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Hybrid | Electric Techs

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This group is for discussion of hybrid or electric vehicle repair issues. We encourage involvement from the OEMs who manufacture these types of vehicles, as well as the technicians in general repair collision repair.

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Latest Videos

    • Delphi CV Compressor

    • Delphi shares this clip on their variable displacement design.

    • What A Difference Fresh Makes!

    • Most suspension parts manufacturers recommend replacing shocks and struts every 50,000 miles or so. Why? The internal valving, which is nothing more than thin spring material, has moved several millions times and is not as responsive as it used to be. It may not be leaking but it is not as responsive as it used to be. This loss of response impacts handling, roll control and braking ability as techs who test drove Monroe-equipped cars found out at this year's Vision Hi-Tech training event.

    • MACS 2013: Ward Atkinson interview

    • Ward Atkinson is the chairman of the SAE Interior Climate Controls committee. That's the committee that makes up the SAE guidelines used by the OEMs, the aftermarket and even governmental agencies involved in the regulation of motor vehicle cooling and air conditioning systems. Every year, as part of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society's tradeshow and convention, Ward shares insights into the challenges facing this particular part of our industry. This year, it's the status of HFO1234yf and the increasingly complex technology and science of keeping cabin occupants comfortable.

    • AllData Market

    • Own a shop? involved in reaching your customers via the social scene? Many companies are offering their expertise in integrating your current marketing with online outreaches. Here's an overview of AllData's.

    • What's A Tune-up? (The Trainer: February 2013)

    •   In the days of points ignition systems and carbureted engines, mechanical adjustments had to be made every 15,000 miles in order to insure peak performance. With the introduction of computer engine management systems, fuel injection and electronic ignitions of varying designs, the need for periodic mechanical corrections has been all but eliminated.   The need for routine maintenance, however, is as critical today as it has always been!   Modern engines run on extremely tight tolerances. For example, the piston-cylinder clearance on a 2010 Kia Forte 2.0 is 0.0005” to 0.0013”. That’s 5 to 13 ten thousands of an inch! Compare that to a 20-year-old Toyota four banger that allowed a sloppy 0.024” to 0.031” clearance between the piston and cylinder wall. Now consider what will happen to that Kia’s piston fit if engine oil isn’t changed as it should be, or air filters are allowed to pass dirt and other contaminants into the combustion chamber. How do you think that affects the engine’s longevity and performance?   These tighter tolerances aren’t just in the major engine components either. Control module strategies have gotten more precise, and pass/fail thresholds aren’t as forgiving as they used to be. All necessary to improve efficiency, gain ground in fuel economy and still produce the power we all want to experience when we step on the pedal. Fuel injectors get dirty, intake tracts carbon up, spark plugs wear…just not all at the same time or the same rate!   Let’s not forget the rest of the car, either. Performance is a package deal. The other systems on the car (suspension, steering, braking, etc.) need to be routinely checked and corrected to insure that the total package functions as the OE designers intended.   In this edition of the Motor Age series, “The Trainer”, we’ll take a look at the elements that make up routine maintenance and how to educate your customer to the importance of taking care of the one of the most expensive assets they own.

    • MotoLogic Tour

    • In this edition of In The Workshop, MotoLogic's Don Avellino takes us on a tour of this online service information system. Some content may not appear as clear as they do in real life due to the recording format used. For more information, or to try it out for free, visit the MotoLogic website.

    • Skype-ing With MACS

    • Watch this Skype interview with Paul DeGuiseppi, manager of service training for the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide. We talk about the upcoming MACS convention and trade show, taking place February 7-9 in Orlando, Florida. Featured are an all-day trade show, lots of technical training covering everything from passenger cars to HD rigs, Ward Atkinson's annual "State of the Industry" presentation (promising some interesting announcements), appearances by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and a keynote address by NASCAR's Kenny Wallace. The Orlando location makes this event an ideal family adventure, with lots for the kids to see and do while you get the training you need!

    • Power Window Troubleshooting; The Trainer, December 2012

    •   Imagine the convenience! Just push a button and the window goes down all by itself. This luxury item used to be reserved for only high-line cars many years ago but is now the standard. For years, the window switch had a direct path to the window motor and when the system didn’t work, troubleshooting was usually pretty straight forward. Today, though, that window switch may go to a computer instead, requiring the tech to review a little tech info before he even starts pulling door panels.   In this edition of The Trainer, we’ll take a look at some diagnostic tricks of the trade to help you make short work of repairing today’s power window systems.

    • Repairing Wiring and Wiring Connectors: The Trainer, November 2012

    •   Troubleshooting and repairing electrical problems is becoming a daily task for professional technicians. Often, the cause of the fault is a damaged connector or wiring harness. Its proper repair is critical to the correct operation of the electrical circuit it is a part of. Incorrect repair methods could actually create additional faults; faults that may or may not be readily apparent.   In this edition of the Trainer, we take a look at common mistakes made that lead to circuit issues and how to prevent them. We’ll also share some specific repair techniques you can use to correct bad connections and damaged wiring.

    • Testing Brake Fluid: October 2012 Trainer video

    •   Brake Fluid Service   Did you know that brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs water so easily it can even draw the moisture out of your skin? Or that water reduces the boiling point of the brake fluid? Some experts even say that it could be enough to cause a spongy pedal and brake fade. How do you know if the fluid is contaminated? How do you know when to recommend a fluid service?   There seems to be several conflicting opinions on when, or even if, you should service a customer’s brake fluid. Some OEMs include it in their recommended maintenance schedules, some don’t. Technicians argue it should be done with any brake service, or every year or two. Others say it should be changed if the fluid looks dark or dirty.   In this edition of “The Trainer”, we’ll eliminate that confusion. We’ll show you how to test brake fluid condition and when to recommend fluid service so you can offer the most professional care possible to your customers!    

    • Coolant Testing: The Trainer, September 2012

    •   Engine coolant formulations today come in every color of the rainbow. The coolant in your customer’s car may be a conventional formulation, an Organic Acid Technology coolant or a Hybrid Organic Acid Technology type. Each of the three has different routine replacement interval recommendations, but ALL three need to be replaced when their glycol base shows signs of degradation. And degradation can occur long before those mileage/time intervals are reached! The resulting acids can quickly attack the cooling system components and seals, and that means expensive repairs you could have helped your customer avoid.   Testing the condition of your customer’s coolant should be done at least annually and corrective action taken based on those results. In this edition of The Trainer, we’ll show you how.   Watch this video for more on cooling system testing!

    • Think Like The ECM: The Trainer, August 2012

    •   John Q. Customer comes in complaining that the “Check Engine” light is on. Drivability may or may not be affected depending on why the light is illuminated. When facing this type of repair, consider whom you must really satisfy in order to make the repair successful.   The same module that turned the light on in the first place is also the same module that will test the quality of your repair. Even if your human customer can’t tell if the repair was correct, you can bet the module can. And it will turn the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) right back on if it isn’t happy. So it pays to understand how the ECM performs its system tests, and to use that information when performing diagnostic tests of your own.  And that’s the topic for this month’s edition of The Trainer!  

    • Hub Bearing Inspection and Replacement: July 2012 The Trainer

    •   Hub bearings are one of those components we don’t give much thought to. They’ve replaced tapered bearings in many wheel applications and are generally bulletproof, requiring little in the way of maintenance. When they do fail, they can cause premature wear in tires and suspension components. Noise complaints and ride vibrations can often be traced to worn hub bearings. Even anti-lock braking and traction control systems can be impacted by excessive play in the hub assembly. In this edition of The Trainer, we partner with our friends at Timken to share tips on the proper service, inspection and replacement of hub bearings. We also offer a few ideas on how to identify the most common causes of premature failure. So whether you replace the hub bearings as a component assembly, or as individual parts, learn how to do the job right the first time! For information on the service and installation of tapered bearings, check out our Motor Age/TST webcast here!

    • Voltage Drop Testing Tips: The Trainer, June 2012

    •   Diagnosing electrical faults is arguably the toughest task most technicians face. Reliance on simple voltage tests with a traditional test light or multimeter and/or checking component or circuit integrity statically with an ohmmeter often allows a fault to go undetected, frustrating techs even further.   As contributing editor and educator Joe Glassford shares in his June 2012 feature on this same topic, “Think current path, not circuit path”. Current is what makes an electrical component work. If there are problems in the current path, the current supply to the component will be less than it should be, causing the component to work poorly or not at all.   Voltage drop testing is one answer to finding those problems quickly and efficiently.   The testing method itself is simple. It’s understanding what the results are telling you that tends to throw off those new to the testing method.  In this month’s edition of the How2 video series, “The Trainer”, Motor Age technical editor Pete Meier gives you an explanation of what voltage drop testing is, how to perform the test on common circuits, and tips on understanding the test results.  

    • Need Heat?

    • Have you ever grabbed a torch to heat up a stubborn component or fastener? Have you ever damaged a nearby component in the process? This tool applies heat only where you need it, and it does so quickly and safely. Check it out, then check out their website for other heating products for both the service repair and the collision repair shop!

    • A/C Performance Testing: The Trainer, May 2012

    •   Air conditioning systems are doing more today with a lot less; less refrigerant and less oil. And they are also less tolerant of mistakes made during their service. That +/- 10% charge range that used to mean a fudge factor of three or four ounces can now mean less than one ounce!   Exceeding that variance by even a little bit can result in premature compressor failure and costly part replacement. Do you know how accurate your equipment is? Do you know how to make sure you’ve recovered the entire refrigerant charge the car came in with? How much oil do you need to add along with that replacement part?   Add the pressure of getting your customers fixed and back on the road, and it doesn’t take long to see that a collection of small mistakes made during the service and repair process could add up to monster comebacks and upset patrons. In this edition of the popular How2 video series, The Trainer, technical editor Pete Meier walks you through a routine service and inspection, pointing out time and money-saving tips along the way.  

    • Changes Impacting Your A/C Business: After Hours, 04-10-2012

    • Neutronics' Peter Coll is our guest on this episode of "Motor Age After Hours". He tells us more about the rise of counterfeit R134a containing R40, a chemical that can react with aluminum to form a potentially dangerous compound that can spontaneously combust when exposed to air. He informs us that this counterfeit blend has been documented in automotive recovery tanks here in the U.S., and shares tips on how to protect yourself and your customers. In addition, Peter explains how the new refrigerant HFO1234yf came to be, and how it will impact the a/c service world in general, and you in particular. Watch to learn more!   And to stay "in the know" about breaking news, upcoming topics on "After Hours", live online training opportunities and more, subscribe to the Certified Tech newsletter.

    • PowerProbe Tips

    • My friends at AES (a great place for deals on diagnostic and electrical testing equipment, training resources and more) recently shared this PowerProbe video in their newsletter. Personally, I'm a big fan of the PowerProbe III and its one of the first tools I grab when dealing with an electrical diag issue. Check it out!

    • 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid

    • Yep, it's only October but I'm already working on the material for our January issue. The theme is hybrids, and as has become our habit, I am including an article on a particular hybrid offering. This year it's the 2012 Ford Fusion. The Fusion itself was named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2010, and the hybrid has remained pretty much unchanged since its inception. This video is certainly no Motor Trend review, but just my impressions and observations picked up on the one short day that I had with the car. Thanks go to the Ford Motor Co. for allowing me the use of the car, and to the local dealer that acted as my contact point, Bill Currie Ford in Tampa.

    • Timken/Motor Age webinar, September 2011

    • This webinar, presented by Timken and moderated by Motor Age technical editor Pete Meier, shares a ton of information on a part most of us take for granted...the tapered bearing. Learn how this precision part is supposed to work, how it fails, and how to properly service and care for it. You can also find more tips from our friends at Timken here, and check out their technical information here.

    • EV Drag Racing: Beaten By A Bug

    • It's got to be bad enough to have your muscle car beaten by a VW...but by a Bug that runs on batteries?  More than one challenger has felt the sting of this Beetle.  Learn more about EV racing in Tony Martin's feature, "Run Silent, Run Fast" in the March 2011 issue of Motor Age.
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    • Managing Editor Tschanen Brandyberry

    • Sponsor Stands

    • Larry Hermann of BG/Lubri-Care, talks to techs during the TST Big Event in Fishkill, NY. The event, supported by Motor Age, drew in 150 techs in the Northeast.

    • 30K in product give aways for attendees

    • Engine Elements: Scope Capture

    • This capture shows one cylinder's running pressure, secondary ignition event, and fuel injection event.  Lots of info is one shot...

    • spx home charging station

    • With the release of two production EV vehicles this fall, aftermarket companies are entering the home charging market.  These are just two examples companies shared at AAPEX 2010.

    • delphi portable charging station

    • With the release of two production EV vehicles this fall, aftermarket companies are entering the home charging market.  These are just two examples companies shared at AAPEX 2010.
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  • I have actually built a couple of electric cars and have a hybrid on the drawing board now. But the factory cars are interesting to me as well. Looking forward to reading some of your thoughts.
    Brad L
    BradL, 4 years ago| Flag

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