Mitchell 1, a provider of repair information solutions, recently compiled a series of general knowledge maintenance and service tips as a resource for commercial vehicle service professionals.
The tips are part of Mitchell 1’s truck ShopConnection blog, where the truck repair experts at Mitchell 1 regularly share their experience and insights. With COVID-19 restrictions on travel and in-person training affecting the commercial industry, Mitchell 1 is focusing on making available to all technicians—and especially those new to the profession—a library of vehicle repair, general maintenance and industry-related information based on data and best-practice information gained through the development of its TruckSeries truck repair software. The following list offers a sample of the shared tips, along with links to full content.
- Tips for Testing Electrical System—With today’s sophisticated electrical systems, proper testing practices and repair procedures are critical in ensuring a proper diagnosis and repair. Here we take a look at some of the potential problems and solutions that may be encountered.
- Tire Safety Tips—Tires are clearly the unsung heroes of the road, doing exactly what they were designed to do mile after mile without a lot of fanfare. Nevertheless, as tires are the buffer between the truck and the road, they take a lot of abuse running on what are often some fairly rough roads. Thus, tires are a vital maintenance point to keep the truck moving down the road safely and efficiently.
- Torque Specifications Made Easy—Here’s a quick tip to help you save time by reducing the amount of trips you take.
- What’s Up With All the Different Fault Code Numbers?—As more and more light-duty shops begin to take on more medium truck jobs, auto techs are being confronted with a very strange set of codes, nothing like the codes on a car or pickup truck with OBD II codes.
- Tighten It Up—When completing a removal and installation procedure, it’s critical to apply the right torque specification.
- Where is That Relay Box?—These days, relays play an important role in troubleshooting electrical components and issues. Knowing where the relay block is located, along with relay positions, helps speed up your troubleshooting procedure.
- Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow?—A truck repair shop is a noisy environment, with the cacophony of air tools operating, engines running, and various other sounds constantly present when servicing and repairing vehicles. Hearing loss can be a big problem for technicians, but there are many preventive measures you can take.
- How to Quickly Find Engine Serial Numbers—Along with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the Engine Serial Number (ESN) plays a crucial role in determining the service information you require. Using the correct ESN helps pinpoint your actual service, repair or maintenance requirements information.
- Tips to Identify and Diagnose Transmission Failure—Sounds associated with gears and bearings vary or disappear depending on the gear position selected and vehicle speed. From those sound clues, the technician may look at the transmission power flow charts to determine which gears and bearings are in operation when the sound occurs. Once the noise has been isolated, it may be time to pull the transmission out of the truck to take a look inside. This is when things get exciting.
- Troubleshooting Hints—Even the most experienced technicians can benefit from checking diagnostic resources when troubleshooting an issue. Here’s an example of how taking the time to read the vehicle service information can save time in the long run. For those shops that are currently using Mitchell 1 software programs, the ShopConnection blog also offers tips and tricks to navigate the system and master the TruckSeries software to be more productive. A few examples include:
- Save Time Tracking Down Specialized Tools—To save technicians even more time in the servicing process, at the top of engine information for most heavy trucks, we have included a heading called “Special Tools.”
- Component Identification—When you are working on what seems like the Frankenstein of trucks, you may need to call in to support to find the right information in your truck repair information. This might require you to be able to identify a part or piece.
- TruckSeries Labor Guide Navigation Tip—Want to speed up your labor estimating process? Your TruckSeries truck repair software has many shortcuts that can make navigating easier and save you time.
- Working with Accordions in 1Search Plus—A quick walk through the search process and tips for using the accordions that link from the 1Search Plus card dashboard. Mitchell 1’s TruckSeries is a comprehensive truck repair information software suite for Class 4-8 trucks, providing a one-stop, single log-in, all-makes data resource for mechanical labor estimating, diagnostic trouble code procedures and comprehensive repair information, all packaged into a single application.
Visit mitchell1.com for more information.