Mon.May 13, 2024

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Freeze Frame Diagnostics

Tomorrow's Technician

Article courtesy UNDERHOOD SERVICE. More than 20 years ago, automakers and the EPA developed the standard that we know today as OBDII. This standardized many of the onboard emissions protocols and codes and allowed states to perform onboard emissions testing. For technicians, it opened a whole new world of diagnostics. As time passed, even large trucks and motorcycles adopted this same method to test the emissions status of a vehicle.

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Driveshaft Diagnostics

Brake & Front End

Some customers say they can’t live without four wheel drive (4WD) or all wheel drive (AWD) for the winter. What 4WD and AWD vehicles can live without is a driveshaft going to the rear wheels. Most late-model driveshafts are not serviceable and do not have any lubrication points. But, this does not mean that they can’t wear, or even fail. Driveshaft problems can be spotted from the moment you put the vehicle in gear to pull it into a bay.

Vehicle 130
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Jack Stow: Showing the Way

Tomorrow's Technician

Academia has a reputation for being caught up in its own little bubble, lagging behind what’s taught or used for work in “the real world.” Being an educator is demanding enough, so it makes sense that teachers often prefer to tweak lessons plans only so much year after year. But for Jack Stow , automotive technical instructor for North Kansas City Schools in Missouri, that’s not enough.

Education 130
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Clarios Formalizes Joint Development Agreement with Altris

Brake & Front End

Clarios and Altris, a Swedish developer and prototype manufacturer of sodium-ion batteries, announced an exclusive Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for low-voltage mobility applications. Under the new JDA, Altris will focus on developing the sodium ion cell technology for low-voltage applications, while Clarios will leverage its expertise in Battery Management Systems (BMS), software, and system integration to design the battery system.

Software 130
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Audi Quattro

Tomorrow's Technician

Many automakers are known for one particular piece of technology. Honda with its VTEC engines, Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, BMW’s VANOS systems, and more. What is Audi most known for? Quattro. The word comes from the Italian word for “four,” referring to the fact that all four wheels receive power from the drivetrain. The Quattro badge has been used for decades to identify all-wheel or four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Audi lineup.

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Ball Joint Wear

Brake & Front End

Before ball joints, most suspensions used kingpins. These pins or shafts are connected to two points on an axle or links. On the spindle or knuckle, the pin would allow it to turn. The spindle would be connected to the outer tie rod. Many over-the-road trucks still use this type of suspension. While they are more robust and easier to maintain, they get in the way of driveshafts and have a larger turning radius than ball joint suspensions.

Vehicle 130
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Clarios Formalizes Joint Development Agreement with Altris

Tomorrow's Technician

Clarios and Altris, a Swedish developer and prototype manufacturer of sodium-ion batteries, announced an exclusive Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for low-voltage mobility applications. Under the new JDA, Altris will focus on developing the sodium ion cell technology for low-voltage applications, while Clarios will leverage its expertise in Battery Management Systems (BMS), software, and system integration to design the battery system.

Software 130

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ChargePoint and CBRE Report Shows Increase in Workplace EV Charger Demand

Automotive Fleet

The demand for workplace electric vehicle charging stations is increasing as trends show a rise in charging sessions. More stations are needed, according to the report.

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Short Camper Van Brilliantly Fits Many Features in Its Cozy Interior, It's Now for Sale

autoevolution

Adventurers frequently choose vans with longer wheelbases for camper conversions due to the additional real estate they offer. However, even if you go for a model with a really short wheelbase, that doesn't mean you can't find clever solutions to make full use of the available space. Don’t take my word for it – I got just the example to prove what I just said.

IT 115
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Supply, Lease-Returns, and Interest Rates Driving Near-Term Vehicle Market

Automotive Fleet

CAR 2024: An all-star panel of economists and data analysts find that used/wholesale vehicle prices and values will remain above the previous “normal” levels last seen in the late 2010s.

Vehicle 99
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2025 Rivian R1T Prototypes Spotted Testing New ADAS Equipment With No Camouflage

autoevolution

Rivian is preparing a mid-life refresh for its R1 models, which are expected to start deliveries this summer. One of the key highlights of the update is a new driver assistance package. Several R1T prototypes were spotted calibrating the new equipment using a Lidar array. Once considered essential for autonomous driving, LiDAR sensors are being abandoned by carmakers as they see that Tesla's vision-only approach is working.

IT 114
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Continental celebrates U.S. tire manufacturing plant anniversaries

Tire Review Magazine

Continental is celebrating the anniversaries of three tire manufacturing plants in the United States in 2024: five years in Clinton, Miss.; 10 years in Sumter, S.C. and 50 years in Mount Vernon, IL. With an annual production capacity of more than 16 million tires and a team of more than 6,700 local manufacturing employees, Continental said it has invested more than $1.5 billion in its American tire manufacturing operations. “Tires from Continental stand for high performance and premium qua

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Lemon Twist 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Has One Feature That Makes It Super Rare

autoevolution

1971 was the second year on the market for the third-generation Plymouth Barracuda. It was also the Mopar's final year with high-compression big-block V8 engines. Following a successful 1970 model year with nearly 49,000 units delivered, Barracuda sales dropped to fewer than 19,000 cars. ( continue reading.

IT 111
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What can you tell about an engine from a dirty spark plug?

Tire Review Magazine

Have you ever wondered where certain sayings come from? For example, the saying, “canary in the coal mine” originated from coal miners bringing an actual canary down into the mines with them as an early warning signal for toxic gases, primarily carbon monoxide. The birds, being more sensitive, would often become sick. That’s messed up! You know, spark plugs act as the “canary in the coal mine” for the combustion chamber.

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Restored 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Looks Stunning in Limelight Green

autoevolution

No matter what model year you prefer, we can all agree that the best Plymouth Road Runner is the one fitted with a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8 and four-speed manual transmission. Not only is the HEMI the most powerful Mopar mill from the golden era, but it also makes for a desirable combo when paired with. ( continue reading.

IT 105
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Continental celebrates U.S. tire manufacturing plant anniversaries

Tire Review Magazine

Continental is celebrating the anniversaries of three tire manufacturing plants in the United States in 2024: five years in Clinton, Miss.; 10 years in Sumter, S.C. and 50 years in Mount Vernon, IL. With an annual production capacity of more than 16 million tires and a team of more than 6,700 local manufacturing employees, Continental said it has invested more than $1.5 billion in its American tire manufacturing operations. “Tires from Continental stand for high performance and premium qua

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Tesla Model 3/Y Owners Hit With BMS_a079 Error Indicating the High-Voltage Battery Is Gone

autoevolution

Although studies showed that EV battery failures are rare, many Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners complained that their car batteries died just outside the warranty period. The problem occurred suddenly with a BMS_a079 error code, indicating that some of the cells in the battery pack were faulty. The only remedy is a battery replacement, which might be expensive if the warranty has expired.

Car 105
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Tesla's Storing Unsold Inventory In An Abandoned Mall Parking Lot

Jalopnik

Parking lots full of Tesla vehicles are becoming impossible to ignore as the electric automaker seemingly can’t sell enough cars and trucks to match its rate of production. According to its own figures, the electric automaker produced 46,561 more vehicles than it delivered to customers during the first quarter of 2024. Read more.

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Two-Tone 1968 Ford Bronco Is an Old-School Beauty Sporting Modern Features

autoevolution

Here comes ICON's latest creation. It is the two-tone blue Old School Edition Bronco dressed up to the nines by restoration specialists ICON 4x4, which do the job without altering the model's DNA. Even though it looks like a 1968, it features modern equipment such a head up display and navigation. The firm has been restoring and imagining vintage design vehicles since 2005.

Vehicle 105
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Cybertruck Teardown Videos Show The Mechanical Reality Of Owning The Hottest Tesla

Jalopnik

We’re not exactly the biggest fans of the Tesla Cybertruck. Aside from being a 7,000-pound monstrosity that was apparently designed without crumple zones, its frunk has a taste for fingers , its doors could slice your leg open and simply taking it through a car wash could brick your brand-new $100,000 truck. As more… Read more.

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NASA Invents a New Super Alloy, Gives Green Light to American Companies to Make It

autoevolution

Our world is advanced enough for us to believe we've pretty much uncovered all there is to uncover in the realm of materials. Yet, with the recent arrival of new technologies, including the almighty 3D printing, the building blocks of our world seem to be getting better and better. It was about a year ago when American space agency NASA let the world know it was on the verge of creating a brand new type of alloy.

IT 105
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Man Forced To Hide His Boat Behind A Fence Has Super Realistic Boat Painted On The Fence

Jalopnik

City and housing community municipal codes seem to target people who like working on their vehicles or parking them in plain sight, but one Seaside, California man found a creative way to flip a figurative bird to these frivolous codes. Etienne Constable received a notice from the city requesting he comply with a… Read more.

Vehicle 69
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Retro-Futuristic, Imagined Cadillac EV Sedan Doesn't Want to Be Called CT6. DeVille Then?

autoevolution

Cadillac, once seen as the doormat for German and Asian luxury brands all around the world, has since resurged more confident than ever on the back of great sales performance at home and especially in the world's largest car market – China. Over there, it even dares to continue the legacy of big sedans (land yachts) with traditional models like the. ( continue reading.

Car 104
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Hyundai, Kia models supplant pickups as nation’s most stolen vehicles

Auto Remarketing

The most stolen vehicles in America are no longer trucks. In part as a result of social media videos showing how to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles, cars from those manufacturers have jumped to the top of the list of America’s most stolen vehicles, compiled annually by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Six of the top 10 theft targets in 2023 were Hyundai or Kia models, NICB’s latest report found, including the top three – the Hyundai Elantra, with 48,445 reported thefts, Hyundai Sonata (42,813

Vehicle 64
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1970 Dodge HEMI Challenger R/T Spent Decades off the Road, Now Shines Like New

autoevolution

Introduced for the 1970 model year, the Dodge Challenger was discontinued in 1974, shortly after the golden muscle car era ended. And despite its short-lived life with high-compression big-block V8 engines under the hood (1971-1972), the nameplate went into the history books as an iconic Mopar. Needles. ( continue reading.

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Porsche's Hybrid 911 Is Finally Coming After 3 Million Miles Of Testing

Jalopnik

Porsche likes to make a big stink about the fact that Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first hybrid drive car, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus , around 125 years ago. Back in 2010 the company raced a hybrid-drive 911 GT3 R , and shortly after released the hybrid hypercar 918 Spyder. A few years ago Porsche said… Read more.

Car 59
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Silly Season: Man Wouldn't Sell Tesla Cybertruck AWD Foundation Series for $20K Over MSRP

autoevolution

You know what? I think the Tesla Cybertruck is cool, but I’m not sure it’s “way over MSRP cool”, especially when you consider everything that’s seemingly wrong with it. People are starting to take notice of those awkward panel gaps and other reported build quality issues. Bits of trim may fall off. I mean, you just never know.

IT 101
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The Volkswagen ID Buzz Will Have Eight Different Two-Tone Paint Schemes

Jalopnik

We’re still months away from the Volkswagen ID Buzz going on sale in the U.S., and we don’t yet know how much it will cost in American dollars, but VW today announced trim levels, option packages and other details for the long-anticipated microbus revival. Three different trims of the long-wheelbase Buzz will be… Read more.

IT 59
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1974 AMC Matador Coupe Flexes AMX Vibes Sports a Super Rare Option Featured in NASCAR

autoevolution

In the early 70s, America was going through a profound transformation that shook off some of its core values to the ground. A curious side-effect of the ample transformations of the rebellious new generation was the cancelation of a car model. More specifically, it was a nameplate that was too much in tune with the rebellious attitude of the period.

Car 98
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The Only 'Cannon Ball' That Matters Is The First One

Jalopnik

In general the concept of trying to drive across the country at breakneck speeds is old hat. Breaking a bunch of laws and putting a bunch of people at risk on public roadways for thirty seconds of Reddit fame is silly, and doesn’t deserve a second thought. But when you cast your thoughts back to the first major… Read more.

59
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Magic Reunites Simon Cowell With His 1971 Triumph TR6, His First Auto Love

autoevolution

It's a kind of magic, but with some reality show producing magic sprinkled on top: Simon Cowell, perhaps one of the most famous music and television moguls in the world, was reunited with his "favorite" car ever and one of his first auto loves on the latest episode of Britain's Got Talent. Simon Cowell is famous for a lot of things, from his showbiz savvy to his snappy remarks, his love of Botox and ( continue reading.

Car 98
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Thinking Beyond the Bay: Creating an Inviting Environment at Your Automotive Business

AutoInc.

In today’s competitive automotive service industry, providing exceptional customer experience is paramount to success. For auto dealers, service centers, tire dealers, and quick lubes, the customer experience begins long before the oil is changed and the contracts are signed; creating an inviting environment has a huge impact on overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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Always Stored Indoors: This 1963 Impala Is 99% Time Capsule, 1% Unfortunate Upgrades

autoevolution

The Impala debuted in 1958 and needed only a few years to become the best-selling car in the United States. The debut of the Super Sport in 1961 pushed the nameplate to new heights, turning the Impala into the right vehicle for everybody specifically interested in more performance and adrenaline behind the wheel. 1963 witnessed a new milestone for the Super Sport.

Vehicle 98
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Are You Langiushing?

AutoInc.

It’s the place between fulfilled and burnout. When languishing, you feel a lack of meaning. The days roll into each other. Imagine you’re driving in a fog so thick you must pull over. You’re in an area with no cell service and there is no one around. You have no way of getting to your destination and must wait it out. You feel stuck with no direction.

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1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Escapes From Storage After Four Decades, Unrestored and Unaltered

autoevolution

Say what you want about the Grand Prix, but while the GTO was already the model getting all the love from Pontiac and customers in the States, this nameplate was still a head-turning machine. I absolutely adored the new convertible – available exclusively for the 1967 model year – despite many people considering it a boat on wheels. The Grand Prix was. ( continue reading.

IT 98
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No, You Can't Use An Amazon Adapter To Charge Your Car At A Tesla Supercharger"

Jalopnik

Tesla’s charge port has become the North American Charging Standard (NACS), but what does it take for non-Tesla owners to take advantage of the brand’s ubiquitous Supercharger network? Online retailers like Amazon are full of NACS adapters that look like they would allow non-Tesla EVs to charge at Tesla Superchargers ,… Read more.

Retail 58
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Kokoda Caravans Tribute 2 Is an Amazing Couple's Travel Trailer Built for Aussie Roads

autoevolution

Everyone agrees that Australian RV manufacturers make some of the toughest mobile living spaces for off-road and off-grid adventures. That's because the vast Outback in the heart of Australia, while delighting outdoor enthusiasts with places of exquisite beauty and wildness, is known to be a treacherous and unforgiving land. One company that makes rugged yet extremely comfortable camper trailers for overland adventures is Kokoda Cara. ( continue reading.