Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Why, it doesn't.
Other than the nuclear industry, I doubt there's any other industry with more regulation than the medical field. Yet, one can easily find instances with a minimal amount of searching that describe doctors practicing without a license, or clinics operating under deplorable conditions.
IMO, folks need to utilize some common sense (which often isn't so common) when obtaining services.
Personally, I like the idea of state/national certification of shops/mechanics, even if its not a legal requirement. A true certification process (not simple licenses bought by service providers) including demanding knowledge and the passing of exams, even if voluntary (along with the publication of standards in a manner the consumer could easily understand) would be a huge step forward.
Maybe Gimme can weigh in on the Canadian certification system. Driver100 mentioned the APA (automotive protection agency) stings a while back.
Why, it doesn't.
IMO, folks need to utilize some common sense (which often isn't so common) when obtaining services.
It would help consumers make better choices if writers learned more about what it really takes to service the cars today.
Personally, I like the idea of state/national certification of shops/mechanics, even if its not a legal requirement.
If it is to be done, then it has to have real teeth in it just like the medical field. Otherwise you end up with Michigan's law which is little more than a tax on the professional shops that the back alley guys skip around.
A true certification process (not simple licenses bought by service providers) including demanding knowledge and the passing of exams, even if voluntary
That brings us to ASE
https://www.ase.com/Home.aspx
and that leads into discussion of one of the issues we currently are dealing with. At one time the manufacturers really supported ASE, but divergence between system designs makes specific O.E. training and certifications much more important. Top techs view ASE as a minimum standard but its all we really have. Plus it takes time for ASE to react to changes in technology. ASE recently announced a new certification which will start in 2015, Hybrid and Electric vehicle certifications, that is more than ten years behind the introduction of these vehicles to the marketplace.
ASE is a decade behind the work that we do today, that's pretty good compared to many of the self proclaimed experts that haven't been under a hood or dash in years, (if ever) who constantly try to peddle advice to consumers and that's one of the biggest hurdles to improving licensing and certification for techs. Most of the people who think they know how to judge us are still stuck in the carburetor and points era. JMHO
True, but if you don't know the basics of how an engine or transmission works (it hasn't changed since 1915), then you have nothing to build on.
If I were trying to diagnose a 1915 car or a 2015 car, the phrase "check for spark" still applies. HOW it makes the spark---well, that's all different.
Are you absolutely sure about that?
and chemistry and physics laws regarding gases, heat transfer and electricity still apply.
And don't try some "doc trick" on me. You know I'm right
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/researchdevelopment/a/HomogeneousChargeComp- ressionIgnition.htm
Enjoy the reading. The rest of the searching is up to you to do.
Oh come on... we all know that there is only one person in this topic qualified to discuss anything about automotive repair- only one individual worthy of pulling the hood release.
And if you don't believe me just ask him!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Do you really feel that the electric car technology of the 1890's to 1920's bares any resemblance to what Tesla is doing today? Can you image a consumer of today having to put up with buying a car without a battery, and then renting one from that point on an exchange basis? (That's what they did in the early 1900's because recharging them presented a significant challenge)
Trying to dumb this all down like you are serves no real purpose. Even the idea of "Check for spark" usually has people pull a plug out and stick it or a screwdriver into a plug wire and hold it next to the valve cover and when they crank the engine see a spark but not understand that doesn't prove that there is enough spark to make an engine run, let alone run right or whether or not the spark is occurring at the right time. Truly being able to do the job means having a solid understanding of all of the fundamentals, not just a few fragments.
Lets have some fun with this.
http://answers.edmunds.com/question-98-Dodge-Caravan-EGR-catalyst-oxygen-sensors- -reset-179070.aspx
Zaken's sending the guy on a wild goose chase. What's the right way to approach the posters emissions issue?
In this trade no-one knows everything, and just about every one of us has seen something that the next person hasn't. Nothing new about that, there's just too much to ever have to deal with. When I go and teach classes I enjoy every time a tech shares something that I haven't seen before because that's "One For Me" to take back to the shop.
Those ceramic laser ignition systems are real game changers, aren't they?
It had spark all right!
I know an old timer that would actually do that. It didn't seem to bother him at all. Wen the HEI ignition systems came out, he decided to find a different way!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Which BTW brings us back to that 98 Caravan that won't set the monitors. Everyone believes they understand OBDII, well if they do then they should know how to approach that vehicle's problem. Running the monitors is what OBDII is all about. A check engine light and of course the code that gets set is the direct result of a monitor (test), or a part of a monitor (test) failing. Every test has criteria that has to be met in order for it to run. When a vehicle fails to complete its monitors that means the system failed to meet the minimum criteria for some of the tests. That answers forum leads posters to think their questions are going to be attended to by experts in the field, and yes Gimme, people who try and answer questions there are lauded as experts, meanwhile many of the answers prove they are anything but one.
and if defective,he'll do the same thing you have to do--buy a new one. Your mechanic of the future is going to be more and more a "parts replacer". His skills will shift over to diagnosis. He may never ever get his hands dirty again.
"IF" that's the biggest word in the English language.
will buy a laser ignition tester and test for "laser activation".
Buy a tester? That's funny.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
You could "eyeball" test it, but only once, lol.
Payment is considered in two steps:
First 50% as the order confirmation.
Two months lead time to assemble unit according your particular order.
Second 50% of payment is required upon completion.
No delivery option offered, because Training is considered as the delivery stage of the product. Either your technician is going to receive device and Training in Russia, or our specialist is going to your country with Beamtronic. No specific courrier's delivery needed.
Pretty sure that thing will be too expensive for me....... Shady must have some really deep pockets.
In a few years, the test tool will be $88 at Harbor Freight.
Well, hopefully it'll just be built-in with the ECU stuff and at worse, you'll have to call OnStar to verify that the lasers are projected at the right spot. I can hear the complaints now - it's running okay, but there's a lazy laze in cylinder #3 every six million nanoseconds.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
As soon as FedEx delivers my 3D printer, I'm getting that phone....
There will always be those who would like to see engine compartments sealed shut so that only "professionals" can obtain access for maintenance/repair, but there will always be men and women who will find a workaround.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
We hear about magic tools all the time, haven't seen one yet.
Remember, technology increases exponentially
OBDII has been around for almost twenty years, and yet that poster with that Caravan still hasn't gotten an answer that would guide him towards solving that problem. The increases in technology is making problems like that worse not better. The manufacturers still don't have any real answers for doing diagnostics when a problem causes a loss of network communication. Those all have to be diagnosed by hand, by a qualified technician. In many cases it isn't practical to write a trouble tree to lead a technician because there are just too many variables.
Snap-On tools sells this item.
http://www.autocarepro.com/Article/94616/new_snapon_data_bus_fault_finder_diagno- ses_scan_tool_communication_failures.aspx
The problem with this approach, even if it really did work universally (it doesn't) is it forces the tech to be a slave to the tool and that works to erode skills or maybe even prevent them from ever needing to be developed in the first place. With the specific GM vehicles that the tool was really designed to work with it could be a time saver to a degree. But try a Chrysler product or any other manufacturer that doesn't use the pre-chosen network splice pack connectors, or worse yet only harness splices instead of a connector and the tool becomes a liability. An experienced tech with a well rehearsed routine will leave someone slaved to that tool in the dust.
Haven't seen laser ignition yet either. Got spark?
Not on every car/truck that I routinely work on.
Yet here you are apparently knowing full well a helpful direction to steer him yet you choose instead to "have fun with it". Ugh.
And what's up with you referring to me by name in suggesting some odd innuendo well after the fact? This is twice now you brought me into some weird agenda'd point you are trying to make. If you want to step up and reply, then why not at least to my most recent post #4587? It's a bit creepy how you bring my name up occasionally as if I'm a ghost shadow, hanging around your conscience.
Personally, for all the worthiness you claim to have in the field, doc, I'd still like you to either defend or make a retraction regarding your claim that a bump unscrewed RB's oil cap. Oh...that's right...you think he made up the story as he went along...or at least that is what you accused him of.
Doc...cards on the table moment here for a short, ok? You claim to have skills and diagnostic knowledge that some others here would like to have, yet you lack any grace when they are recognized. Instead you use this forum is your own personal little ego-stroker, or pity-party, depending on how a topic evolves. Usually though it is a surprising mix of both from the get-go.
Morally, I think you should go and tell the Caravan owner that the advice he has been given will send him down the wrong road. While no harm will probably come from any efforts if he followed Zaken's suggestions to the letter, they are just costing him and wasting his time. Even if you didn't offer him the ever so coddled silver bullet that you treasure so, you could at least tell him to not waste his time and money. Let him search you down for credibility whether or not to trust you. Or you could just fire off that silver bullet for him...come-on...it won't kill ya..
If houses were built like cars, contractors would go nuts.
Gastroenterologists? Endocrinologists study hormones; are the cars being over emotional?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
My cars don't have thyroids (just like me), but they do get fatigued when the additives get off, LOL.
Another issue I like to reflect on is recruiting and training people to excel in a particular profession.
As a retired teacher, some folks have the right stuff to be great teachers and some don't. End of story. The academics don't prepare you for the many challenges. I believe there isn't an infinite supply of folks who can do the job. If you could isolate a population of those who do, how many would actually want to be teachers ? How many would like the job for 30 years ? I believe that there aren't enough "right stuff" souls to fill every classroom so you have to deal with those who want to teach and will never be more than C or D performers. I believe this scenario applies across the board to many occupations including auto techs. You will have pockets of excellence but for the most part in an enormously diverse social system, there will be some just filling a space.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Which one are you more likely to need tomorrow?
I think you just summed up how little value there really is for me in giving him his not so silver bullet of an answer. There is no moral obligation for me to give out any more information than I already did, which if you only understood what I wrote there was more than enough to start him on the right path.