Nissan
Some 2003-05 V6-equipped Nissans (complete vehicle list below) may come into your store with an illuminated Check Engine light and/or hard restart issues when the engine is at operating temperature. If you connect your scan tool, you'll probably pull cam sensor trouble code P0340 and/or P0345 from computer memory. Installing new-design cam sensors should help eliminate all the problems immediately. Order part # 23731-6J906 for the P0340 code; part # 23731-AL616 for the P0345 code. Nissan recommends replacing both sensors if the two codes are stored or if you have no codes but do have the hard restart issue.
Models that can benefit from the updated cam sensors are 2003-04 Altimas, 2004 Maximas, 2004 Quest minivans built before 3/1/04 and 2005 Altimas built before 2/26/04.
Honda
Owners of 2007-08 Fit compact cars may complain of a gurgling-type noise from under the dashboard at idle, under light acceleration or during deceleration. One likely cause for the annoyance, reports Honda, is an airbound heater core. Bleeding the core should eliminate the condition immediately. Here's how to go about it:
Start by loosening the radiator cap. Next, start the engine and allow it idle until the electric cooling fan has cycled on and off twice. Now turn the ignition off and carefully remove the radiator cap. Fill the radiator with coolant until it reaches the base of the filler neck, then add coolant to the reservoir until it aligns with the MAX mark. Install and tighten the radiator cap, then allow the engine to cool to ambient temperature. Once it does, check the coolant level in the reservoir. It should be down near the MIN mark. If it didn't drop, check for a leak or a bad radiator cap. If the level did drop, fill the reservoir to the MAX mark. To complete the fix, go on a road test to verify that the gurgling noise has been eliminated. If it hasn't, repeat the bleeding procedure.
Saab
The air conditioning systemson some 2005 Saab 9-7X models built before 6/05 may be slow to cool in high temperature/humidity conditions. According to Saab, the problem is usually intermittent, surfaces right after engine startup and is most prevalent during low engine and/or vehicle speed conditions. Insufficient airflow through the condenser due to a slipping electro-viscous fan clutch is the likely cause of the malady. Installing an improved fan clutch assembly, part # 15293048, is the simple fix.
"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].