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  • Why Pentastar Oil Filter Housings Fail

    March 2024

    In service since 2011, the Chrysler Pentastar 3.6L engine has powered more than 10 million of the most popular vehicles on the road. These Pentastar engines are equipped with oil filter housings, which contain the oil filter, sensors, and a heat exchanger to help cool the oil. The oil filter housings on the Pentastar V6 engine have become known for their high failure rates. These failures have mistakenly been attributed the idea that the housings can warp due to heat, but this has been proven false. So, why do these units typically leak? 

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  • A Closer Look: Variable Valve Timing

    January 2024

    In an effort to increase fuel efficiency and elevate performance across today’s vehicles, nearly every manufacturer has equipped new vehicles with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology, also known as Variable Cam Timing (VCT).

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  • A Closer Look: Turbochargers

    January 2024

    Turbocharger Opportunities: In an effort to increase fuel efficiency, maintain performance, and reduce emissions, vehicle manufacturers are adding turbocharged engines to their lineups at a significant rate. Over the next five years, the turbo service market will continue to experience substantial growth.

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  • A Closer Look: Ignition Coils

    January 2024

    Engine misfires, rough idle, a decrease in power under acceleration, poor fuel economy, and a check engine light are all signs of an ignition coil that has failed. OE coils are known for their high failure rates. Read along for more information on ignition coils, how to diagnose a failed one, and why an original equipment manufacturer’s coil may not be the best replacement choice.

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  • A Closer Look: Standard Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

    January 2024

    Gasoline direct injection (GDI) is used on most new vehicles and requires a different approach to diagnosis and service. GDI technology has been an integral part of helping to improve fuel economy while reducing emissions and can be found in more than half of the U.S. fleet. In fact, the use of GDI engines has grown by over 600% since 2010. This means that in the next five years, 42 million more vehicles with GDI will enter the Aftermarket “Sweet Spot” of 6-12 years old, during which their injectors and related parts may need to be serviced or replaced. While GDI systems have proved effective, these systems encounter specific failures and require an understanding of how they work and how to test them when they set a code.

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  • A Closer Look: Servicing Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

    January 2024

    Hybrid vehicles have been sold in the U.S. for over 20 years. As hybrids continue to grow in popularity, and as fully electric vehicles have entered the market in the past several years, they have brought with them numerous service opportunities for aftermarket repair facilities. Whether shops dive in and get involved with replacing batteries, inverters, or other high-voltage components, or they stick to light-duty servicing, there is plenty of work to go around.

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  • A Closer Look: Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)

    January 2024

    Advanced Driver Assist Systems have created quite a buzz over the last several years. New business opportunities continuously arise, including a new segment of mobile technicians focusing on ADAS calibrations. While ADAS may still seem relatively new, automotive service professionals have actually been servicing Driver Assist Systems for decades. Systems like power steering, power brakes, and cruise control have been assisting motorists for many years. What is different with ADAS is that there are now input devices to understand what the driver’s intent is and alert the driver to potential dangers, rather than relying solely on the driver’s sight and sound.

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  • A Closer Look: ABS Sensors

    January 2024

    Anti-lock Braking Systems are intended to do exactly as the name portrays – prevent a vehicle’s wheels from locking up during a braking event. If any of the wheels lock up, the driver has less control of the vehicle and is more prone to an accident. By releasing some brake pressure to the locked-up wheel, the stopping distance will be increased, but the driver will be able to maintain control to hopefully avoid a collision. Prior to ABS, drivers were taught to pump the brake pedal when attempting to stop suddenly, or when stopping on gravel, ice, or loose pavement. Now, the ABS system does that for them.

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  • A Closer Look: Emissions

    January 2024

    The Check Engine Light (CEL) is arguably one of the most effective yet underappreciated advancements in reducing vehicle emissions. Following the introduction of On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II), the CEL is illuminated continuously if an on-board system monitor has failed a specified number of times and is negatively affecting emissions. If a catalyst-damaging event, such as a misfire, occurs, the CEL will flash. In today’s world of electric vehicles, hybrids, and partial zero-emission vehicles, many people forget that simply keeping their internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicle operating as designed will help in reducing emissions.

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  • A Closer Look: Electronic Throttle Bodies

    January 2024

    A shop’s reputation is affected by things like accuracy of diagnosis, quality of the repair, and friendly service. Equally as important is the quality of the parts installed. If the shop does everything right, and the part fails, the customer will ultimately be upset with the shop. When a new part fails, the customer is inconvenienced again, and begins to lose faith with the shop that performed the work. This ultimately begs the question–why take a chance with inferior parts?

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