Powertrain Overview: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)

Posted on 25 March 2019

Since the creation of the first modern automobile nearly a century and a half ago, there has been one dominant engine option on the market, the gasoline internal combustion engine. Now the gasoline internal combustion engine has some challengers trying to steal the crown. There have been many different types of engines in the past but many of them relied solely on fossil fuels to operate.

Recently because of increasing fuel economy standards and emission awareness, a new breed of engines is emerging, many relying on electricity to aid in powering the vehicle. With these new power plants comes a new set of rules and warnings on how to repair them. A lot of collision technicians have an idea about how some of the new powertrains work, but not a full understanding of what is going on under the hood. It is important to understand the inner workings of the engine in order to safely and properly diagnose and repair them after a collision. In this series, we’ll walk you through many of the current engine options and how they convert the fuel they’re consuming into usable power. Let’s explore the hybrid powertrain.

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GM Navigation Video: UPDATE

Posted on 22 March 2019

General Motors (GM) has updated their www.acdelcotds.com service and repair information website. This update to the website changes how to find the collision repair information you need.

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Ford On Target 2019: Volume 1

Posted on 21 March 2019

Ford has released the first installment of their On Target publication for 2019. Features of the issue include collision repair procedures for the 2019 Ford Ranger front fender apron repair.

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Fuel Economy Technology Systems: Eco Mode

Posted on 20 March 2019

Tightening regulations on fuel economy along with rising awareness about pollution have influenced vehicle design and function in recent years. However, most consumers are not willing to sacrifice comfort, vehicle size, or power, so auto makers needed to use different methods to boost fuel economy. For the most part, aerodynamics can be directly related to fuel efficiency. The smoother air flows over the vehicle, the less power is required to make the vehicle move, leading to higher fuel economy. Unfortunately, a vehicle that has excellent aerodynamics may not be a functional vehicle for everyday consumers. So, other measures needed to be taken. In this series we’ll break down some of the methods used to boost aerodynamics and fuel economy along with any special cautions on how to repair them. Let’s check out Eco Mode.

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Powertrain Overview: The Internal Combustion Engine

Posted on 19 March 2019

Since the creation of the first modern automobile nearly a century and a half ago, there has been one dominant engine option on the market, the gasoline internal combustion engine. Now the gasoline internal combustion engine has some challengers trying to steal the crown. There have been many different types of engines in the past but many of them relied solely on fossil fuels to operate.

Recently because of increasing fuel economy standards and emission awareness, a new breed of engines is emerging. Many are relying on electricity to aid in powering the vehicle. With these new power plants comes a new set of rules and warnings on how to repair them. A lot of collision technicians have an idea about how some of the new powertrains work, but not a full understanding of what is going on under the hood. It is important to understand the inner workings of the engine in order to safely and properly diagnose and repair them after a collision. In this series, we’ll walk you through many of the current engine options and how they convert the fuel they’re consuming into usable power. Let’s explore the gasoline internal combustion powertrain.

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Back-To-Basics: Vehicle Protection When Welding

Posted on 18 March 2019

Sometimes going back-to-basics can make the difference between a quality repair and a failed repair. When it comes to replacing panels and other body components, there are a few precautions to take in order to protect the vehicle while welding.

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What’s An Alfa Romeo Rear Closure Panel?

Posted on 15 March 2019

When it comes to repair information, vehicle makers use a wide variety of terminology for replacement parts. All of the different names can be confusing, especially when repairing a variety of vehicle makes and models.

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Fuel Economy Technology Systems: Active Air Dams

Posted on 14 March 2019

Tightening regulations on fuel economy along with rising awareness about pollution have influenced vehicle design and function in recent years. However, most consumers are not willing to sacrifice comfort, vehicle size, or power, so auto makers needed to use different methods to boost fuel economy. For the most part, aerodynamics can be directly related to fuel efficiency. The smoother air flows over the vehicle, the less power is required to make the vehicle move, leading to higher fuel economy. Unfortunately, a vehicle that has excellent aerodynamics may not be a functional vehicle for everyday consumers. So, other measures needed to be taken. In this series we’ll break down some of the methods used to boost aerodynamics and fuel economy along with any special cautions on how to repair them. Let’s check out active air dams.

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2019 SkillsUSA State Competitions Fast Approaching

Posted on 13 March 2019

For those of you who don't know what SkillsUSA does, here is your opportunity to meet your next great employee or to give back to the industry. This is a competition for skilled trades, and they can use your help.

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OEM Linking Pin: Number of Welds on Ford/Lincoln Vehicles

Posted on 12 March 2019

When welding a replacement panel on a vehicle, it is important to know how many welds should be placed along the panel. When it comes to panel replacement on a Ford or Lincoln vehicle, the number of welds shown in a replacement procedure is not necessarily the number of welds that should be made on the vehicle being repaired.

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Dynamic Calibrations Compared to a Test Drive

Posted on 11 March 2019

Many advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) require a dynamic calibration procedure, or a static calibration followed by a dynamic calibration. A dynamic calibration requires the vehicle to be driven, often times with two technicians and a scan tool. Though it can be easy to think of dynamic calibration as a test drive, they are not one in the same. Let’s explore the difference between the two.

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Sectioning and Partial Part Replacement: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Posted on 08 March 2019

One of the top technical inquiries received at Ask I-CAR is “Is there a sectioning or partial replacement procedure available?” To help answer this question, RTS has an OEM Partial Part Replacement Search available. Here you will find information on if these procedures are available on a specific vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.

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Fuel Economy Technology Systems: Grill Shutters

Posted on 07 March 2019

Tightening regulations on fuel economy along with rising awareness about pollution have influenced vehicle design and function in recent years. However, most consumers are not willing to sacrifice comfort, vehicle size, of power, so auto makers needed to use different methods to boost the fuel economy numbers. For the most part, aerodynamics can be directly related to fuel efficiently. The smoother air flows over the vehicle, the less power is required to make the vehicle move, leading to higher fuel economy. Unfortunately, a vehicle that has excellent aerodynamics may not be a functional vehicle for every consumer. So, other measures needed to be taken. In this series we’ll break down some of the methods used to boost aerodynamics and fuel economy along with any special cautions on how to repair them. Let’s check out active grille shutters.

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OEM Information Page: Alfa Romeo Page Added

Posted on 06 March 2019

The OEM Information pages continue to grow, here is one of the new features for this area of the RTS portal.

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Back-To-Basics: Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Repair

Posted on 05 March 2019

Sometimes going back-to-basics can make the difference between a quality repair and a failed repair. Although fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) usage and repairability is limited on today's vehicles, here are a few things to consider.

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