Carley’s Corner: More New Models, More Repair Opportunities
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, 2007 will see more new model introductions than any year in recent history. The 2007 model year will bring 61 new models to market, which is almost double the number of new models that typically appear each new model year. These new models represent about 24%
CV Joints & Halfshafts
Rear-wheel drive has made a comeback on many large luxury import nameplates, but more than 80% of all cars on the road today are front-wheel drive. Most small- and mid-size cars are FWD, and all import minivans have FWD. What’s more, most of the full-size and crossover 4WD SUVs have halfshafts with CV joints front
News: KYB Taps Mike Fiorito
KYB America LLC recently named Mike Fiorito to the position of director of business development, announced KYB Senior Vice President Mike Howarth. “As KYB continues to expand in the North American aftermarket, and with the recent announcement by CARQUEST that KYB will become its full line shock and strut supplier, we had a need to
AC Update: Finding and Fixing Leaks
Finding refrigerant leaks is a major aspect of A/C service. It makes no sense to recharge a leaky system with refrigerant if it will soon leak back out. Ultraviolet dyes can make even the smallest leaks clearly visible. But not all OEMs approve of their use. The domestic OEMs (Ford, GM and Chrysler) all use
ACDelco Drives Business to Independent Service Centers with MechanicNet Promotion
For several years, ACDelco has teamed with MechanicNet Group to help Independent Service Centers (ISCs) enrolled in ACDelco’s Total Service Support (TSS) program grow their businesses and improve their customer retention systems (CRS). Now, ACDelco wants all of its TSS accounts to sample the benefits of the MechanicNet CRS – and bring in customers with an upcoming ACDelco consumer promotion.
Editor’s Notebook: Deflating a Growing Crime
If you think air bag theft is a bunch of hot air, think again. Insurance and auto industry reports indicate that vehicle air bags can fetch hefty sums on the black market and are becoming increasingly attractive to thieves. There’s even a growing Internet market for air bags. Insurance industry statistics show that approximately 50,000
Aftermarket After SEMA
High-Performance Engine Upgrades For Your Customers
Tech Tip: Regular Fluid Flushes are Good for Transmissions
Out with the old and in with the new. Transmission fluid flushing is a service that replaces old worn-out automatic transmission fluid (ATF) with fresh new fluid to prolong the life of the transmission. Considering the fact that it costs $1,500 to $2,200 or more to replace a transmission or transaxle these days, the cost of a fluid flush is peanuts by comparison.
Piston Technology: To Power Today’s V8s
The performance piston business today is hot thanks to a strong racing market and the introduction of new OEM engine families such as Chevy’s LS1/LS6 V8s, Ford’s 4.6/5.4L V8s and Chrysler’s Hemi. Piston manufacturers are introducing new performance pistons for all of these applications as well as refining existing piston designs to reduce weight, and
Directions
Edward Sunkin has been the editor of Underhood Service since April of 1999. He has been a member of the Babcox family of automotive aftermarket publications beginning in December 1994, when he joined the jobber/parts specialist magazine Counterman as an associate editor. Edward also spent three years as managing editor Engine Builder, learning about the