EDITOR’S NOTE: Two technicians – Isaac Rodell and Johnathan Dickerman – were interviewed for this article. We appreciate their input. Time has proven that American drivers love SUVs. But do technicians who have to fix them feel the same way?…

I just couldn’t resist. It was just the detective in me. “Yes, I will take a look at it,” I said to a new customer when she said her car would stall but only occasionally. Why would I do such…

At the New York City Auto Show in March, I had a great meeting with some BMW people. They’re proud and committed to their plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) systems. The question is, when you add a plug-in, high-voltage system…

.size-thumbnail{padding:1px 0px; width:80px; height:auto;} The Beatles said it best when they sang “Gonna try with a little help from my friends,” and the following repair saga came to its best conclusion with help from professional techs on iATN. 2008 Ford…

You, the technician, need a voice. I write these articles several times a year, and they also substitute for my therapist. After working on motor vehicles for decades, you start to question your perceptions. Did Nissan make the redesigned Rouge…

Early on in my youth, I began wondering why things didn’t work as intended: my bike’s chain derailleur, our lawn mower, mom and dad’s Rambler wagon. Decades…

In 2011, I wrote about the Nissan Leaf and compared it to the Chevy Volt. Since then, ACDC bought one of each, so we know them well. But a…

I’m not a big believer in coincidences, unless they run contrary to common sense. Say, for instance, a consumer says their car won’t start when they come out of the convenience store unless they first pull down the visor mirror.…

Case studies illustrate diagnosing a vehicle’s misfire and a customer’s misfire. If your shop is like ours, Honda CRVs make an appearance weekly. Mostly…

Twenty years ago this December, the Prius was introduced to the world. Three years later, it came to America and the quintessential hybrid was born. Everyone has heard of Prius. The Plug-in Prius came out in model year (M/Y) 2012…

Your customers expect authoritative advice. So check out these examples for making their cars better than new. Our customers rely on us for our wisdom and experience, and this is of upmost importance when we have a chance to make…

The 2017 118-hp, 2.0-liter model looks good, but is it? Ford Motor Co. saw the light in hybrid technology with the introduction of the model year (M/Y) 2005 Escape hybrid. Since then, they’ve made many improvements and gained market share.…

This 26-year-old Jeep Cherokee requires a bit of investigation, but if you follow the clues you’ll reach a solution. If you’ve been working in an independent shop for a while, you’ve seen your share of Jeep Cherokees come through your…

In Colorado, two cars with failed (I/M) 240 tests suggest the vehicles’ owners must seek help. In Colorado – and elsewhere, I’m certain – P0442 codes can be counted on to bring cars into our service drives. But in Denver…