...Tales from teh Workshop Steve Rothwell t is not uncommon to get a customer tell us that although the bulb failure light is on, all the bulbs seem to be operating correctly. The modern addition of CAN Bus controlled lighting on many vehicles means that when a bulb blows, the system can...
...Very often a spot diagnosis by the driver can turn out to be way off the mark. The driver of this 2008 Opel Combo van called us to say the starter motor (which we had fitted weeks ago) had failed and demanded we travel out to rescue him. The starter motor had been fitted some six weeks e...
...Tales from the Helpline A Non-Starting but Cranking Honda with Programmed Fuel Injection - PGMFi 56 October/November 2020 AUTOBIZ See this and 1,000s more Tech Tips on TechTips.ieIn the early 80's, Honda developed a digital port fuel injection system that incorporated an ign...
...It is often the case, on many vehicles, that when a lower swivel fails, it is either necessary or cheaper to replace the complete lower arm. Many lower swivels are part of the lower arm, while others are riveted in place. In these situations, the labour required to change the swivel outwei...
...Audi A4 - Window stuck wide open The driver's window on this 2005 Audi A4 had been a bit sluggish operating for a while, and the owner was worried that it was something she had done. The window, of course, failed in the open position. She said it appeared to be a bit tight as it went do...
...Sometimes, it's the little things that make the job so much easier. This 2014 VW Caddy Van was in for its scheduled timing belt replacement. This is a straightforward job, and I have done quite a few over the years. One little tip I have, is when fitting the new belt, it needs to be situ...
...A sluggish 2013 Skoda Superb 1.6 TDi that would also not Stop/Start The customer complaint was that on starting, there is no throttle response for several seconds and the idle speed is lower than normal. Also, the Stop/Start system was non-functional, and the vehicle lacked initial perfor...
...Deciding on an ECU Fault can be a Tough Judgment Call This week we had a very unusual issue with a Seat Leon Cupra, fitted with a CJXA 2.0 litre petrol engine. A fault code for a Crankshaft sensor signal out of range was stored in the memory. Initial testing by the technician with a Pic...
...Hot brake judder Whenever you bring two surfaces into contact, and at least one of them is moving at high speed, the result will be friction. This friction creates heat, which is transmitted to other parts of a car's braking system. Brake discs are usually made of cast iron, and when they...
...Tales from the Helpline Tim Stock It is always this time of year that the Helpline is flooded with heating related issues, especially now that vehicles have been stood still for many months. This is one of those unusual problems that has many technicians confused. The complaint was...