Training Program Updates
State-of-the-art automotive technology doesn’t do anybody much good if technicians can’t get the training they need to fix and maintain today’s systems. Unfortunately, in recent years there has been an industry-wide trend to axe training programs. Parts suppliers are under tremendous price pressure these days, and most are looking for ways to cut costs where
Carley’s Corner: New Stuff from the AAPEX & SEMA Shows
Having just wrapped up a week in Las Vegas at the AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Parts Expo) and SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) shows, I have some interesting news to report. A company called Green Earth Technologies introduced a new high-quality synthetic motor oil made from dead cows. The oil is made from animal fat (beef
Tool Storage: Buying a Toolbox is Like Buying a House — For Your Tools
The journey of a thousand miles starts with just one step. Deciding what new tool storage system you want can feel like that kind of journey. As the single largest purchase you are ever likely to make in your career as a technician, it is an important one! In fact, other than your home and
Hankook Takes the High Road (Literally) with Dynapro ATm RF10 Intro
Hankook Tire America invited media and dealers up to Big Bear Lake, a 17,000-resident ski resort community high up in the San Bernardino Mountains outside of Los Angeles. And by "high up" I mean 7,500 feet above sea level, parked along 400 miles of off-road trails that wind through a national forest. Big Bear Lake is entirely man-made, and the men who made it made out quite well financially.
Mitch Schneider: Going Up?
Not long ago, someone bounced an e-mail my way. It appeared as if by magic in the middle of an otherwise pleasant and uneventful day; a day punctuated by surprisingly few e-mails, which can be a blessing on such a day. Realistically, I could have ignored it as it was not originally meant for me, and hindsight would suggest that might have been a better choice. But, e-mails, like ringing telephones, are particularly difficult to ignore, at least for very long.
Tech Tip: Don’t Turn Away Clutch Replacements
Clutch replacement does not have the prestige of driveability diagnostics, but at times, it pays better. Some shops turn away clutch replacements in fear of comebacks and lost productivity. But, clutch replacement offers the shop opportunities to sell additional services that might slip past the bottom line.
Tech Tip: Filter Fundamentals
Filters are the first line of defense against contaminants, whether it’s airborne contaminants entering the engine, wear particles, dirt or soot contaminants inside the engine, wear or dirt particles inside the transmission or dirt or rust particles in the fuel. And now that so many vehicles also have cabin air filters, unwanted contaminants also include dirt, soot, odors and even bacteria entering the passenger compartment.
Management: Trained Techs at Your Service
The issue of the number of technicians needed for our service and repair market is one that generates plenty of discussion. Some in our industry proclaim that there is a technician shortage of approximately 100,000. Others claim the number is closer to 60,000. Others still, will argue that there is no shortage of techs at all.
AAMCO Unveils Eco-Green Initiative to Promote Cleaner Running Cars and Centers
AAMCO, the world’s largest chain of transmission service centers, recently introduced Eco-Green Auto Service Certification, a new program designed to protect the environment, reduce vehicle emissions, and promote alternative fuels among the thousands of motorists AAMCO serves annually.
Tech Tip: Diagnosing Starting/Charging Systems
How many starters and alternators are replaced unnecessarily every year because of misdiagnosis? Nobody knows for sure, but suppliers of both new and remanufactured rotating electrical parts tell us more than half of their warranty returns have "no fault found" when the parts are examined. Many of these returns are from DIYers who lack diagnostic know-how, but some are from professional technicians who apparently lack the same skills.