There are few feelings worse than when you see your vehicle’s check engine light come on for the first time. But once you hook up your vehicle to an OBD2 scanner and check the code, you’re not done just yet. Because while that’s exactly what you need to do to figure out what’s going on, … Read more
In stark contrast to vehicles of old, today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs meter noxious chemical output through a series of self-monitoring tests. This not only reduces the global fleet’s carbon footprint but ensures the more efficient operation of all vehicles on the road today. Simply put, today’s vehicles are better able to utilize each drop … Read more
Today’s vehicles are technical marvels, in comparison to those manufactured some 30-40 years prior. The modern car, truck, or SUV is completely capable of monitoring its own performance, in a bid to enhance operational efficiency. Changes to a vehicle’s fuel trim and ignition timing can even be conducted on the fly, when necessary. These advancements … Read more
To most, a vehicle’s onboard emissions system is quite complex. This is quite understandable, as this system features a barrage of sensors, pumps, and valves, all of which must be functioning as intended to provide an adequate reduction in noxious emissions. Of the various components found within a vehicle’s emissions system, few are as vital … Read more
Today’s vehicles rely upon an intricate web of electronic controls to increase operating efficiency, and to reduce emissions output. Such technology initially arose in the 1970s, under regulatory pressure from the US government, in a bid to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. Modern vehicles are now able to monitor their own performance, thereby making on-the-fly … Read more
Today’s vehicles are designed to operate in the most efficient manner possible, making the most out of each combustion cycle. This is accomplished through the monitoring of engine-related data, by a dedicated engine computer, known as an ECM. This computer relies upon feedback from various sensors when determining appropriate fuel trims and throttle plate positioning. … Read more
Today’s vehicles rely upon an intricate web of sensors, wires, and modules to promote efficient operation. The data shared through this network is processed by a vehicle’s ECM/PCM and is used to calculate figures such as injection timing, as well as injector pulse width. As a side benefit of this data transmission, today’s highly efficient … Read more
There are few things more terrifying than starting up your car only to see a check engine light staring at you. You rush your vehicle to a mechanic or a part store to figure out what the code is, only to realize that you still don’t know what the letter and number combination means. So, … Read more
A modern vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system is easily capable of uncovering operational faults, thereby storing each for later review. These faults are known simply as DTCs (Diagnostic Fault Codes). Codes of this nature point to the underlying cause of whatever issue currently plagues a vehicle. This knowledge is quite valuable, as it can be used … Read more
Few things will stress you out more than a check engine light. But once you’ve pulled your heart out of your throat and checked what your vehicle’s check engine light means, you’re presented with a whole new list of questions. What does this code mean, what causes it, and most importantly, how do you fix … Read more