ALLDATA ARTICLES
The life of a small shop owner is anything but calm, and for Jason Posey of CJ’s Auto Repair in Wynne, Ark., that couldn’t be truer. After spending nearly 25 years in a dealership, working his way from technician to parts and service manager, Jason decided it was time to open his own shop. Today, he handles everything from parts ordering to wrenching. The shop co-owner is none other than his wife Carla. She manages the paperwork, keeps things organized, and keeps customers informed, so Jason can stay focused on the repairs.
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2023–2025 Silverado and Sierra customers have reported their sunroofs tilting open unexpectedly, often during startup, when turning on the lights, or returning to the vehicle. The issue stems from the overhead console’s microprocessor and affects all trims equipped with a factory sunroof.
5 Shop Saving Tips from Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor™
Someone once told me that successful auto repair is a game of inches. But in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving industry, inches may not be precise enough — we need to hit the target every time. The reality is that precision and efficiency define success now more than ever.
Repairer Driven News Lurah Lowery reports on the latest efforts to lessen the impact from the tariffs
Six trade groups representing automakers and the aftermarket have written to the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce asking that regulations to implement President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on imported automotive parts allow them more time to reroute supply chains.
A 25% tariff on assembled vehicles imported into the U.S. went into effect on April 3, and a 25% tariff on some parts is set to begin May 3.
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2005 Audi A4 Quattro owners report their vehicles bucking from start when their accelerator was depressed 10-50%. Quattro drivers, shocked by the need to brace while their vehicle jolts up and down, understandably brought their vehicles in for taming.
In the spirit of April Fools’ Day, three of our Tech Tips are true … and two are pranks. But which two? Find out by clicking each one to unlock the true Tech Tips, or the pranks. Ultimately, we know there’s no foolin’ around when it comes to OEM-accurate, tech-verified automotive mechanical repairs.
2007 Audi A3 Runs Poorly - How To Check ECM Drivers
Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 57,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 5 million total video views.
Since 1977, Dabler Auto Body has handled the collision repair needs of Salem, Oregon. In their 16,000 square foot shop, they work on just about every make and model but have earned BASF paint certifications for BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and VW. Owner Michael Brockway endeavors to stay ahead of industry trends by investing in the best equipment and technicians. He also understands the value of OE information and the need to bring the vehicle back to factory specific condition.
Automotive repair facilities have been maintaining hybrid vehicles for over two decades and maintaining EVs for almost as long. These alternatives to pure Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles have slowly gained in popularity over the last 2½ decades.
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Jeep owners have complained that their Wranglers (built October 2018-January 2019) wander and need constant small steering adjustments.
Autobody News' John Yoswick reports SEMA is conducting research on modified vehicles to gauge the impact of such modifications on ADAS calibrations.
While collision repair shops already face liability if they fail to restore functionality to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on the vehicles they repair, the obligation to do so is likely to become even more concrete within a few years. Part of a temporarily-delayed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that would require an even higher-than-current level of automatic emergency braking (AEB) as standard on all new vehicles by 2029 -- and would prohibit deactivation of such ...
2015 Mercedes C300 rollercoaster diagnostic, timing or camshaft?
Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 56,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 5 million total video views.
A common customer complaint is that their vehicle will crank but not start. Luckily, there are a few quick hacks designed to identify what system is affecting the starting cycle. (NOTE: This article will not cover specific test steps, but rather will outline the most efficient order in identifying what is missing in the ignition sequence.)
Focusing on grounding paths pays dividends
Whether you follow conventional or electron current theory, it boils down to one simple rule: Electricity will find a way to reach the battery. If the electrons can’t make it to their destination through the proper channels, they will try alternate pathways. This is when things stop working, don’t work as designed, or suffer major damage.
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Ram drivers may have been surprised by a vibration coming from the rear of their truck at highway speeds. Specifically, regular cab Ram 1500 trucks with a 6½ foot bed, built between October-December 2013 have been identified as generating a noticeable vibration at speeds of 50-75 mph.
AutobodyNews' Toby Chess views heat welding as a viable alternative for faster turnarounds and less time and materials.
A bumper end on a 4-year-old vehicle has a small amount of damage to the lower side of the facia and a missing tab.
Your options:
- Buy a new OEM bumper
- Buy a certified aftermarket bumper
- Buy the cheapest aftermarket bumper
- Send the bumper to a sublet bumper repair facility
- Purchase a used bumper cover
- Repair in-house using heat welding and/or adhesives
An Interview with Professor of Automotive Technology, Brian Noel
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 76,000 new automotive, diesel and collision repair technicians will be required each year for the next ten years just to fill the void as the generation of baby boomer technicians leave the industry. Who will take their place? A new breed of technician whose skill set is focused more on computer-based systems and electrical diagnostics and less on mechanical repairs and adjustments.
Repairer Driven News Teresa Moss reports possible OE Safety Requirements
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation Monday that would require all new passenger vehicles to be equipped with cameras, sensors, or other technology to prevent the death of children due to frontover incidents, according to a press release.
Catalytic converter and flex-fuel problems can be tricky to diagnose. Inaccurate data from an oxygen sensor or air/fuel sensor can lead a tech down the wrong path and cause needless replacement of good parts. When dealing with catalytic converter fault code(s) and flex-fuel problems, it is necessary to make sure that the air/fuel (A/F) and/or oxygen sensors (O2S) are accurately reporting.
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Long hot drives are a little more uncomfortable due to 1-3 second whistle coming from the air conditioning vents. Owners of Toyota Tacomas built between 2016 through 2023 noticed that when the air conditioner compressor cycles the annoying sound is more prevalent with increased RPM.
The importance of winterizing brake systems
Any time of year is right for brake system maintenance, but colder weather poses some special challenges for technicians. Key brake components are stressed by cold, moisture, and the salt that some locales use to deal with snow and ice. Added issues come from reduced driving during severe weather, resulting in cars sitting days without driving. Rust never sleeps even when the car is napping.
The holiday season brings lots of travel. Don’t forget to capitalize on this opportunity. To prepare for holiday season automotive repair promotions, it’s essential to develop a well-rounded strategy that combines marketing, customer engagement, service offerings, and operational efficiency. Here’s a guide to help you get ready:
The recent hurricanes have taken a terrible toll on our East Coast, and our deepest concern and sympathy is rightly focused on the survivors and victims of these affected regions. The condition of the affected cars from these storms is indeed trivial, compared to the loss of human life and the damage to whole communities. However, an unfortunate aftermath of these storms could be coming your way.
According to CARFAX, there were about a half-million water-damaged cars returned to the roadways in 2023. An estimated 100,000 waterlogged vehicles were damaged in the most recent four months of 2024; those numbers do not include the still-climbing damage tally from Helene and Milton.
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2014 GMC Sierra drivers have been surprised by an in-cabin light show. Upon applying the brakes or using the turn signals the dome lights over the passenger rows will flash or flicker. In the interest of ‘staying alive’, GM has issued a bulletin #Pl1268B that notes that this condition will not register any DTCs. The bulletin includes repair procedures and there is limited warranty coverage for this condition.
ALLDATA Repair Planner, the latest addition to ALLDATA’s integrated collision repair platform, is now available on the CCC Secure Share™ network. This means that ALLDATA Repair Planner customers can have their estimates imported automatically and securely from CCC Secure Share to ALLDATA Repair Planner.
The countdown is on for the 2024 SEMA Show and there’s plenty to be excited about! Whether you’re a loyal customer or just kicking the tires, make sure to stop by our ALLDATA booth (#31065 – located in the Upper South Hall). We have lots to show you, including product enhancements and our NEW ALLDATA Repair Planner. Plus, keep an eye out for our best deals of the year!
AutobodyNews' Stacey Phillips Ronak explores new opportunities in the parts chain
Since launching this year, Auto Additive has positioned itself as a collision repair specialist provider of high-quality, OEM-grade 3D-printed parts, tools and jigs for the automotive repair and customization industry. The company is working with several launch clients in the collision industry from headlight reconditioners, product suppliers and collision repairers to understand the opportunity in these sectors ...
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Economy-minded 2019 Mercedes Benz GLC350e owners were disappointed to discover that their ‘Eco start/stop’ feature suddenly was turned off. Instrument clusters may display the ‘Stop vehicle Leave Engine Running’ with the battery symbol to indicate that the separate start/stop battery likely needs to be replaced.
It’s not rocket science… Although they do use network topology
Occasionally, when you’re working with vehicular diagnostics, you may come across a certain scan tool issue. Either you have no communication with the scan tool, or you may retrieve communication codes indicating that one or more specific modules are not communicating. Always start by familiarizing yourself with the type of network topology (structure) used for the communication network on the vehicle you are working on. This will help you to be aware of possible faults and help you strategize how to locate a problem. For most of the common issues, there are only a limited number of ways the system can fail.
The countdown is on for the 2024 SEMA Show and there’s plenty to be excited about! Whether you’re a loyal customer or just kicking the tires, make sure to stop by our ALLDATA booth (#31065 – located in the Upper South Hall). We have lots to show you, plus, keep an eye out for our best deals of the year!
Where the commitment to excellence drives success
Seven years ago, Antonio Pardini was a junior in high school when he started washing cars at Elk Grove Custom Collision Detail in Elk Grove, Calif. Today, he leads a dedicated team as the Collision Center Manager, overseeing a thriving business that has grown under his leadership.
If you’re looking for repair information on pre-1982 vehicles, or if you can’t find specific information on a vehicle in ALLDATA Repair® or ALLDATA Collision®, the ALLDATA Library Research team is here to help.
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Some 2018 Equinox drivers became perplexed when using Advanced Parking Assist (APA) and the vehicle would abort the parking attempt.
2013 VW Jetta - Stalls/No Comms when hot
Mario Rojas (aka Super Mario Diagnostics) has been repairing cars since 2013 and sharing his repairs on YouTube for the last five years. Fitting to his username, he primarily focuses on diagnostics and troubleshooting – and he’s garnered quite a following doing so. He currently has over 52 thousand subscribers on YouTube and over five million total video views.
If your scan tool is capable of reading a data stream, there are a couple of tests you can perform that will save you time when you’re dealing with a complex diagnosis.
Sixty-one percent (more than 3 in 5) of shops said in the latest “Who Pays for What?” survey that they are researching OEM repair procedures on “all” or “most” of the vehicles they repair. That’s a nine percentage point gain since 2020. The survey was conducted in the spring by Collision Advice and CRASH Network. About 700 shops participated.
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2019-2022 RAV4 customers have noticed a sloshing or splashing sound from one or more door panels while driving. The cause: a waxy cavity substance in combination with debris clog the door drain holes. This condition affects all variations, hybrid and ICE RAV4s. Toyota has published bulletin T-SB-0084-21 which contains a repair procedure.
Typically, when we feature an auto repair shop, it almost always includes a structure with ample workspace, air-tools, lifts and a waiting room. Black Top Auto Repair has set this standard on its ear with an exceptional mobile approach. The concept of ‘mobile mechanic’ has a long history with varied connotations, and owner/operator Dylan Loebel-Begelman understands this perception. This is why his mobile business incorporates a custom-built trailer, outfitted with a lift, air compressor, tool storage, waste tanks, leveling jacks and internet hotspot.
Like many in the automotive industry, Joshua Day was born into it. In 1979 – three years before Josh was even born – his father, Paul Day, became the very first mechanic at the then newly-opened Big O Tire® franchise in Woodland, Calif.
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2020-22 F350 Super Duty owners have been perplexed by their truck seemingly acting on it’s own. Symptoms include electric seats randomly moving, continuous horn blasts, and illuminated anti-lock brake system (ABS) indicator with trouble codes C0020 and U3003. Most troubling however is the engine will not turn off or in some cases will not crank (start).
