Technical Articles

Labscopes can prove daunting to the new user, especially due to the many forms and functions it comes with. But, as Teddy Roosevelt has said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”. If you have a new labscope, or are thinking of purchasing one, you have to “do what you can” […]

JOIN US LIVE APRIL 14 @ 12:00-1:00 PM EDT FOR THIS PREMIER LIVE EVENT!  AVI Instructor John Forro will teach you all about advanced system testing strategies. John will hold a Q&A session at the end of the presentation to answer any questions you have. *Registration info given upon enrollment This course, Advanced System Testing […]

The Diagnostic Mindset By John Forro Lead Instructor, Automotive Video Innovations This month’s featured course is from AVI instructor Ron Bilyeu, and it covers one of the most important topics regarding diagnostics in the automotive industry today: scan tool PID interpretation. In this first in a series of classes, Ron uses a scan tool by […]

Fuel Systems THE FILLING STATION What do we really need to think about when filling our tanks? – First and foremost, it is typically not a good idea to fill our tank when there is a fuel truck filling the underground tanks at our favorite gas station. The primary reason is that when the fuel […]

Electrical THIS MONTH’S FEATURED COURSE IS ELECTRICAL This month’s featured course is electricity. This is a very unique course in it’s construction where we started off with basic 12-volt electrical systems and continued on all the way to the High voltage vehicles such as hybrids and full electric vehicles! We even made a dedicated generation […]

By Dave Hobbs. No matter how complex ‘smart’ charging systems appear at first glance, it still comes down to a battery, an alternator and some modules monitoring and controlling voltage regulation. We’re sure you’ve got the smarts to handle that. Nearly every time I look at an alternator it conjures up fond memories of growing up […]

How to Program Ford Keys To start reprogramming Ford Keys the technician needs to Initiate Prox Learning procedures through FDRS. Once you launch FDRS, the program needs to identify the programmer device. In this case study , AVI is using an EZ-Flasher 3. The EZ-Flasher – A device that programs ECU’s & Immobilizer ICU’s for […]

  What is an ADA System? Want to play a game? Between a Boeing 777, Mercedes S-Class, or a B-2 bomber. Which one has the least lines of code? The answer, the Mercedes S-Class has 100,000,000 lines of code while the Boeing 777 uses over four million lines of code. Meanwhile, the B-2 Bomber has […]

Protect Your Email and Avoiding Phishing Scams “I don’t know this person, and I can’t identify this person.” Common sense dictates to ignore them or scrutinize this unidentified entity. However, Cyber Criminals still communicate personalized attacked through e-mail. Over 150 billion e-mails were sent in 2018, thus making e-mail one of the most effective ways […]

Climate Control Diagnostic Process By Bob Pattengale Every Technician needs to have a diagnostic plan. The primary goal of the diagnostic plan is to prepare the Technician to solve the problem at hand. The plan may not work on the first try, but it will create very useful road map. To start, review the customer […]

Compressor Clutch Control Circuit From Bob Pattengale Looking at the graph the compressor clutch has a unique relay, it has a compressor control relay that operates in a variety of ways depending upon the application. From the two fuses, one is controlling the coil in the relay (using a 10 amp fuse) that feeds from […]

So you have made the decision to get into module flashing as a profit center of your business. You have purchased the tools, software licenses and have completed a myriad of training on the subject. All of this is great and you are well on your way but have you considered purchasing a stable power […]

Can Module Reprogramming Become a Profit Center for your Shop? The decision to enter into the Reflashing “Business” should not be taken lightly. The tools, software, subscriptions and training can become quite expensive not to mention the potential costs related to mistakes during the reflash process. Taking all of this into consideration, you may be […]

When Bosch designed the Controller Area Network (CAN system) the idea was to make an electronic protocol system that would allow electronic control units and various other components to communicate with each other in an automotive setting without a main computer functioning as a communication terminal.

View All Our Tire and Wheel Courses       GM TPMS systems on Buick, Pontiac, Chevy, GMC, Cadillac and Hummer models are some of the easiest to service if you have the right tools and knowledge. Starting in 2007, most vehicles use a TRW-, Schrader- or VDO-manufactured system that all share the same relearn […]

Robert Bosch, LLC is officially launching the 2D version of the Bosch Virtual Garage. The Bosch Virtual Garage was initially launched as a 3D version during the 2015 BoschXperience tour, using Oculus Rift DK2 goggles. The feedback from participants was very positive and many asked if they would be able to participate in the program again. […]

The Future of Brake Technology German OEM supplier Siemens is developing new braking technology called electronic wedge brake. This can dramatically reduce stopping distances of vehicles compared to hydraulic brake systems. Foundations originate from German Aviation and Aerospace Center applications. We have seen increased technology of braking through the use of carbon compounds and electronic […]

Antilock Braking Systems Technology We all know today’s automobiles are “super smart,” hence the need for “super smart” technicians. These days, electronic devices control 85 percent of all vehicle functions, including fuel management, ignition, electric shift transmissions, ABS brakes and climate control. Shop Owners, Service Writers, and Technicians need to take advantage of training to […]

2016 AVI Conference @ AAPEX Save The Dates: October 31-November 1st @ the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas AVI conferences attract some of the top technicians in the country and the top instructors in their field. All technicians, service writers, shop owners and managers are invited to benefit from some of this […]

Get it Out the Door!   It’s coming….Friday is coming!   Friday brings a slight drop in the work load, anticipation of a weekend with time all to yourself (unless you own the place) and time to relax! But to get through Friday, one thing has to happen, you have to get it out the door. […]

What is all this talk about clean diesel? Is it the fuel? Is it the engine technology? Is it the aftertreatment technology? Is it the push for cleaner emissions? Yes, it’s all of the above. Clean diesel is a collaborative effort set forth by the EPA, carried out by OEMs, state and local governments, environmental and community organizations and the Federal government.

GATES GIVEAWAY   With the AAPEX show right around the corner, the excitement builds for vendors, buyers, and those planning to attend as fans. Thousands of products that will be on display, and there are always the “bonus” things that go on at AAPEX, including many companies promoting giveaways and challenges to leave Vegas with […]

Bosch at the 2015 AAPEX Show   The world’s largest supplier of automotive components had some things lined up that provided those in attendance with a fantastic experience. Bosch has been around for over 125 years, and the company has delivered several milestone moments at trade shows and beyond. As the AAPEX show went on, […]

THE 2015 SEMA SHOW  The automotive industry had its eyes locked in on the big annual conventions set for the scene of Las Vegas. SEMA was once again at the forefront as the biggest show going. Did you know SEMA puts on the largest annual show of small businesses in the country? More facts about […]

Recently I was reviewing an article in AutoInc, involving a “picky customer” case history at a collision repair facility.  The question was what would you do if you had a customer you simply could not satisfy?  No matter what you offered to do or had done to achieve a near perfect repair, this customer would […]

Start-Stop Technology growth worldwide prompts the increase in AGM battery production to meet rising automaker demand.   In the next 5 years it will be difficult to buy a new vehicle does not feature Start Stop technology. Start-Stop technology continues to gain in popularity as tightening government fuel economy and carbon emission reduction targets put additional […]

BIG NEWS FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES Major players in the heavy-duty vehicle industry announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 15, 2015 regarding access to heavy-duty vehicle service information. Model year 2010 and later trucks, as well as buses over 10,000 lbs sold in the United States and Canada will be the […]

What is all this talk about clean diesel? Is it the fuel? Is it the engine technology? Is it the aftertreatment technology? Is it the push for cleaner emissions? Yes, it’s all of the above. Clean diesel is a collaborative effort set forth by the EPA, carried out by OEMs, state and local governments, environmental and community organizations and the Federal government.

Changing the fuel pressure on an EFI System is an effective method of affecting engine performance and making more power. However, there are many do’s and don’ts, and rules of thumb that can be frustrating to learn the hard way. Below are many small, but key points, tips and insights all engine tuners should to […]

by Andrew Markel Reflashing has been around for more than 20 years. In the past, updates were rare and typically addressed drivability and emissions issues. Recently, I’ve noticed that ­reflashing is being used to solve more problems that, previously, only parts used to solve. I was looking for technical service bulletins (TSBs) to include in the […]

To better understand how fuel trim numbers are generated, the ECM/PCM uses the oxygen sensor or air/fuel sensor input signal to adjust fuel injector pulse-width values. If a longer-than-normal injector pulse width is required to maintain the desired ­oxygen sensor signal, the ECM/PCM displays an ­increased fuel trim value in its datastream. Of course, accurate […]

Shortly after a male teen gets his first car, the first thing he wants to do is modify it with new wheels, upgraded exhaust, seat covers and, the most important and popular modification — the stereo. The mindset is, when you drive to school with all your buddies in the car, you need good-sounding tunes. […]

Air/fuel ratios caused by leaking fuel pressure regulators and other fuel control issues can also cause general misfires on other vehicles. Freeze-frame data obtained by a scan tool can be used to determine the conditions under which a general misfire has occurred. In these cases, short- and long-term fuel trim numbers can be used to […]

Being able to diagnose and solve brake rotor pulsation problems is critical to passing the ASE A5 exam for brakes. Pulsation and brake performance problems may not seem to be the most difficult, but they often cause the most headaches for technicians. Below are sample questions based on the A5 task list, written by the […]

All new management tips on being prepared, customer service and etiquette.  Check out the latest Auto Shop Monthly Management Tips from the Automotive Management Network to get inside secrets on managing your shop and increasing your bottom line. Tip # 181 – You need to change your attitude, son! When sizing someone up, how important […]