44 Auto Brakes Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. • Place cutting tools such as lathe bits and carbide inserts in their protective cases when not in use. • Do not drop or strike carbide tips and bits they are brittle and can shatter easily. • Store shop manuals in a storage cabinet. Do not leave them on benches where they can become dirty and damaged. Vehicle Protection No matter how well a vehicle is diagnosed and repaired, the customer will be dissatisfi ed if it is returned damaged. Cus- tomers will quickly notice any scratches, dents, torn or dirty upholstery, or damaged trim. When working under the hood, always use fender covers to reduce the chance of damage to fenders from tools and belt buckles. Before placing a fender cover over any part of the vehicle, make sure the underside of the cover is free of grease or dirt. Remove fender covers by lift ing them from the body instead of sliding them off . Before entering a vehicle, place a paper fl oor mat over the driver’s-side carpet. Th is will catch any grease or dirt on your shoes. Install a steering wheel cover to reduce the chance of getting grease on the steering wheel. If there is any possibility of dirtying the vehicle’s upholstery, place a protective seat cover on the driver’s seat. Service Information Service information is oft en the most important tool in the shop. In the modern automotive environment, the impor- tance of service manuals and other information resources cannot be overstressed. Th ere are too many types of vehi- cles, all with complex, easily damaged systems to allow for any kind of guesswork. Although it may seem strange to classify manuals and other sources or service information under tools, they are oft en the technician’s most valuable tool. Without these sources of information, as well as your own knowledge and experience, all other tools are useless. Service information provides the technical data needed to successfully perform diagnosis and parts replacement. In the past, service information was generally ignored by technicians. Vehicles were simpler in design and com- pletely new systems were rare enough they could be learned about in the course of performing other repairs, or oft en ignored completely. Today, more information is needed by the technician to perform even the most basic service. Th e major classifi cations of service information are service man- uals, schematics, troubleshooting charts, technical service bulletins, training materials, manufacturers’ hotlines, and electronic service information. Th e following sections cover the main types of service information. Factory Service Information Paper service manuals have been almost completely replaced by manufacturer websites, compact discs (CDs), or fl ash drives. Factory service information covers all infor- mation about one year and model of a manufacturer’s vehi- cles. Similar vehicle models may be combined into a single source. Th e appropriate CD can be purchased through the manufacturer, or the information may be downloaded aft er payment is confi rmed. Manufacturer’s websites are usu- ally accessed by paying a use fee that covers a certain time period, sometimes referred to as a subscription. General Service Information General service information websites contain the most commonly needed service and repair information for a wide range of vehicles. Information on brake service is usually thorough, with all needed procedures and specifi cations. Many of these sources continue to publish paper manuals or CDs/fl ash drives for the DIY market. Specialized Service Information Th ese sources cover brake systems as separate units. Th ey contain information about brake system basics as well as information about specifi c problems. Other vehicle infor- mation is presented only if it relates to the brake system. Th is information is available as printed books, CDs, fl ash drives, and website information. Schematics Schematics are pictorial diagrams which show the path of energy through a system. Th is energy can take the form of electricity, vacuum, air pressure, or hydraulic pressure. Most schematics used for brake diagnosis show the fl ow of elec- tricity or the inputs and outputs to a computer, Figure 3-39. Schematics do not show an exact replica of a system, but Two-way vacuum pump Reservoir jar Connection hose Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 3-38. A handheld vacuum brake bleeder. Pumping the handle creates vacuum in the jar. When the hose is attached to the bleeder screw, and screw is opened, brake fluid will be drawn into the reservoir jar.