Fleet Maintenance Technicians 10/21/2010
For the last five years I have been a Fleet maintenance technician. This has probably been one of the best jobs I have ever had. It may not be the most fun but it is a good way to make a living. In my Fleet we mostly deal with trucks and most of them are domestic vehicles.  Fleet Maintenance Technician After working on the specific vehicles for a couple of years I think it is safe to say that I am an expert on Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge pickup trucks as well as some heavy duty diesel trucks. It is not because I am smart it is because I have not worked on anything else for several years.
In fact after replacing the water pump on a 7.4 L power stroke diesel ford engine for the 10th time not only can I do it quickly I could just about do it with my eyes closed. Each time I performed the repair I would learn short cuts and better techniques for replacing the water pump on the power stroke. I was even able to stop following the procedure in the service manual. 1 Comment Electronically Controlled Suspension Systems 10/02/2010
What is the difference between electronically controlled suspension systems and automatic stability control? And why do you need to know the difference when you're going to buy a new car? First of all these high-tech systems are becoming much more common on new automobiles and even some of the less expensive models include them as standard equipment.  Electronic suspension Although this technology has been on the market for at least a decade systems that are deployed today look much different than the ones that were used just five years ago. I remember when I was working on an early 90s Corvette the driver's complaint was a suspension warning light that was staying on.
This Corvette had a switch mounted in the center console just behind the shifter that allowed the driver to select touring or sport mode. The problem with this Corvette was with the electronically controlled shock absorbers. I remember that the repairs were covered under the factory warranty and that the replacement electronic shocks were a $1000 apiece. This is nice to know if you buy one of these cars used. 4 Liter Ford Belt Diagram 06/23/2010
The 4 liter Ford belt diagram is another one that is hard to do without. Lots of pulleys and a somewhat odd belt routing make it hard to get the belt back on without a diagram. The 4.0 Liter Ford engine is a popular engine and most commonly found in the Ford explorer.  96 Ford Explorer Engine belts are important anytime of the year and not just on the 4 liter Ford engine. In my opinion the summer months put the most stress on your drive belts. When outside temperatures are over 100 degrees it is this rubber drive belt that provides air-conditioning to the interior compartment and coolant flow to the engine via the water pump. When the serpentine belt breaks on a cold winter day the outside temperature may allow you to drive to the nearest service center. On a hot summer day when this happens if you don't pull over quickly and turn off the engine serious damage could occur. So print out this 4 Liter Ford Belt Diagram and throw it in a storage compartment along with a new serpentine belt and the needed tools. 4 Liter Ford Belt Diagram 4.0 Liter Ford V6 Chevrolet V6 belt diagram 05/16/2010
Below is a picture of the Chevrolet V6 belt diagram. This is for the 4.3 L V-6 Chevrolet engine. This happens to be the same engine that is in my own personal vehicle which is a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer ZR2.  2004 Chevy Blazer The 4.3 L V-6 has been around for a long time. In fact I probably should have done some research on just how long. But I do not that this engine has been around since at least the mid-80s and I believe it was discontinued in 2005 in favor of the Isuzu line of engines.
Of course in the mid-80s there were several v-belts instead of the one serpentine belt assembly that are on the more modern engines. I thought that I would be able to go out to my vehicle and take a picture of the Chevrolet V6 belt diagram. To my surprise it was missing. Since it is missing on my 2004 model year Blazer I figured it would be a good idea to post one for the convenience of site visitors. Chrysler V8 belt diagram 04/11/2010
Below I provide the Chrysler V8 belt diagram that applies to the 5.2 L and the 5.9 L V8 Chrysler engines. This belt diagram also applies to the 3.9 L Chrysler V6 that is found in many Dodge Dakota pickup trucks. These three engines are known as the LA series engines and share many components to hold down manufacturing costs. It's nice when one belt diagram covers many different engine sizes and applications at the same time. I was surprised that the 3.9 L V6 used the same belt diagram. Doing some research I found out that the 3.9 Liter is basically a 5.2 L v-8 with two cylinders cut off. Belt diagram 3.9L 5.2L 5.9L Chrysler V8 Belt Diagram The 5.2 L engine is also known as the 318 cid (Cubic inch diameter). This engine has been around for a long time. In fact it was the motor that was in my first car. This was a 1974 Dodge charger (Picture below).
Power Stroke Belt Diagram 04/04/2010
The Ford power stroke belt diagram is one that is hard to do without. In many cases my experience with putting on hundreds of belts makes it possible for me to figure it out on the fly. But when it comes to the Ford 7.3 liter power stroke diesel this does not apply.  PowerStroke Truck The many pulleys and drive accessories that are included on the power stroke engine make this a difficult task without having the proper belt diagram. Below I will include a picture of a common configuration used on this popular engine. Note the routing can change on certain years. If yours looks different you can go to Mitchell 1 online service manuals and get a belt diagram for less then 12 bucks. Power stroke diesel belt diagram  Diesel Powerstroke Belt Diagram One thing that you should pay close attention to when replacing the drive belt on a power stroke diesel is the condition of the vacuum pump. I have worked on a lot of these engines and
5.7 L GM engine belt diagram 03/12/2010
Below will be a 5.7 L engine belt diagram that you can use to get your belt put back on. Since this is one of the most popular GM motors of all times I thought it would be a good thing to post. Picture of the 5.7 L engine drive belt diagram  Belt Diagrams This engine better known as the 350 small block is one of my favorite all-time engines. I and my friends use to joke that this engine was so popular that you could get valve cover gaskets for it in the grocery store.
Even though General Motors has moved on and replaced this engine with lighter weight larger displacement power plants the old 5.7 L remains a favorite for hot roders and truck drivers alike. 5.4 Liter belt diagram 03/05/2010
Here is the 5.4 Liter belt diagram by popular demand. Engine belt noise is a common complaint on many vehicles and many different engines. The Ford 5.4 L engine is no different in this respect.  5.4 L engine belt diagrams Ford came out with some tactics to help technicians deal with this common problem. Please take a minute to read them before installing a new part on your engine.
There are many causes that can force serpentine belts to become noisy. Sometimes this is due to pulley misalignment or even a wobbling accessory pulley. Also incorrect alignment of the drive belt can result in noise and premature wear. Mechanic Career Opportunities 01/16/2010
Many mechanic career opportunities exist that are not well known. I am currently employed as a fleet service technician servicing mostly diesel equipment. I have been doing this for the last five years and it's a good job.  New car dealer Prior to this my mechanic career had taken me the route of the new car dealership technician. I held this position for about 20 years and worked for about six or seven different new car dealerships. It is commonplace to switch jobs several times in a mechanics career. Although there are always exceptions to the rule. A real life example would be my first dealership when my mechanic career first started. Me and my best friend were hired right out of high school by a local Pontiac dealership. After we completed our training and passed our ASE certification tests I moved on for more money. My buddy stayed planted at that dealership and still works there today. Routine maintenance and service 12/29/2009
Although modern vehicles are packed with electronics that look like they belong on the space shuttle this does not reduce the need for routine maintenance and service. Some would say that this modern automotive technology has made service requirements more important than ever.  car computer Although the computer systems can make adjustments to cover up some problems, the vehicles computers cannot replace parts that wear.
The onboard electronics cannot tighten loose bolts that have come loose from vibration. No more than they can change engine oil or flush cooling systems. Simple problems such as these can set off a chain of events and cause heart problems that will continue to worsen if not addressed. Even if these problems do not stop you from starting and reaching your destination they can cause issues with overall performance and efficiency of the automobile in question. Various maintenance procedures usually are performed according to a schedule recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. Car mechanics would reference these services as preventative maintenance. If the vehicle's owner fails to follow the recommended maintenance schedule provided by the carmaker problems may result. | Car Repair Help
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