Professional Motor Mechanic

Boost profits from alignment servicing in seven steps

|Date: January 02, 2014

Boost profits from alignment servicing in seven steps

For workshops looking for additional revenue opportunities, wheel alignment is a proven service. Not only ...

For workshops looking for additional revenue opportunities, wheel alignment is a proven service. Not only is it one of the highest margin services workshops can offer, but, if used correctly in a high ...

January 02, 2014
Read more
Vehicle troubleshooting: VW Passat 3C (Electronic Steering Column Lock unit)

|Date: October 30, 2013

Vehicle troubleshooting: VW Passat 3C (Electronic Steering Column Lock unit)

On the 2005-2011 VW Passat (3C), a common cause for the vehicle not starting is the Electronic Steering C ...

On the 2005-2011 VW Passat (3C), a common cause for the vehicle not starting is the Electronic Steering Column Lock unit. The symptoms for this particular problem can be recognised by the dash steerin ...

October 30, 2013
Read more
Toe-in curve adjustment – various VAG group vehicles

|Date: October 17, 2013

Toe-in curve adjustment – various VAG group vehicles

When repairs are needed to front wheel suspension, small variations can make the difference between corre ...

When repairs are needed to front wheel suspension, small variations can make the difference between correct and incorrect adjustment. Maladjustment potentially leads to compromised road-holding and ha ...

October 17, 2013
Read more
EPS systems – a look at the future

|Date: October 15, 2013

EPS systems – a look at the future

In addition to offering a ‘green’ power-steering solution, EPS is a key building block for providing a nu ...

In addition to offering a ‘green’ power-steering solution, EPS is a key building block for providing a number of vehicle safety features – both in terms of working together with other active systems, ...

October 15, 2013
Read more
Wheel bearings – how to correctly mount an HBU (hub bearing unit)

|Date: August 09, 2013

Wheel bearings – how to correctly mount an HBU (hub bearing unit)

Many vehicles nowadays incorporate a‘HBU1’ design wheel bearing; however, when this needs replacing some ...

Many vehicles nowadays incorporate a‘HBU1’ design wheel bearing; however, when this needs replacing some technicians still make a crucial error during the mounting process. When installing the new bea ...

August 09, 2013
Read more
4 wheel alignment – 7 easy steps

|Date: June 12, 2013

4 wheel alignment – 7 easy steps

PRE-PROCEDURE NOTES:You must measure the rear of the car, as well as the front, because both axles intera ...

PRE-PROCEDURE NOTES:You must measure the rear of the car, as well as the front, because both axles interact with each other. If this isn’t carried out the tell-tale sign will be the steering wheel, wh ...

June 12, 2013
Read more
How do electric power assist systems work? Part 2

|Date: May 27, 2013

How do electric power assist systems work? Part 2

Both the assisted rack and column systems, with the assisting motor placed in different locations, work o ...

Both the assisted rack and column systems, with the assisting motor placed in different locations, work on similar principles (see image below). Electrical Assist Steering ...

May 27, 2013
Read more
Rear mounting bush replacement – various models

|Date: May 08, 2013

Rear mounting bush replacement – various models

Sealey's VSE4781 is a tool that is designed for the removal and installation of the rear mounting bush on ...

Sealey's VSE4781 is a tool that is designed for the removal and installation of the rear mounting bush on the front lower wishbone of the following vehicles: Seat Cordoba MK3 (2003+), Skoda Fabia (200 ...

May 08, 2013
Read more
Wheel alignment – good practice and common mistakes

|Date: April 15, 2013

Wheel alignment – good practice and common mistakes

Wheel vibration, vehicle pull and drift issues can be a real problem for workshops. They can be the sourc ...

Wheel vibration, vehicle pull and drift issues can be a real problem for workshops. They can be the source of considerable customer dissatisfaction resulting in many return trips to the workshop, repe ...

April 15, 2013
Read more
How do electric power assist systems work? Part 1

|Date: April 12, 2013

How do electric power assist systems work? Part 1

The major difference between electric powered assistance and the previous systems we’ve focused onis that ...

The major difference between electric powered assistance and the previous systems we’ve focused onis that there is no hydraulic fluid and associated components involved. All mechanical assistance is p ...

April 12, 2013
Read more
Steering racks – replacement tips

|Date: April 10, 2013

Steering racks – replacement tips

Remy Automotive has one of the largest steering rack and steering pump ranges available to the UK market. ...

Remy Automotive has one of the largest steering rack and steering pump ranges available to the UK market. As a result they are in a unique position to give you some valuable advice on what to do befor ...

April 10, 2013
Read more
Steering and suspension components – fault diagnosis and best practice

|Date: February 21, 2013

Steering and suspension components – fault diagnosis and best practice

Defective steering and suspension parts on a vehicle can not only affect the geometry and handling, but a ...

Defective steering and suspension parts on a vehicle can not only affect the geometry and handling, but also result in MOT failure. Worn or damaged parts can cause serious instability when driving and ...

February 21, 2013
Read more
Active Sensor Bearings – fiiting advice

|Date: February 06, 2013

Active Sensor Bearings – fiiting advice

The ASB wheel bearing has a magneticencoder fitted within the seal which, inconjunction with the ABS sens ...

The ASB wheel bearing has a magneticencoder fitted within the seal which, inconjunction with the ABS sensor, measuresthe speed of each wheel independently. This information is then used by the ECU for ...

February 06, 2013
Read more
Clock spring installation – Chrysler Voyager and Grand Voyager

|Date: February 04, 2013

Clock spring installation – Chrysler Voyager and Grand Voyager

Malfunctioning of the clock spring (also known as Air Bag Squib) on the Chrysler Voyager and Grand Voyage ...

Malfunctioning of the clock spring (also known as Air Bag Squib) on the Chrysler Voyager and Grand Voyager models is not an uncommon problem, to the point that Daimler Chrysler issued a safety recall ...

February 04, 2013
Read more
Electric/hydraulic steering issue – Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi

|Date: January 30, 2013

Electric/hydraulic steering issue – Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi

This technical tip comes from TRW's Brian Newell: Q. A garage recently called me with a problem on the el ...

This technical tip comes from TRW's Brian Newell: Q. A garage recently called me with a problem on the electric/hydraulic steering on a 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi.The customer had previously had a new p ...

January 30, 2013
Read more