Master Auto Tech Blog

Current Lexus Recall

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:30:22 +0000

I’ve received some calls expressing concern about the recall announced today at Lexus. If your vehicle should be involved in a recall you will receive a letter from the manufacturer. Generally any problems wide spread enough to merit a recall show up in the first few years of production. Occasionally there may be a recall of older vehicles but generally they are addressed to late model vehicles.

Here is a link from Toyota to help you stay abreast of the current recall from Toyota.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/default.aspx

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/lexus/lexus-u-s-statement-regarding-161307.aspx

BMW you’ve come a long way

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:06:17 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0lZB4i0mdA

One of them there tools that fixes Check Engine Lights

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:08:12 +0000

So we’ve decided to take the bitter pill. We have been dealt a P0411 secondary air injection malfunction. To understand what that means we’ll have to understand what the secondary air injection is and what it is meant to do when operating correctly.

Generic Scan Tool

We’re mostly familiar with the catalytic converter that has necessitated the use of unleaded gas since around 1975. 3-way catalytic converters break down hazardous carbon monoxide to harmless carbon dioxide. They also break down toxic hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water while reducing nitrogen oxides to regular nitrogen and oxygen.

For the Cat to do it’s job it has to be hot which can take a while. In order to meet strict emissions standards an air pump has been added to heat the Cat up sooner and reduce harmful emissions quicker. Pump air into the exhaust and it gets hot more quickly. When the Cat reaches 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit it begins to clean up the exhaust.

To let you know if the emissions system is working properly a number of self diagnostic regimens have been programmed into the engine management systems. One is a self test of the air injection or secondary air pump.

If that self test fails your check engine light illuminates and a P0411 diagnostic trouble code is stored in your engine management processor. In this case the processor is called DME. Not a fun as MMI but DME serves it’s purpose.

How does the Engine management know?

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:07:41 +0000

A plugged Secondary Air Injection Port on a Mercedes Benz M112 V-6

So the air pump is not accomplishing it’s task of heating up the three way catalyst. How does DME (Digital Motor Electronics) know any way?

Programmed into the computer is a self test of the air pump. Each time the car is started DME at some point in the drive cycle will turn the air pump on to see if it’s working. How it sees is interesting.

Part of the fuel management system are oxygen sensors or on newer cars AF (air/fuel) sensors or broad band oxygen sensors report back to DME. By sensing the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases these sensors allow DME to make adjustments to the air fuel mixture going into the engine for the most efficient performance under all conditions.

The O2 sensors also tell DME if the air from the air pump is reaching the catalyst. If the secondary air injection system is working properly DME should see a drop in voltage in a conventional O2 sensor. On the newer A/F sensors the technician will need to access fuel trim data to see if the fuel system is trying to adjust when the air pump is artificially triggered.

So the air pump pumps air but there are some mechanical controls in the way of the air actually getting to the exhaust side of the equation. There is a vacuum switchover valve (VSV) and a vacuum operated “Dump Valve” that when vacuum is applied by way of the VSV allows air to enter the exhaust through a check valve which keeps exhaust gasses from returning through the “Dump Valve” damaging it and the pump.

So the long and short of it is, the DME turns on the Air pump, the sensors sense no change indicating A Secondary Air Injection malfunction or low flow and DME turns on the Check Engine Light. Now what?

Dig in.

Where did Flo Go?

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:07:05 +0000

Some where in there is a dump valve

After checking the VSV for proper operation and confirming the Air Pump actually pumps air, it’s time to dig into the engine to test the valves and clear the Air passages if possible.

Removing a few choice components on the Porsche 911 makes access to the divert-er or “Dump” valve and check valve possible. Porsche uses a vacuum reservoir to help vacuum operated function during low engine vacuum conditions. It is mounted on a fixture which bolts over the air passages we are looking for.

Ahhhh! there it is. The very dangerous and highly elusive Dump valve. I think I’ll make it mad.

The larger threaded hole is where the check valve attaches to the fixture and the more silver colored smaller threaded hole is for the air line that feeds the right cylinder head.

The check valve will be replaced even though it still passes air. More importantly shop air will be forced through the air passages in an attempt to open them so the Air can reach the exhaust side of the cylinder heads.

Air line to the right side cylinder head

So we’ll blast out the passage ways, reassemble and test the Secondary Air injection. Manually starting the pump we got an acceptable voltage change in the O2 sensors. After two drive cycles the On Board Diagnostics, checked off the Secondary Air Injection as functioning properly. It’s now OK to turn the car back to the customer with the cravate that we can not know how clean the passageways are. They are not likely to improve but are passing enough air at this time to satisfy EPA standards as programmed into DME and monitored by OBD II

And you think you screwed up at work last week

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:55:35 +0000

you think you screwed up at work last week

Sebstian Vettle front runner in world campionship points for the 2010 F-1 season takes himself out and moves his team mate from first to third in this attempted pass in Turkey.

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 16V

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:55:45 +0000

Just picked up a hurting 16V for pennies on the dollar. Many dollars to come. Hurting is the operative word

A little of the 190E 2.3 16 valve story.

What is WRC

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:10:20 +0000

Under the heading Mechanics daily doint the impossibleMechanics making the impossible do-able

Fastest Street Car in the World

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:48:01 +0000

Bugetti veyron

You need a 5 point harness just to watch this.

Daimler picks Magna unit to make SLS AMG body

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:50:35 +0000

FRANKFURT (Reuters) — Magna International Inc. received a prestigious order from Daimler AG, its fifth-biggest customer, in a sign of faith that it would not pull business from the auto parts supplier despite its plan to take over Opel.

Magna said its Magna Steyr unit based in Austria’s Graz — where the rugged Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV is built — would develop and build the aluminum bodies for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

“We can be proud that we are the only supplier in Europe able to manufacture a body made only out of aluminum — that underlines once more our leading position in challenging and innovative technologies,” Magna co-CEO Siegfried Wolf said in a statement.

Aluminum is about a third lighter than steel while offering extreme rigidity, but it is also a more complicated material to use in cars than steel due to varying metallic properties. This requires different production methods for tooling, stamping, welding and painting.

The hotly anticipated supercar that hits markets early next year is fitted with two so-called “gullwing” doors that swing upwards for entry. This hallmark design became legendary in the 1950s when Mercedes launched the SL300 sports coupe, which is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

Ever since the board of General Motors Co. approved a sale of a 55 percent stake in its European unit to a consortium led by Magna last month, rival carmakers such as Volkswagen AG and BMW AG have threatened to withdraw business from the supplier, since the Opel deal would make it a direct competitor.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche told reporters during the Frankfurt auto show last month that he was not concerned, however.

“Magna has stated and confirmed again and again that they would have two totally separate organizations with Chinese walls. When you go to a bank, you have to rely on those Chinese walls as well.

“So if that is a smart step that Magna is taking is one question; does it prevent us from continuing our good business relationship with Magna, the supplier? Clearly no — so I have no problem from that perspective with their decision.”

The SLS AMG arrives next spring. The hand-built coupe will have gull-wing doors, like the 1954 SL300 coupe. The car will use lightweight materials extensively, including an aluminum space frame. The 563-hp, AMG-engineered 6.3-liter V-8 will be teamed with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.