Whether you drive a Ford F150, Mustang, Explorer, Fusion, or other Ford vehicle, you’ve probably seen the “Service AdvanceTrac” warning on the dash. While there are many reasons this light may be illuminated, it is possible to reset the warning yourself. What is AdvanceTrac? AdvanceTrac is Ford’s branding for their electronic stability control system. A … Read more
Today’s vehicles are heavily reliant upon data transmission to facilitate proper operation. Data is relayed between numerous engine related sensors, and an engine’s operating computer, known as the ECM (engine control module). This integrated communications system is known as a vehicle’s on-board diagnostics network. In the present, properly diagnosing driveability and functionality related vehicle issues … Read more
You’re driving home from work thinking about what movie you’re going to watch when the kids go to bed when all of a sudden, you see a bright orange money light illuminate on the dash. Your heart skips a beat as you brace for the self destruct sequence. Wait… the car is still running the … Read more
If you’ve ever been in the situation where you wondered, “Why is my tire pressure light on when my tires are fine?”, you’re definitely not the first. The TPMS (or Tire Pressure Monitoring System) uses sensors on the vehicle to determine when a tire has low pressure and alerts the driver with a warning light … Read more
All modern vehicles on the road today have a 12-volt battery that is also rechargeable. This battery provides energy to virtually every electrical component of the vehicle, such as its ignition system, engine control unit, headlights, radio, interior lights, and so on. If the battery fails to recharge or dies altogether, then your vehicle will … Read more
Modern vehicles have what is known as an anti-lock braking system. The purpose of this system is to keep the driver safe by preventing the wheels from locking up as you apply the brakes. That way, you can keep control over the steering and your vehicle won’t skid as a result of the wheels locking … Read more
Seeing that airbag light illuminate in your dash can strike immediate fear to any driver. Will they fail do deploy when you need them most? Or will the airbags unexpectedly deploy while driving? In many cases, a vehicle’s supplemental restraint system (SRS) light only signals a minor issue, even though we’ve been trained to equate … Read more
Few things are as alarming as when a warning light appears in your dash as you accelerate. And in this case, it turns out to be the traction control light. Like an overbearing parent, it restricts your vehicle’s fun while providing little explanation for its harsh judgement. Typically harmless, it could signal something serious. Let’s … Read more
Every vehicle with an internal combustion engine contains an exhaust gas recirculation system, also known as an EGR system. The purpose of this system is to reduce the level of nitrogen oxide emissions which get produced during the combustion process of a gasoline engine or diesel engine. Basically, when exhaust gas comes out of the … Read more
When a mechanic goes to diagnose a serious problem with your vehicle, they will usually hook up a scanning tool to the power control module. The computer of the module will then provide the scanner with a troubleshooting code which signifies the problem of the vehicle. For instance, the diagnostic trouble code “P0700” signifies that … Read more