Toyota
Owners of 2007 Yaris models may complain of a squealing sound from the engine bay. One probable cause of the noise, reports Toyota, is the accessory drive belt slipping on the various pulleys. Replacing the drive belt with an improved design belt, part No. 90916-02500, and tightening the belt using revised specs should eliminate the concern quickly.
Start the fix off by installing the new belt. Next, start the engine, let it run for about 20 minutes to stretch out the belt, then shut the engine down. Using the illustration above, place a belt tension gauge in the span shown and tighten the belt until the tension reads 102-123 foot-pounds. If you don't have a tension gauge, just measure the deflection of the belt in the span area shown in the illustration. When properly tightened, the belt should deflect .410 to .450 inch.
Ford
Owners of 2001-05 Explorer Sport Tracs may complain of a moan or vibration from the engine at idle when the air conditioning system is turned on. One likely cause, reports Ford, is pressure variations in the a/c compressor's manifold and tube assembly. Replacing the manifold and tube with a revised design, part No. 5L2Z-19D850-AA, should eliminate the trouble.
Mazda
Some 2000-06 MPV minivans built before VIN JM3LW28**6*566231 may produce a clunk-type sound from the front while braking. According to Mazda, the noise usually appears when traveling forward very slowly with the brakes applied, then reversing the direction of the van without releasing the brake pedal. Too much clearance between the front brake pad ears and caliper supports is the root cause. Installing new-design front pads with larger ears, part No. LDY7-33-28ZA, should eliminate the noise issue. When installing the new pads, Mazda says it's alright to reuse the existing shims, clips and related hardware.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected]