Your multimeter is a versatile tool. But for certain diagnostics, you need an oscilloscope to get a closer look at a vehicle’s electrical systems.
What an oscilloscope shows that your DVOM can’t (VIDEO)
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
Don’t Get Hung Up on Hanging Calipers
A household trick to save time — and brake hoses.
Tire Damage Assessment – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)
Assessing tire damage in order to make a repair decision, which technician is correct with the right repair?
Mastering the Numbers – Part 2
Using your shop’s Cost of Doing Business (CODB) as a baseline for labor rates.
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SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
What Shape Is a Piston?
Cylindrical? Not really.
When a Voltmeter Isn’t Enough (Video)
Many high-end scan tools come with a capable digital storage oscilloscope. Time to put that tool to work.
Which Is Faster: A Spark Plug Firing or a Fuel Injector Spraying? (VIDEO)
Did you know that a modern fuel injection system can fire off multiple sprays in the same time it takes for a spark to jump across a plug?
P0420/P0430—The #1 DTC in the Country
And the most misdiagnosed.
Troubleshooting Fuel Trim–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)
Technician A and Technician B are discussing ways to use fuel trim as a troubleshooting aid. Technician A says that fuel trims that are correcting for a lean condition at high RPM and load conditions indicates a problem in fuel delivery. Technician B says that this condition is caused by a vacuum leak.
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SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Belt Noise – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)
Technician A says chirp is the most common belt noise complaint. Technician B says EPDM belts can wear out without showing visible damage. Who is correct?
Are You Properly Checking Hub Bearings For Wear? (VIDEO)
Pete Meier explains how a dial indicator is necessary for a true wear check.
Efficiency is the Name of the Game
Four proven ways to run a tighter ship at your shop.
Misfire Cause–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)
Technician A is diagnosing a misfire. He states that a misfire is caused by a fault in the ignition system and that new plugs and coils will repair the problem. Technician B says that a misfire is detected when the ECM detects a variation in crankshaft speed.
A History of the U.S. Presidential State Car (Part 2)
The commander-in-chief’s road transportation, from LBJ’s Lincoln Continental to “The Beast.”
VIDEOS
Testing Battery State of Charge – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)
Technicians discuss battery testing, one says open circuit voltage of less than 10.5 volts indicates a bad battery, while the other says that a reading of 12.5 volts indicates an 80% state of charge. Who is correct?
PSA: Be Safe With Carburetor Cleaner, Too
Is carb cleaner actually more dangerous than brake cleaner?
The Real Meanings Behind OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Codes (VIDEO)
By breaking down the structures used to create DTCs, you can learn how to “decode” beyond the simple descriptions presented by a scanner.