From The Shop Files

We recently saw a 1998 Durango Pickup that had one headlamp flickering on and off periodically. The problem turned out to be the lighting control module. There is a computer module that controls the lights, including the head lights. One of the internal transistors was overheating and causing that lamp to flicker off and on. It required the computer module to be replaced and of course then programmed to that specific vehicle. So the simple lighting problem cost the customer several hundred dollars. Not many years ago we turned lights on with a switch.

The Electronic Stability Control light was coming on in a customer's 2008 Hyundai. This system uses sensors to detect each wheel's individual speed, the throttle position, brake pressure, steering position and vehicle "yaw" rate. It is a very complicated system that uses data from several computers to make decisions about applying brakes, or one individual brake and increasing or decreasing the throttle. The problem turned out to be a bad alignment that had the steering wheel a little off center when the car was going straight down the road. The "smart" system thought the car was slipping sideways.

This one happened in a friend's shop. A customer dropped his 2006 Ford off for service. The porter drove it into the shop. When the mechanic went to work on the car it would not start. He talked to the boss and the porter and neither had seen any problems with the car. They called the customer and he hadn't experienced anything like it either. The mechanic began his diagnosis of the problem and found that the security system wasn't recognizing the transponder key. They called the owner and he brought the other key to the shop and started the car with it himself. Problem solved? The customer left scratching his head over his suddenly bad key and the mechanic went back to the car to complete his service work. The car would not start!

When he told the boss he hit the roof and went out to try it himself. It started right up. By now the mechanic and the boss were both a little irritated. The mechanic got back in the car and it would not start for him. The scan tester reported that the key was not coded right for the car.
The boss got in and the car started. Baffled the mechanic went to light a cigarette and think about it. As he pulled his lighter from his pocket he also pulled his personal car keys out. He drove a similar Ford. He placed his keys on the bench, got back in the car and it started first try.
The car's computer anti-theft system was reading his key, not the one programmed for that car.

The moral of this little tale is that complex problems often aren't, and simple problems can become a nightmare. The secret is having a shop that does everything possible to stay current on information and training. A shop like Freedom Automotive!

Immobilized!

In response the rampant car theft in the 1980's the insurance industry and the Federal government mandated that manufacturers either inscribe each individual part of a car with the VIN, or equip each car with an anti-theft system that would disable the vehicle. Today over 80 percent of cars sold in this country have an immobilizer system on them. All cars will have in the near future.

What these systems do is "read" the key. Each key has a transponder inside of it. The car sends a signal to the key and the key responds with a coded signal that is recognized by the computer. If the wrong code comes back, or no code is returned, the car will not start.

The systems vary from pretty simple on the base line cars, to very complex on high end models. Some, like Mercedes and BMW use a constantly changing code that makes it almost impossible to duplicate. Even on the simple systems if the wrong code is read it will timeout for 10 minutes. This long wait is enough to discourage most thieves.

There are some common problems with immobilizer systems. As mentioned in the other article if you have several keys in your pocket or on your key ring it can read the wrong key. There are only a limited number of frequencies that the keys can use and if your 2 keys are the same frequency it can confuse them reading the wrong key code. This can happen even if the keys are from different car makers.

We also see problems from some of the "quick pass" devices that debit cards and some credit cards promote. These too are on a low voltage frequency and can respond to your car's query for a key code.

Running a battery down can also result in a lost key code. The security computer on the car will shut down as battery voltage drops while the main computer keeps trying to see a code from it. Confusion follows and the car will go into a no start that may not cure itself when the battery voltage comes back up. We often have to reprogram in cases like this.

Dropping one of the transponder type keys can, and often does, damage the chip inside of it. Running it over the demagnetizer at department stores (the thing they use to kill the shoplifting tags) will scramble the programming of the key. Of course dropping them in water is equivalent to dropping your cell phone in a puddle.

Another important thing to remember, if you have to program a new key you need 2 keys to do it. It will not allow you to program just one key on most cars. Some models, like Ford and GM can program 2 new blank keys, but others, like Toyota have to have at least one already programmed key to do more of them. On a Toyota if you lose both keys you will most likely have to buy a new computer with blank key programming in order to get replacement keys that work.

I suggest that you get an extra key programmed and stash it someplace safe just in case.

Want To Extend The Life Of Your Injectors?
6.0L Power Stroke Fuel Filter Maintenance

Have you ever considered how important the maintenance of your Power Stroke diesel engine is to the long term performance and reliability of your Ford Super Duty truck? The cleanliness of the fuel and oil used in today’s high speed diesel engines is important to their longevity. Given modern emission requirements, engine companies manufacture engine components that are more highly sophisticated and require greater attention to maintenance.

If the vehicle is being used in "Normal Service" the oil and oil filter should be changed every 7,500 miles (12,000km). The recommend fuel filter change interval is 15,000 (24,000 km). If the vehicle is being used in "Severe Operating Conditions", the oil and oil filter should be changed every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 200 hours of engine operation whichever comes first. Under "Severe Operating Conditions", the fuel filters should be changed every other oil change, 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 400 hours of engine operation whichever comes first.
Examples of "Severe Operating Conditions" are listed below:

• Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier
• Extensive Idling and /or low-speed driving for long distances as in heavy commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol, or livery
  
• Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
  
• Off-road operation o Short trip in cold operating conditions
• Use of BioDiesel, up to and including 5% BioDiesel (B5)

The fuel filters in Figure A represent the condition of the filters after an extended change interval. The fuel filters in Figure B are from a vehicle that has been properly maintained.

An owner's failure to properly maintain the engine can cause the fuel filter to become contaminated with either debris or asphaltenes. Asphaltenes are found in diesel fuel as a result of the oil refining process. They have a tar like consistency that can over time plug the fuel filter media. The high restriction in the fuel filters will cause decreased fuel flow and a loss of fuel pressure which can ultimately cause damage to the fuel injectors. The 6.0L Power Stroke is equipped with two fuel filter elements. The primary fuel filter is located inside of the left hand frame rail, below the driver’s side floorboard, with the fuel pump. This element will collect particles larger than 10 microns. The secondary fuel filter is located on the engine next to the fuel oil filter housing and is designed to capture particles larger than 4 microns. It is very important that both primary and secondary fuel filters are replaced at the same time. It is also important that the fuel filter cap o-rings are replaced at this time.

Like nearly every other vehicle on the road with an internal combustion engine, the 6.0L needs routine maintenance. Following the recommended maintenance guidelines can reduce the concerns often associated with poor maintenance practices and keep it running well for many years.