Main Menu
Clore + Children's Mercy - Partnership
Clore + Children's Mercy - Partnership
Search
Close this search box.
Featured
Jay

Go Beyond the Alternator or Starter for Successful Diagnosis

Today’s vehicle electrical systems are complex, even on conventional ICE vehicles, and that complexity can lead to all kinds of issues for vehicle operation and, in turn, technicians. In this month’s feature article, we review some recently published resources related to electrical system diagnosis, with a focus on our old friends the charging system (alternator and more) and the starter. Based on the frequency with which the trade publications address diagnostics and troubleshooting related to the electrical system, it is clear that this area of vehicle repair is one that is virtually limitless in terms of difficult challenges, model year after model year. Our goal with these survey articles is to collect and present some of the latest thinking on a topic in the hopes that, by doing the legwork for you, we save you the research time as well as present you with resources to make your tasks easier and more profitable. So, let’s dig in. The State of Today’s Charging Systems We’ll start with a big one. This article is relatively long, but also packed with great information and insight, which is what we’ve come to expect from Jeff Taylor at AutoServiceProfessional.com. In this comprehensive article, titled Maintaining

April 28, 2023 2 Comments
Products
Jay

The New PL3740 – Old School, Updated

We are excited to introduce our new Model No. PL3740, a 12 Volt PRO-LOGIX Wheel Charger, from SOLAR. The PL3740 marries the best of old school unit control with advanced safety and the ability to properly charge today’s AGM and Spiral lead acid batteries. It provides three operational modes for comprehensive service: battery charging mode, stable power mode and engine start assistance mode. The PL3740 is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It features old school knob control for easy operational set-up, plus it incorporates a simple voltmeter/status LED control panel for easy assessment of operational progress. Yet, underneath that unassuming exterior lies a sneaky fast and sophisticated charging device. Really, it’s the best of both worlds. Auto charging mode (40A, 15A or 5A), utilizes an advanced, microprocessor-controlled process to deliver an optimal charge to each battery serviced. It features temperature compensation to ensure that each charging sequence is dialed into the needs of each battery. The PRO-LOGIX charging process results in improved battery condition and restored reserve capacity. But, the operator can also run one of several timed charge modes (20-120 min.), similar to what one would see on an older charger. Even during these timed charge

April 26, 2023 No Comments
Resources
Jay

Another Ground Gotcha!

Well, we don’t mean to beat a dead horse here, but this is another great resource piece that hits all the highlights of successful electrical diagnosis: the need for a sound understanding of system operation, the importance of having an accurate wiring diagram and (you guessed it!) the importance of good grounds. This month’s installment is a detailed case study by Shane in Massachusetts. Here he tells the tale of a Chevy Silverado with a u0107 code and a bunch of strange, apparently unrelated symptoms. He was the third (at least) technician to try to resolve the problem, with a tale of woe before he finally solved the mystery. In his case study, he walks right through his diagnostic process, explaining why he pursued each successive step. It’s a good read and one that might save you a bunch of time and hassle down the road: To see the original post at https://diag.net, click on the above screen shot or click here. To access complete forum posts or participate in the discussion requires a membership to the site. There are several membership options available, about which you can learn more here. About Diagnostic Network Diagnostic Network is an online community

April 25, 2023 No Comments
Clore Stories
Jay

ES6000 Rescues a Big Rig

“Well, it did winter in Indiana. I am an over-the-road trucker, so as I left my truck to go inside and use the shower, I turned it off. My ingenious self forgot to turn off my headlights in the process, so it killed my battery, or I should say, my batteries. I drive a 2022 Freightliner. I needed to be rolling the next morning. I could have called for service right then, but it was going to cost me a lot more than what I really wanted to pay. So, I called Carquest and they had a Truck PAC ES6000. I said, “Sweet!” So, I asked if they delivered and they said they could, since it was close by. I have done this twice now. I really appreciate your best products. They have saved me in numerous situations. Thank you! Your friendly customer Timothy Rooster.” TimothyTappahannock, VA

April 25, 2023 No Comments
Featured
Jay

Battery Testing Basics – A Few Tips Can Get You a Long Way

Batteries are a wear item. That’s a fact. Whether you purchase a budget battery or the most advanced AGM battery, at some point it will fail. Whether you live in Phoenix and experience extreme heat much of the year, Grand Forks, SD and experience extreme cold, or in San Diego and have weather most of us would trade for in a minute, your battery is going to die (hint: it will last longer, all things being equal, in San Diego). This makes battery testing critical for vehicular happiness, whether you are a vehicle owner hoping to avoid a future No Start situation or a shop trying to provide the best possible service to your customers. Battery testing doesn’t have to be overly complicated or difficult, especially if you keep in mind a handful of guiding principles that will allow you to get the most accurate and predictive result. Batteries are relatively predictable and (usually) behave according to a pattern tied to their lifecycle. That said, there are always twists and turns if you test enough batteries in enough vehicles. So, as is true for almost any aspect of vehicle repair and maintenance, deploying a repeatable, logical diagnostic strategy is critical.

March 16, 2023 8 Comments
Products
Jay

Repair Service Coupon

One great item that we probably don’t spend enough time talking about is our Repair Service Coupon, which can found in several Jump-N-Carry jump starters and Light-N-Carry LED work lights. The repair Service Coupon allows a customer to receive a one-time, fixed fee repair of their unit after the warranty period has expired, for the amount shown on the coupon. What’s great about the coupon is that it never expires, doesn’t require the customer to provide a copy of their receipt and it is a no fault situation where we don’t care the unit no longer works. This makes it pretty easy, actually. So, what do we mean by each of these great features of the coupon? never expires The coupon is valid for as long as the customer possesses the unit that the coupon came with. So, if you had a JNC660 unit you purchased in 2010 and it came with a $60 coupon, we would honor the coupon and repair the unit for $60. We really don’t care how old the unit is. The only caveats are that the vintage of the coupon must match the vintage of the unit and that it is an original coupon (no

March 7, 2023 10 Comments
Resources
Jay

Module Swap Resource

So, this one isn’t about a specific fix, but about a class of information that can be very useful to shops and technicians in saving a ton of time and effort in the area of module swaps. We see many messages on the forums related to which modules can be swapped and which ones cannot be swapped. Also, for those that can be swapped, there are often a number of “yeah, buts” that go along with “it can be swapped.” Diagnostic Network just added a new feature (message type) related to module swaps – when are they successful, when are they likely to fail, etc. The goal is to develop a database similar to their waveform database that enables quick reference to known cases, both good and bad. This new feature could provide tremendous time savings in the future. It is obviously brand new and has only a limited number of postings in it so far, but over time, it will be full of very useful examples. Here’s a link to Scott Brown’s recent announcement about this new feature. To see the original post at https://diag.net, click on the above screen shot or click here. To access complete forum posts

March 7, 2023 No Comments
Clore Stories
Jay

JNCAIR Delivers Time After Time

“Not sure if it is a mystery or a marvel, but my JNCAIR jump pack has been a prize possession and such a significant tool for over a decade. Purchased in 2008, this tool has saved the ol’ hide uncountable times. In the 3rd quarter of 2022, it finally showed diminishing life. However, not completely dead, it has earned retirement. My fellow farming buddies have marveled at the long life and durability of my jump pack. Whether it was a lawnmower, motorcycle, truck, semi, tractor, or bulldozer, each time the battery was low or dead we would hook up the yellow beast and grin each time the starter began to whirl. It is the only brand (and model) I would ever consider investing in again. I have been so impressed and pleased with its performance and long life. I would submit a photo but I have already mailed it back to the company to be placed on display. The engineers may want to examine to determine why it is still alive.” WesPalmyra, MO Editor’s Note:  Wes sent his unit in for repair under our Repair Service Coupon program available on several Jump-N-Carry jump starter models. The photo provided is of Wes and

March 7, 2023 No Comments
Featured
Jay

No Spark / No Crank / No Start Diagnosis

Use Your “Ignition Inner Child” to Resolve No Spark Diagnosis As noted in this article by Andrew Markel on UnderhoodService.com, in the old days, no spark conditions were solved relatively easily by throwing some parts at the problem. But, with modern ignition systems driven by any number of modules, resolving these complaints has grown more difficult as systems have increased in complexity. That spells the need to adopt new approaches as these systems evolve. Markel suggests that it is important that technicians retain their curiosity and a learning mindset. “Sometimes, your curiosity has led you in the wrong direction and cost you time, or it has led to a comeback. But, hopefully, your curious inner child is still growing, fueled by new knowledge and experience. The most important thing to feed your inner child is information to ask questions that form a proper diagnostic procedure.” In keeping with a common theme in these articles, he suggests that technicians start with a good wiring diagram, understand the theory of operation for the vehicle under service and lean into your service information in order to solve these cases effectively and efficiently. He notes that ignition system design can vary greatly by manufacturer,

February 3, 2023 2 Comments
Resources
Jay

Solving a Parasitic Draw on a Ram 2500

Here’s a very informative video by Justin in California, where he tracks down the root cause of an excessive parasitic drain on a 2019 Dodge Ram 2500 Big Horn. First, he lays out the customer’s complaint and the details related to it. He then reviews the circuit operation for these vehicles. Then, he walks us through his diagnostic strategy in a step by step manner, including what he did to quantify the nature of the drain, how it was behaving and how those details led him down the diagnostic path. It is worth the watch and might save you some time and hassle down the road if you service these vehicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3nL97EGOPI&t=407s To see the original post at https://diag.net, click on the above screen shot or click here. To access complete forum posts or participate in the discussion requires a membership to the site. There are several membership options available, about which you can learn more here. About Diagnostic NetworkDiagnostic Network is an online community of industry professionals and leading industry stakeholders coming together to create the resource to support technicians of today and tomorrow. With your help, we are building a wide, bi-directional communication path between top level diagnosticians and the leading providers

February 3, 2023 No Comments
Picture of Jay

Jay

Get In Touch

Facebook Linkedin Youtube Instagram

Key links

Featured brands

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter to discover more about Clore products, customer real life stories and informative articles.

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in