Al's HI-Tech Auto Repair

06/21/2024

Auto Immo security key programming coming soon to Al's Hi-Tech.

05/09/2024

A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, indicted Donald Trump and 18 of his allies on 41 criminal counts for running a "criminal enterprise" to overturn the state's 2020 election results in favor of Trump. Sign now: Disqualify Trump from the presidential ballot NOW for attempting to overturn the 202...

07/31/2023

Here are some tips for maintaining auto sensors:
Situate sensors in ideal conditions
Correctly mount the sensor
Verify wiring connections
Clean sensors each time they are removed for calibration
Replace sensors when they go out of calibration from wear, mechanical damage, or heat damage
Oxygen sensors are expected to last for about 7–10 years, or up to 100,000 miles
A faulty sensor could result in the engine overheating
A cracked sensor can allow moisture to get inside and short out the sensor
Fine dust particles can get past the engine's air filter and dirty sensors
If you have an indirect TPMS system, your mechanic will need to manually reset the sensors after changing your tires
A new TPMS system will typically last for about 10 years before the batteries run out

02/13/2022

Your vehicle's exterior lighting system is the life line for night and daytime driving. Check out this link for info on vehicle lighting systems. https://gomechanic.in/blog/automotive-car-lights-explained/

07/25/2020

Those not working right door locks????????????

Here's how power door locks work on your car! Door locks keep the interior of your vehicle secure. Power operated door locks work with an actuating mechanism...

06/21/2020

Gasoline? What is the stuff?

The type of gasoline you commonly see is either regular, midgrade and premium. Fuel is considered in grade levels and ranked by octane rating. This octane rating is actually an average and noted as a single number: 87, 89 and 92. The correct grade of gasoline should be used to avoid engine damage.

06/17/2020

The Engine Control Module (also called the Powertrain Control Module or PCM) is the brains of the engine management system. It controls the fuel mixture, ignition timing, variable cam timing and emissions control. It constantly monitors emissions performance via its OBD (Onboard Diagnostics) programming, and it oversees the operation of the fuel pump, engine cooling fan and charging system. It also interacts with the transmission controller (if separate), ABS/traction/stability control system, body control module, climate control module and anti-theft system. In short, the engine control module performs a wide variety of functions that are necessary to operate a vehicle.

The electronic components inside an engine control modules are fairly robust, but sometimes things can and do go wrong. Shorts in sensor circuits may overload and damage the module. Problems with the module’s power supply (too much voltage or not enough) or ground connections can cause it to misbehave. Bad inputs from sensors or other modules may also cause it to malfunction. Corrosion, excessive heat and vibration also can cause harm to the module.

When an engine control module fails, it may or may not set any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). This can make troubleshooting difficult and often results in misdiagnosis of a bad computer. Often the real problem is outside the computer such as a bad sensor, wiring fault, power relay or voltage issue. Complete module failures are rare, but failures within the module’s various subsystems and memory are more common. A shorted fuel injector, for example, may overload and burn out the injector driver circuit within the engine control module. If the underlying cause is not found and fixed, it can cause the replacement computer to fail, too.

If a bad computer has been accurately diagnosed, replacing it usually requires several steps. First, the replacement computer must be programmed for the specific vehicle into which it will be installed (year, make, model, engine, VIN, trans, etc.). In some cases, the supplier of a remanufactured module can perform this step by providing them with the necessary information. Or, the module can be programmed by the technician using a J2534 pass-through device and scan tool. Programming requires professional expertise and special equipment, and is NOT something a DIYer can do himself.
On older GM and Ford computers (1995 and pre-OBD II), the programming is on a calibration PROM (Program Read Only Memory) chip. The chip has to be removed from the old computer and installed in the replacement computer.

On many vehicles, it is also necessary to perform a relearn procedure after the computer has been installed so the anti-theft system will recognize the new computer — otherwise the engine may not start.
https://www.counterman.com/engine-control-module-the-brains-of-the-operation/

06/14/2020

Well maintained steering and suspension systems, provide for minimum tire wear and improved handling and suspension performance.

Your steering and suspension systems are vital for your driving safety. But how often should you inspect them? And what are the warning signs?

06/09/2020

FLUID LEAKS
As you approach your parking spot, you notice a suspicious liquid seeping from beneath your car. Your heart drops. What is it? What did I do? How much is this going to cost? Will it crank? You kneel on the pavement, staring at the puddle of unidentified ooze. When a vehicle springs a leak, its driver usually assumes the worst. While some automotive fluid leaks are serious, many are really no big deal and can be fixed by even the most inept car owner.

If you notice a leak, it is more than likely one of the types of auto fluids listed below. Here are some tips to help you identify the mystery leak and instructions on how to stop the drip.

If you notice a leak under your car, it is more than likely one of the types of auto fluids listed below. Click here for tips to identify and stop the leak.

05/31/2020

Importance of air filter maintenance
A clean engine runs more efficiently than a dirty engine and your car's air filter is the engine's first line of defense. ... The air filter prevents airborne contaminants such as dirt, dust and leaves from getting pulled into your car's engine and potentially damaging it.

05/30/2020

SERPENTINE BELT WEAR CAN ROB YOUR ENGINE OF PERFORMANCE AND DAMAGE RELATED COMPONENTS.

Where is the wear?
Like a tire, the friction between the belt and pulleys wears away at the belt, usually on the tops and walls of the ribs. Eventually the grooves of the pulleys will bottom out on the grooves of the belt, and then the belt will start to slip.

According to one belt supplier, as little as 5% of rib material loss and surface wear can affect how the belt performs, and just 10% belt slippage can affect the overall drivability of a vehicle.

Belt manufacturers have simple gauges that can measure groove depth, overall thickness and cracks to quantify wear. Some manufacturers even have apps for your smartphone that can measure wear from a picture.

2. Do the Complete Job
The serpentine belt is part of a system and is not the only component susceptible to wear. The tensioner, idler pulley and, on some vehicles, the decoupler pulley all wear over time and need periodic inspection and replacement. If you are replacing just the belt without looking at the other components, you could be sending a new belt to a premature death.

Sell the complete job up front. Include the tensioner and even the decoupler pulley on the estimate for the customer. The complete job will make the belt last longer without having the customer comeback to finish the job piecemeal.

3. Multiple Alternator Replacements? Check the Belt and Tensioner
The leading cause of alternator failure is the front and rear bearings that carry the armature, and the health of these bearings is directly connected to the belt. If the belt is too tight, it will cause excessive side loads and overheat the bearings. This in turn causes noise, decreased output and even the seizing of the alternator. If the belt is too loose, it will cause the alternator to slip. This slipping can cause the alternator and the battery to work harder.

4. Belt Length Matters
Replacement belts must be close to the same length as the original. Low-quality replacement belts may not be the correct length and will push the tolerances of the tensioner. A belt that is too short, for example, will cause too much tension and put higher than normal loads on the bearings inside the alternator, power steering pump and water pump. A belt that is too long (just an inch or less) may slip, make noise and wear prematurely. It will also cause the tensioner to work harder and fail sooner.

5. Watch the Flutter
Watch the belt while the engine is running. If you see a lot of movement or flutter in the belt, the tensioner is probably weak or sticking and should be replaced. Many tensioners also have an indicator mark that shows its range of travel. If the mark is not between the normal limits, the tensioner is weak or sticking, or the belt is not the correct length for the application. It also could be a bad alternator decoupler pulley.

6. Still Got Flutter and Noise? Check the Decoupler Pulley
OAD decoupler pulleys — also known as “isolator decoupler pulleys” (IDP) — are now used by the majority of late-model alternators to enhance engine efficiency and reduce noise and vibration associated with the accessory belt drive. These sophisticated pulleys also enable the alternator to “coast” freely in cases of sudden belt deceleration. If the pulley fails, it will cause noise and belt flutter, which can be seen in the movement of the tensioner.

7. Mileage Matters
The original equipment belts on late-model vehicles are made of synthetic rubber that is far more durable, heat-resistant and wear-resistant than older materials. This means serpentine belts may last up to 100,000 miles or more before they have to be replaced — but that ­doesn’t mean they will last forever or won’t age prematurely on some vehicles under certain conditions.

If you have a vehicle in your shop for belt replacement, diagnose why the belt needs to be replaced and not when it was previously replaced. Wear on a single component is rare and more than likely a worn tensioner, idler or pulley will cause or contribute to excessive belt wear — not just age.

Also, decoupler pulleys wear out, causing excessive noise and a no-charge condition.

8. Alignment is Key
Poor alignment is the number one cause of belt noise. Poor alignment can also cause premature wear, belt mistracking or rib skipping, and belt edge wear and fraying. Sight down the side of the belt to make sure the edge does not make any bends toward or away from the engine. Any deviation you can detect with your eye is too much.

Try to move the pulleys fore and aft to make sure the mounting is tight and the pulley exhibits minimal axial movement, which can cause misalignment. With your hands, move all idlers fore and aft and check for free rock. Excessive movement indicates a bearing or alignment problem and that the idler should be replaced.

Many systems with excess misalignment can be corrected by accessory mount shimming, shifting the position of the pulley on the accessory shaft or loosening the accessory mount points and varying the sequence of tightening.

9. Where to Inspect a Serpentine Belt
Always inspect the belt along the longest run and around an idler pulley that makes contact with the smooth side of the belt. The ribs of the belt are elongated in this position and any rib cracks are magnified. If rib cracks are detected, you should probably remove the belt for further inspection. Check the edges of the belt for wear and fraying. Wear on the edges can indicate a misalignment of the pulleys.

With the vehicle running, observe the belt along the longest visible run between pulleys. Excessive fluttering or movement is a sign the belt or tensioner needs to be replaced.

10. Remove the Belt for a Better Inspection
With the belt removed, the tensioner can be inspected more closely. Rotate the tensioner pulley by hand and feel for bearing roughness. A rough bearing indicates the potential for immediate failure and that the tensioner should be replaced. While rotating the pulley, look for (and remove) an accumulation of any foreign material on the pulley surface.

With the proper tool, move the tensioner arm as if you were installing a new belt; move the arm through the full range of available travel. By feel, you can detect if there is roughness or sticking of the tensioner arm during this movement. Replace the tensioner if sticking is detected.

As a final step, attempt to move the tensioner arm toward and away from the engine. If looseness is detected, the bushings in the tensioner have worn excessively and the tensioner should be replaced.

05/29/2020

Brake pads with thickness less than 4mm require service.