As today’s vehicles continue to become more complex, the problems we face also tend to increase in complexity. Several years ago I wrote an article about the “new direct-injected gasoline engines” that were just being introduced. Since then, most direct injected engines have added turbochargers, superchargers, variable cam timing, and now variable lift camshaft technology. Volumetric effi...

In the previous article, we discussed the issues and operations related to the charging systems in common use today. Charging system problems may cause various vehicle issues, such as transmission shift and pressure control problems, DTCs, and driveability-related complaints. Testing the charging system is fairly straightforward if you understand how the system operates. A voltmeter, scan tool,...

The longer I’m around, the more I realize the importance of the basics. How many times have you tackled a complex vehicle issue, only to find the problem was something really basic? With each year’s seminars, I find that we likely have some information that deals with system powers and grounds. The more complex the system, the greater the need for a proper power supply and ground. Vehicl...

Change happens even when you don’t realize it. Change in this industry is happening quickly and that trend will continue for several years to come. All too often, you’re expected to repair problems you’ve never seen before, often part of an unfamiliar system or component. The lack of familiarity and understanding with the system or component can be frustrating as you fight your way throug...

There are many different types of communication protocols in today’s vehicles, depending on the manufacturer and system. These include CAN, Flex CAN, UART, Keyword 2000, MOST, BEAN, LIN, LAN, CCD, UDS, Byteflight, Flexray, and PCI to name a few. If you want to repair today’s vehicles, your equipment must be capable of communicating with all of the different protocols. Developed in 1984 by B...

For decades, we’ve seen mass airflow sensors (MAF) on the vehicles that we service every day. Most technicians are aware of the function of the MAF sensor, but may not be fully aware of the effect a faulty MAF sensor has on engine and transmission operation. MAF sensors are used in both gas and diesel applications to measure the mass of the air entering the intake system. Many issues can deve...

The first one-way clutch was designed in 1869 for use in a bicycle. In the years since, we have seen this technology advance and now one-way clutches are used in everything from hay balers to helicopters. Several different types of one-way clutches are in use, these include: Roller designs Sprag designs Spiral designs Diode designs While one-way clutches share the same function, t...

2A lot of technicians just aren’t comfortable with the newer format that many manufacturers use to display wiring information on their a schematics. It isn’t surprising: Schematics and their formats have changed significantly over the past few years. For example, let’s look at the GM schematics and some common aftermarket applications, such as Mitchell and Alldata. Alldata and Mitchell re...

Diagnosing today’s vehicles is a challenge that every shop faces. A quick, correct diagnosis is the difference between the job being a moneymaker or a loser. Most of us have seen vehicles that weren’t only a challenge to diagnose but, in some instances, have made us wonder why we ever got into this profession. Driveability diagnosis, like transmission diagnosis, is affected by the technolog...

We’re all looking for information to help repair the vehicles we face. Often the key to a successful repair is simply a matter of experiencing the symptoms the vehicle is exhibiting or understanding the theory of operation of the system you’re dealing with. Allison transmissions are available in several speed configurations including 5-, 6-, 7-, and now a 10-speed unit known as the TC10. Ma...

An overview of GM’s ETRS system: a shift-by-wire electronic shifter that’s just begun to show up in 2017 Buicks and Cadillacs. Covers how the system works and all the idiosyncrasies you’ll need to be familiar with.

Changes in technology keep many of us awake at night. The constant updates and changes have an effect on everyone, even if they don’t realize it at the time. One of the more important things to consider when diagnosing today’s cars is that not all solenoids are the same. To diagnose each solenoid correctly, you first need to understand how they’re supposed to operate. The GM 8L45/8L90,...

Many transmission technicians are hesitant to tackle hybrid and electric transmission repairs. But those repairs may not be as difficult as you might think. As with all repairs, the first time you work on a specific unit, you’ll want to be extremely careful not to make a mistake. With hybrid/electric applications, you also need to pay close attention to the safety aspects of the repair proces...

Programming a vehicle is becoming part of everyday service for most shops today. More and more problems are being addressed by software updates rather than hard part replacement by all manufacturers. Like other vehicle technology, the reprogramming process continues to evolve, and with that evolution, problems with programming continue to occur. Some programming issues are “self-inflicted,”...

Sometimes life throws you a curve… and those curves get even tougher to hit when the last time you faced this pitcher was so long ago you have a hard time remembering what he looked like. So, when that pitcher starts throwing fastballs, you have to wonder when it’ll stop. So goes the story of a JR403-E. Many of you may not be able to remember the last time you faced one of these units; othe...

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine just how much technology goes into even the smallest parts in today’s vehicles. Take fasteners: Bolts, nuts, and studs are things we seldom think about, but they can cause more problems than you may realize. You see terms such as torque, torque angle, and torque to yield, but few really understand what those terms mean. How many times have you seen a broken bo...