Brandon Steckler

Technical Editor at Vehicle Service Pros

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Articles

Wrench Tales #16: "A 'Shift' In Approach" with Tony Mossuto

3 days ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Wrench Tales #16: "A 'Shift' In Approach" with Tony MossutoIntermittent network faults are challenging unless you have an efficient diagnostic approach like this. Motor Age Technical Editor Brandon Steckler is back with Wrench Tales #16 and his very good friend from Jacksonville, FL, Tony Mossuto. Tony runs a very successfully shop in the Jacksonville area called Everything Automotive and he was faced with what appears to be a very challenging subject vehicle.
Mastering Diagnostics #24: Furthering Knowledge from Know-Good Data Captures

1 week ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Mastering Diagnostics #24: Furthering Knowledge from Know-Good Data CapturesKnowledge begets new knowledge. And that motto couldn't be any more applicable than it is in vehicle diagnostics!Mastering Diagnostics returns with another contribution from Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler. In this video, Brandon applies his 28 years of technical experience (both good and bad) and leverages the information captured from known-good vehicles.
Wrench Tales #15 ”To ‘Dodge’ a Bullet” w/Keith Perkins

2 weeks ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Wrench Tales #15 ”To ‘Dodge’ a Bullet” w/Keith PerkinsSymptoms are just that! Focusing on the root cause of the symptom is in the best interest of any tech out there!Welcome back to another episode of Wrench Tales! This time Brandon is joined by long-time friend and fellow instructor, Keith Perkins. In this episode, Keith and Brandon discuss a driveability issue on a vehicle exhibiting multiple DTCs, a malfunction indicator lamp illuminated, and a lack of acceleration.
The Trainer #159: Increased Engine Efficiency Through Forced Induction

3 weeks ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

The Trainer #159: Increased Engine Efficiency Through Forced InductionTurbocharging and supercharging are not only about higher engine output. It's mostly about tailpipe emissions.
Solved: Cold Mazda 3 runs rough

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

A 2008 Mazda 3 entered the shop with the driver complaining of it running rough after cold starts, and a MIL illuminated. The only DTC stored was P0300 "Random misfire detected."The vehicle had been in another shop recently, but had left there running in good condition. What would you recommend doing next, given the data bullet points in last month’s challenge?  Given this information, what would you do next?
Mastering Diagnostics #23: The Importance of Finding the Tools' Limitations

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Mastering Diagnostics episode #23 is here! And this time, Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler is going to demonstrate the importance of realizing diagnostic tool limitations. Being a sound diagnostician is all about being a scientist. That is, collecting data to form hypotheses. This naturally leads to collecting further data that will prove or disprove your hypothesis and lead you closer to the root cause fault.
A Jeep Cherokee that won't communicate

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Communication faults are frequently among the most difficult to solve, but when the fault is both intermittent and instantaneous, we are now talking about a whole new level of challenge.
Making sense of the WRAF sensor's operation

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Like anything else in the world of diagnostics and driveability in particular, a sound understanding of the component's functionality is an absolute must if you want to maintain accuracy and efficiency. Why not begin with the wide-range air/fuel (WRAF) ratio sensor? After all, it’s responsible for the tight control of today’s fuel injection control systems.
Seal Hunting on a 2013 Jeep Wrangler

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Service RepairSeal Hunting on a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Welcome back to another edition of "The data doesn't lie," a regular feature in which Brandon Steckler, technical editor for Motor Age, poses a puzzling case study. Figure 1-The relative compression test is frequently featured in Motor Age magazine as a go-to test for preliminary driveability diagnostic approach.
Mastering Diagnostics #22: Introduction to the Internal Heat Exchanger (IHX)

1 month ago | vehicleservicepros.com | Brandon Steckler

Service RepairMastering Diagnostics #22: Introduction to the Internal Heat Exchanger (IHX)A/C systems have become notably smaller but still have to perform. Reducing the carbon footprint is the goal with R1234yf, but the IHX optimizes the performance of the refrigerant Welcome back to Mastering Diagnostics! This is episode #22 and Brandon takes us through the operation of the internal heat exchanger (also known as an IHX).