“4 SALE –1 Used Car Salesman”
Gonzo 2010
What do you think of when you see a badly fitting plaid suit, white shoes, argyle socks with high wader pants, slicked back hair and the ever present “how are ya” handshake. The kind of guy with the big smile on his face while talking louder than he needs too. No, it’s not your Uncle Ernie. It’s one of those crafty used car salesmen we just can’t get enough of. You know the type, the kind that show up at your shop and give you that same old song and dance routine… “I can send you a lot of business, why I could single handily double your work load with the amount of business I could send you.” Always looking for that cutthroat deal and wanting you to bend a bit more so they can make another buck on the sale. Oh, sure, just what I need … a bunch of used wrecks that you bought from the auction without a clue as to how or why the car ended up there in the first place, along with even less of an idea of what it “really” takes to repair them.
That brings back memories of a particular car I had the misfortune of getting involved with. There was this new car dealership (no longer in business by the way) that also had a used car division as part of their sales inventory.
Into the shop came the exact type of guy I just mentioned… I’ll call him “Max”… now Max, had just sold a little Pontiac to a gal, and low and behold… the A/C wasn’t cold… and poor Max was in desperate need of a quick fix to get this car back to the new owner.
He had the car over to me that same afternoon with that typical used car guy understanding that I would have it fixed by the time 5 o’clock rolled around and it was only going to take a few dollars out of his pocket and he didn’t have to mention a thing to his boss or to the dealership. He expected to show his boss that he was on top of it all and could handle any crisis without consulting anyone.
As usual, the conversation at the front counter centered around him and how he could influence sales and increase my business. Not like it’s the first time I’ve seen this dog and pony show out of some plaid suit. I’ve heard it before, I let them fill the air with all their promises while I ponder how long it’s going to take for me to get paid and how long it will be before he comes back to pick up the car.
Max, made his sales speech and did the usual salesman twenty or so handshakes while buttering up the conversation with “you’re the greatest, you’re going to be so busy with work from me, man, you’re the best I’ve ever known”. (and I haven’t done a thing yet…) All this before heading out the door and back to the car lot to sell the next car, but you know, he’ll more than likely be sitting in his office chair with his feet propped up while scratching is foot with a golf club and cussing to his buddy because I haven’t called yet.
I pulled the car into the bay… as I was about to turn the key off I figured it can’t hurt, why not to give the A/C a try. The A/C button lit up, the blower was on full blast and the temp dial was all the way to cold… hmmm, nothing but cool air came out of the vents. Ok, that I expected…of course it didn’t work, that’s what Max was here for… well, the next stop… under the hood.
Not thinking that there would be too much more to worry about I pulled the hood release and wheeled the recovery machine alongside the car…. I opened the hood.
Peering down into the engine bay I was in for a shock… … … oh, oh, what the @*#*???? Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? The compressor was missing…gone…non-existent… not a sign of it… Wait, wait, so are the A/C lines, now hold on here… so is the condenser, the drier, all the wiring, the brackets and the pulley… no way… it can’t be… but, it sure looks like it… I’m afraid so… this car doesn’t have air conditioning; in fact it never had air. Even the holes in the firewall were missing. All this car had was a button on the dash that said “A/C”. Somebody must have changed the control head with one that was for a car that had A/C and good old Max fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Oh, this is going to be a fun phone call….
Poor Max, didn’t know what to think, and of course the first thing he wanted to know was what it was going to take to put a complete system in a car that never had air conditioning. I had to laugh, I couldn’t help it… Max is about to get the wakeup call of his life when he gets this estimate. I doubt his commission check is even going to come close to covering the cost of this screw up.
After the initial shock wore off, Max decided to try to find a cheaper alternative than installing a factory system. He decided to try one of those “aftermarket systems” at one of those “discount” repair shops.
The big issue wasn’t really the A/C, but more to the point, the new owner… who was furious with the way the deal was handled and she was going to have old Max’s hide and planned on doing some major complaining at the dealership if things didn’t get resolved.
The “add-on” air system was a complete flop… somehow, someway, the car ended up back at my shop to sort out the electrical issues with the aftermarket air system. The car couldn’t hold an idle with the air on, and this was a late enough model that the air conditioning idle was controlled by the ECM and IAC valve. I was willing to try to help Max out one more time, even though I knew it was probably a lost cause.
When I opened the hood to see this masterpiece of superlative engineering… I just let the hood drop… what a disaster… wires and tubing strewn thru the car … no concern as to where or what it was touching, let alone the way they had mounted the compressor. (They used a 2X4 wedge between the engine block and the compressor… looked like the shop couldn’t figure out how to keep the belt tight any other way.) You’ve got to be kidding me… there was no way I was even going to take even one more second of this plaid suit wearing extraordinaire used car selling–going to improve my business portfolio-cheap skate guy’s time or his all knowing expertise on how to “take care of” his customers cars. Because, this is NOT the way to do it… and one more fact Max… it ain’t happening here partner… time for you to head down that highway of lost and forgotten used car deals… and leave me out of it.
The last I heard was that the dealership took the ladies car back and ended up giving her a better model and one that actually had air conditioning. Max, well, as far as I know, he gave up the car sales business and is now working as a carnival side show barker.
Sounds to me like Max has found his calling… cause he sure has the talent for the job.
Now I just have to wait for the next "Max" to show up at the shop.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
How to determine if the converter is causing the emissions failure
Failed emissions due to excessive Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) or Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) are also frequently caused by a deteriorated catalytic converter. The problem is how to determine if the converter is really bad!
Converters consume oxygen in the catalytic process, which provides the basis for a simple, two minute converter efficiency check referred to as an “Oxygen Capture” test. Using an exhaust gas analyzer the percentage of oxygen coming from the tailpipe of a fully warmed-up vehicle is measured at idle. Once the oxygen reading has stabilized the throttle is rapidly snapped full open and instantly closed. Following the throttle snap there should be a slight increase in the amount of oxygen coming from the tailpipe. The allowable “slight increase” is typically 1.2%. If the oxygen increase exceeds the allowable limit the converter is almost always bad.
In a healthy converter the catalytic reaction consumes large quantities of oxygen. Therefore an excessive increase in oxygen at the tailpipe, following the snap test, indicates the converter has lost its ability to capture and use oxygen. Without capturing and consuming oxygen the catalytic reaction stalls, emissions climb, the check engine light comes on and the computer stores a code. The oxygen capture test is quick, simple, and highly reliable and helps avoid buying an unnecessary and expensive converter. Always ask for an oxygen capture test before buying a replacement converter, it’s two minutes that could save you several hundred dollars.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Last Stop Before the Asylum
Spooky story for Halloween
Last stop before the asylum
Gonzo 2010
Talk about a weird day; I would have to say this was one of weirdest days of them all.
On a foggy afternoon, no breeze in sight, and slight chill in the air, an old man came to the shop. He didn’t come through the front door like most everyone would, no, he pulled his car right into the center bay of the shop. But, it gets stranger…. He didn’t get out of the car. He didn’t even roll down the window. He just sat there with both hands on the wheel, the engine still running, and staring out the windshield like a zombie from an old horror flick. It looked like he was calmly sitting at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. He had no expression, he never blinked; he just sat there….with this cold stone stare. I didn’t want to walk in front of the car in fear he may take me as the green light. So I walked around the back of the car keeping one eye on this strange guy and crept up to the drivers’ window. I tapped on the glass….no response from inside. I tried the door handle… it opened.
“Afternoon sir,” I said in a cheerful manner, trying to keep my curiosity at bay “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
The old man, ever so slowly, turned his head towards me while maintaining a straight forward posture and both hands still on the wheel, never really looking up, he answered. “Why yes young man, my turn signals are acting up and my window won’t roll down.” (The man’s voice reminded me of an old horror movie vampire.)
Very creepy to say the least. He even looked like a 50’s horror movie villain, you know, sunken in cheeks, large bushy eye brows, slow methodical speech, and that expressionless cold stare. (Where’s his cape, does he keep the bats in the trunk, the coffin, where’s the coffin?)
“No problem sir,” I answered. “Just head up front and they can write you an invoice for the repair and then I can get started.”
“I’d rather stay here, (slowly turning his head towards me, lifting his eyebrows, and raising his eyes up towards me so his glare was straight into my eyes) right here in the drivers’ seat,” he said in that creepy horror flick manner.
(Insert spooky movie music here)
Ok, where’s the holy water…..where’s my garlic….who’s got the silver bullets…….where’s the wooden stakes …….a little help here guys…..a guys….where are you.???
Why is it, when you look around the shop for help…..everybody disappears? Oh they’ll show up, oh sure they will…after they let me be the first victim……not funny guys! ! !
I could ask him again to step out of the car or I could tell him about our policy on customers in the shop. I guess at this point I probably looked like one of those B movie extras that were too scared to say their lines. If I had any….. I figured I better tell him he can’t stay in the car while I was working on it and see where that led.
There he sat, still staring straight ahead out the windshield, not blinking, and not even moving a muscle.
“Sir, because of insurance reason you can’t stay in the shop. You will have to wait outside or in the customer waiting area,” I said, trying to be as professional as possible. (They can smell fear you know)
Looking straight forward, not at me; “You do whatever you feel is necessary son,” then he turned his head and looked right through me, “I’ll be sitting right here,” all of which he said in that same eerie voice. He turned back towards the windshield without another word. Then, he just sat there, as still as a tombstone.
Now I’m not scared…I’m getting riled up. I don’t know what graveyard this movie mogul came from but…this is my shop. I have to take the responsibility here. If he isn’t going to get out of the car I really can’t do too much. Well, maybe I can do some quick diagnostics without having him get out of the car. This way, I won’t feel like such a jerk if I have to get a little serious with this “Vampirish” guy
“Sir, why don’t you try those turn signals for me,” I said. He did, and they seemed to be working just fine.
“Could you try rolling down the window for me,” I asked. It worked fine as well. Without a problem that I was aware of I thought the next best thing was to get him out of the car and take a look under the dash.
“Sir, can you step out of the car so I can look under the dash,” I asked.
“No,” was his response.
“Well sir, then I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I answered, “Or, you can wait outside the shop while I take a look at the car.”
“No,” again was his answer.
“Ok, then, could you do one more thing for me, could you put it in neutral and leave your foot off of the brake,” I calmly asked him.
He did just that, then he put his hands back on the wheel but never changed his dead pan expression. I motioned to one of the guys in the shop to come over. We both grabbed the front of the car and pushed the car outside with the old man still in it. As we pushed him out you could see the old fella through the windshield, never changing his straight ahead stare…..he just sat there.
I walked up to the drivers’ door, the window was still down, “Sir, when you are ready to get out of the car I’ll be more than happy to help you. But until then you will have to remain out here. If there is a medical reason why you can’t get out of the car I’ll make arrangements to assist you into a different chair or something that will be more comfortable for you,” I said with a stern voice.
The old man did that same slow head turn without taking his hands off of the steering wheel again. He stared right into my eyes….raised those bushy eyebrows, and with that same slow deliberate baritone voice
“It’s not medical, it’s not a problem, I like my car the way it is…(and with his eyes extending out as if to make them larger)……with me in it.” (There’s that spooky music again)
I walked back to shop to finish the other work that was there. On and off throughout the afternoon you could look outside and there was that creepy old guy sitting in his car. Staring right into the shop through the windshield of his car…. never moving, never blinking, still with both hands on the wheel. (There should have been some eerie fog flowing around his car….now that would have been creepy)
At closing time, the old guy was still there. As soon as I starting to pull the doors down… he drove off. As the door came to its usual “thump” at the bottom…the shop radio went dead. You could hear a pin drop in the shop; the only noticeable noise was the old man’s car leaving the parking lot. When the car noise was all but gone…the radio started back up. (No Kidding) It was like some page out of a horror movie…..Ok, Ok, it had to be just one of those moments when the station was changing a disc or something……but why right then.
So, the next time you are at a traffic light and you see this old guy with big bushy eyebrows…staring through the windshield. Don’t make eye contact, don’t look back……….drive, drive far away!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Last stop before the asylum
Gonzo 2010
Talk about a weird day; I would have to say this was one of weirdest days of them all.
On a foggy afternoon, no breeze in sight, and slight chill in the air, an old man came to the shop. He didn’t come through the front door like most everyone would, no, he pulled his car right into the center bay of the shop. But, it gets stranger…. He didn’t get out of the car. He didn’t even roll down the window. He just sat there with both hands on the wheel, the engine still running, and staring out the windshield like a zombie from an old horror flick. It looked like he was calmly sitting at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. He had no expression, he never blinked; he just sat there….with this cold stone stare. I didn’t want to walk in front of the car in fear he may take me as the green light. So I walked around the back of the car keeping one eye on this strange guy and crept up to the drivers’ window. I tapped on the glass….no response from inside. I tried the door handle… it opened.
“Afternoon sir,” I said in a cheerful manner, trying to keep my curiosity at bay “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
The old man, ever so slowly, turned his head towards me while maintaining a straight forward posture and both hands still on the wheel, never really looking up, he answered. “Why yes young man, my turn signals are acting up and my window won’t roll down.” (The man’s voice reminded me of an old horror movie vampire.)
Very creepy to say the least. He even looked like a 50’s horror movie villain, you know, sunken in cheeks, large bushy eye brows, slow methodical speech, and that expressionless cold stare. (Where’s his cape, does he keep the bats in the trunk, the coffin, where’s the coffin?)
“No problem sir,” I answered. “Just head up front and they can write you an invoice for the repair and then I can get started.”
“I’d rather stay here, (slowly turning his head towards me, lifting his eyebrows, and raising his eyes up towards me so his glare was straight into my eyes) right here in the drivers’ seat,” he said in that creepy horror flick manner.
(Insert spooky movie music here)
Ok, where’s the holy water…..where’s my garlic….who’s got the silver bullets…….where’s the wooden stakes …….a little help here guys…..a guys….where are you.???
Why is it, when you look around the shop for help…..everybody disappears? Oh they’ll show up, oh sure they will…after they let me be the first victim……not funny guys! ! !
I could ask him again to step out of the car or I could tell him about our policy on customers in the shop. I guess at this point I probably looked like one of those B movie extras that were too scared to say their lines. If I had any….. I figured I better tell him he can’t stay in the car while I was working on it and see where that led.
There he sat, still staring straight ahead out the windshield, not blinking, and not even moving a muscle.
“Sir, because of insurance reason you can’t stay in the shop. You will have to wait outside or in the customer waiting area,” I said, trying to be as professional as possible. (They can smell fear you know)
Looking straight forward, not at me; “You do whatever you feel is necessary son,” then he turned his head and looked right through me, “I’ll be sitting right here,” all of which he said in that same eerie voice. He turned back towards the windshield without another word. Then, he just sat there, as still as a tombstone.
Now I’m not scared…I’m getting riled up. I don’t know what graveyard this movie mogul came from but…this is my shop. I have to take the responsibility here. If he isn’t going to get out of the car I really can’t do too much. Well, maybe I can do some quick diagnostics without having him get out of the car. This way, I won’t feel like such a jerk if I have to get a little serious with this “Vampirish” guy
“Sir, why don’t you try those turn signals for me,” I said. He did, and they seemed to be working just fine.
“Could you try rolling down the window for me,” I asked. It worked fine as well. Without a problem that I was aware of I thought the next best thing was to get him out of the car and take a look under the dash.
“Sir, can you step out of the car so I can look under the dash,” I asked.
“No,” was his response.
“Well sir, then I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I answered, “Or, you can wait outside the shop while I take a look at the car.”
“No,” again was his answer.
“Ok, then, could you do one more thing for me, could you put it in neutral and leave your foot off of the brake,” I calmly asked him.
He did just that, then he put his hands back on the wheel but never changed his dead pan expression. I motioned to one of the guys in the shop to come over. We both grabbed the front of the car and pushed the car outside with the old man still in it. As we pushed him out you could see the old fella through the windshield, never changing his straight ahead stare…..he just sat there.
I walked up to the drivers’ door, the window was still down, “Sir, when you are ready to get out of the car I’ll be more than happy to help you. But until then you will have to remain out here. If there is a medical reason why you can’t get out of the car I’ll make arrangements to assist you into a different chair or something that will be more comfortable for you,” I said with a stern voice.
The old man did that same slow head turn without taking his hands off of the steering wheel again. He stared right into my eyes….raised those bushy eyebrows, and with that same slow deliberate baritone voice
“It’s not medical, it’s not a problem, I like my car the way it is…(and with his eyes extending out as if to make them larger)……with me in it.” (There’s that spooky music again)
I walked back to shop to finish the other work that was there. On and off throughout the afternoon you could look outside and there was that creepy old guy sitting in his car. Staring right into the shop through the windshield of his car…. never moving, never blinking, still with both hands on the wheel. (There should have been some eerie fog flowing around his car….now that would have been creepy)
At closing time, the old guy was still there. As soon as I starting to pull the doors down… he drove off. As the door came to its usual “thump” at the bottom…the shop radio went dead. You could hear a pin drop in the shop; the only noticeable noise was the old man’s car leaving the parking lot. When the car noise was all but gone…the radio started back up. (No Kidding) It was like some page out of a horror movie…..Ok, Ok, it had to be just one of those moments when the station was changing a disc or something……but why right then.
So, the next time you are at a traffic light and you see this old guy with big bushy eyebrows…staring through the windshield. Don’t make eye contact, don’t look back……….drive, drive far away!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Friday, October 22, 2010
Dale Donovan on flushing brake fluid
This week we have Dale donovan from the"CarShow"telling us why we really need to flush the brake fluid.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Can do CAN
Can do CAN:
A simple look at a complex system: Controller Area Network: CAN
Ever wonder how your cable TV comes into your home on that single coaxial cable? In simple terms… it’s like a CAN system. A good definition of a CAN system would be: High speed communication sent via data lines to and from components.
Just like your cable TV, as a signal is sent down the wire from one communication device there needs to be another at the other end that can “descramble” that information and turn it into readable information. These “lines” are generally referred to as BUS lines, or Data lines.
Most of the time they are in pairs of two wires that are twisted together (less RF interference). Some manufacturers use a 2 speed CAN. One line is for low priority information such as radio, windows, etc… and a faster 2nd speed for things like transmission, theft, etc… both system moves along the same wires at the same time. What each of the “modules” that are on the BUS line do is use the information that they are programmed to read, any other information on the BUS is ignored and not read by that particular module.
What to expect:
The direction of these CAN systems are not going to go away, they’re with us for now and most likely even more complicated in the future. Scanning is the key to working with these systems. Proper scanners and not just a “code reader” is the necessary tool to see these “TV” channels on your little screen (your scanner). A dealer equivalent scanner is the best way to “look” at these systems. Mode $06 is another option but one thing you don’t want to do any more is stab a wire with a test light looking for current or ground… it ain’t there.
Imagine stabbing your test light into your cable TV line. What do you think you would find there, nothing that a test light would help with. Also, I don’t advise sending voltage or a solid ground down a data line. Would you try that with that coaxial cable coming into your house, I think not..!
My advice when it comes to diagnosing power windows, gauges, or for that matter just about anything these days. Get your scanner out and look for codes, look for a class 2 serial data line on your GM, read the mode $06 information, and or whatever that particular manufacturer is calling their CAN line information. These data information screens will give you the clues as to what to be looking for. The next stop is to your PC and look up the wiring diagrams. Codes are only a starting point; remember… you still have to diagnose the cause of that code and what it means.
Here is an example:
03 Cadillac DHS
The problem with this car was with the window circuits. If the driver’s side window switch was pushed the driver’s window and the passenger front window would go down simultaneously and would go up the same way. If you tried the front passenger window switch nothing happened at all. Using the driver’s side rear window switch from the driver’s door switch would operate both the rear windows up and down together exactly like the front set. The car was clean, well kept and had no signs of any recent damage. As far as the owner knew there was nothing out of the ordinary that might be a hint to possibly explain this strange window fiasco.
Scanning the car led to several history codes that could be related and some codes that couldn’t be related to the problem, that is until I went to the class 2 serial data line information. It listed where the trouble was at… corrupted information and loss of communication on the BUS. Looking at the four door modules showed that the scanner couldn’t communicate with either passenger side modules. Using the scanner to operate the windows without having to move the switches showed no difference between the scanner and the actual window switch operation from the driver’s door.
Pulling the prints showed that the serial data lines ran from door to door and back to the BCM. There were no obvious wiring issues to be concerned with but I did notice several slight whitish droplets dried onto the inside of the door. It looked to me like “Bondo” or sanding dust mixed with water. But the owner knew nothing of any body work ever done to the car. Opening the FPDM and examining the circuit board showed no water damage. With the data lines showing no communication with the modules and the wiring looking perfect the next best thing was to change the FPDM and RRDM (Front Passenger Door Module, Right Rear Door Module).
It worked like a charm. After replacing the modules I went back into the scanner to see if the communication had been restored, sure enough it was… another job out the door.
I never picked up a test light like I would have on an older car and I didn’t have to pull out the old trusty tap hammer and start banging around till something moved. Using the scanner and the CAN lines showed where to go to make the repair.
History lesson:
1983 Bosch Corporation introduced the CAN system to the world as a preparation to what they saw as an increase in the automotive electrical system advancements. In 1987 the first CAN system was officially called “CAN” but it wasn’t till 1992 Mercedes Benz that a CAN system was accepted as the true first CAN system. Early GM’s had a system that could have been called CAN back in 1987 but the only references were to call the lines “data lines”. It still worked about the same way but wasn’t diagnosed the same way as we do today.
1995 GM introduced Class 2 serial data lines which run at a speed of 10.4 kbps. In 2004 Gm went to their next generation system called GMLAN (local area network) which had a 2 speed system: low 33.3 Kbps and a high at 500 Kbps. Mercedes Benz uses several BUS lines; on one car I counted 5 different CAN speeds.
Closing: With the speed and flexibility of these electronic systems the manufacturers can create in today’s cars I can only imagine how far all this information is going to go. It could be at some point in time that wiring will be a thing of the past too. Everything in the car could someday go completely wireless; modules will get smaller, faster and less likely to failure. Scanning could be done without even seeing the car in a repair shop. Just dial your cel phone to your shop of choice and a complete diagnostics could be done right then. I know it sounds a little “out there” but just imagine what a mechanic from the 50’s would think of today’s cars.
A simple look at a complex system: Controller Area Network: CAN
Ever wonder how your cable TV comes into your home on that single coaxial cable? In simple terms… it’s like a CAN system. A good definition of a CAN system would be: High speed communication sent via data lines to and from components.
Just like your cable TV, as a signal is sent down the wire from one communication device there needs to be another at the other end that can “descramble” that information and turn it into readable information. These “lines” are generally referred to as BUS lines, or Data lines.
Most of the time they are in pairs of two wires that are twisted together (less RF interference). Some manufacturers use a 2 speed CAN. One line is for low priority information such as radio, windows, etc… and a faster 2nd speed for things like transmission, theft, etc… both system moves along the same wires at the same time. What each of the “modules” that are on the BUS line do is use the information that they are programmed to read, any other information on the BUS is ignored and not read by that particular module.
What to expect:
The direction of these CAN systems are not going to go away, they’re with us for now and most likely even more complicated in the future. Scanning is the key to working with these systems. Proper scanners and not just a “code reader” is the necessary tool to see these “TV” channels on your little screen (your scanner). A dealer equivalent scanner is the best way to “look” at these systems. Mode $06 is another option but one thing you don’t want to do any more is stab a wire with a test light looking for current or ground… it ain’t there.
Imagine stabbing your test light into your cable TV line. What do you think you would find there, nothing that a test light would help with. Also, I don’t advise sending voltage or a solid ground down a data line. Would you try that with that coaxial cable coming into your house, I think not..!
My advice when it comes to diagnosing power windows, gauges, or for that matter just about anything these days. Get your scanner out and look for codes, look for a class 2 serial data line on your GM, read the mode $06 information, and or whatever that particular manufacturer is calling their CAN line information. These data information screens will give you the clues as to what to be looking for. The next stop is to your PC and look up the wiring diagrams. Codes are only a starting point; remember… you still have to diagnose the cause of that code and what it means.
Here is an example:
03 Cadillac DHS
The problem with this car was with the window circuits. If the driver’s side window switch was pushed the driver’s window and the passenger front window would go down simultaneously and would go up the same way. If you tried the front passenger window switch nothing happened at all. Using the driver’s side rear window switch from the driver’s door switch would operate both the rear windows up and down together exactly like the front set. The car was clean, well kept and had no signs of any recent damage. As far as the owner knew there was nothing out of the ordinary that might be a hint to possibly explain this strange window fiasco.
Scanning the car led to several history codes that could be related and some codes that couldn’t be related to the problem, that is until I went to the class 2 serial data line information. It listed where the trouble was at… corrupted information and loss of communication on the BUS. Looking at the four door modules showed that the scanner couldn’t communicate with either passenger side modules. Using the scanner to operate the windows without having to move the switches showed no difference between the scanner and the actual window switch operation from the driver’s door.
Pulling the prints showed that the serial data lines ran from door to door and back to the BCM. There were no obvious wiring issues to be concerned with but I did notice several slight whitish droplets dried onto the inside of the door. It looked to me like “Bondo” or sanding dust mixed with water. But the owner knew nothing of any body work ever done to the car. Opening the FPDM and examining the circuit board showed no water damage. With the data lines showing no communication with the modules and the wiring looking perfect the next best thing was to change the FPDM and RRDM (Front Passenger Door Module, Right Rear Door Module).
It worked like a charm. After replacing the modules I went back into the scanner to see if the communication had been restored, sure enough it was… another job out the door.
I never picked up a test light like I would have on an older car and I didn’t have to pull out the old trusty tap hammer and start banging around till something moved. Using the scanner and the CAN lines showed where to go to make the repair.
History lesson:
1983 Bosch Corporation introduced the CAN system to the world as a preparation to what they saw as an increase in the automotive electrical system advancements. In 1987 the first CAN system was officially called “CAN” but it wasn’t till 1992 Mercedes Benz that a CAN system was accepted as the true first CAN system. Early GM’s had a system that could have been called CAN back in 1987 but the only references were to call the lines “data lines”. It still worked about the same way but wasn’t diagnosed the same way as we do today.
1995 GM introduced Class 2 serial data lines which run at a speed of 10.4 kbps. In 2004 Gm went to their next generation system called GMLAN (local area network) which had a 2 speed system: low 33.3 Kbps and a high at 500 Kbps. Mercedes Benz uses several BUS lines; on one car I counted 5 different CAN speeds.
Closing: With the speed and flexibility of these electronic systems the manufacturers can create in today’s cars I can only imagine how far all this information is going to go. It could be at some point in time that wiring will be a thing of the past too. Everything in the car could someday go completely wireless; modules will get smaller, faster and less likely to failure. Scanning could be done without even seeing the car in a repair shop. Just dial your cel phone to your shop of choice and a complete diagnostics could be done right then. I know it sounds a little “out there” but just imagine what a mechanic from the 50’s would think of today’s cars.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fixing and understanding low spark voltage
Dave Rock explains Fixing and understanding low spark voltage in this video
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Corvette Etched Glass
Corvette etched glass
A mid 90’s Corvette with a couple of problems to take care of came in the shop some time ago. The first problem was an intermittent start and the other problem was the suspension warning light stayed on all the time. The first problem had been looked at many times by a dealer in Florida where the owner had a second home and where he stored the car for those times he would be there. The car sat around a lot and the owner was getting very upset that it wouldn’t start when he would show up at his vacation place to drive his car around.
Apparently not much was solved but like most other electrical problems if it’s intermittent and you can’t duplicate, read a history code or at least see the problem… most anything you do is just a guess. The lucky guy to actually see the problem looks like the genius and in the customers mind all others that have tried have reached some level of stupidity… or worse. Someone tried a new starter, another battery, a little of this and some of that. None of which fixed the problem. Luckily for me, the Vette went through its death rolls right there in the shop for me. It turned out that the thin wires that make up the security system which are attached to the ignition switch tumbler had broken. As you turn the ignition switch the wires must twist with the switch and like anything else that moves, it will wear out. --- it did… Replaced the unit and all is well. The second problem required a little more effort and a whole lot of waiting. The driver side shock had gone bad. On top of the shock is a electronic sensor that had broken its little gear and the shock had “locked-up” which is probably why the sensor failed. But, the only place that still had parts for it was in Florida. Imagine that… drive the car halfway across the country to Oklahoma, to my shop and find out the only replacement parts are right where you were to start with… go figure. It was about a week or more before the replacement parts showed up.
The car was finished and sent home with the owner. All parties are paid up, car is starting with no problem, and the suspension is working as it should… what could be wrong. A few days later the phone rang, my daughter Mandy, was working the office that day, she took the call, “Yes, huh, uh, I remember the car…. really? I wonder how that happened….. Are you sure about that…. Hmmm, well I’ll check with the shop and see what they say…. I can’t think of any way that could happen… ok, I’ll call you back when I know something, thanks for letting me know, Good-bye”
I was standing nearby a little puzzled as to who was on the phone or for that matter what the call was about. Mandy turned to me, “Dad, you’re not going to believe this. That Vette you just finished the other day…. The guys’ wife insists that there is human hand print in the windshield…and I don’t mean on the windshield… she says it’s permanently “etched” into the glass.”
“You’re kidding”, I answered.
“Nope, she’s dead serious. She even told me that she took the car to a glass shop and they couldn’t get it out. They tried all kinds of chemical cleaners and its there as plain as day,” Mandy went on to tell me.
“Oh come on, this is ridiculous…. How in the world would I have done that? Anything that would carve a hand in a windshield would have carved whosever hand that did it… I think I would have known about that, because let me guess, it’s my hand print right? …. And if I could leave a permanent “etched” imprint in the windshield how come I haven’t left a mark on myself,” I said in a fit of confusing reactions.
“Have her bring the car back and let me take a look at it,” I told Mandy.
“Ok, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, they’re pretty upset with you.”
Upset or not, to me there is only one way to resolve things like this. “Bring the car back to the shop that has done the work so they can see what’s going on, or I’m coming up to see it.” But, do you think that happened… nooooo. Not a chance.
A few weeks later I ran into the husband at a meeting I was attending. It’s a meeting of some of the top businesses in town, not only are they some of the largest but mostly they are some of the best. I wouldn’t think there was anybody in this room that would have any misunderstandings about any service work done for them since we all are basically in private business and deal with people, parts and things like this each and every day. I asked him why he didn’t bring the car back to me to have it looked at. There again, I was surprised at the answer.
“You obviously have no idea of the concern that my wife is having over this issue. The trauma caused her to go to a rehab in Denver for a nervous condition. I had to take the car into a glass shop and have the windshield replaced with a new one. That finally made things right with my wife. So I don’t think I’ll be bringing anymore work to you. She’s still very upset but, she is on medication for it now.”
In all my years of working with the general public, nothing surprises me anymore. You think you’ve seen it all then some cracked pot, off the wall lady like this comes along. I’m not the type of person who wants to think that I’ve done something wrong and caused someone to have to go to rehab… but then I’m thinking… You’ve got the time and money to go to rehab over a friggin’ windshield… boy you’ve got a real problem lady… and it ain’t windshield. I believe that people and their emotional states can be the hardest automotive diagnostics you’ll ever run across.
If you could leave the person out of the equation things would go a lot smoother at the repair shop. You know, there’s one thing I can say about cars that I can’t say about their owners. Cars are never crazy, wacky, or just plain nuts in the need of counseling…. They’re just a car.
People on the other hand… well I’d like to leave this story with a professional opinion of them but, I’m no shrink… I’m only the mechanic. I’ll leave the emotional evaluations to a doctor.
Visit my website for more stories and car related videos and information,
don't forget, Sunday evening Chat... see ya there.
A mid 90’s Corvette with a couple of problems to take care of came in the shop some time ago. The first problem was an intermittent start and the other problem was the suspension warning light stayed on all the time. The first problem had been looked at many times by a dealer in Florida where the owner had a second home and where he stored the car for those times he would be there. The car sat around a lot and the owner was getting very upset that it wouldn’t start when he would show up at his vacation place to drive his car around.
Apparently not much was solved but like most other electrical problems if it’s intermittent and you can’t duplicate, read a history code or at least see the problem… most anything you do is just a guess. The lucky guy to actually see the problem looks like the genius and in the customers mind all others that have tried have reached some level of stupidity… or worse. Someone tried a new starter, another battery, a little of this and some of that. None of which fixed the problem. Luckily for me, the Vette went through its death rolls right there in the shop for me. It turned out that the thin wires that make up the security system which are attached to the ignition switch tumbler had broken. As you turn the ignition switch the wires must twist with the switch and like anything else that moves, it will wear out. --- it did… Replaced the unit and all is well. The second problem required a little more effort and a whole lot of waiting. The driver side shock had gone bad. On top of the shock is a electronic sensor that had broken its little gear and the shock had “locked-up” which is probably why the sensor failed. But, the only place that still had parts for it was in Florida. Imagine that… drive the car halfway across the country to Oklahoma, to my shop and find out the only replacement parts are right where you were to start with… go figure. It was about a week or more before the replacement parts showed up.
The car was finished and sent home with the owner. All parties are paid up, car is starting with no problem, and the suspension is working as it should… what could be wrong. A few days later the phone rang, my daughter Mandy, was working the office that day, she took the call, “Yes, huh, uh, I remember the car…. really? I wonder how that happened….. Are you sure about that…. Hmmm, well I’ll check with the shop and see what they say…. I can’t think of any way that could happen… ok, I’ll call you back when I know something, thanks for letting me know, Good-bye”
I was standing nearby a little puzzled as to who was on the phone or for that matter what the call was about. Mandy turned to me, “Dad, you’re not going to believe this. That Vette you just finished the other day…. The guys’ wife insists that there is human hand print in the windshield…and I don’t mean on the windshield… she says it’s permanently “etched” into the glass.”
“You’re kidding”, I answered.
“Nope, she’s dead serious. She even told me that she took the car to a glass shop and they couldn’t get it out. They tried all kinds of chemical cleaners and its there as plain as day,” Mandy went on to tell me.
“Oh come on, this is ridiculous…. How in the world would I have done that? Anything that would carve a hand in a windshield would have carved whosever hand that did it… I think I would have known about that, because let me guess, it’s my hand print right? …. And if I could leave a permanent “etched” imprint in the windshield how come I haven’t left a mark on myself,” I said in a fit of confusing reactions.
“Have her bring the car back and let me take a look at it,” I told Mandy.
“Ok, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, they’re pretty upset with you.”
Upset or not, to me there is only one way to resolve things like this. “Bring the car back to the shop that has done the work so they can see what’s going on, or I’m coming up to see it.” But, do you think that happened… nooooo. Not a chance.
A few weeks later I ran into the husband at a meeting I was attending. It’s a meeting of some of the top businesses in town, not only are they some of the largest but mostly they are some of the best. I wouldn’t think there was anybody in this room that would have any misunderstandings about any service work done for them since we all are basically in private business and deal with people, parts and things like this each and every day. I asked him why he didn’t bring the car back to me to have it looked at. There again, I was surprised at the answer.
“You obviously have no idea of the concern that my wife is having over this issue. The trauma caused her to go to a rehab in Denver for a nervous condition. I had to take the car into a glass shop and have the windshield replaced with a new one. That finally made things right with my wife. So I don’t think I’ll be bringing anymore work to you. She’s still very upset but, she is on medication for it now.”
In all my years of working with the general public, nothing surprises me anymore. You think you’ve seen it all then some cracked pot, off the wall lady like this comes along. I’m not the type of person who wants to think that I’ve done something wrong and caused someone to have to go to rehab… but then I’m thinking… You’ve got the time and money to go to rehab over a friggin’ windshield… boy you’ve got a real problem lady… and it ain’t windshield. I believe that people and their emotional states can be the hardest automotive diagnostics you’ll ever run across.
If you could leave the person out of the equation things would go a lot smoother at the repair shop. You know, there’s one thing I can say about cars that I can’t say about their owners. Cars are never crazy, wacky, or just plain nuts in the need of counseling…. They’re just a car.
People on the other hand… well I’d like to leave this story with a professional opinion of them but, I’m no shrink… I’m only the mechanic. I’ll leave the emotional evaluations to a doctor.
Visit my website for more stories and car related videos and information,
don't forget, Sunday evening Chat... see ya there.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
New Book Review: How to Make Your Car Last Forever
Everyone wants to know how can I make my car last forever? Well maybe not forever, but long enough until you want to buy that next car! I just finished reading a new book in publication, that explains how to do all that. The Title "How To Make Your car Last Forever" by Thomas Torbjornsen.
This is a book that is written in such a manner that experienced or beginners can read and understand very clearly. Although the book seems to cater to someone that knows very little about automobiles, it covers such a vast amount of material that it becomes somewhat of a bible. It is broken down into 3 sections.
The first called "Vehicular Systems" which gives you the basics of what makes up an automoble. The 2nd section goes over the "rules to follow that will make that car last". Finally in the 3rd section the author calls "Straight Talk" a discussion on Warranties, Repair or replace, and the final chapter on "How to kill a car" or things you should not be doing!
What I did find very different from most automotive books, is that within each chapter, the author has a question and answer section, "Driver Ask" where he lists some of the most common questions, that come up based on what was presented in the chapter.
Within each chapter there are illustrations and pictures, that reinforce the topics being explained. Just enough to keep the reader from getting lost in a mass of words, that helps get the point across.
The book is definitely a must for someone that wants to learn more about automobiles, and at the same time does not to be overwhelmed, with more information then they would need on "How To make Your Car last Forever"
About The Author:
Tom T. has over 35 years in the automotive industry and nearly two decades in automotive talk radio broadcasting AMERICA'S CAR SHOW, Tom Torbjornsen makes learning about cars easy with his personal manner, expert advice, and his high energy and entertaining style. Tom has the unique gift of simplifying the complex and tearing down the technical to help you better understand just what goes on under the hood - and everywhere else on your vehicle. His first book, "How To Make Your Car Last Forever" is a compilation of tried and true methods to extend the life of your vehicle, proven from hands-on.
Have a look inside this book http://search2.barnesandnoble.com/BookViewer/?ean=9780760337967
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Murphy's Laws of Auto Repair
Murphy’s Laws of Auto Repair
1. Never put all your tools away until you have actually started the car, and know everything is in working order.
2. Always take more than one fuse with you, even though you already know one will do the job.
3. If the customer says it will be “an easy fix” plan on packing a lunch, because this is going to take awhile.
4. If the repair is going smoothly, something is wrong. (Drop a tool on the ground, and let it roll under the work bench or something).
5. There ARE such things as a “Monday built car”, and a “Friday built car”.
6. If the customer is watching, you’re probably not.
7. If you have double checked your work and it seems to be right, check it again.
8. There are more phone calls when you take a lunch break.
9. Proper use of a tool only applies when properly using the tool.
10. You’re only as good as your last job.
11. Your last job wasn’t that good.
12. Mechanics Beer Rule. 9 mechanics and 10 cases of beer = too many mechanics, or not enough beer. Remove 3 mechanics, or add 5 cases (don’t worry, it’s not a math thing…just keep them happy).
13. The moving parts of an engine are closer than they appear.
14. Don’t always trust a hood prop.
15. Things can go wrong, even when you are not doing anything.
16. Things that go wrong, when you are not doing anything, are still your fault.
17. Gravity is your friend, but not the kind that you trust with your brand new Snap-On sockets.
18. Only upset customers call on a Monday morning at exactly opening time.
19. Not answering the phone at opening time makes customers angry.
20. Yes, I live at the shop 24/7. Of course, I’m there at all hours of the day or night.
21. Oil leaks on the shop floor can be traced in 2 different directions.
22. Only the tool you can’t find is the one you need right now.
1. Never put all your tools away until you have actually started the car, and know everything is in working order.
2. Always take more than one fuse with you, even though you already know one will do the job.
3. If the customer says it will be “an easy fix” plan on packing a lunch, because this is going to take awhile.
4. If the repair is going smoothly, something is wrong. (Drop a tool on the ground, and let it roll under the work bench or something).
5. There ARE such things as a “Monday built car”, and a “Friday built car”.
6. If the customer is watching, you’re probably not.
7. If you have double checked your work and it seems to be right, check it again.
8. There are more phone calls when you take a lunch break.
9. Proper use of a tool only applies when properly using the tool.
10. You’re only as good as your last job.
11. Your last job wasn’t that good.
12. Mechanics Beer Rule. 9 mechanics and 10 cases of beer = too many mechanics, or not enough beer. Remove 3 mechanics, or add 5 cases (don’t worry, it’s not a math thing…just keep them happy).
13. The moving parts of an engine are closer than they appear.
14. Don’t always trust a hood prop.
15. Things can go wrong, even when you are not doing anything.
16. Things that go wrong, when you are not doing anything, are still your fault.
17. Gravity is your friend, but not the kind that you trust with your brand new Snap-On sockets.
18. Only upset customers call on a Monday morning at exactly opening time.
19. Not answering the phone at opening time makes customers angry.
20. Yes, I live at the shop 24/7. Of course, I’m there at all hours of the day or night.
21. Oil leaks on the shop floor can be traced in 2 different directions.
22. Only the tool you can’t find is the one you need right now.
Friday, October 01, 2010
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