MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022 - MAR2

current. With proper training there is money to be
made now and in the future.
Hybrid and EV owners are a different type of customer.
I speak with many owners, and it has become apparent
that a majority only take their vehicles to the dealer.
There are plenty of reasons for this, one of which is Hybrid
and Electric owners may not even know that aftermarket
shops may be trained and capable of meeting their service
needs.
Advertise and stay current. Change is afoot.
A large percentage of Hybrids and a few Electrics
have been in their owners' hands for years, many for
over a decade. Contrary to widely held beliefs, these
vehicles do wear and will require service and repair
into the future. There is opportunity here.
Consider too, a few more thoughts...
*Gasoline and Diesel prices are reaching
record levels in some parts of the world.
*Crude oil is in short supply...again.
*Hybrid and EV owners tend to keep their
vehicles for as long as possible.
*Used Hybrid and EVs are becoming more
popular with car buyers.
With the research and capital investment automobile
manufacturers have made to date, Hybrids and
EVs are here to stay. Buckle up, seek out training
and advertise your Hybrid/EV skills!
My point here as a technician and instructor is to
get and stay current. The learning curve for adults
is easier over time versus all at once and under
stress...such as when the vehicle is in your bay.
COMMON FAILURES OF THE " AGEING "
HYBRID/EV FLEET
This article is Part 1 of 2 (OR three) and is mostly
based on Hybrid vehicles, a solid base that can be
applied to many makes and models. Much of what is
discussed spills over to EVs and remains relevant in
both theory and practice. In subsequent articles, we
will venture into the theory and common failures of
EV thermal management, high-voltage three phase
compressors, service opportunities and other helpful
information.
Some of what follows has been mentioned in past
issues, much is new, and some depends on local climate.
Many of these failures can be caused by or
cause climate control issues and should also help
with day-to-day service. Since they are the most
popular, I have included many Toyota Prius examples,
many of which can be extrapolated to other
brands using your own service information.
March 2022
2
12-volt (Low Voltage) battery failure
I mention this only because of the number of techIt
is good pracnicians
I speak with who have ended up chasing
their tail... and it 's technician 101.
tice to evaluate the 12-volt battery and charging system
whenever a Hybrid/EV is in for service. At least
twice a year. Heavy load from fan or blower motors
spooling up can affect module communication and/
or cause annoying " phantom " symptoms or issues if
the 12-volt battery is weak.
Of course, the current popular method is to use
an electronic capacitance battery tester. A significant
percentage of repair shops have learned to assess
12-volt batteries using BOTH capacitance test
equipment and an old school variable carbon pile.
This happened in my shop early on, after chasing
symptoms caused by a failed battery that passed a
capacitance test. Blame failed equipment or operator
error but using both has saved our bacon many
MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022
