Collapsed Radiator Hose ECT Sensors Import Insights

February 2015

A MAGAZINE
 24

Pinpointing Mercedes-Benz Fuel Leaks 34 28

CONTENTS Volume 37, No. 2

24 28 34
Tech Update Diagnostic Solutions Mercedes-Benz Feature
Import Oil Specification Primer Engine Coolant Temp Sensor Pinpointing Fuel Leaks
While old-school cooling system
As engine technology has Mercedes-Benz E-Class, from
service often focused on coolant
evolved and fuel efficiency stan- 2003-09, are great cars to service,
leaks and overheating engines,
dards have tightened, oil specs but Import Specialist Contributor
Import Specialist Gary Goms gives
have increased in importance in Frank Scandura has noticed a lot
an in-depth look at modern
all vehicles, especially in of fuel odor/fuel leak complaints
cooling systems,
European import applications. lately that may or may
which rely heavily on
We detail the most notable of not turn on the check
the engine coolant
these OE oil specs. engine light. Where
temperature (ECT)
are they coming from?
sensor.

ImportCar Staff 330.670.1234 Babcox Media, Inc.

3550 Embassy Parkway
Publisher Technical Editor Akron, OH 44333-8318
Jim Merle, ext. 280 Larry Carley A Publication President Bill Babcox
jmerle@babcox.com lcarley256@aol.com bbabcox@babcox.com
Vice President/ Greg Cira
Editor Graphic Designer Circulation Manager Chief Financial Officer gcira@babcox.com
Mary DellaValle, ext. 221 Kelly Gifford, ext. 249 Pat Robinson, ext. 276 Vice President/ John DiPaola
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Managing Editor Ad Services (Materials) Subscription Services bscheetz@babcox.com
Chris Crowell, ext. 268 Cindy Ott, ext. 209 Maryellen Smith, ext. 288
In Memoriam
ccrowell@babcox.com cott@babcox.com msmith@babcox.com
Founder of Edward S. Babcox
Babcox Publications (1885-1970)
Chairman Tom B. Babcox
(1919-1995)

2 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

On the Web A Publication

Top Features Trending

on Import-Car.com
Tennessee Shop
Offers Discounts To
Customers In Need
DEPARTMENTS
Price is often the biggest
sticking point in an auto
repair job. Choices need
6 Editors Notebook
to be made between
fixing a vehicle or paying rent or buying groceries. For
those customers, a shop in Gallatin, TN, is going beyond 10 News Update
typical customer service and actively trying to help.

Fixing Subaru Transmission Noise 16 Gonzos Toolbox

Temperature changes affect
the amount of pre-load on the
transfer driveshaft bearings. In
some cases, this thermally 22 Guest Editorial
induced pre-load change may
cause damage to the bearings
and result in a high-pitched 37 TPMS Update 37
noise from the transmission.
The following Subaru models may exhibit this condition:
2000-09 Legacy and Outback; 1999-2014 Forester; and
1999-2014 Impreza (including WRX).
43 Air Ride: Weak
Compressor Diagnostics
Womans Tough Road
Leads To Ownership Of
Triangle Tires
47 Tech Tips
Women auto shop owners arent
rare anymore, but the story of Gina
Paschall, owner of Triangle Tires in 51 Essentials 43
North Carolina, is definitely unique. She bounced (New Products)
around to different foster homes growing up, moved to
different states and changed careers as an adult, until
finally settling on a part-time job at a shop and
never looked back.
53 Commerce Connect
When Timing Is Everything: A Look At The 2.5L,
2.0L Powerplants
56 Import Insights: Audi
A 2005 VW Jetta with the 2.5L engine came to our shop
with no compression. The check 56
engine light was on and DTC P1340,
Cam Position Sensor Incorrect
Correlation, was stored. There was no
oil on the dipstick, and when we fin- IMPORTCAR (ISSN 1069-4714)
ished the job and changed the oil and (February 2015, Volume 37, Number 2): Published monthly by Babcox Media, Inc.,
3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333 U.S.A. Phone (330) 670-1234, FAX (330) 670-0874.
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4 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
[ EditorsNotebook
Do Training, Technology and Parts
Sourcing Issues
Keep You Up At Night?
W
e often hear that the
things that keep
shop owners awake
at night pertain to profitability,
productivity, training, keeping
up with technology, shop oper-
ations/expenses and parts
quality/availability.
This month, we hear directly
from one of your peers, to take
a deeper dive into his top chal-
lenges in running his shop,
where 60-65% of all repairs are
on import nameplates.
Adam Kracl, president, Kracl
Automotive, Glenwood Springs,
CO, was asked to discuss the
challenges he faces in the areas
of parts sourcing, emerging
technology and training on
import vehicle systems.
Parts sourcing usually goes
pretty smoothly for us, Kracl
Mary DellaValle, mdellavalle@babcox.com
6 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
By Mary DellaValle|EDITOR
says, adding that relying on the helpful for us in that regard,
dealer for certain parts, and also both for new technology and
making sure parts are genuine new training opportunities.
and not counterfeit, are always On the European side, trying
battles. But, we sleep pretty to find quality training and
easily these days in terms of tooling is very, very hard. The
good sources, and theyre whole reason I worked at a
getting better every day! dealership back in the day was
On the issue of training, Kracl solely to gain the factory train-
comments that keeping up with ing on VW and Audi. I couldnt
technology is an issue, prima- get it anywhere else.
rily because of the shops loca- But, things seem to get
tion. To get training for our better as time goes on, in terms
team, we have to spend time of good OE or better parts, and
and money to send them to a more information seems to be
bigger city, only to find out shared these days.
when we get there the class is What challenges keep you up at
subpar, he explains. How- night? Email me at
ever, web-based training is very mdellavalle@babcox.com. IC
Props For Import Brands!
Lexus Named Top Luxury Resale Brand; Retained Value
For First Five Years of Ownership
Last month, Kelley Blue Book named Lexus the luxury brand with the
best resale value for 2015, the fourth year in a row. In addition, six Lexus
and four Toyota models took the top spot in their respective segments.
Segment winners:
Lexus RC 350 Entry-Level Luxury Car
Lexus LS 460 High-End Luxury Car
Lexus RX 450h Hybrid SUV/Crossover
Lexus GS 350 Luxury Car
Lexus GX 460 Luxury Mid-Size SUV/Crossover
Lexus LX 570 Luxury Full-Size SUV/Crossover
Toyota Camry Hybrid Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car
Toyota Tacoma Mid-Size Pickup Truck
Toyota Tundra Full-Size Pickup Truck
Toyota Sienna Minivan/Van.
[ NewsUpdate
Record-Setting Attendance
at Federated-KOI Auto Parts
Cavalcade of Customs
The annual Federated-KOI Auto Parts Cavalcade
of Customs and Training Expo, held Jan. 9-11 in
Cincinnati, saw an increase in attendance of more
than 19% from last years record crowd.
As part of the vendor trade show, KOI Auto
Parts offered 32 types of training workshops for a
total of 81 sessions held during the weekend. A
record-setting 754 service technicians, shop own-
ers and shop managers attended multiple training
classes taught by qualified instructors from
Federated/KOI vendor partners.
10 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
Brought to you by
Identifix, ASE Recognize Aftermarket
Driveability Technician Of The Year
Identifix Inc., along with the National Institute for
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), honored Edward
Kiekover, an ASE Master automobile technician from
Zeeland, MI, with the prestigious Identifix/ASE Aftermar-
ket Driveability Technician of the Year award. The cere-
mony took place during the Fall Board of Governors
meeting for the ASE in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The ASE annual awards honor the top scorers on the
ASE certification tests, along with other criteria such as
on-the-job excellence and community service. Out of a
talent pool of 300,000 ASE-certified technicians nation-
wide, only 47 ranked high enough to receive awards.
Identifix is one of just 38 companies in the OEM and
Aftermarket industries to co-sponsor an individual techni-
cian award in the auto, truck and collision and parts
segments, in addition to three instructor awards.
Keikover co-owns three OK Tire Stores and has been
an automotive technician for 35 years.
[ NewsUpdate
Brought to you by

WORLDPAC Opens New Warehouse In Texas

WORLDPAC announced the opening of a new regional distribution
center in Houston. The facility offers expanded service and delivery
options to independent automotive repair professionals in the Sugar
Land, Pearland and Houston areas. It is the ninth WORLDPAC location in
Texas.
Headquartered in Newark, CA, WORLDPAC provides brand recognized
automotive parts directly to independent import and domestic service
centers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, and also offers customer
services such as its highly praised technical and business training, as well
as targeted customer marketing solutions.

Tenneco Offers Prepaid

Visa Cards for Every Pair
of Monroe Quick-Strut
Assemblies Installed
Automotive repair professionals who install
premium Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies
during January and February will be able to earn a Visa
prepaid card valued at $30 through the Monroe Quick-Strut Ready 2
Install REWARDS scorecard promotion from Tenneco.
Available to technicians through Feb. 28, participants can earn a $30
Visa prepaid card for each pair of qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut units
installed. The promotion offers a valuable incentive to install a complete,
ready-to-install strut replacement solution, the Monroe Quick-Strut
assembly. The units include all of the OE-style components required for a
comprehensive strut repair.
Each Quick-Strut unit features a pre-assembled OE-style bearing plate,
upper and lower spring isolators, upper spring seat, coil spring, boot kit
and a premium strut that was engineered to address the vehicles unique
ride and handling characteristics.
Tenneco will add nearly 50 Quick-Strut part numbers in early 2015,
expanding the lines coverage to more than 114 million late-model
passenger cars, vans, light trucks and sport utility vehicles.

12 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

[ NewsUpdate
ACDelco Launches Take A
Shot Promotion
Take a Shot with ACDelco ACDelcos first product
promotion of the year runs through March 31.
Open to all ACDelco Professional Service Center (PSC)
Program participants, and Independent Service Center
(ISC) and ACDelco Key Fleet (KFLT) customers, the
promotion offers Take a Shot game tokens with the
purchase of ACDelco batteries.
Each token is worth at least 10 earnPOWER points. Once
token(s) are earned, account participants can visit
www.acdelco360.com and play a basketball-themed game
for the opportunity to turn those 10 earnPOWER points
into 10, 20, 40, 80 or 100 points. The earnPOWER points
can then be redeemed for merchandise and services.
Ask your ACDelco representative or distributor for
more details.
Toyota Breaks Ground on New Headquarters in Plano, TX
With the roar of a 2015 TRD Pro
Series Tundra, Toyota formally
broke ground on its new North
American headquarters in Plano,
TX, on Jan. 20.
Toyota also unveiled an instal-
lation during the ceremony: the
word TOYOTA in large letters,
standing 10 feet tall and 64 feet Texan Yaupon Holly trees, which
wide. Inside each letter are native represent wish trees, a Japanese
14 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
Brought to you by
MOTOSHOP Technology Tools
Adds BMW To MotoLOGIC
Repair & Diagnostics
MOTOSHOP Technology Tools announced the
addition of OE repair and diagnostics informa-
tion for BMW models 1982-2012, and emissions
data for all vehicle makes and models from
1996-2014, to MotoLOGIC Repair & Diagnos-
tics, a Web-based tool for automotive
technicians.
The BMW additions feature OE diagrams with
easy-to-use hyperlinks to connectors, location
views and fuses. This recent addition of BMW
information, as well as Subaru for model years
1993-2015, raises MotoLOGICs coverage to
more than 96% of cars and light trucks on the
road today.
cultural tradition. The trees will be
planted permanently once the
Toyota headquarters is completed
and will represent the long-stand-
ing friendship between Japan and
the United States and the com-
panys commitment to the Plano
community.
Completion is expected by late
2016 or early 2017. IC
[ GonzosToolbox
By Scott Gonzo Weaver, owner Superior Auto Electric, Tulsa, OK
Top 10
Pet Peeves
In An Automotive Repair Shop
N 9
o two days are the same for the owner of
a repair shop. Every day brings its unique
set of challenges to overcome, but, for the
most part, the day progresses along and one day
passes to the next. But, there are those occasions
when certain daily activities and tasks create their
own obstacles that rub your wrenches the wrong
way and make you want to flip your pressure
gauges into the next service bay.
I know for a fact that there isnt enough morn-
ing coffee to ease the frustration when youre
working away on a vehicle and some insignificant
problem comes along that isnt part of the major
tasks at hand, adding to the challenges of the day.
You already have to deal with the vehicles, the
owners, the tools, the weather and the usual soap
opera stuff in the shop. Now, youve got this
thrown into the mix. Hey, lets face it, nothings
perfect, but it sure would be nice when the sim-
ple things in the shop would just stay simple.
Dont get your hopes up; you know as well as I
do thats not going to happen.
So, humor me as I share my list of Top 10 auto
shop pet peeves.
10
You drive a car onto the lift, set three
of the four legs, but the last one wont
line up or get past the tire, unless you
hop back in the car and move it just a bit more.
Ive figured it out nine out of 10 cars dont fit
the first time. So, one of 10 cars is going to give
me fits in a different way.
16 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
Why is it that the air hose is always six
inches too short to reach that last bolt? It
doesnt matter how much extra hose you
sling off the reel, its still six inches short.
8
Tool borrowers who borrow tools and dont
bring them back. Tool borrowers who bring
them back broken. Tool borrowers who
dont wipe the grease off of my tools after theyre
done with them ... So, in general, tool borrowers.
7
Small cars with gym equipment, boxes full
of random stuff or a pile of clothes behind
the drivers seat. When I try to move the seat
back so I can drive the car into the shop, it wont
budge! I dont think I can slip between the wheel
and the seat in some of these cars, even if I were to
go on a diet, so get rid of your stuff people!
6
Pocket screwdrivers with extra strong mag-
nets on the tip. Magnets are good, but not
when you lean over an engine and the
screwdriver attaches itself to the nearest piece of
metalevery time! The last one that did this is in
my toolbox, tucked away from being the next
projectile across the shop.
5
The last guy to use the oil recovery tank
filled it up with the last oil change and did-
nt bother to empty it. Theres a price on
that guys head. He doesnt know it, but hes a
marked man.
[ GonzosToolbox
4
Service writers who dont ask questions, but
will write down anything the customer tells
them, even if it makes absolutely no sense at
all. The car sounds like a ballerina with a sore
foot. This is not a good explanation of a faulty sus-
pension component! And lets face it, Im not a bal-
lerina, so I dont have a clue what a ballerina with a
sore foot would sound like!
3
A customer
drops a car off,
explains (in
great detail) the prob-
lem hes having, but fails
to mention the outside door
handle is broken and that I have to
crawl in from the passengers side.
So, you want me to perform an Olympic
gymnastics feat to fix your car? Not be-
fore you fix the door!
2
You ask if Im a technician, then
proceed to tell me how brilliant
you are at my profession. Later
on in the conversation, I find out
the cars youve worked on
belong to your relatives,
most of whom dont
speak to you anymore
after youve done
your magic under
the hood. Oh, I know
everybody is a mechanic. Might
as well fess up, but I dont need to brag about what
I domy work speaks for itself.
1
Engineered disasters, poor designs and unbe-
lievably impossible-to-reach bolts or compo-
nents that only an idiot would have designed
that way in the first place. Then, show zero labor
time to remove said part, which makes it only
worse when I bid the job accounting for what its
really going to take. Then, as usual, the customer
18 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
calls another shop that uses only the book time,
never having done this particular job before, and
ends up with the repair. Then, a few days later, the
same car is back with other problems as a result
of somebody trying to get to those hard-to-reach
bolts or components and damaged something
along the way. And, of course, its all my fault,
dont you know? (The battle
was lost even before I
started. I shouldve
been a ballerina.)
BONUS PET PEEVE
Start an electrical short
trace from one end of a circuit,
and nine chances out of 10 the prob-
lem is going to be on the opposite end.
And it doesnt matter if you try to out-
think it by starting on the other end; its
still going to be on the opposite end.
I think I should have started this list
as the top 100 instead of the top 10,
because theres a lot more of those
pet peeves out there. Its just
those little things that
accumulate as the day
goes by that some-
times make you want
to split your sockets.
But, you know youll stick
it out, get it done and grum-
ble a bit, of course. And, as anybody in the business
will tell you, its just another day in this crazy
world of auto repair.
The best thing to do is to shake it all off and deal
with it. Go about your merry way and try to keep
from bending another pry bar into a pretzel.
Tomorrow is a fresh start, and Im sure there will be
another pet peeve just waiting to interfere with
your productive day. How you handle it is what
will make the difference. Happy wrenchin! IC
[ GuestEditorial NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH
By Rich White, Executive Director, Car Care Council

Lower Gas Prices Could

Lead To More Business
With Proactive National Car Care Month Plan

A
s gas prices continue to drop,
consumers will have a few more
dollars in their pockets to spend on
essentials, like vehicle repair and service.
Getting customers to spend some of those
dollars in your shop should be one of your
goals this spring. With National Car Care
Month on the horizon in April, there is no
better time to put a proactive plan in place
to convince your customers to
invest some of that extra
cash in their vehicles to
keep them running better The Car Care Council offers an
and longer. assortment of marketing and pro-
Many motorists will motional tools designed to help
take advantage of the shops take advantage of the
lower gas prices by tak- opportunities that National Car
ing trips they may have Care Month can create.
not thought about in Displaying the new Be Car
years. Whether its a Care Aware point-of-sale mate-
weekend getaway, driv- rials is a visible way to partici-
ing to a summer vaca- pate in this national campaign.
tion destination or The council has updated all the
simply visiting friends materials, from banners to infor-
or family, the amount mational mirror hangers, to help
of miles driven this auto care businesses celebrate
year by vehicles is National Car Care Month. The
almost certain to rise. new materials are available for
More miles driven online purchase individually or
means more service as a pre-packaged kit at
opportunities for independent repair shops coast- www.carcare.org/pos-starter-kit.
to-coast. Having a proper plan in place to capital- A business-building activity that has proven to
ize on this potential business is extremely be successful with customers is hosting a free
important, and National Car Care Month is the community car care event during National Car
perfect starting point to reach out to current Care Month. Inexpensive to conduct, these vehicle
customers and potential new customers. check-up events help capture more business from

22 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

 GuestEditorial]
your current customers and can
also lead to new business. Many
shops partner with other busi-
nesses in their area, as well as
local radio stations and organiza-
tions like local police for car seat
checks for a bigger community
event. These events are always a
valuable opportunity to raise
awareness of your business in the
community, while growing your
bottom line at the same time.
The Car Care Council website
offers a toolbox of items and sug-
gestions on how to get started
(www.carcare.org/industry-tool-
box) and host an event. In addi-
tion, since there is no
one-size-fits-all template for par-
ticipating in National Car Care
Month, the Industry Tool Box also
offers additional information on
how to incorporate National Car
Care Month activities into your
plans on a smaller scale.
A giveaway idea for your cus-
tomers during National Car Care
Month is the newly redesigned
Car Care Guide, which features
20 additional pages of new infor-
mation to help motorists Be Car
NATIONAL CAR CARE MONTH
Care Aware by better under-
standing the when, why and how
of caring for their vehicles. Avail-
able in English and Spanish, the
80-page Car Care Guide uses
easy-to-understand everyday
language, rather than technical
automotive jargon, and fits easily
in a glove box.
New sections of the Car Care
Guide include finding an auto-
motive repair shop, alternative
fuels, understanding the war-
ranty, vehicle telematics,
careers in the auto care in-
dustry and an expanded
environmental awareness
section. Car Care Guides
can be ordered at
www.carcare.org/industry-
tool-box. Custom printing
with a company logo on
the back cover is also avail-
able in bulk quantities.
National Car Care Month
is the ideal time to build
awareness of your business, in-
crease car counts and educate
consumers on how much of their
vehicles maintenance is going
unchecked. The time and energy
spent on National Car Care Month
will not only help your shop this
April, but can lead to additional
business for years to come.
Dont procrastinate or sit out
another year. National Car Care
Month can be a lucrative busi-
ness opportunity if you have the
right plan in place. For more
information on National Car
Care Month and the Be Car Care
Aware campaign, visit
www.carcare.org. IC
Import-Car.com 23
[ TechUpdate
A
s engine technology has
evolved and fuel effi-
ciency standards have
tightened, oil specs have
increased in importance. Using
the wrong viscosity could set a
fault code in some applications
or interfere with the normal
operation of the variable valve
timing system.
VVT engines not only
require a specific oil viscosity,
but also require an oil that
keeps the pulse-modulated
variable valve timing sole-
noids clean, lubricated and
free of small air bubbles.
Direct injection engines
require anti-scuffing proper-
ties to prevent damage to the
camshaft fuel pump eccentric
24 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
IMPORT OIL SPECS
By Chris Crowell, Managing Editor
and cam follower on the high-
pressure mechanical fuel
pump. When the wrong oil is
used, the camshaft eccentric
eventually begins wearing
away the lobes.
Following oil recommenda-
tions might seem obvious, but
a 2013 study by the American
Petroleum Institute (API)
determined that almost 1 in 5
samples of bulk motor oil pur-
chased from the marketplace
in each of the last five years
failed to meet API motor oil
performance standards. And
thats just the basic API stan-
dards. What about all of the
OE-specific specs?
A year ago,
some states
even started implementing
new rules from the National
Conference on Weights and
Measures (NCWM) that will
require service facilities to
label bulk containers, print the
oil information on all job tick-
ets and retain the paperwork
for at least one year.
ILSAC RATING
The International Lubricants
Standardization and Approval
Committee (ILSAC) is the gate-
keeper of oil standards.
ILSAC GF -1,-2,-3,-4 and -5
are specifications for multi-
grade oils that started in 1992.
GF-5 certified oils are compati-
ble with previous GF 1-4 oils.
[ TechUpdate IMPORT OIL SPECS

The GF-5 requirements were

created in 2010. They were
designed to provide improved
high-temperature deposit protec-
tion for pistons and turbocharg-
ers, more stringent sludge
control, improved fuel economy,
enhanced emission control sys-
tem compatibility, seal compati-
bility, and protection of engines
operating on ethanol-containing
fuels up to E85.
Higher viscosity oils cannot
meet an ILSAC GF-5 rating. The
G-5 rating corresponds closely to
the API SN rating.

ACEA RATING
European OEMs are perhaps the
most focused on extended inter-
val oil options, and these car
makers abide by the standards set
by the European Automobile
Manufacturers Association
(ACEA), which is based on test-
ing developed by the European
Engine Lubricants Quality Man-
agement System (EELQMS).
European oils usually have a
higher viscosity, clocking near The C rating designation is
SAE 10w-50 or 5w-40, and require for catalytic converter equivalent
robust additive packages to meet oils. They are A5/B5 oils with a
the extended oil change interval. low sulfated ash, phosphorous
A and B (1-5) rated oils are and sulfur content.
stable, stay-in-grade oils In addition to those oil spec
intended for use at extended standards, certain manufacturers
drain intervals in gasoline en- have their own set of standards.
gines and diesel engines (car and Be sure to check that whichever
light van). These are specifically oil you use specifies its compli-
designed to be capable of using ance with each set of standards.
low-friction, low-viscosity oils Most OE oil specifications require
with a high temperature/high the oil be able to endure the long
shear (HTHS) rate viscosity. drain interval or match the oil life

26 February 2015 | Import-Car.com


index number. Below are some of
the most notable OE oil specs.
VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen has issued 11 different
motor oil specifications over the
years. Most Volkswagens made
after 2000 have the long drain
interval option or WIV (Wartungs
Intervall Verlngerung or longer
service intervals). Volkswagen
started with VW 500.00 and it is
currently developing VW 508.00.
IMPORT OIL SPECS
The progression of its oil stan-
dards is in response to changing
vehicle injection technology (gas
and diesel) and lighter oil vis-
cosities. Also, specifications were
issued to meet changing emis-
sion mandates limiting sulfur,
ash and phosphates (SAP).
Some of the standards and vari-
ants are for vehicles you may
never see like the Lupo. Many of
the oil standards supercede or
improve previous specifications
and are back-date compatible.
This means a vehicle that specifies
VW 502 oil can use VW 504 oil.
To select the correct oil that
meets the VW standards, check
the owners manual or repair
information database. Your oil
supplier may even have a guide
on its website. You can also check
the oil manufacturer product
data sheets to see which specifi-
cations an oil meets. You will be
surprised what mass-market syn-
thetic oils meet VWs stringent
specifications for VW 507.
Audi has a similar list of specs
501.01, 502.00, 505.00, 505.01,
504.00 and 507.00 and TSB 17-
12-29 is a handy list of every oil
that meets its specs.
MERCEDES-BENZ
Mercedes-Benz oils follow the
same oil specification trends as
other German manufacturers that
have had to update to lighter-
weight oils to meet Euro 4 emis-
sion standards and drain
intervals. Some of these standards
even cover Chrysler vehicles.
TechUpdate]
For full lists of approved
Mercedes-Benz oils, head to
bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
BMW
BMW has only three oil specifica-
tions BMW Longlife-98, BMW
Longlife-01 and BMW Longlife-
04. These oils typically meet and
exceed ACEA and API SJ/CD
standards.
BMW Longlife-04 oils require
special BMW approval for fully
synthetic long-life oil. Longlife-
04 is back-date compatible where
Longlife-98 or BMW Longlife-01
is recommended.
TOYOTA/LEXUS
Toyota Genuine motor oil is
designed for reduced friction
when the engine starts and for re-
ducing stress from heat. Sludging
problems have been an issue with
Toyotas, so oil specs lean toward
synthetics that reduce this ten-
dency. Most Toyotas today speci-
fy GF-5, SAE 0w-20, but state that
5w-20 may be used if replaced
with 0w-20 at the next oil change.
HONDA
Honda specifies mostly 0w-20 or
5w-20, but there is a unique spec
to note for the 2007 Acura RDX.
This requires Honda/Acura HTO-
06 motor oil, which was
developed to ensure adequate pro-
tection for turbocharged engines.
A motor oil that meets this spec
will note it on the label. IC
Import-Car.com 27
[ DiagnosticSolutions COOLING SYSTEMS
By Gary Goms, Import Specialist Contributor

W
hile old-school cooling system service
often focused on coolant leaks and
overheating engines, lets begin
thinking new-school by looking at modern
cooling systems through the eyes of the en-
gine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor.
Coolant temperature is important because
torque converter clutch engagement, idle
speed control, variable valve timing,
engine cooling fan operation and vari-
ous other powertrain functions depend
upon the engine coolant quickly
reaching full operating temperature.
And, more important, ECT is often a
primary component of the enable cri-
teria needed to run diagnostic moni-
tors and store diagnostic trouble codes
(DTCs) and related freeze-frame data.
When designing a diagnostic test
monitor, automotive engineers create a
set of operating conditions (enable crite-
ria) that must exist before the monitor will
test the circuit in question. While enable
criteria might include engine run time,
specific system voltage levels, engine load
and other operating parameters, most enable
criteria will also include engine coolant tempera-
tures. For example, a DTC for a failed oxygen
sensor might not be stored if the engine fails to
reach operating temperature. So, unless the ECT

28 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

[ DiagnosticSolutions COOLING SYSTEMS

achieves full operating tempera- startup ECT of 131 F, an esti-

ture within a specified length of mated or target ECT of 158 F,
time, diagnosing an intermittent and an 86 F lower-than-esti-
or random no-code driveability mated coolant temperature, all
or stalling complaint is nearly of which must occur at a vehi-
impossible. See Photo 1. Photo 1: Will this 2002 Toyota 4Runner store cle speed of 18.6 or more mph.
DTCs at 178 F coolant temperature? The answer
lies with the 4Runners DTC enable criteria. With this application, a P0128
DTC requires two continuous
MECHANICAL FAILURES
drive cycles before it will illuminate the Malfunc-
Mechanical cooling system failures will usually store tion Indicator Light (MIL). The P0128 will automat-
a P0128 DTC. To illustrate, lets look at the enable ically clear after 40 repeated drive cycles. The MIL
criteria for a P0128 cooling system DTC on a 2008 itself will clear when a successful drive cycle is re-
Subaru Outback with the 2.5L 16-valve H4 engine. peated three consecutive times. Obviously, theres a
According to service information, P0128 indicates lot of room here to create a no-code, intermittent
that the thermostat is considered defective when the driveability complaint. See Photo 3 on page 32.
coolant temperature remains lower than its estimat- An accurately calibrated ambient air and ECT
ed or target temperature. The ther- Photo 2: This example of a stuck-open sensor is essential for the PCM to
mostat is considered good if the thermostat is unusual, thanks to what detect a major deviation from the
ECT reaches a minimum of 167 F. appears to be a hydraulic spool valve target coolant temperature. Since
jammed into the valve assembly.
Note also that theres no default enable criteria is very application-
strategy for a failed thermostat, specific, the data parameters of
which means that the engine and Subarus P0128 DTC include intake
powertrain will react to the actual air and startup, estimated and
coolant temperature, rather than a actual coolant temperatures. To
default value substituted by the function correctly, the ECT sensor
PCM. See Photo 2. and the thermostats wax pellet
The judgment value or must contact liquid coolant. So, its
enable criteria for a P0128 always important to check for a
includes a minimum 10.9 battery low coolant level caused by an
volts, an estimated intake air external coolant leak or by an inter-
temperature of at least 19.4 F, a nal coolant leak through a bad

Modern cooling system
design is most often concerned
with warming up the engine as
quickly as possible and main-
taining a constant coolant tem-
perature. As a result, we might
be seeing old-technology compo-
nents like radiator shutters make
a comeback on some vehicle
platforms. On other platforms,
water-cooled exhaust manifolds
force engines to reach operating
temperature within minutes of a
cold-soak start.
Some cooling systems include
features like electronic thermo-
stats or even dual thermostat
configurations, all of which are
designed to shorten engine
warm-up times. Some cooling
systems use electric water pumps
to circulate warm coolant
through one or more heater
cores to keep passengers warm
when the engine is shut off.
Other configurations use an
electric water pump to cool the
engines turbochargers after a
hot shutdown. In the near future,
Id look for many of these cool-
ing system innovations to be
included in stop-start and hybrid
engine technology, and Id also
begin to look for many new
cooling system malfunction
trouble codes.

30 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

[ DiagnosticSolutions COOLING SYSTEMS

Photo 3: Coolant level and condition play a big role in cool-

ing system performance. Low coolant levels and a rusty,
murky appearance indicate neglect and potential problems.

cylinder head gasket or cracked cylinder head.

Assuming the coolant level is correct, check for
premature coolant flow by monitoring the upper ra-
diator hose temperature. A luke-warm upper hose
usually indicates a stuck-open thermostat. If the
thermostat has stuck open, its entirely possible that
a number of DTCs might appear after the thermo-
stat is replaced, simply because ECT has restored
the enable criteria for many sensor- and actuator-
based DTCs.
On the flip side, if the thermostat sticks closed,
the upper hose will remain much cooler than the
engine block. If a sticking thermostat causes the en-
gine to severely overheat, the ECM should store a
P0217 DTC, indicating an overheat condition. And,
during an overheat condition, many ECMs are pro-
grammed to help cool the engine by disabling alter-
nate cylinders in the firing order. Since overheating
is often a transient condition, its always important
to check history codes for indications.

SENSOR CALIBRATION
As mentioned above, the ECM requires accurately
calibrated intake air and ECT sensors to detect major
deviations from the target coolant temperature.
Many ECMs perform a simple rationalization test by
comparing the indicated intake air and engine
coolant sensor temperatures after the engine has
cold-soaked overnight. The values should be nearly
 COOLING SYSTEMS
Photo 4: Subarus enable criteria for P0128, P0117 and
P0118 DTCs are typical of what many vehicles use for
detecting mechanical and electrical cooling system failures.
equal, with the intake air being slightly higher due
to normal atmospheric warming.
While were at it, many older vehicles hard-wired
a separate ECT sensor directly to the instrument
cluster temperature gauge. On modern vehicles,
the ECT sensor reports directly to the engine con-
trol module (ECM). That signal is then transmitted
via bus communications to the instrument cluster.
On some applications, gauge operation can by veri-
fied by using a bi-directional test to sweep the
cluster gauges.
Due to differences between the reflectivity of the
target surface and actual coolant temperatures, a
minor variation between measured and datastream
temperatures might be observed when using a non-
contact pyrometer. See Photo 4.
ELECTRICAL FAILURES
Lets look at a P0117 and P0118, which indicate,
respectively, a low- or high-voltage signal problem
within the ECT signal circuit. For our 2008 Subaru
Outback with the 2.5L 16-valve H4 engine, the dri-
veability symptoms include:
1. Hard to start;
2. Improper idling; and
3. Poor driving performance.
I wont get into the details of the Subaru diagnos-
tic chart for P0117, suffice it to say that the low sig-
nal voltage will be caused by:
1. An open circuit;
DiagnosticSolutions]
2. A shorted circuit; or
3. An out-of-calibration ECT sensor.
In contrast to the OE method of testing ground
resistance, etc., my preferred method for diagnos-
ing ECT faults is to graph the ECT warm-up volt-
age on a scan tool. As ECT voltage is graphed, the
circuit can be wiggle-tested for broken wires and
corroded connections. If the ECT voltage and ECT
PID doesnt correspond to actual engine tempera-
ture, the ECT sensor isnt calibrated correctly. With
that said, a typical ECT PID should indicate -40 F
when disconnected. If ECT reference voltage is
jumpered to the ECT signal wire (which is
grounded through the ECM), the ECT PID should
typically indicate approximately +300 F.
Moving on through ECT circuit diagnostics, our
Subarus ECM is looking for a target signal of at
least 0.2647 volts. The ECT monitor requires 500
milliseconds to detect the failure and the malfunc-
tion indicator light (MIL) illuminates shortly there-
after. Since 40 idling cycles are required to
automatically clear the P0117 DTC, it pays to look
at history codes for evidence of ECT electrical
malfunctions.
Most important, lets look at what happens dur-
ing a P0117/118 circuit failure. With our Subaru,
the ECM goes into a fail-safe mode that fixes ECT
at a default value of 158 F. According to service
information, the idle speed will correspond to the
default temperature value and the idle speed con-
trol (ISC) will not perform a re-learn. The air condi-
tioner will not turn on and the engine cooling fans
will default to high-speed output. The variable
valve timing will also default to 0% duty cycle.
While the P0128, P0117 and P0118 DTCs are
indicative of many common cooling system prob-
lems, they also indicate how engine operating sys-
tems can be affected by incorrectly calibrated
thermostats. In any case, when pursuing intermit-
tent or random driveability and stalling complaints,
its wise to check for cooling system-related DTCs
and to pursue a basic cooling system diagnosis
before jumping to any diagnostic conclusions. IC
Import-Car.com 33
[ Mercedes-BenzFeature
f youre paying attention, there are more and
I more European cars on the roads these days.
And, if youre doing repair and service on
European vehicles, theres a good chance youll
see several Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars in your
shop. Between the 2003 and 2009 model years,
more than 300,000 E-Class models were sold.
They are great cars to service, but one issue
weve seen is fuel odor/fuel leak complaints.
Were finding fuel leaks that may or may not turn
on the check engine light.
The Vehicle Research and Test Center in East
Liberty, OH, through the U.S. Department of
Transportation at the request of the Office of
Defects Investigation (ODI), published the results
It is hard to see if the fuel tank leaks, because its
hard to see the tank itself.
34 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
FUEL LEAKS
By Frank Scandura, Owner,
Franks European Service
of a
study,
dated
December 2014,
concerning the
Mercedes-Benz high-
density polyethylene (plastic) fuel
tank. Now if youre an over-achiever, youll want
to read the study. Its available online; just search
for Analysis of Fuel Tank Leaks on Model Years
2003-08, and click on the PDF (see NHTSA
Excerpt sidebar for additional details).
The study was informative for several reasons.
First, I realized the leak rate they checked for
needed to exceed federal standards, so there are
still small permissible leaks allowed. However,
the vehicle owner should not be able to smell
fuel.
The investigation started with the E55 AMG
models that already had a recall for potential
leaks. Remember, a recall is different than the
extended warranty offer (Ill talk about that
later). The report noted that, on many models,
the left-side sender and filter unit, which is a
serviceable part, is required to be replaced every
60,000 miles (see Fuel Tank Setup sidebar on
page 36 for more details). The high cost, $600 or
more, results in many owners not performing
this service. There is no word yet if this compo-
 FUEL LEAKS Mercedes-BenzFeature]
nent is covered by the
extended warranty.
The report mentions
the difficulty in accu-
rately determining
the source of the
leaks at several deal-
erships and a lack of
clear work instruc-
tion to help discover
Right-side fuel tank, hose from filler tube
the source of the leak
or the cause of the fuel
odor. I can relate as
weve had this experi- in 2014). This has led us to do a more thorough
ence. When we saw an investigation of potential tank leaks when a car
obvious leak at a sender comes into our shop.
unit, there was no reason to The very first step you need to take is to look for
suspect the tanks would also be service bulletins and open recalls. Start with
leaking, but this was the case more www.safercar.gov this is where youll see any
than once (we replaced four fuel tanks open recalls or complaints that have been filed. You
can search by VIN and will know if the recall has
been performed. Mercedes-Benz recently extended
the warranty to 15 years and unlimited mileage
on many fuel system components, including
M-B Fuel Tank Leak Excerpt the fuel tank and sending units, pumps,
filters and seals on certain E-Class
from the NHTSA website: and CLS-Class cars.
Once you determine there are
All observed leaks by NHTSA were found to be at the top
no open recalls, you should
of the tank from the pump, filter or the fuel filling limiter
valve located at the top center of the tank. These areas of leak- proceed to inspect the vehi-
age are located at the top of the fuel tank in unpressurized parts cle. Make sure you under-
of the fuel system. stand whats covered and
The fuel filling limiter valve is a caged float located inside the fuel whats needed.
tank with an external elbow that is connected to the vent system, Safety first, so never try
including the charcoal canister. During refueling, as the fuel level rises to service any of the fuel
and the tank fills, the float raises and seals the air vent. Fuel then tank components with
backs up in the filler neck, and the fuel station nozzle shuts off. more than a quarter tank
The covered fuel tank components for the warranty exten-
of fuel. If you do, youll
sion include the fuel tank, fuel filter/sender, fuel pump and
be paying for it later
all related gaskets/seals and retention rings. The ODI is
closing this investigation based on the manufacturers when you need to clean
extended warranty of the affected fuel system the fuel spill from the
components and in consideration that the interior. Always use the
nature of the leaks does not appear to correct tools and service
present an unreasonable risk. procedures. Its important to
note that the only way fuel

Import-Car.com 35
[ Mercedes-BenzFeature
should be able to enter the passenger compart-
ment is if the access covers are not installed
correctly so be sure they are!
After checking the basics like the fuel cap
and fuel lines for obvious leaks or prob-
lems, youll want to pop off the lower rear
seat cushion to gain access to the fuel
pump sender unit cover plates. You can
remove these to inspect the left- and right-
side sending units for leaking. But, heres
the kicker: take a close look at the center
mounting bolt of the plastic fuel tank ahead
of the sending units. If you see signs of fuel
staining on the tank, it may need to be
replaced.
Access cover after the seat cushion is removed.
Look way up here
for a leaking tank.
Fuel pressure
sensor
Sending unit, fuel pump:
This is where we look for leaks.
36 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
FUEL LEAKS
Fuel Tank Setup
The high-density poly-
ethylene fuel tank is a sidesad-
dle design type with left and right
connected compartments. There is a pass-
through space on the underside of the tank,
between the left and right compartments, for
the exhaust and driveshaft to extend to the rear
of the rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Each side of the
tank has a fuel-level sender unit. The right (passen-
gers side) sender is combined with an electric fuel
pump. The left (drivers side) sender unit includes
a fuel filter, a tank-pressure sensor (for OBD II
emissions checks upon startup) and a venturi-
powered pickup to move fuel to the
right-side saddle electric fuel pump.
Its
very possible
that you will need to
replace both of the sending units as well, so be sure
to carefully inspect them. Always follow all work
instructions, use the correct tools and dont take
any shortcuts, like using a used fuel tank. We had a
warranty company send one for replacement and it
leaked, too.
Dont be afraid to jump in, verify if the failed
components are covered by the 15-year warranty
extension and give your customers peace of mind.
And, if a customer already performed this repair
and paid for it, they can submit the repair invoice
to the local dealership for reimbursement. IC
Frank Scandura is the owner of Franks
European Service in central Las Vegas.
The 33-year industry veteran boasts the
shops Golden Wrench Service
Commitment providing customers
with the safest and most reliable auto
maintenance and repair services possi-
ble. His shop specializes in M-B, BMW,
Jaguar, Audi MINI Cooper and VW, with
an emphasis on driveability. Frank is also an Independent
Business Coach for Elite Worldwide.

W
inter is upon us,
which means shops
in cold weather cities
might see an influx of illuminat-
ed TPMS lights. However, many
of those lights might be false
alarms. The reason? Look no fur-
ther than the thermometer.
As a tire rolls down the road,
deformation takes place at the
tire footprint. The sidewalls
deflect and the tread rubber
squirms due to the vehicle load.
This deflection creates a certain
amount of resistance, preventing
the vehicle from rolling freely.
Approximately 5% of a vehicles
energy loss is attributed to
rolling resistance. Anyone who
TPMSUpdate]
By Chris Crowell, Managing Editor
has ridden a bicycle knows that
low tire pressures require more
energy input in order to keep it
moving down the road. Elimi-
nating tire deflection, therefore,
will decrease the amount of
rolling resistance.
As with most tire performance
parameters, there are tradeoffs.
There is a point of diminishing
returns in regard to rolling
resistance vs. inflation pressures
and its effect on vehicle handling.
Increases in inflation pressure
reduce a tires contact patch area,
which decreases the available
traction. From a vehicle dynam-
ics point of view, increased infla-
tion pressure reduces lateral grip,
not only from a reduced contact
patch, but also from a high vehi-
cle stiffness or spring rate.
Ambient temperature affects
tire pressure, and in the new
world of TPMS, where the vehi-
cle is constantly vigilant of tire
pressure, these sometimes subtle
changes in pressure could trigger
the TPMS. For each 10 F of am-
bient temperature, tire pressures
will change about 2%, or about 1
psi. So, as the seasons change,
and as 70 F dips to 20 F, that
could mean a difference of 5 psi
and a TPMS warning light.
Then, there is the temperature
of the tire itself. As a vehicle is
driven, its tires heat up, causing
Import-Car.com 37
[ TPMSUpdate
the air inside the tires to expand.
In a TSB concerning TPMS warn-
ings tied to cold ambient temper-
atures, Hyundai recommended
that customers check and adjust
tire pressures once a month.
Most TPMS are calibrated to a
vehicles cold tire pressure.
Volvo realized that its TPMS
algorithm starting in model year
2014 was not accounting for
these temperature-induced tire
38 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
COLD TIRE CALCULATION
Volvo recommends a
vehicle be parked for at
least three hours before
filling the tires with air to the
cold tire pressure specs
in the owners manual. If
filling a warm tire, Volvo
recommends going 2-4 psi
above the recommended
cold tire pressure.
pressure fluctuations, so it issued to meet the vehicles cold tire pres-
a TSB recently on the topic and sure specification. Cold tire pres-
called for a reflash to correct this. sure is generally considered to be
the pressure in a tire that has not
been driven in the past four hours
COLD TIRE
CALCULATIONS and has been parked outdoors.
The cold tire pressure for all vehi-
All of these factors can make cles will vary and will need to be
gauging the true pressure inside a adjusted accordingly.
tire difficult, but the objective is to Volvo recommends a vehicle be
take the ambient and tire tempera- parked for at least three hours
tures into account and fill the tire before filling the tires with air to
the cold tire pressure
specs in the owners man-
ual. If filling a warm tire,
Volvo recommends going
2-4 psi above the recom-
mended cold tire pressure.
This should switch off the
low tire pressure warning
light if its illuminated.
These Volvo recommen-
dations can be generally
applied to tire service for
any vehicle. Each
manufacturer will recom-
mend different cold tire
specs, and youll need to
[ TPMSUpdate COLD TIRE CALCULATION

As a vehicle is driven, its tires

heat up, causing the air
inside the tires to expand.
In a TSB concerning TPMS
warnings tied to cold ambient
temperatures, Hyundai
recommended that
customers check and adjust
tire pressures once a month.

locate those before filling. See a general

temperature/recommended inflation chart
on page 42.
Toyota issued a TSB for calculating the
proper tire pressure for a cold, warm or hot tire.
Toyota says to subtract the lowest temperature out-
side from the temperature inside the shop, and
then locate the answer on a chart Toyota provided
in the TSB. Warm tires require an additional 2 psi
than the cold tire fill, and hot tires require an
additional 4 psi over the cold tire fill.

Here are a few examples of the above chart in action:

A vehicle that has been parked overnight outside
the shop has cold tires, and tire pressures are set to
31.9 psi. The shops inside temperature is 68 F, and
the lowest expected ambient temperature in the
local area is to be 14 F.
1. Subtract the expected lowest temperature (14 F)
from the shop temperature (68 F) = 54 F.
2. Using the chart, find the intersection of the
cold tire line at the point corresponding to 54 F,
and read the value on the tire pressure change axis.
In this case, it would be about 4.9 psi.
3. The tires, including the spare tire, should be
filled to: 31.9 + 4.9 psi = 36.8 psi.
Another vehicle has been driven to the shop on
surface streets for about 30 minutes, so the vehicle
has warm tires and tire pressures are set to 31.9 psi.
1. Subtract the expected lowest temperature (14 F)

40 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

[ TPMSUpdate COLD TIRE CALCULATION
from the shop temperature (68 F) = 54 F.
2. Using the chart, find the intersection of the
warm tire line at the point corresponding to 54 F,
and read the value on the tire pressure change axis.
In this case it would be about 6.7 psi.
3. The tires should be filled to: 31.9 + 6.7 psi =
38.6 psi.
42 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
Finally, a vehicle has been driven to the shop on
the highway for at least 60 minutes, so the vehicle
has hot tires, and tire pressures are set to 31.9 psi.
1. Subtract the expected lowest temperature (14 F)
from the shop temperature (68 F) = 54 F.
2. Using the chart, find the intersection of the hot
tire line at the point corresponding to 54 F, and
read the value on the tire pressure change axis. In
this case it would be about 9.0 psi.
3. The tires should be filled to: 31.9 + 9.0 psi =
40.9 psi.
NITROGEN INFLATION
A promise of improved fuel economy is an extension
of the better pressure retention provided by nitrogen
inflation. The EPA says that underinflated tires can
lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in
pressure of all four tires. Since nitrogen loses pres-
sure at a slower rate than air, a vehicle with nitrogen-
inflated tires, in theory, is more likely to be at the
correct psi.
If drivers checked their tire pressure at least once
a month, they wouldnt need nitrogen.
Unfortunately, most people either forget to regu-
larly check and top off their tires, or never learned
how to do it in the first place.
A 2009 NHTSA study found that only 57% of vehi-
cles with TPMS had the correct tire pressure. Since ni-
trogen-filled tires lose pressure about one-third slower
than air-filled tires, there should be at least some ad-
vantage to nitrogen inflation for drivers who arent at-
tentive to their tire pressures. IC
 AIR RIDE TechUpdate]
By Andrew Markel, Editor,

Weak
Brake & Front End Magazine

Air Ride Compressor

p
A
ir ride systems always used to have two diagnostic
paths: either the vehicle was riding low or the compres-
sor blew a fuse. Todays modern vehicles have comput-
er-controlled air ride units at all four corners that can pose a
unique diagnostic challenge when it comes to weak or mar-
ginal air compressors.
Todays air ride suspensions seem to have a mind of their
own when it comes to alerting the driver of a problem. Unlike
engine-related trouble codes, most air ride codes are cleared
every key cycle or when the vehicle has been sitting for a
specific period of time.
Codes are not always a sign of a leak, as they can be set by
components like the compressor, sensors or reservoir. These
codes can appear to be intermittent, but once you understand
how the system operates and the criteria for setting a com-
pressor-related code, a diagnosis can be easy.
Diagnostics
COMPRESSORS
Modern air compressors do not
directly fill air shocks or struts. Most
systems use the compressor to fill a
reservoir. The air in the reservoir is
then used to trim the pressure in the
air ride units. When the reservoir is
depleted, the system turns on the
compressor.
Four-corner air ride vehicles com-
monly use a WABCO air compressor,
which is a single-piston, high-pres-
sure air supply pump. The compres-
sor assembly has an intake air filter,
an integral regenerative air drier
element and an air exhaust solenoid
valve. These types of WABCO com-
pressors can be found on Jaguar, Land
Rover, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz
and many other brands.
You need to become familiar with
the specifications of the compressor.
These numbers can change depend-
ing on the vehicle and can be found
in the service information. The typi-
cal compressor can generate more
than 200 psi, and there is a pressure
relief valve on the compressor set at
approximately 250 psi. Most of these
compressors also have a valve to
keep the pressure at a minimum of
40 psi. Most air springs have a burst
pressure above 450 psi.
WABCO compressors have a fixed
piston that tilts in the cylinder. The

Import-Car.com 43
[ TechUpdate
cylinder is sealed with a ring
made of phenolic resin or similar
material that is not lubricated
and is designed to wear into a
barrel shape. Over time, the com-
pressor will not generate enough
pressure to recharge the reser-
voir in a specified time period.
What hastens the failure of the
piston ring is heat. All air ride
control modules regulate how
long the compressor will run to
keep temperatures in a desig-
nated range. The control module
will look at ambient temperature
and other factors to determine
when the compressor should run
to manage the heat.
Its not uncommon for the
compressor to wear out before one
of the air ride units start
to leak. A weak compres-
sor can still keep a vehi-
cle level and within an
acceptable tolerance, but
the system will go into a
safe or inhibit mode and
not allow certain adjust-
ments or modes to be ini-
tiated. The customer may
complain of a stiff ride
and imprecise handling.
MODES
The modern air ride
vehicle could have sever-
al different modes
depending on a few
variables. As each mode
is initiated, the computer
will bleed off or add
pressure to the corners to
trim the vehicle. Switch-
ing between some
44 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
AIR RIDE
modes can deplete the reservoir.
Here are some examples of the
modes that may be found on an
air ride vehicle:
Preliminary/Wake. This mode
is used when a door is opened or
a door/trunk is opened. This
mode does some housekeeping
with the sensors and valves.
Only air from the reservoir is
used to trim the vehicle.
Sleep Mode. This occurs when
some vehicles sit for 30 minutes.
In sleep mode, the only lowering
corrections that are permitted
balance the vehicle height to the
lowest corner.
Post/Park Mode. This mode is
used when the car is stationary
with the key off. The ride height
Typical late-model Range
Rover air ride setup.
adjusts over time depending on
the temperature.
Stance Mode. This mode is
used when the vehicle is running
and stationary. In this mode, the
system will react quickly to
changes in ride height.
Speed Lowering Mode. This
mode engages at higher speeds to
improve handling and improve
aerodynamics for fuel economy.
Some vehicles will have different
speed thresholds attached to this
mode.
Jacking Mode. In this mode, the
system monitors height changes
at the corner being jacked up. If
the system lowers the air suspen-
sion, but no reduction in height is
achieved, the system will quickly
time out. If all four
height sensors change
by preset values, the
system will recognize
the vehicle is being
lifted on a hoist and
stops adjusting the
pressures. This mode
typically will stop
when the vehicle starts
to move.
Additional modes
are out there depend-
ing on the vehicle.
Some modes, like
sleep and park, will
work while the vehi-
cle is off. When the
key is off, an air ride
system will periodi-
cally wake up to check
the ride height and go
back to sleep to
conserve power.
[ TechUpdate
INTERMITTENT
ISSUES
Finding leaks is easy,
unlike finding the
source of intermit-
tent problems.
One of the most
frustrating problems
to diagnose is a
weak or marginal
compressor. The
codes for this type of
problem will typi-
cally include the words: replen-
ish, reservoir, overheat, no HVAC system and others use the
pressure increase or timed out.
To the untrained technician, a
weak compressor might indicate
a leak in the system that is pre-
venting the compressor from
fully recharging, but there are
no leaks in the majority of
problem vehicles. These codes
are usually set by how long it
takes a compressor to replenish
the reservoir. The control mod-
ule looks at algorithms that
compute how long the compres-
sor should run, and if the com-
pressor cant fully fill the tank, a
code will be set.
Some vehicles have test proce-
dures that can be used to deter-
mine the health of the
compressor. When and how long
the compressor runs depends on
inputs from a variety of sensors
over serial data buses.
Most systems factor in the ambi-
ent temperature. The outside tem-
perature can affect compressor
run time because of the relation-
ship between temperature to air
density. Some systems might use
the temperature sensor mounted
46 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
AIR RIDE
on the front of the car for the
engines mass airflow sensor.
Another factor is vehicle
speed. Most systems will turn on
the compressor above 25 mph
unless certain criteria are met.
This also allows for moving air
to cool the compressor.
CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS
Customers may complain about
an air suspension fault message
that comes on only sporadically.
These codes and fault
messages can typically be traced
to a weak compressor. Since
some compressors work when
the vehicle is in a state of motion,
the trigger may be a lengthy run
time when the compressor is
recharging the system in the
morning, or when the car is
coming out of a speed-lowering
mode.
The secret to diagnosing these
problems comes down to know-
ing what criteria the system uses
to regulate the compressor and
having a scan tool that can inter-
pret the information. IC

TPMS Service Tip: Ask the Right Questions
If there is one piece of major advice for any tech facing a
TPMS issue, it would be this: Test before you touch, and
document the answers you get. Understanding the potential
TPMS land mines can save time and money and eliminate
frustration.
Get answers to these very important questions
before tackling any TPMS issue:
Do I have a TPMS Trigger Tool to diagnose the
sensor through the tire?
Is the light on due to low tire pressure? Check
the placard on the door to document born on
date and recommended pressure.
Is the tire leaking?
Is the valve leaking?
Is the sensor a one-piece and is the valve mold-
ed to the sensor?
Can I replace the valve components (grommet,
hex nut, valve core, valve cap and metal
ImportTechTips]
washer) with a specific service kit?
Do I have the part?
Is the valve a two-piece sensor (valve separate
from the sensor)?
Do I have the part?
If the sensor battery is dead and one or more
sensors have failed to respond, where can I
research the make, model and year of the
vehicle to verify the correct part?
Do I understand the OE relearn process and
where to find it for this vehicle?
Do I have the right tool for the OE relearn, and
do I need an OBD attachment to relearn the
sensors to the vehicle?
As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts. All of the
questions above should be documented and answered
before any tech begins to tackle any TPMS issue.
Courtesy of JohnDow Industries.

MITSUBISHI
RADIATOR HOSE COLLAPSED

If the radiator caps vent valve

is stuck closed from corrosion
contamination, the cooling system
cannot pull coolant back from the
reservoir.
This may cause the upper
and/or lower radiator hose to
collapse. If the radiator cap vent
valve is stuck, change the coolant
and replace the radiator cap.
Affected Vehicles:
2003-05 Outlander
2002-05 Lancer
Procedure:
1. Verify that the upper and/or
lower radiator hose is collapsed.
2. Use a trim stick to gently
attempt to lift the vent valve.
3. If the vent valve is stuck,
change the coolant as described in
Group 14 of the appropriate serv-

Import-Car.com 47
[ ImportTechTips
ice manual. Then replace the
radiator cap with with part No.
1350A199 or equivalent.
Note: Do not replace the ther-
mostat for a collapsed radiator
hose.
Courtesy of Identifix.
MERCEDES-BENZ
REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR
NOISE COMPLAINTS
Models (all model years):
Models 163, 203, 209, 211
and 220 with M112 engine;
Models 163, 164, 171, 203,
209, 211, 215, 219, 220, 230 and
251 with M113 engine;
Models 164, 171, 203, 209,
211 and 251 with M272 engine;
Models 164, 209, 211, 216,
219, 221 and 251 with M273
engine;
Models 164 and 251 with
M272/273 engine; and
Models 164, 211 and 251
with OM642 engine.
If you receive customer reports
of noises at the refrigerant com-
pressor with the A/C either acti-
vated or deactivated, the cause
could be a defective belt pulley
or belt pulley bearing. The pulley
and pulley bearing can be diag-
nosed and replaced with the
compressor still installed in the
vehicle by following the proce-
dures below.
1. Locate the noise by dupli-
cating the conditions under
which the complaint occurred.
2. If there is also a cooling per- Fig. 1: Routing of shorter belt (1) to bypass
formance complaint, the noise
48 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
could be caused by a low refrig-
erant level. Perform a refrigerant
circuit test according to SDS.
3. Before the belt pulley on the
refrigerant compressor is
replaced, verify that the follow-
ing components in the belt drive
are not the source of the noise
and repair as required: alterna-
tor, power steering pump, guide
pulleys/tensioner pulleys or
water pump.
4. If there is an rpm-dependent
whining noise present with both
A/C on and off, and the noise is
caused by the tensioner pulleys,
guide pulleys or refrigerant com-
pressor, continue with step 5.
Note: Make sure that the A/C is
shut off. On the push-button unit,
select A/C off then OFF to
turn the climate system off, then
select climate system ON. The
compressor should now be off.
5. Remove the poly V-belt from
the refrigerant compressor.
6. Install a shorter belt to
bypass the compressor. Route
the belt as shown in Fig. 1. A
short test belt for the OM642
might not be available.
7. Run the engine with the
short belt installed. If the noise is
still present, check whether the
compressor M112/113 shown.

tensioner and/or guide pulleys are the source of
the noise. Replace as necessary the defective
tensioner and/or guide pulleys.
8. If the noise is no longer present, allow the
engine to cool and proceed to step 10.
9. Replace the compressor pulley as follows.
Note: It is not necessary to remove the com-
pressor or evacuate the refrigeration circuit.
ImportTechTips]
10. Remove the pulley V-belt. Determine if the
diameter of the pulley is 100 mm or 110 mm.
11. Raise the vehicle and remove the lower
engine compartment paneling.
12. Remove the hub using a socket and a counter-
hold tool. Use a small magnet to remove the flat
washer from the shaft.
Note: There are two versions of the compressor
shaft, a 7 mm hex and one with two flats. The
shaft with two flats requires the use of a special
socket. To loosen the 7 mm hex head, ensure that
proper metric tool is used.
To loosen the pulley:
Method A (Preferred): Hold the compressor
shaft stationary and turn the drive hub counter
clockwise to loosen (see Fig. 2 on page 50). Turn
the hub clockwise to tighten.
Method B: Hold the drive hub stationary and
turn the compressor shaft clockwise to loosen.
Turn counter-clockwise to tighten.
[ ImportTechTips
Fig. 2
13. Remove the pulley bear-
ings snap ring.
14. Remove the belt pulley
from the end of the compressor
housing.
Note: Do not apply a pulling
force in an axial direction to the
refrigerant compressor shaft.
50 February 2015 | Import-Car.com
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Assemble the rubber dampers
into the new pulley the as
shown in example A in Figs. 3
and 4. Make note of the direc-
tion of the curvature of the rub-
ber dampers and install them
over the reinforcing webs in the
pulley, not in the spaces
between the webs.
15. Install the new belt pulley
onto the end of compressor
housing. Make sure its the
same diameter as the original.
16. Install the snap ring for
the pulley bearing with its flat
side facing the refrigerant com-
pressor. Make sure the snap
ring is seated correctly in the
groove. Use snap ring pliers
with 90 tips that have a mini-
mum reach of 19 mm (0.75).
17. Install the washer. Make
sure it is flat against the shoul-
der of the shaft.
18. Install the hub so the drive
fingers are inserted into the gaps
between the ends of the rubber
dampers. Screw the hub onto
the compressor shaft clockwise
and torque to 35 Nm. The hub
continues to tighten when in the
compressor is in operation.
20. Install the circlip into the
belt pulley. Make sure its seat-
ed in the groove of the pulley.
21. Install a new standard
length poly V-belt. Start the
engine and verify correct belt
operation.
22. Install lower engine
paneling. IC
Brought to you by
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Import-Car.com 51
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52 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

CommerceConnect

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Advertising Information Contact:
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Import-Car.com 53
CommerceConnect

The lastest news & product info is at AutoCarePro.com

54 February 2015 | Import-Car.com

CommerceConnect

Ad Index
Advertiser . . . . .Page Number
Advance Auto Parts
Professional . . .Cover, Cover 2, 17
ADVICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Air Suspension Parts by
Arnott, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
ATEQ TPMS Tools, LC . . . . . . . . . .42
Auto Value/
Bumper to Bumper . . . . . .Cover 4
Bartec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Bosch Automotive Service
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Federated Auto Parts . . . . . .20, 21
GAAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Gates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
GMB North America . . . . . . . . . . .15
Johndow Industries . . . . . . . . . . .47
KYB Americas Corp. . . . . . . . . . . .11
LIQUI MOLY GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . .26
MAHLE Clevite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Mercedes-Benz USA . . . . . . . . . . .3
Monroe Shocks & Struts . . . .23, 45
Mudlick Mail Company . . . . . . . .14
NGK Spark Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Nucap Industries . . . . . . . . . .38, 50
OReilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Perfect Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 13
Red Line Synthetic Oil . . . . . . . . .49
Schaeffler Group USA . . . . . . . .8, 9
Standard Motor Products . . . . . .39
Tenneco/Walker . . . . . . . . . . .19, 48
WIX Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
WORLDPAC . . . . . . . . . .10, Cover 3

Import-Car.com 55
[ ImportInsights
The Audi Q7
Turning heads for its design and
advanced consumer technology

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las

Vegas in January, the worlds most important
electronics exhibition, Audi debuted a host of
new technologies including:
A four-core processor capa-
ble of processing 8 billion
operations per second. Solutions such as the
A virtual tachometer with a Predictive Efficiency
needle that is rendered Assistant and adaptive
anew 60 times per second cruise control, includ-
to ensure absolutely fluid ing congestion assis-
motion. tant, point the way
Audi tablet as a multimedia toward upcoming
control panel and simple piloted driving tech-
wireless communication nology. The Q7 is
with mobile devices. capable of lapping the
Piloted parking and innova- famous Hockenheim
tive Audi wireless charging speedway at 149.1
(AWC) technology for mph without a driver.
electric mobility.

The Audi Q7 was named winner of the

EyesOn Design Awards Best Designed
Interior Category at the 2015 North
American International Auto Show. The
2016 Q7 introduces new design lan-
guage to both exterior and interior
features, boasting a lightweight, multi-
material body and all-new chassis. While
the exterior dimensions have remained
similar to the outgoing model, the Q7
offers substantially more interior room
for passengers, offering seating for up
to seven passengers.

56 February 2015 | Import-Car.com