Professional Motor Mechanic

Engine/fuel system decarbonising – 8 easy steps

|Date: May 31, 2013

Engine/fuel system decarbonising – 8 easy steps

What is TerraClean?Carbon is a naturally occurring by-product of the internal combustion engine. Excessiv ...

What is TerraClean?Carbon is a naturally occurring by-product of the internal combustion engine. Excessive carbon build-up can lead to decreased MPG, increased emissions, bad starting, lack of power a ...

May 31, 2013
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DPF maintenance – 6 quick tips

|Date: May 06, 2013

DPF maintenance – 6 quick tips

DPFs are direct fit items and should be fitted following the same general advice as when fitting a cataly ...

DPFs are direct fit items and should be fitted following the same general advice as when fitting a catalytic converter. The main points to follow are: 1. Do not use exhaust paste. 2. Ensure all joints ...

May 06, 2013
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Toyota Avensis – EGR complaint

|Date: April 25, 2013

Toyota Avensis – EGR complaint

As is common with a job role like mine, I end up spending a large portion of my time on the road visiting ...

As is common with a job role like mine, I end up spending a large portion of my time on the road visiting customers and workshops. On one of my recent trips I was faced with a 2003 Toyota Avensis 2.0 ...

April 25, 2013
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NOx sensors – background and function

|Date: April 20, 2013

NOx sensors – background and function

Due to the need for reducing the delay in response time and the ever-improving accuracy of the control sy ...

Due to the need for reducing the delay in response time and the ever-improving accuracy of the control systems of the modern internal combustion engine, some new and very specific sensor technologies ...

April 20, 2013
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Lambda Sensors – why they should be changed at the same time as the cat

|Date: February 25, 2013

Lambda Sensors – why they should be changed at the same time as the cat

Technically advanced vehicle systems mean more challenging repairs. One task facing mechanics is helping ...

Technically advanced vehicle systems mean more challenging repairs. One task facing mechanics is helping the end user to understand the importance of these repairs and the increased related cost, part ...

February 25, 2013
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Oxygen sensors – failure diagnosis and fitment

|Date: February 13, 2013

Oxygen sensors – failure diagnosis and fitment

Projected electronic parts will account for 40% of the global value of vehicles in 2015 and 60% of worksh ...

Projected electronic parts will account for 40% of the global value of vehicles in 2015 and 60% of workshop repairs are linked to electronic issues. This translates to a projected €6 billion in potent ...

February 13, 2013
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Titanium dioxide Lambda sensors – function and design

|Date: November 14, 2012

Titanium dioxide Lambda sensors – function and design

This type of sensor is known as a metal oxide sensor. Unlike zirconium dioxide Lambda sensors,titanium di ...

This type of sensor is known as a metal oxide sensor. Unlike zirconium dioxide Lambda sensors,titanium dioxide sensors do not self-generate a voltage. The ceramic element is a semi-conductor, the elec ...

November 14, 2012
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Catalytic converters – general maintenance and care

|Date: October 19, 2012

Catalytic converters – general maintenance and care

1) Never use exhaust paste in front of a catalyst when fitting. When the exhaust paste hardens it can bre ...

1) Never use exhaust paste in front of a catalyst when fitting. When the exhaust paste hardens it can break off in chunks and damage the monolith. Paste dust can also block the monolith. 2) Always use ...

October 19, 2012
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‘Broadband’ Lambda sensor – function and role

|Date: August 13, 2012

‘Broadband’ Lambda sensor – function and role

With the ever greater demand to reduce fuel consumption and to lower exhaust emission levels, it has beco ...

With the ever greater demand to reduce fuel consumption and to lower exhaust emission levels, it has become necessary to operate engines away from the stoichiometric fuelling point under certain condi ...

August 13, 2012
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How can incorrect engine oil cause CAT or DPF failure?

|Date: June 26, 2012

How can incorrect engine oil cause CAT or DPF failure?

Workshops are reporting a disturbing increase in the number of failures and near failures of Diesel Parti ...

Workshops are reporting a disturbing increase in the number of failures and near failures of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) on vehicles that do mainly local, urban driving. ...

June 26, 2012
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Lambda sensors – installation tips and common problems

|Date: June 26, 2012

Lambda sensors – installation tips and common problems

Diagnosis and investigationTo correctly test and diagnose a Lambda problem it is important to understand ...

Diagnosis and investigationTo correctly test and diagnose a Lambda problem it is important to understand what measurements you’re looking for as output. Early O2 sensors work on voltage, Titania senso ...

June 26, 2012
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Cooled EGR system – function and application

|Date: June 26, 2012

Cooled EGR system – function and application

Ever more stringent emission regulations require a constant improvement in pollutant reduction methods. F ...

Ever more stringent emission regulations require a constant improvement in pollutant reduction methods. For diesel engines this particularly applies to a further reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx). ...

June 26, 2012
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Zirconia switching Lambda sensor – function and operation

|Date: June 26, 2012

Zirconia switching Lambda sensor – function and operation

There are basically three different, non-interchangeable types of Lambda sensor. The zirconium dioxide an ...

There are basically three different, non-interchangeable types of Lambda sensor. The zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide Lambda sensors are also called switching, voltage jump or ‘binary’ sensors, ...

June 26, 2012
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The role of cylinder sleeves and fire rings

|Date: June 26, 2012

The role of cylinder sleeves and fire rings

To extend the service life of commercial vehicle engines and cut harmful exhaust emissions, some engine m ...

To extend the service life of commercial vehicle engines and cut harmful exhaust emissions, some engine manufacturers are increasingly using cylinder sleeves with a fire ring. Design and functionFire ...

June 26, 2012
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What killed the Cat?

|Date: June 26, 2012

What killed the Cat?

A great deal of my time is spent fault finding and diagnosing emission faults, some of which potentially ...

A great deal of my time is spent fault finding and diagnosing emission faults, some of which potentially could result in a damaged catalytic converter or diesel particulate filter (DPF), even though t ...

June 26, 2012
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Matt Cleevely reviews the Pico MT03A tester

Castrol launches Car Care range

Is your MOT testing equipment compliant?

Should ADAS calibration be part of the MOT?

Challenges facing both suppliers and garages

Free INA snack pack for Mechanex visitors

Could EV-only MOT centres become a reality?

Why should you regularly check EGRs?

Remote diagnostics specialist heads to Mechanex

The cost benefits of remanufactured turbos

Engine/fuel system decarbonising – 8 easy steps

Engine/fuel system decarbonising – 8 easy steps

DPF maintenance – 6 quick tips

DPF maintenance – 6 quick tips

Toyota Avensis – EGR complaint

Toyota Avensis – EGR complaint

NOx sensors – background and function

NOx sensors – background and function

Lambda Sensors – why they should be changed at the same time as the cat

Lambda Sensors – why they should be changed at the same time as the cat

Oxygen sensors – failure diagnosis and fitment

Oxygen sensors – failure diagnosis and fitment

Titanium dioxide Lambda sensors – function and design

Titanium dioxide Lambda sensors – function and design

Catalytic converters – general maintenance and care

Catalytic converters – general maintenance and care

‘Broadband’ Lambda sensor – function and role

‘Broadband’ Lambda sensor – function and role

How can incorrect engine oil cause CAT or DPF failure?

How can incorrect engine oil cause CAT or DPF failure?

Lambda sensors – installation tips and common problems

Lambda sensors – installation tips and common problems

Cooled EGR system – function and application

Cooled EGR system – function and application

Zirconia switching Lambda sensor – function and operation

Zirconia switching Lambda sensor – function and operation

The role of cylinder sleeves and fire rings

The role of cylinder sleeves and fire rings

What killed the Cat?

What killed the Cat?