VDO REDI-Sensor Wins 2011 AIA Industry Awards for Best New Product
Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket, manufacturer and supplier of VDO OE-engineered TPMS replacement parts, was cited for “Best New Product for Import Cars or Trucks” in the 2011 Automotive International Industry (AIA) Awards competition, which was recently held during the 2011 AAPEX Show in Las Vegas, NV.
WORLDPAC Partners with Sangsin Brake
Sangsin Brake is the largest brake pad manufacturer in Korea and has a 30-year history in the industry, according to WORLDPAC.
Behr Puts Vehicles to the Test in Climatic Wind Tunnel
Who knew it would be 110 degrees in mid-October in Troy,
MI? With nearly 45 percent humidity, that was the temperature inside the climatic wind tunnel at Behr’s North American headquarters. It’s where Behr brutalizes vehicles under simulated blaring sunlit conditions to see how well air conditioning systems will perform and how well HVAC systems will cooperate with engine cooling components.
Tech Feature: Subaru Service Essentials
My stint at being a service advisor for a number of dealer service departments over the years gave me a lot of experience in “bundling” services into a package. Having a service plan or “menu” built value for the customer. It also provided the service department with reliable income. Though there are good and bad points to service menus, the basic idea is a good one, and works well for any kind of automotive service or repair facility.
Suspension & Alignment Specs: Greatest Hits!
The most difficult issue with some alignments is knowing what you are getting into before you start or your shop even quotes the job. For almost two years, Hunter Engineering has been sponsoring BRAKE & FRONT END’s Suspension & Alignment Specs where Editor Andrew Markel examines a common vehicle platform to figure out what are the service issues and how to make the adjustments.
Enthusiasts Invited to Show Off Their Rides at the SEMA Show
Owners of select vehicle models may be able to have their cars or trucks featured at the 2011 SEMA Show, taking place Tuesday-Friday, November 1-4, 2011, in Las Vegas.
Finding Electrical Shorts On Multiple Circuits
When I was a kid, I saw a movie called “Juggernaut” with Richard Harris as the main character. It was about a cruise liner that was about to blow up because a terrorist had planted 55-gallon drum bombs all over the ship. The premise of the story line is that Harris was going to save all the people on the ship by defusing the bombs. All through the movie, there were references to the different relays and electrical circuits.
Schrader Continues to Expand EZ-Sensor Coverage
Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) manufacturer Schrader has announced enhanced platform coverage for the company’s EZ-Sensor technology. According to Schrader, EZ-Sensor is the automotive industry’s first patented OEM-replacement TPMS sensor that can be programmed to function across diverse car makes and models.
Tech Feature: Active Motor and Trans Mounts
Motor mounts serve an important function: They support the weight of the engine and transaxle (or transmission), and also isolate engine vibration from the rest of the chassis. With so much emphasis on controlling noise, vibration and harshness in late model luxury vehicles, it was inevitable that sooner or later motor mounts would go electronic.
Tech Feature: Diagnosing Push Button Keyless Start Systems
Push button keyless start systems began appearing on several import cars about six years ago, and are now being offered on more and more new vehicles, both import and domestic. Motorists say they like the push button keyless start systems because they are convenient to use. There’s no ignition key or switch to fumble with, and you don’t have to do anything other than have the smart fob in your pocket or purse when you get in the car.