Magazine for the auto service professional
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Circle 116 on Reader Service Card 30 | September/October 2014 built in calendar year 2008 may have older software and may not operate as described above. This may only be a concern if a cus- tomer compares this vehicle with a fellow neighbor that was built in calendar year 08. Both vehicles are built to factory specs and no parts should be replaced to change the operation of either vehicle. NOTE: If a customer has a complaint where the power liftgate is inoperative, have the customer press the unlock button on the door panel and then see if the liftgate starts to work before starting with normal diagnosis. Follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. Technology makes people forget Since remote controls, remote-control key fobs or "smart" keys are becoming so commonplace, allowing door locking and unlocking with the press of a button, the mechanical lock cylinder in the door(s) gen- erally becomes unused and ignored. As a result, when/if the remote fails to operate, due to a dead remote control bat- tery or other glitch in the system, if the driver then attempts to unlock the driver door using the mechanical key, the lock cyl- inder may be sticky or seized due to a lack of activity. Before a vehicle leaves your shop, do the customer a favor by lubricating the lock cylinder and inserting and working the key to ensure that it's operable if and when the need arises. Even if the engine won't start (due to a glitch in the remote key programming with a proximity key), at least the driver can enter the vehicle, safely out of the weather, and can then use their cell phone to call for assistance. While technological advances provide convenience, they can also cause prob- lems, by making drivers rely too heavily on electronic convenience and comfort systems to execute functions once performed by a physical effort. But, these systems are here to stay, and we need to understand how to deal with them. ● The Tech Bench