can lose its spring force over time and develop small cooling leaks or seepage. A telltale sign of this common condition is a crusty or corroded looking area at the connection just in front of the clamp.
This is an invitation to solve the small car problem before it turns into a large one that requires a tow truck and a change of plans. Read more
Engine overheating the other common causes
engine thermostat
When people have an engine overheating condition they often want to head straight for the thermostat. Although this component is a leading cause of overheating it is not the only one. This quick auto repair article is mostly about the other things that can cause high engine operating temperatures.
Often I have been brought a vehicle that was overheating and the customer said go ahead and replace the thermostat. I usually ask them if they would like me to diagnose the overheating or just go ahead and replace the thermostat. The educated consumers usually consent to the diagnosis of the car problem. This also leaves me wide open for the “I told you so”!
In either case if I replace the thermostat I usually go the extra mile and throw the old one into some boiling water and see if it physically opens. Before we move on to other common problems that can cause engine overheating let’s finish up with the thermostat and its technical definition.
