For 31 years, the mission of MACS has been to provide training, education and compliance programs. It is the unique technical training and networking opportunities that separates the MACS Convention […]

Fort Myers, FL. – November 8, 2010 – Automotive Video Inc. wrapped up its annual 2010 Training Conference during Industry Week on Friday November 5 with a positive buzz from exhibitors and attendees alike. The exhibitor show floor opened up with a Hospitality Party featuring an appearance by Vegas showgirls, a live jazz band, and the magic of Dan Sperry. The training classes were packed as instructors presented cutting edge material on topics like hybrids, diagnostics, and diesel engines.

In this video Tip Clip Bill Fulton presents several hands on test you can quickly and easily perform when diagnosing GM Pass Key antitheft issues and problems. Watch this video and learn to use your multimeter to check and diagnose the various components of the antitheft system.

A 2003 Chevy Trailblazer with a rough idle condition comes in for repair with variable cam timing engine with P0106 and P0017 codes. Bill Fulton goes into detail talking about these codes, the conditions that can causes them, and how to complete your diagnostics by using your scope to accurately interpret the related data you get from the scan tool as well as your scope.

Automotive Video brings you the Top 10 Automotive Training Products! AVI provides top-notch automotive, diesel, diagnostic, management, transmission, and equipment specific training programs for professional automotive service technicians and independent shop owners. Bring high-quality, professional training right to your shop!

By Gary Goms. MIL diagnostics continues to be a “hot” topic for many import shops simply ­because the definition of the word continues to change. Looking at the history of modern vehicle diagnostics, most veteran technicians can remember the days when vehicles had no on-board diagnostic systems and, subsequently, ­required time-consuming pin-out procedures to diagnose electronic systems failures.

By Scott “Gonzo” Weaver. When I was a kid, I saw a movie called the “Juggernaut” with Richard Harris as the main character. It was about a cruise liner that was about to blow up because a terrorist had planted 55 gallon drum bombs all over the ship. The premise of the story line is that Richard Harris was going to save all the people on the ship by defusing the bombs. All through the movie, there were references to the different relays and electrical circuits.

Automotive Video recently had the chance to have Bosch trainer Bob Pattengale down to AVI to spend a week with us. While he was here, Bob worked with the our crew to create three new training programs that will be available in the coming months. We look forward to getting these programs completed and available to technicians everywhere looking to gain new diagnostic knowledge and skills.

The Automotive Video Training Resource Guide is filled with valuable information about all of AVI’s training opportunities, resources, products and services. So what are you waiting for? Take a look and get started with the training information that suites your needs today. The training resource guide makes it easy to learn about and choose the training resources that make sense for your needs.

By Tom Ham. What have you done about lost customers? Have you looked extensively at your website lately? Do you have any plans for your sign? 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.

Fort Myers, FL – October 12, 2010 – The AVI Training Conference in Las Vegas, NV is less than a month away! Automotive Video, Inc. aims to bring high level […]

In this clip from the Fuel Pump Manufacturers Council, shot here in the AVI garage and presented by instructor Dave Scaler, we are presented some great ‘must know’ tips regarding fuel pump diagnostics. The clip contains info on voltage drop testing and on car hands on demonstrations.

Instructor Mark DeKoster discusses and presents some helpful time saving and common sense tips on brake line and hose replacement in this clip. This is a segment from the complete ASE A5 Brake Systems Test Prep training program. Mark extensively covers the A-Z’s of brake functions,service and repairs in the complete program.

Automotive Video brings you the Top 10 Most Read Articles on Scope It Out! The most popular articles include everything from J2534 to Duramax, waveforms to labscopes, tpms to fuel injectors, as well as parasitic battery drains. Check out what other readers are into and post your comments and questions.

In this excerpt, Bill Fulton current ramps the fuel pump on a high-mileage 2004 Dodge Status with P0300 and P0171 codes. In doing so, he determines whether there is a weak fuel supply or a bad pump. Watch Now.

In this excerpt, Mike Cleary gives you several quick fixes on various Powerstroke engine problems. Tech tips include 1994 ½ EEC tests, injector spill spouts, camshaft position sensor codes, and dead accelerator pedals. He also covers dual mass flywheels, air cleaner updates, injector replacement procedures, and loose IPR jam nuts, as well as injector performance analyzers, oil consumption, no start relay ratcheting, and much, much more!

By Gary Goms. Right now, the service opportunities lie mainly in the future as hybrids move out of warranty and into the independent service bays. However, it’s entirely realistic to expect hybrids to become a growing part of the automotive service market.

In this tip clip from the Ford Powerstroke 6.0 class Mike Cleary shares some diagnostic procedures that are a shoe-in for profit potential. Fuel in Oil, Inferred EBP, Fuel Filter Replacement and Stiction are just a few of the items diagnosed here. Mike answers these questions with some tips and procedures on how to use your scan tool to aid in your diagnosis.

In this clip instructor Jim Wilson talks about TPMS sensor service tips that will save you time and money by outlining the appropriate tools and procedure you should be using in order to avoid sensor failure.

In the article “Gasoline Direct Injection” in the Winter Issue of the Blend’r, we uncovered the disadvantages of the gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine…

John Thornton’s new training program coming soon from AVI is an in-depth class on ‘In Cylinder Pressure Transducer Diagnostics.’ As you know, for many years in our industry we have used a compression gauge to assist us in diagnosing mechanical problems. Well, today, electronics have vastly improved the techniques we can use to analyze in cylinder mechanical problems.

By Gary Goms. Although modern OBD II technology has simplified catalytic converter diagnostics, it’s still important to understand the basics of catalytic converter operation when dealing with a P0420 or P0430 diagnostic trouble code (DTC). DTCs P0420/P0430 indicate that ­catalyst efficiency is below predetermined thresholds on cylinder banks 1 and 2, respectively. In the following text, I’ll explore the basics of catalytic converter chemistry and summarize how common catalytic converter failures can be diagnosed.

Part 3: Precision Low Current Measurements for Driveability Diagnosis. Automotive technicians often use a DMM connected to a clamp-on current probe to measure current flow (amperage) in a circuit. Typical items tested are starter motor draw, blower motor draw and alternator output. The current probe clamps around a wire in the circuit under test and using voltage from its own battery (usually 2 AAA’s or a 9 volt) sends a signal to the DMM. Most current probes output 1mV for each amp detected in the circuit.

By Omar Trinidad. Illustrating the internal operation of a voltmeter while a technician is testing a series circuit with one or two loads is a helpful way to explain how the tool works. We’ll start right off with an example.

Fort Myers, FL – September 2, 2010 – Automotive Video, Inc. is kicking off the 2010 AVI Training Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 4th, with a Hospitality Party featuring the magic of Dan Sperry! Dinner will be hosted from 6:00-7:30 pm at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, followed by the cocktail party and live entertainment.

Automotive Video announces an Engine Rebuilding DVD that will show any mechanic of any skill level, the complete and proper processes to complete a rebuild for almost any type of engine. The building techniques shown are just as useful for V8’s as they will be for straight 6, V6, or even 4-cylinders.

This week, Automotive Video Inc. released the latest in their series of ASE test prep videos covering light duty diesel. Dave Scaler instructs the program featuring 3 hours of informational footage and over 100 practice questions. The A-9 is the newest test offered by ASE, and test preparation materials have been in high demand.

Automotive Video Inc. (AVI) is launching a new program devoted entirely to inspection maintenance education. Participants will be able to experience a customized training program tailored specifically to their state’s standards and regulations.

Through this case study Bob Augustine brings home a true understanding of why the Diagnostic Process demonstrated in this clip is so important for both time savings and shop profitability.

We are going to do something a little different this time in the Fine Tuning department. We ran into a diagnostic case study you might be interested in. It involved a 2001 Chevrolet Impala with about 40,000 miles on it. The A/C fan and cruise control would intermittently stop working while the customer was driving. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the failure. The vehicle could be driven for days before the problem would occur.

We continue our investigation of engine knock sensors with a look at one and two-wire sensors.

In the previous issue of Counter Point, we discussed the various causes of engine knock. Prior to the age of electronic engine control, an engine designer had a limited number of effective tools to guard against engine knock. Principle among these were combustion chamber design, the octane of the fuel used and mapping of the spark advance curve. The designer couldn’t risk the possibility of engine damage caused by knock, so it was always necessary to keep the engine well short of the point where it might begin. This assured engine longevity, but hurt performance.

Part 2: Analyzing Amperage Results When Testing Ignition Coils with a Low Amp ProbeCheck out Part 2 of Barry Gersten’s Current Ramping series. This time, he covers how to analyze […]

Show Me Tools brings you the Laser Toe Gauge… Check out the popular Toe In Tool with .004″ accuracy from Advantage Wheel Alignment. This tool is for Professional Heavy Duty Toe Gauge Designed for Auto Repair Shops or Truck Repair Shops, even on UN-Level Surfaces!

The past few weeks we have been dedicated to redesigning Scope It Out to give you the optimal experience! We’ve refreshed the look and feel of our articles, added more detailed author and publisher information on each article, introduced a Tip Clip Video Slider, and cleaned up our homepage so everything is just a click away!