Tech Feature: Diagnosing Automotive Lab Scope Dilemmas Although digital storage oscilloscopes or "lab scopes" have now become standard equipment for most modern automotive repair shops, they still possess a mystique that tends to intimidate many technicians. Right off the top, a lab scope is basically a voltmeter that displays voltage signals along a time base. The vertical scale measures the amplitude or amount of the voltage and the horizontal scale... More

Directions: GM Leads the Industry in the Race for a Greener Refrigerant The switch to HFO-1234yf is expected to help GM vehicles meet the overall requirements of the U.S. EPA's latest motor vehicle greenhouse gas regulations. More

TECH TIP GM Drivetrain: Transfer Case Leaking Fluid Fluid Leak at Left Hand Transfer Case Weep Hole or Between Transfer Case and Transmission (Replace Left Transfer Case Input Shaft Seal or Transfer Case O-Ring Seal). Models equipped with 6T45/70/75 Transmission RPO Codes MHC/MH4/MH6 for GM or AF33-5 AWD/PTU Automatic Transmission (RPO M45) for 2007-2008 Suzuki and Getrag 760 or 790 Power Takeoff Unit (Transfer Case). More

Mitch's World: Getting ‘Schooled’ in the Shop Mitch gives his take on the old saying — “Those who can, do…Those who can’t, teach!” More

Directions: Will You Be Servicing a 100-MPG Vehicle in the Near Future? Vehicles in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-PRIZE vie for $10 million in prizes that will be awarded to teams that develop production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). More

Tech Feature: Understanding Your Voltmeter 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. More

Tech Feature: Using OBD II Diagnostics to Communicate with Your Customer's Volkswagen This article is about communication faults and problems that have occurred on Volkswagens over the last 10-plus years. Many of the same problems still exist on the newest models, but as these vehicles age, get repaired or damaged, problems come up that can challenge even the very best technicians. More

Tech Tip: BMW Check Engine Light On and Vehicle Running Rough Due to Airflow Meter If a customer complains of a check engine light on and a vehicle running rough, it may be due to problems with the airflow meter and wiring. More

Tech Tip: Does a Generic OBD II Tool Show All Volkswagen Codes? Generic OBD II tools may not give the complete picture of what is happening with a car. Consider what happened to me with my 2000 VW GTI 1.8T. The car had been intermittently stalling out over a period of a few weeks. The check engine light was not lit. One evening, as I was leaving work, the car stalled again. Fortunately, I had my laptop with me and had several diagnostic programs installed, so I ran a scan... More

Tech Tip: Taming a Growling Buick Lucerne Some Buick Lucerne owners may comment on a vibration and/or growl type of noise during light throttle drive-aways at approximately 1,800 rpm. This condition may be caused by the front edge of the front engine mount bumper stop grounding out to the inside vertical surface of the restrictor plate. The bumper stop lacks sufficient travel and/or the rubber material to isolate the ground-out. More