Blogs

Women motoring writers from around the world to nominate the Women's World Car of the Year for 2012

WOMEN MOTORING WRITERS CHOOSE 2012 SHORT LIST Women motoring writers from around the world commence the voting process to nominate the Women's World Car of the Year for 2012 Judges from eleven countries first submitted their own personal short list;...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Chilton_Editor on 17 Mar 2012

Filed under: Women's World Car of the Year 2012

Top 5 Brake Complaints and How to Resolve Them

By Jim Marotta I think we can all agree that the braking system is the most important safety device on any vehicle. Since people place such a high value on their car's ability to slow and stop, it is smart to pay attention when they complain about...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 25 May 2011

Filed under: hydraulic braking system, brakes, Bosch, brake service, technical service bulletin, Jim Marotta, brake complaints, stopping performance, brake dust, brake pulsation, excessive brake wear, brake noise, causes of premature failure of brakes, brake squeal, vehicle usage affects brakes, ceramic vs. metallic brake pads, pad burnishing, causes of poor stopping performance, driving style affects brakes, lack of maintenance affects brakes, 1986 Jeep Wagoneer brake caliper, 2004 Dodge Durango brakes, 1999 Chevy Silverado Brakes, 2006 Nissan Sentra brakes, worn brake pads, tape off brake shoes to prevent contamination during installation, caliper pins cause binding, rotor worn past specifications

Eight A/C Service Mistakes That Can Make You Sweat

By Jim Marotta What was once a basic system to heat and cool the interior of a vehicle has become a multi-zone, automatic temperature control system with cabin air filtration. No longer are a few tools and some basic knowledge adequate to diagnose and...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 29 Mar 2011

Filed under: refrigerant recycling, refrigerant recovery, PAG oil, refrigerant capacity specification, flushing machine, charging station, A/C, polyalkaline glycol (PAG), electronic refrigerant leak detector, A/C service, A/C service information, HFC-134a, CFC-12, refrigerant, recharging systems, freon, refrigerant leak detection

Oil Change: What is the best maintenance interval?

By Jim Marotta The 3,000 mile oil and filter change is as much a part of the American car culture as hot rods, car hops and whitewall tires. Whether we perform it ourselves in the driveway or watch while the family “mechanic” puts the car...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 16 Feb 2011

Filed under: fuel economy, Maintenance, oil filter, oil and filter change, detergent, General Motors' Oil Life System, synthetic oil, service interval, dispersant, Chrysler's Flexible Service System (FSS), fluid specification

Cylinder Head Gaskets - Sealing Under Pressure

By Jim Marotta A head gasket's job is to seal combustion gases within the combustion chamber and to prevent coolant and oil from escaping the engine at the head-to-block joint. These requirements have not changed over the years, but the engine operating...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 21 Dec 2010

Filed under: head torque sequence, torque wrench, tightening sequence, 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 cylinder head torque sequence, tap, bolt is incorrectly tightened, bolt thread, gasket, dye test, cylinder head gasket, cylinder leak down test, head gasket technology

Ford and Lincoln 4-Wheel Air Suspension

By Jim Marotta History Ford introduced 4-Wheel Air Suspension (4WAS) on the 1995 Explorer, and has since made it available on all three generations of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. These big trucks weigh about three tons, so they already...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 10 Nov 2010

Filed under: air suspension, Lincoln, air compressorr suspension switch, ride height sensor, 2009 Lincoln Navigator air suspension component locations, suspension, 1995 Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, 4-Wheel Air Suspension (4WAS), Lincoln Navigator, Ford VCM IDS tool, Rear Air Suspension (RAS), calibrate the suspension control unit, Ford NGS tool

Which Antifreeze is Right for Your Vehicle?

By Jim Marotta Back in the day, no matter which brand you chose, antifreeze was green. The glycol-based formula contained silicates as corrosion inhibitors. You mixed the antifreeze 50/50 with water and poured it in the radiator. As the engine operated...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 29 Jul 2010

Filed under: Chilton, ChiltonDIY, ChiltonPRO, Maintenance, www.chiltondiy.com, www.chiltonpro.com, fluid specification, technical service bulletin, TSB, coolant, antifreeze, Honda, Honda maintenance minder, freeze point, 2007 Honda Capacities, 2008 Honda Accord maintenance chart, Organic Acid Technology (OAT), Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT), vehicle manufacturer's current coolant recommendations, Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT), ethylene glycol (EG), Long Life Coolant (LLC), propylene glycol (PG), Extended Life Coolant (ELC)

Maintaining and Inspecting Your Automotive Lift

Fourth in a Series of Occasional Posts on Shop Maintenance Photography and Story by Jim Marotta Whether you use the in-ground or above-ground variety, a lift is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your shop and should be foremost on your...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 15 Jul 2010

Filed under: Automotive Lift Institute (ALI), Jacking Points, Jacking & Hoisting, lift inspection, lift, shop equipment, shop maintenance, lifting points, lift pads, 2000 Dodge Ram 1500

How Hybrids Sip Gas, Save Money and Sweeten the Air

By David Koontz A smug 2009 Toyota Prius, preens and greens in the desert. More than one million hybrid vehicles quietly navigate America’s roads now, energizing proponents of this technology. Their popularity is no longer in question. Increasingly...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by David Koontz on 15 Jun 2010

Filed under: Davids_blog, hybrid, Prius, Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Insight

Kicking the Dirt to the Curb: The Never-Ending Battle to Keep Your Car Clean

Detailing: Part One Story and Photography by Ryan Lee Price Once the water evaporates, what is left are rings of crystals bonded to the paint and crusted with dirt. The Shiny Side On the first day, God created sunlight and dirt; four days later, He added...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Ryan Lee Price on 8 Jun 2010

Filed under: tires, oil spots, car wash, car care, cleaner, bug splatter, rims, clean, detail, wheels, salt damage, degreaser, paint, windows, instant detailer, carpets, wax, carnauba wax, leather, scratches, fog windows, formaldehyde, window streaks, vacuuming, ammonia, tire dressing, vinyl seats, one-step cleaner/sealer/wax

Achieving Better Fuel Economy and High Performance with Gasoline Direct Injection

By Jim Marotta Trying to choose between performance and economy is often a very difficult decision, and usually there has to be a compromise between the two. However, one technology is helping to power gasoline engines to new heights of performance, while...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 26 Jan 2010

Filed under: fuel economy, Bosch, performance, how direct injection works, better fuel economy, relieving fuel system pressure, high-pressure fuel rail, gasoline direct injection, servicing direct injection systems, high performance

Maintaining Your Shop's Computer Equipment

Third in a Series of Occasional Posts on Shop Maintenance Photography and Story by Jim Marotta A clean temperate climate and a consistent flow of electricity Where would we be today without our computers? They power our shop management systems, provide...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 24 Nov 2009

Filed under: uninterruptible power supply, computer, UPS, backup utilities, shop management system, shop maintenance

What You Need to Know About Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

By Jim Marotta A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is an electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure inside automotive tires. The system transmits real-time tire pressure information to the driver of the vehicle using a simple low pressure...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 17 Nov 2009

Filed under: tire, specifications, tires, tire inflation, Maintenance, Underinflation, Overinflation, tire inflation pressure label, tire pressure gauge, tire pressure monitoring systems, oil and filter change, service interval, Wheel Speed Sensor, TPMS, 1986 Porsche 959, Accountability and Documentation Act (TREAD), Enhancement, Transportation Recall, tire pressure monitoring system, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, cold psi rating, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes Benz S Class, tire valve core, resetting the TPMS, tire valve stem, low tire pressure warnings, flat repairs, resetting the tire pressure monitoring system, tire installation, recalibrating the tire pressure monitoring system, changing a tire, TPMS reset procedure, recalibrating the TPMS, valve stem sensor, rotating the tires, valve stem sensor torque, run-flat tires

Why You Need to Maintain Your A/C Recovery and Recycling Machine

Second in a Series of Occasional Posts on Shop Maintenance Photography and Story by Jim Marotta It's a sweltering August afternoon and an overheated customer comes in saying the A/C isn't working. Earlier this week you convinced him to pay for...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 14 Nov 2009

Filed under: Maintenance, filter, dirty filter, recovery and recycling machine, refrigerant recycling, maintenance of refrigerant recovery and recycling machine, maintenance of refrigerant recycler, recycler malfunction, refrigerant recovery, replacing a filter, O-rings

The Air Compressor - A Most Valuable Tool

First in a Series of Occasional Posts on Shop Maintenance Photography and Story by Jim Marotta The Compressor Room Few pieces of shop equipment are used as regularly as air compressors. To ensure that an air compressor continues to run smoothly day after...

Posted to Chilton Editors' Blog by Jim Marotta on 19 Oct 2009

Filed under: changing the air filter, draining the water from the main tank, air compressor drive belt, compressor room, air compressor air filter, air compressor maintenance, inspecting the drive belts, air compressor, air dryer, air compressor drive belts, filter, pressure gauge, air regulator, lubricator, oiler, dirty filter, air filter

Related Links

Tags