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Six Ways to Best Protect Yourself from Keyless Car Theft (For Now)

In 2023, a record number of vehicles were stolen in the United States; 1,020,729 vehicles to be exact. While that number has declined over the past couple of years (850,708 in 2024 and 659,880 in 2025), car thieves haven’t given up. In fact, they’re finding more...

Don’t Forget to Season the Automobiles, Mechanics!

I guess after you watch the following video, you won’t need much commentary. I thought this was common knowledge, but as I’ll explain in a moment, I may be wrong.I thought it necessary because a good friend at an independent repair facility recently bemoaned the fact...

Coolant Service – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing proper cooling system maintenance. Technician A says that time and mileage should be considered but are not the only factors to consider when recommending a cooling system service to a customer. Technician B...

What are Frits? (And Why Does Almost Every Car Have Them?)

It’s a pretty safe bet that most younger techs haven’t heard of frits before. Not one single customer, ever, has come into your shop looking for some help with a frit problem. So while this article won’t help you turn bays faster or improve your diagnostic skills,...

Cat DTC Diagnosis (P0420) – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing the troubleshooting procedure for a P0420 (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold) DTC. Technician A says that the presence of any other codes should be considered first before replacing the converter. Technician B...

What Shape Is a Piston?

At this late date, if you work in a standard automotive facility servicing late-model vehicles, it’s probably infrequently you even see—let alone think about—pistons. However, if you are in a rebuild shop, a race environment, or the antique space, seeing a set of...

Cabin Filters – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that cabin air filters protect the occupants from over 200 known contaminants found in a typical car’s passenger compartment. Technician B says that the cabin air filter protects the evaporator core from copper particles emitted by the...

Should You Replace That Damaged Plastic Intake Manifold?

It seems like plastic is everywhere under the hood of a modern car. You even have to remove a plastic cover to find the engine! But plastic and composite parts like distributor caps and ignition coil housings have been in use for over 100 years. In the 1970s,...

The Stories Spark Plugs Have to Tell (VIDEO)

In The Bay

by Peter F Meier | Jun 16, 2026 | 0 comments

Description

In the days of carbureted engines, mechanics would always take a moment to examine the spark plugs they were replacing as part of a routine tune-up. The plugs often provided valuable information as to how well the engine was performing and whether there were any serious issues to investigate.

Today, with electronic control units managing the engine’s operation, reading spark plugs doesn’t seem as important as it once was. Spark plugs, after all, are not replaced at the same intervals as they were way back when. But that doesn’t mean that the stories they tell should be ignored.

The Real Meanings Behind OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Codes (VIDEO)

By breaking down the structures used to create DTCs, you can learn how to “decode” beyond the simple descriptions presented by a scanner.

Sep 30, 2025 0

Interpreting Compression Tests–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A completed a compression test, noting high readings suggest an exhaust restriction, while Technician B says the test checks volumetric efficiency.

Aug 26, 2025 0

When a Voltmeter Isn’t Enough (Video)

Many high-end scan tools come with a capable digital storage oscilloscope. Time to put that tool to work.

Aug 7, 2025 0

Troubleshooting Fuel Trim–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A and Technician B are discussing ways to use fuel trim as a troubleshooting aid. Technician A says that fuel trims that are correcting for a lean condition at high RPM and load conditions indicates a problem in fuel delivery. Technician B says that this condition is caused by a vacuum leak.

Jul 29, 2025 0

Misfire Cause–ASE Practice Questions (VIDEO)

Technician A is diagnosing a misfire. He states that a misfire is caused by a fault in the ignition system and that new plugs and coils will repair the problem. Technician B says that a misfire is detected when the ECM detects a variation in crankshaft speed.

Jul 15, 2025 0

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